Fiber Arts Friday: Tour de Fleece, 2026 - part 6

Whelp, these last two weeks did not go as I planned.... I only managed to spin 2 of the 9 days for the Women's Tour.

TdF – Femmes

Day 1: Saturday, August 1 – 15 minutes

Day 2: Sunday, August 2 – Day 8: Saturday, August 8

No Spinning at all these days.

Day 9: Sunday, August 9 – 15 minutes

I have just a little of the roving remaining that I prepared ahead of the men's race.

Total Status

• Spin Duration:  91 + 0 + 75 + 45 = 211 minutes (~3.5 hours) + 30 minutes = 4 hours total
• Spin Days:  6 of 6 + 0 of 6 + 5 of 6 + 3 of 3 = 14 of 21 days for TdFH + 2 of 9 for TdFF = 16 of 30 days total
• Bobbin/Skein Status: nothing finished yet

Overall, I'm not entirely thrilled with my progress.

• I spun 16 of 30 days, so just over 50%.
• Each day I spun was 15 minutes, thanks to the timer I set for each.  So that goal was met.
• I missed one week of spinning, which was expected due to prior commitments.
• I missed a second, unplanned week of spinning.  This frustrates me, but life is lifing and spinning is at the bottom of the daily list.

So in practicing what I preach news, I am giving myself grace here.  I was considering not participating this year due to the fullness of life right now.  So the fact that I got any spinning accomplished is an accomplishment.

I do wish I had weighed what I prepared prior to spinning.  So How Much will have to be answered later.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Tour de Fleece, 2026 - part 4

For the fourth and final week of the Men's Tour, my progress is below:

Day 19: Friday, July 24 – 15 minutes

Day 20: Saturday, July 25 – 15 minutes

Day 21: Sunday, July 26 – 15 minutes

At this time, I have one of my original prepared rovings remaining... I plan to make more for the Women's race.

Week 4 Status -TdFH

• Spin Duration:  91 + 0 + 75 + 45 = 211 minutes (~3.5 hours)
• Spin Days:  6 of 6 + 0 of 6 + 5 of 6 + 3 of 3 = 14 of 21 days
• Bobbin/Skein Status: nothing finished yet

This is the end of the Men's race.  The women's race begins tomorrow.

I plan to continue working on the single and then to ply over the last few days of the Women's race.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Tour de Fleece, 2026 - part 3

My progress slowed considerably since I was in a Silent and then Writing Retreat for all of Week Two.  Week Three progress is below:

Day 7: Friday, July 10 – Day 12: Thursday, July 16th

Was mostly off line due to retreats.  So no spinning was accomplished by me for week two.

Day 13: Friday, July 17 – 15 minutes

Its fun to be back at my wheel.

Day 14: Saturday, July 18 – 15 minutes

Day 15: Sunday, July 19 – Challenge Day

No spinning today

 

Monday, July 20 – Rest Day

I did spin today, 15 minutes.

Day 16: Tuesday, July 21 – 15 minutes

Day 17: Wednesday, July 22 –

No spinning today.

 

Day 18: Thursday, July 23 – 15 minutes

Week 3 Status -TdFH

• Spin Duration:  91 + 0 + 75 = 166 minutes thus far
• Spin Days:  6 of 6 + 0 of 6 + 5 of 6 = 11 of 18 days thus far
• Bobbin/Skein Status: nothing finished yet

I am happy with my progress thus far, given how little time I've been able to allocate.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!  

Fiber Arts Friday: Tour de Fleece, 2026 - part 2

Ok!  Spinning has begun and my Coaching/Facilitation Skills are getting a workout... Not really, the team is small and everyone is always lovely.  So it has been a joy so far.  :-)

(part one)

I did get my (ahem) stash together...

The good news is that it was clean.  The bad news is that it was not yet in roving form.... so I spent some of Friday and Saturday morning carding.  I got two batches of roving prepared.

This isn't enough to keep me busy for both Tours, but it is enough to keep me busy for a few days.

Since I already know that I will not be able to spin every day, my goal is simple this year... I plan to spin for at least 15 minutes when I do sit down to spin.

So here's my daily record...

***

TdF - Hommes

Day 1: Saturday, July 4 – 15 minutes

Day 2: Sunday, July 5 – 15 minutes

I had a special treat today, in that I got to help my spinning student check out and buy her first wheel.  She found a screaming deal on Facebook locally, and her new wheel is just lovely.

Day 3: Monday, July 6 – 16 minutes

Day 4: Tuesday, July 7 – 15 minutes

Day 5: Wednesday, July 8 – 15 minutes

I finished my first chunk of roving today.

At this slow rate, I may not need to prepare more roving.  lol

Day 6: Thursday, July 9 – 15 minutes

I covered the bobbin today.  That always makes me happy.  :-)

 

Week 1 Status -TdFH

I'm feeling good about my progress this week.  That will change next week;

• Spin Duration:  91 minutes and 6 of 6 days.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Tour de Fleece, 2026 - part 1

It's that time of year again... Tour de Fleece.

A lot has happened in my world over the last year... really the last few years, but especially the last year.

I am in a new living situation.  On my own.  Just me and my dogs.

My alpaca are staying at a friend's ranch nearby.

I am the sole owner at The Canine Learning Center now, which is keeping me exceptionally busy.

Everything else is with my ex-husband and his "best friend."

I haven't been spinning or knitting.  I missed the registration deadline for the Estes Park Wool Market.  AND, I was thinking about not participating in this year's Tour de Fleece.  BUT every time I thought about telling the group that I would not be participating, I would get sad.

So earlier this week, I finally went to Ravelry to see how the team was shaping up, and there wasn't anything posted other than a question about whether we were having a team this year.

So I volunteered.  I am leading the team this year!  Hooray!

I have been teaching a friend how to spin, and she is starting on Chiengora... so I have also been teaching her how to prepare the fiber.. and she's doing a great job!

Which means, I'm not entirely without fiber in my life.  :-)

Anyway... now I need to get my stash together (ahem) and figure out what I will be spinning and what my goals are for the next month or so.

The Tour begins tomorrow, Saturday, July 4th.

Join us, won't you?

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Tour de Fleece, 2024 - part 7

 **Second part of Women's Race

Continuing with the second half of the Women's Tour de Fleece... I am pleased to have completed the Paco-Vicuna single last week.

Friday, August 16

Alpaca-ish - Paco-Vicuna:  15 minutes

I began plying today.

The cake weighed 30g (~1oz) when I started and now weighs 20g.  So I only plied about 1/3 of the single.

Saturday, August 17

Alpaca-ish - Paco-Vicuna:  11 minutes

I have a knot in the singles... if I'm not able to open it, I will have to break the singles and make 2 yarns.

Sunday, August 18

Alpaca-ish - Paco-Vicuna:  10 minutes

I was able to remove the knot, then continued plying for ~10 minutes.

I have 8g remaining to be plied.

Weekly Status:

Duration:  

• Alpaca-ish:  1 hour 21 minutes + 38 minutes = 1 hour 59 minutes

Net Days Spun: 4 of 4 + 3 of 3 = 7 of 7, no missed days

Finished Skeins:  1

Epilogue

While I did not finish the Paco-Vicuna during the tour, I did finish it this week.... while also making and resolving another ouple of knots.  :-/

The total is 30g (1 1/8 oz), 93 yds, 2-ply over ~2hours and 7 days.

Remember - The Paralympics start on August 28.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Tour de Fleece, 2024 - part 6

Now that the Men's Tour and the Olympics are concluded, the Women's Tour de France is beginning.  So the Tour de Fleece, Femmes is beginning too.

The Chiengora Team has decided to be loose.  So I am focusing on finishing the little bit of Tibetan Mastiff I have remaining from the Men's Tour, the 1/2 ounce of Paco-Vicuna I started during the Men's Tour, and the two rovings of Suri Alpaca I have set aside.

   

I don't have any time or specific progress goals, other than spin each day.

This tour is only 7 days, so I will not accomplish as much as the 3-week race.

Monday, August 12

Alpaca-ish - Paco-Vicuna:  10 mins

Tuesday, August 13

Alpaca-ish - Paco-Vicuna: 15 mins

Wednesday, August 14

Alpaca-ish - Paco-Vicuna:  15 mins

Thursday, August 15

Alpaca-ish - Paco-Vicuna:  40 mins

I finished the Paco-Vicuna single today.

Weekly Status:

Duration:  

• Alpaca-ish:  1 hour 21 minutes

Days Spun: 4 of 4

Finished Skeins:  0

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Tour de Fleece, 2023, part 6

This week we are finishing out the womens' race and wrapping up the entire event...

Day 28: Friday, July 28 - Stage 6

Today is the last day of spinning singles in this Tour.  I will begin plying tomorrow.

Day 29: Saturday, July 29 - Stage 7, Challenge

Today, the challenge was just to get everything done... as per usual.  ;-)

The single weighs 18g.

and I began plying.  This is going quickly, so I think it will be easy to finish tomorrow.

Our farm is/was the backdrop for a photo shoot this evening for an upcoming Crochet Collection.  I'm excited to see the result.

Day 30: Sunday, July 30 - Stage 8

I finished plying yarn #2.

Will wind off later today.

Counts at the end of Week 5:

• 1st Single is complete: 40 g (1.4 oz), 137 yards.
• Second Single iscomplete: 19 g (0.6 oz), 61 yards.
• Zero cashmere has been spun.
• Spun 21 of 21 Stages for the Mens' Race and 8 of 8 Stages for the Womens' Race.
• 56 total grams or 2 ounces and 198 yards of 2-ply Tibetan Mastiff was completed

Epilogue

I did not watched any of the Tour de France coverage this year.  I'm a little disappointed, since I enjoyed it last year... but alas, other things took priority.

I did complete two 2-ply yarns made from Ramen Pencil Roving.  The Pencil Roving allowed me to spin a smoother yarn that I have been able to in the past.  This is all due to my improved tools and skills garnered during my recent Drum Carding Classes.

I'm impressed with how similar the two skeins look next to each other.  Especially since the one on the left has been washed/blocked and the one on the right has not yet.

I have a possible project in mind for this yarn, which calls for ~700 yards.  Therefore, if I'm able to spin a reasonably consistent yarn, I will need to spin ~206 total grams of it.... aka another ~150g/500yds.  So maybe this will be a loose goal for the next several months.... something to think about.

I continue to hope to be able to do a more dedicated tour in the future.... but for this year, I'm very happy to have been able to spin for each of the Stages and to have accomplished my simple goals.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Tour de Fleece, 2023, part 5

This week, week 4, includes the final few days of the mens' race and the beginning of the womens' race...

Day 21: Friday, July 21 - Stage 19

Continuing with the second single started on Thursday last week...

Day 22: Saturday, July 22 - Stage 20

Day 23: Sunday, July 23 - Stage 21

Since today is both the last stage of the mens' race and the first stage of the womens' race, I thought I would divide it out by a morning session and an afternoon session...

Morning Session...

Tour de Fleece, Femmes

Day 23: Sunday, July 23 - Stage 1

Afternoon Session...

Day 24: Monday, July 24 - Stage 2

Day 25: Tuesday, July 25 - Stage 3

Day 26: Wednesday, July 26 - Stage 4

As of midday today, I am very close to the end of my prepared fiber.

One of the things that is great about having my Studio mostly set up, is that I can prepare fiber as I need it.  Which means I am not feeling anxious about not having enough fiber prepared to finish out this year's Tour.

I will be able to spend ~30 minutes later today making another batch, because everything is set up and in it's place... Of course this will not be true while the floor is being replaced this coming fall, but for now this is true and completely wonderful. :-)

Unlike in our former place, when I would have to unpack the tools in order to set up outside, and hope the weather was suitable... as in not too hot, cold, wet, or windy.  ;-)

Day 27: Thursday, July 27 - Stage 5

Given the amount spun thus far, I think I will spin a bit more tomorrow, then ply for the last two days.

Counts at the end of Week 4:

• 1st Single is complete: 40 g (1.4 oz), 137 yards.
• Second Single is in progress, ~14 g completed
• Zero cashmere has been spun.
• Spun 21 of 21 Stages for the Mens' Race and 5 of 5 Stages for the Womens' Race.
• Over 54 total grams of Tibetan Mastiff has been completed

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Tour de Fleece, 2023, part 4

Week three of the mens' race continues...

Day 14: Friday, July 14 - Stage 13

As of yesterday, I thought I might complete the current batch of roving and that it would be enough to meet my County Fair Entry Requirement...... and I did, and it is.  So I will ply it after the weekend.

I did almost forget to spin today... because I started working on a fiber presentation at the end of the day for next month.  I enjoy this type of writing a lot... and the presentation is now nearly finished.  So that's good.

Day 15: Saturday, July 15 - Stage 14, Challenge

As I mentioned last week, I did not plan any specific challenges for this year's Tour... spinning each of the stages continues to be enough of a challenge for now.  

Wilma and I were dog-showing this weekend, so I brought my drop-spindle with the perpetual Cashmere project with me.  My intent was to spindle during the waiting around times.

Which did not happen.

There was plenty of waiting around, but not in a way that had me comfortable to spin, for even a few minutes.

Day 16: Sunday, July 16 - Stage 15

I didn't spindle this day either.

However, once we got home from the show and I had a nap, I did cake and begin plying the completed single from Friday.

The cake weighs 40g, so I definitely have more than enough for my county fair entry.  WooHoo!

Day 17: Monday, July 17 - Rest Day

Since I did not spin on Saturday, I did some plying today, rather than take the Rest Day.

This catches me up for number of Stages spun.

Day 18: Tuesday, July 18 - Stage 16

A bit more plying for today.  One or two more sessions for this yarn to be complete.

Day 19: Wednesday, July 19 - Stage 17

I spent some extra time this morning and finished plying Yarn #1.

This yarn is now having a bath.

• 137 yards
• 40 g (1.4 oz)

Day 20: Thursday, July 20 - Stage 18

I began the second yarn today.

I think I will spin this single until the end of next week, then plan to spend the last three days plying for the final week.  Which means I should make at least another batch or two of roving.

Counts at the end of Week 3:

• 1st Single is complete: 40 g (1.4 oz), 137 yards.
• Second Single has begun.
• Zero cashmere has been spun.
• Spun 18 of 18 Stages
• Over 40 total grams of Tibetan Mastiff has been completed

As mentioned last week, my goal for the end of this event is to have at least 1 oz (~29g) of a 2-ply yarn to enter into our county fair early next month.  Which has been completed.  That yarn is currently being dried and will be ready to go in time for entry drop-off.

Everything else is gravy.  :-)

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!