Twist Fibre Festival  |  Festival de la fibre

www.festivaltwist.org/en/   |    www.festivaltwist.org

TWIST is an annual event that serves as a showcase of the fibre world and is intended for the general public, enthusiasts, fibre producers, fleece animal breeders, transformers, artists, artisans, professionals and semiprofessionals.
August 25 - 26 2012 in Saint-André-Avellin QC.

MVTM Fibrefest

www.mvtm.ca
Mississippi Valley Textile Museum hosts the annual Fibrefest in Almonte, ON featuring local artists, exhibitors and retailers.
Sept 8 - 9 2012 in Almonte, just west of Ottawa.

Trailing of the Sheep Festival

Hailey, Idaho, USA -  http://trailingofthesheep.org
Fibre Festival, Sheepherder's Ball, Sheep Folklife Fair, Storytelling, Sheep Parade
 

International Back to Back
Wool Challenge 

 Find them on Facebook
 https://www.facebook.com/woolbacktoback

  

A challenge to all Canadian Spinners
There is an International Back to Back Wool Challenge spinning competition held every year around the world in countries such as New Zealand, Australia, Scotland, Japan, USA and Canada. The event may be held in a public location of the team's choice, during the months of May and June, and the rules are the same for everyone. A team consists of 7 handspinners and knitters and 1 blade shearer. The objective is to complete a sweater following the same pattern within 8 hours. Some teams use the event to raise funds for charity, and all teams are interested in promoting the wool industry locally and in establishing a world wide network among the participants.

Teams from across Canada have participated in this challenge and have had various degrees of success completing a sweater. Congratulations go to the Toronto Spiders Team from Greater Toronto area for having the best Canadian time in 2005, 2006 & 2009 and best international time in 2007, 2008 & 2010. Their names have been added to the trophy donated by the Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers Limited. This year the challenge was taken up by 5 Canadian teams, and hopefully even more will enter in 2011.

It is a lot of fun, as well as being a great way to promote the wool industry and to raise money for Cancer Research. The following website will provide the original story, rules, past results and entry forms.

International Back to Back Wool Challenge
P.O. Box 34, Birregurra Victoria 3242 Australia
Annual Challenge (June)
Promoting Wool World Wide & Fund Raising for Cancer Research
Tel: +(03) 5233 6241 Fax: +(03) 5233 6338
 

2012 - Results from the 18th International Back to Back Wool Challenge.

1. Groenewond, Netherlands/Germany, 6hr 03min 28sec. (new mainland European record)
2. Spinning Knitwits-Newcastle, Australia, 6hr 25min 32sec
3. Hitsujikouboh Masako, Japan, 6hr 28min 22sec
4. Kurrajong Handspun Crafts, Australia, 7hr 48min 53sec
5. Gumeracha Gumknutters, Australia, 9hr 06min 15sec
6. Bloemfontein Spinners Academy, Republic of South Africa, 9hr 27min 22sec
7. Sheep Thrills, Canada, 9hr 46min 37sec
8. Spinthrift Scotsville, Canada, 9hr 48min 10sec
9. Cotswold Woolgatherers, United Kingdom, 10hr 15min 00sec
10. San Diego County Spinners, USA, 11 hr 39 min 15 sec
11. Poly Westers, Canada, Unfinished

2011 Canadian Winners


Toronto Spiders - 2011 Internatinal Winners
FRONT:  Barb Aikman, Karen Richens, Bob Comfort (shearer) with Gumdrop, Lorraine Smith, Judy Pergau (with finished sweater)
BACK:  Wannietta Prescod, Denise Powell, Julia Lee

Guinness WORLD RECORD
Pembroke Merriwa Jumbucks, NSW, Australia  4hr 51min 14sec    ~    2004

2011 Awards:
Scottish Wool Centre -      The winning team worldwide
Toronto Spiders, Greenwood, Ontario, Canada 5hr 53min 34sec

City of Geelong - Winning Australian team
Spinning Knitwits (Newcastle), Patterson, NSW, Australia

Shipway Trophy - For the winning New South Wales, Australia, team
Spinning Knitwits (Newcastle), Patterson, NSW, Australia

Canadian Cooperative Wool Growers Ltd Trophy - for the winning Canadian team
Toronto Spiders, Greenwood, Ontario, Canada

Brigadoon Trophy - The team with the greatest donation to charity
Results to be announced when all the results are in.