San Diego North Coast Knitters Guild
Print Page
  • Home
  • Guild Info
    • Where We Meet
    • Guild Contacts
    • Board, Chairs and Coordinators
    • Contact the Guild
    • Guild Membership
    • Guild Photo Galleries
    • Guild History
      • 2023 General Monthly Meetings
      • Workshops in 2023
      • 2022 General Monthly Meetings
      • Workshops in 2022
      • 2021 General Monthly Meetings
      • Workshops in 2021
      • 2020 General Monthly Meetings
      • Workshops in 2020
      • 2019 Monthly Meetings
      • Workshops in 2019
      • 2018 Monthly Meetings
      • 2017 Monthly Meetings
      • 2016 Monthly Meetings
      • 2015 Monthly Meetings
      • 2014 Monthly Meetings
  • Calendar
    • 2023 General Monthly Meetings
    • Workshops in 2023
    • Sub-Group Meetings
    • MTM Workshops
      • MTM Workshop Host List
    • Retreats
  • Knitter News
  • Member Resources
    • Renew or Join
    • Lending Library
    • Show and Share Form
    • Guild Newsletters
    • Reimbursement Form
  • Philanthropy
    • Share A Knit Philanthropy Event
    • Philanthropy Hang Tag
    • Bust Buddies and Softies
  • Knitters’ Resources
    • Holiday Luncheon Sponsors
    • Karen des Jardins’ Tips for Knitters
    • Sydnie Wauson’s Ravelry Tips
    • Local Yarn Shops
    • Knitters Guilds in Southern California
    • Original Knitters’ Resource Page

In Case You Missed It… August Recap

August 28, 2019

In Case You Missed It:  International Back-to-Back Wool Challenge

Margaret Tyler

August’s Guild Meeting was a presentation by Margaret Tyler and Patricia Mulcahy from the San Diego County Spinners, the only USA team in the International Back-to-Back Wool Challenge. From the back of a sheep to the back of a person in the shortest amount of time, this event has its origins in Scotland in 1992 as a way to raise funds for cancer research. All teams follow identical Challenge rules and knit a sweater pattern exactly as it is written. The San Diego County Spinners have been competing since 2012 and took first place in this year’s competition with a winning time of 7 hours 52 minutes 00 seconds, beating last year’s time by 17 minutes 05 seconds.

Team members Patricia and Margaret brought detailed posters and examples of previous years’ practice and finished sweaters, fleece, and the trophy. Margaret gave an informative and humorous talk supported by Patricia’s slides. We learned about the history of the international Back-to-Back Wool challenge and how the San Diego team came about. A fascinating part of Margaret’s talk was how they managed to whittle their time down to be this year’s winning team by studying marathon runners. The key was managing their hydration, no talking, a strategy which fostered competiveness between the knitters, plus lots of practice.

Pat Mulcahy explains plies to a guild member.

The San Diego County Spinners have been competing since 2012. They practice several times a month from October up until the competition in April which is held the last weekend in April each year. The USA team competes at the Bonita Museum and Cultural Center. Margaret said they are looking for more fast knitters and spinners who knit to join their team.

If you want to see them practice, they will be at the Vista Fiber Arts Festival October 5 and 6, 2019.

The Trophy!
Trophy detail.
Back-to-Back sweater, washed, from earlier year with unwashed fleece.
Unwashed fleece.
An unwashed completed sweater.

 

Event Guild Meeting

« August 6, 2019 General Meeting Minutes
August 2019 Show and Share Photos »

Ravelry

© 2023 San Diego North Coast Knitters Guild · All Rights Reserved.