What is Tour de Fleece? Well, as you might expect with the name, it happens in tandem with [but is not associated with] Tour de France. It’s a great way to challenge yourself as a spinner – you can either try to spin every day, or set a specific goal, or something else that happens during the TdF. It was started by Star Athena in 2006. It has grown into its own thing on Ravelry.
I’ve done it “officially” for two years; in 2011 and 2012.
This year, the Tour de Fleece starts Saturday June 29 and runs until Sunday July 21nd, 2013.
Guidelines (NOT RULES):
* Spin every day the Tour rides, if possible. Saturday June 29th through Sunday July 21st. Days of rest: Monday July 8th and Monday July 15th. (Just like the actual tour.)
* Spin something challenging on the challenge day (usually the toughest high mountain stage: this year, it’s Stage 18, on Thursday, July 18th, when they climb Alpe d’Huez twice).
* Take a button if you want one. Then we can use the button on our blogs in show of solidarity.
* Wear yellow on Sunday July 21st to announce victory. Why not wear yellow on any day you feel particularly successful? (Yellow is the color of the race leader in the Tour – but here we are all ‘race leaders’)
* Other colors if desired: Green (sprinter – think FAST), Polka-dot (climber – as in uphill), and white (rookie)
This year, I’m doing it without posting or registering in the official Ravelry Tour de Fleece group. There *will* be talk on the Threeravens Rav group, as well as on the Threeravens Facebook page. I’ll also update my progress here on the blog; I recommend that if you want to play along, that you do the same, because it’s fun!
Here’s the images you can use:
Oh hey, did I mention that there will be prizes? THERE WILL. I’ll be announcing those closer to the start date, but let me just say that they’re not all from me, and they’re all excellent. 😉
Want to join in? Just sign up officially by commenting below! If you have a blog or website, please link it when you do, and I’ll make a list of our team mates with links to you all. Let’s get ready to SPIN!
111 Comments
Wae Wang-Franco
May 26, 2013 at 12:23 amI haven’t participated before but I’d love to!
Xiane
May 26, 2013 at 12:40 amWelcome to the team, Wae! 🙂
Rebecca
May 26, 2013 at 9:19 amI’m in!
Xiane
May 26, 2013 at 12:18 pmWoohooo!
knitsbyheather
May 26, 2013 at 10:37 amYou know I’m in! 🙂
Xiane
May 26, 2013 at 12:18 pmI was hoping you’d play along again this year, yay!
Elinor
May 26, 2013 at 11:26 amAww yiss, I really need to get my wheel moving again. Will there be Spin In Public opportunities during TdF?
Xiane
May 26, 2013 at 12:01 pmThat’s an EXCELLENT idea and we should make that happen!
Crystal
May 26, 2013 at 12:05 pmI’m in! Plus I love that raven. 😉
Xiane
May 26, 2013 at 12:19 pmIt is such a great image I had to use it again this year 😀
Welcome to the team!
Crystal
May 26, 2013 at 9:56 pmThanks! 😀
LeAndra
May 26, 2013 at 12:28 pmThat sounds like all kinds of fun 🙂
Xiane
May 26, 2013 at 12:30 pmWelcome aboard! The spinning’s fine! 😀
Stephanie Brown (@Halaylah)
May 26, 2013 at 1:16 pmI’m in – and I already know what I want to do for the challenge day!
Xiane
May 26, 2013 at 2:19 pmYay! And I can’t wait to see what you do for your challenge!
Wendi
May 26, 2013 at 6:34 pmMmm. Spinning. You know I love it. 🙂
Xiane
May 26, 2013 at 10:35 pmYES! This is going to be a kickass team!
Bevin
May 26, 2013 at 10:24 pmI’m definitely in! Need to figure out my challenge…
Xiane
May 26, 2013 at 10:36 pmYay! I have NO idea what mine is going to be either, we’ll have to share ideas!
Lindsay
May 28, 2013 at 8:30 pmHey, I’ll join this team too! May as well spread myself as thin as possible 🙂
Xiane
May 28, 2013 at 8:37 pmThe good news is you can spin the same thing for all of the teams and increase your chances to WIN WIN WIN 😀
Chrissy Bell (@thepinkwoobie)
May 28, 2013 at 8:33 pmIN!!!! Will need ideas for challenge, I still feel like a spinning newbie.
Xiane
May 28, 2013 at 8:38 pmI will definitely be posting some ideas for challenges! Yay for having you IN!
Ashley Thomas-Mason
May 28, 2013 at 8:35 pmIs there any such thing as spinning too much??? I say NO!!! Tour de Fleece, her I come. 🙂
Xiane
May 28, 2013 at 8:38 pmNever too much spinning! 😀
Stephanie Mcguckin
May 28, 2013 at 8:53 pmI’m in thanks for doing this
Xiane
May 28, 2013 at 10:19 pmGlad to have you join in! It’s going to be so FUN!
Kae (@LadieKae)
May 28, 2013 at 9:53 pmI’m in! I even have some ThreeRavens batts to spin 🙂
Xiane
May 28, 2013 at 10:18 pmWoohoooo! And I *love* seeing what other people spin my fiber into! Maybe I’ll have to spin some Snallygaster fiber, hmmm 🙂
Patti Robinson
May 28, 2013 at 10:23 pmI would love to join in!
Xiane
May 28, 2013 at 10:57 pmSo glad to have you on the team, Patti! Yay!
Melanie
May 29, 2013 at 5:09 amIn the middle of all my summer craziness, I plan to participate as much as I can.
Xiane
May 29, 2013 at 12:30 pmWhen things are going crazy… add more crazy! Welcome aboard! <3
Kelly
May 29, 2013 at 6:16 amcount me in! 🙂 I would love to officially be unofficial! 😉
Xiane
May 29, 2013 at 12:31 pmYAY! I am so pleased to have you on the team!
Lucy Hughes
May 29, 2013 at 7:52 amI would love to participate for my first Tour de Fleece in a really fun atmosphere like this one!
Xiane
May 29, 2013 at 12:31 pmSo thrilled to have you on the team, Lucy! We are going to have FUN!
Monica
May 29, 2013 at 12:19 pmMe! Me! 😉
Xiane
May 29, 2013 at 12:31 pmWoohooo! So excited to have you playing along! <3
Rachel Jones
May 29, 2013 at 3:26 pmOk I’m officially In!
Xiane
May 29, 2013 at 4:18 pmI’m so happy to have you join in!
Ann Mikeal
June 5, 2013 at 5:39 pmAdd me to the list 🙂
Xiane
June 5, 2013 at 9:11 pmWelcome to the team, Ann! 🙂
thespunmonkey
June 11, 2013 at 10:14 amAlrighty, I’m in! Add me to the list and I’ll make an official post about it sometime this week. 🙂
Xiane K
June 11, 2013 at 10:29 amThis party gets better and better! Welcome to the team! <3
kymberli
June 11, 2013 at 11:03 amJoining! Although I did on Feb. 🙂
Xiane K
June 11, 2013 at 12:00 pmYou’re in, lady! Thank you for joining! <3
Esther
June 20, 2013 at 2:44 pmI would like to join the team too 🙂
X Esther Duijzer
Xiane K
June 20, 2013 at 3:23 pmAdding you now! Welcome to the team, yay!
Alina Stannard
June 23, 2013 at 8:20 pmLate is better than never? I wants in please 🙂
Alina — Fleeced (Alimar Designs)
Xiane
June 23, 2013 at 9:02 pmYou’re not too late! Welcome to the team, yay!
Stacy
June 23, 2013 at 9:34 pmI’d like to join in.
Xiane K
June 23, 2013 at 11:49 pmYou are IN, Stacy! Yay!
Liz
June 23, 2013 at 10:33 pmI would love to join!
Xiane K
June 23, 2013 at 11:48 pmWelcome to the team, Liz! 🙂
Megan Lilly
June 23, 2013 at 11:12 pmI want in!! Hope i’m not too late!!
Xiane K
June 23, 2013 at 11:48 pmYou’re definitely not too late! Welcome to the team!
Rhonda J.
June 24, 2013 at 1:06 amI would love to participate. I’m just getting my fb fiber page and etsy store started, so this is a fun way to kick everything off!
Xiane K
June 24, 2013 at 10:59 amHi Rhonda, welcome to the team! I’ll have you up on the roster later today, yay!
Vickie Cameron
June 24, 2013 at 1:11 amSounds like a lot of fun! Count me in, can’t wait for it to start!
Xiane K
June 24, 2013 at 11:00 amVickie, welcome to the team! I’ll put your name on the team roster later today, I hope you have tons of fun during this TdF!
Xiane K
June 26, 2013 at 12:45 amFixed the commenting issue – you should be able to sign up here again. When the Tour starts, I’ll close this comment area up. 🙂
adelemichelsen
June 26, 2013 at 9:11 pmI’m in!
Xiane K
June 26, 2013 at 10:41 pmYes you are! 😀
YAY!
adelemichelsen
June 26, 2013 at 11:45 pmLove my little Avatar! Woo Hoo!
Looks like I have to go dig stash up to spin considering I’ve spun tons of stuff this week. LOL
Anna 紬アンナ (@thisgoodlife)
June 26, 2013 at 10:55 pmOH, replying here also, I suppose. B/c it’s where I was supposed to pledge in the first place. Whoops. <3
Xiane K
June 26, 2013 at 11:05 pmNo matter, you are IN 😉
mothermoonpads
June 26, 2013 at 11:15 pmI’m in!
Xiane K
June 26, 2013 at 11:20 pmWelcome to the team, Denelle! 🙂
Alpacaboose Farm
June 27, 2013 at 10:27 amI’m In! Can’t wait…Is there a place that I can post pictures? I will post them on my FB page is you want! Go team Nevermore! 🙂 You can call me Alpacaboose Rose ! 🙂
Xiane K
June 27, 2013 at 11:17 amSo excited to have you on board, Rose! Yay!
deki
June 27, 2013 at 11:52 amI would like to join this team. I think my challenge will be trying new techniques in both art yarn and standard yarns. I have only been spinning for about a year and a half, so that leaves a lot of options for trying techniques that i haven’t done before.
Xiane K
June 27, 2013 at 12:42 pmWelcome to the team, Deki! I think those are great challenges – I really love when people embrace new ideas in their spinning and I can’t wait to see what you spin!
Theresa (KnitsinPublic)
June 27, 2013 at 1:07 pmIs it too late for me to join? My goals: I want to clear off two spindles and spin two units of fiber (either two batts or a braid and a batt, or two braids, etc.) Excited!
Xiane K
June 27, 2013 at 2:29 pmOf COURSE you can join! And if you’re around tomorrow, there might be some people dropping into the shop to start off spinning for the TdF, too!
Maya
June 27, 2013 at 4:20 pmI am in!
Xiane K
June 27, 2013 at 9:21 pmYAY! I will add you to the list, I am SO excited to have you onboard! <3
Vickie Mitchell
June 27, 2013 at 8:51 pmSign me up. I´ve listed my goals on the facebook page. Need I post them here as well? I´m ready for this!! 🙂
Xiane K
June 27, 2013 at 9:21 pmI can post them up for you, and I’ll add you to the team roster too! Welcome to the team! 🙂
Renee Smith
June 27, 2013 at 10:03 pmOk…I am slow but I want to join!!
Xiane K
June 27, 2013 at 10:51 pmYou are IN! Welcome to the team! <3
George Crawford
June 28, 2013 at 2:18 pmBetter late than never! Rookie to the starting line..I’m in!
Xiane K
June 28, 2013 at 3:18 pmWelcome aboard!!! So glad to have you on the team! <3
Candy Hargett
June 28, 2013 at 6:34 pmSign Me Up!
Xiane K
June 28, 2013 at 8:15 pmYou’re on, Candy! Welcome to the team! Yay!
Yvonne
June 28, 2013 at 8:28 pmCan’t wait to spin with you. TdF is my favorite time of year.
Xiane K
June 28, 2013 at 8:46 pmWelcome to the team, Yvonne! Mine too – I get SO much done, and I get really inspired by how much everyone else accomplishes, too!
Peggy Bass
June 28, 2013 at 10:11 pmi would love to join in the Tour de Fleece..
Xiane K
June 28, 2013 at 10:26 pmI have added you to the team roster – you’re IN! Welcome to the team! <3
Megan Lilly
June 28, 2013 at 11:01 pmDoes this start at midnight, cause i’m ready!!!
Rose Duke
June 29, 2013 at 10:06 amI wanna play too. I’m a newbe, but I just got a whole stash of fun fluff (thank you Christiane). My goal is to spin every day (at this point I need to tell myself “Step away from the Spindles-go to work!”). I have some special projects in mind, but right now I’m thrilled just to be creating yarn.
Xiane K
June 29, 2013 at 3:49 pmRose, I am SUPER excited to have you on the team! Please drop by anytime I’m at the studio for some TdF sitting and spinning! <3
Xiane K
June 29, 2013 at 3:48 pmGooooooooooooooooooooooo! 😀
Taneli Crisfwelle
June 29, 2013 at 6:50 amI would really enjoy being on Team Nevermore! Lots of locks, braids, and a raw CVM fleece and much more. This will be my 2nd year and last year I got a lot done but could have done so much more.
Xiane K
June 29, 2013 at 3:49 pmIt is an honor to have you on the team! You have great goals, too!
Pam
June 29, 2013 at 10:19 amExcited. My goal is add ins, add ins, add ins! Practice new techniques and meet many new spinners!!!
Julia
June 29, 2013 at 11:32 amOk, I almost forgot this year, I’m signing up!
Xiane K
June 29, 2013 at 3:50 pmYay! So happy to have you on the team!
Beth
June 29, 2013 at 5:17 pmI just found out about Tour de Fleece today and joined on Ravelry. I would love to join your team if it’s not too late, at least partly because I love your badge! My goal is to spin everyday and complete at least ten skeins, but that includes some custom orders I have to finish up for my Etsy shop, and I also need to get a ton of fleece washed and dyed.
Beth
June 29, 2013 at 5:18 pmOh, and I do spin mostly art yarn. 🙂
Xiane K
June 29, 2013 at 8:48 pmJust looked at your blog. OH MY. Love it! So glad you found us!
Beth
June 29, 2013 at 10:51 pmThank you! *g* I’m very happy and excited to be here!
Xiane K
June 29, 2013 at 8:46 pmWelcome aboard, Beth! I am super happy to sneak you onto the team 😉
Maya
June 29, 2013 at 6:15 pmAre we posting our daily pics here too? Or just link to our blogs?
Xiane K
June 29, 2013 at 8:47 pmIf you link to your blog, I can put the posts linked on the main page. You have pics already? Wanna seeeee!
Deborah Castellano (@MsDebCastellano)
June 30, 2013 at 8:05 pmI’m in! I’ll be posting updates to my Facebook page, La Sirene et Le Corbeau: https://www.facebook.com/sirenecorbeau
Xiane K
June 30, 2013 at 8:51 pmYAY! Welcome to the team, and I’ll add you to the roster! [also, LOVE the name of your page 😉 ]
ann mikeal
July 3, 2013 at 5:01 pmDay 5 – managed to get a 72 yard skein finished last night… I love it… isnt it great when mistakes turn out nice, lol 🙂
http://twinmommycreations.blogspot.com/2013/07/tour-de-fleece-2013-day-5.html
Jan
May 30, 2014 at 6:32 pmI’m in thanks for having me, I’m with the Journey to the Golden Fleece group! Oiling my wheels…set to go!!
curlysheep
July 1, 2014 at 11:27 pmHi I think I listed to take part before but cant find my name on the list My name is Jen and my fibre FB is Curly Wool. Would love to join in . I will be at the Bendigo Victoria Australia Sheep and Wool Show the last 3 days but will still join in.
Xiane K
July 2, 2014 at 11:19 pmHi Jen! I’ll make sure that you get on the list for this year’s TdF! The official post is coming, hopefully tomorrow. This Summer was supposed to be slow and easy… it’s a LIE 😀
Looking forward to seeing everything you spin!