From sheep to sweater in under eight hours

A local group of enterprising fibre enthusiasts are undertaking a daunting task. They’re attempting to create a wool sweater from scratch – including shearing the sheep, spinning the wool and knitting the final product – in under eight hours. It’s much more difficult than it sounds.

The entire process must be done by hand. This means electric shearers are not allowed when shearing the sheep; scissors, handcarders, flickers or combs are prohibited; and two wool singles must be plied for a 'double knit' of approximately eight-ply yarn.

It’s all part of the Back to Back Wool Challenge, and international competition hosted in locations across New Zealand, Australia, Scotland, Japan, USA and Canada. The Sault Ste. Marie team is one of just three participating on behalf of Canada.

Each team is given the same sweater pattern to produce. The team that produces its finished sweater in the best recorded time will be crowned the winner. The time clock starts when the team’s designated shearer begins shearing the sheep. Time ends when the completed sweater is handed to the timekeeper.

Hosted locally be Shabby Motley Handcraft, representing Sault Ste. Marie are Ken MacLeod (sheep shearer), Alexis Ness (knitter and spinner), Gen Freeland (knitter and spinner), Mary Billiam (knitter and spinner), Megan Fontana, (knitter and spinner), Sohia Silberberg (knitter and spinner), Suzanne Wylie (knitter and spinner), and Zenith Lillie- Eakett (knitter and spinner). The team assessor/timekeeper is Brenda Miron. Some teams use the event to raise funds for charity, and in our local team’s case, they’re taking the opportunity to fundraise on behalf of the Soup Kitchen Community Centre.

Ashleigh Sauvé, owner of Shabby Motley, told SooToday the idea came to her as she was watching a ‘slow TV’ episode featuring The National Knitting Night. The Canadian record is approximately five hours, and the international record is around the four-hour mark, she said.

“Our teams believes that they can come in well. They’re going for the Canadian record,” Sauvé said.

The wool Team Shabby will use is coming from an Icelandic sheep graciously provided by Valleyfield Farm.

“The final sweaters always come out completely ridiculous-looking because although everyone has to use the same needle size, the tension is all over the place. But the competition doesn’t care about that,” Sauvé explained. “They’re not judging the final product. It doesn’t have to be pretty, it just has to have followed the rules and pattern.”

To celebrate the giant undertaking, Shabby Motley has rented the entire Mill Market to present A Handmakers Market from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Sunday. In addition to the Back to Back Wool Challenge, visitors will enjoy a variety of regional vendors, kid’s activities, and a full BBQ with plenty of food and beverages.

Everyone is invited to attend. The event is free, but pledges in support of the Soup Kitchen Community Centre will be accepted.