It is almost time for BritSpin 2020. An annual event where spinners join teams and they compete for a number of different spinning trials. The last two years I was in the team “More Enthusiasm Than Skill“. This year I am captaining a Highland Guild team.

BritSpin now have a freetreadlers team, so if you want to join in and can’t find a team with a free space then you can join the free treadlers. When drafting this I noticed my old team (linked above) isn’t yet full and I recommend them for good banter.

BritSpin runs from 9pm on Wednesday 14th to 9pm Sunday 18th October (both times British Summer Time). You are allowed to prepare fibre beforehand, but you have to start with empty spindles and bobbins and must have everything off your bobbins and measured before the deadline.

Update: It is both a spinning and charity event. The winning team gets to choose the charity that will benefit from the following year’s events. Last year’s winning team chose the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) as the charity, so participants are encouraged to donate at least £5 to the RNLI. They are hoping to raise £3,000 this year.

There are 3 Marathon events that you can enter:-

• Team Marathon
• Individual Marathon
• Individual Marathon – spindle only

Plus Extra Events:

• Learn a new skill
• Breedathon
• Bingo (BritSpin site link to bingo card if you are curious)
• BritSpin Sprint

Plus there are photo thread entries. For a more accurate description of the events please check the BritSpin website. Or the Ravelry page.

Our team’s sponsors are Doulton Border Leicester Yarn. They aren’t a company I was previously aware of, but reading about their passion for this rare breed, their slaughter free policies and their commitment to producing a quality cruelty free product, I am proud to have them as our sponsors. They sell natural wool tops, fleeces, natural & dyed yarn, patterns and kits. Their yarn comes in UK 4 ply (fingering weight), DK and Aran. All of these are from their own flock of ~300 sheep. One thing I noticed in the sheep photos is how long the ears are on the Border Leicester breed. They look like bunny ears! I am really looking forward to spinning the tops they sent our team. It’s not a breed I have spun before, but they say it produces lofty and springy spun yarn, so sounds good to me.

At the time of writing this I notice their website has free UK shipping on orders over £50 and also notice they are offering some discounts because the yarn shows and festivals have all been cancelled. I’m on a yarn diet this year, but look at this gorgeous coloured yarn! Doesn’t that have my name written all over it!

Last year I focused on the breedathon and learning a new skill (using my Russian Supported Spindle). This year my focus is on taking part in the Bingo and increasing my overall length. Last year a tripled the length spun during BritSpin 2018, so I am aiming to at least double the length I spun last year.

I have a basket full of rolags made from John Arbon Harvest Hues fibre so I shall be spinning those, once I have spun the Border Leicester.

NB: I have received permission to use the BritSpin logo. Permission must be obtained to use it as it does not belong to BritSpin. Details for obtaining permission are on the BritSpin T&Cs page on Ravelry.