The Back-to-Back Wool Challenge is a wild and heartwarming event where a team of eight takes a sheep from fleece to finished sweater- all in one day. It’s all about raising awareness for the wool industry while also supporting cancer care. Our Maine team is taking part again this year, with donations going directly to Sarah’s House of Maine, which provides free lodging for cancer patients traveling long distances for treatment in the Bangor area. The challenge kicks off at 8 a.m. on May 17th at the Penobscot County Extension Office, and we’ll be working non-stop; shearing, spinning, and knitting to try and finish the sweater in under ten hours. There’ll be fiber goods like hats, mittens, and socks up for suggested donations and raffle, plus an online auction through the Mainely Spinners Facebook page, where you can also catch updates and live streaming throughout the day.

The idea goes way back to 1811 in England when a wager led to a coat being made from sheep’s back to man’s back in 13 hours (followed by a feast, naturally). The modern version began in 1992 in Scotland to raise funds for cancer research, and now it’s global. Our Maine crew came in third place last year with a time of 10 hours, 36 minutes, and we also raised $2,800, taking second place in fundraising.

Not too shabby! We’re hoping to beat our record this time, with more community support and maybe a faster finish. Come watch us in person or follow along online- every stitch helps.