Mainely Spinners speak to Milo Garden Club
MILO — What do alpacas, camels, goats, and sheep have in common with corn silk, cotton bolls, kitty cats, and silk worms?
The answer is: they all provide fibers for spinners and knitters.
This interesting fact was one of many shared by Mainely Spinners members Donna Coffin and Jean Greenough when they visited Milo Garden Club on Feb. 11.
Also included in their presentation was news of the upcoming Back to Back Wool Challenge. This event is described on the Mainely Spinners Back to Back Wool Challenge Facebook page as “8 people, 1 sheep, 1 sweater, 1 day Cancer Fundraiser.” Stated simply, the challenge begins at 8 a.m. sharp when the sheep is shorn. As the wool is gathered, it is prepared for the spinning wheel, spinners and knitters, all of whom work quickly and efficiently until the goal of creating a completed sweater is met. All this in one day!
SPINNING TALK — Mainely Spinners members speak about spinning with Milo Garden Club members. From left, Danielle Bender, Donna Coffin, Allison McCullough (standing), Ethel Ann Russell, and Jean Greenough.
Last year Mainely Spinners, who have competed in the challenge for a number of years, achieved their best time while participating in the 28th International Challenge: 10 hours, 36 minutes, 33 seconds.
The 2025 Back to Back Wool Challenge is set for May 17. Starting time is 8 a.m. and the location is at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Penobscot County Office, 307 Maine Avenue, Bangor. Proceeds from sale items and the raffle for last year’s sweater will benefit Sarah’s House of Maine.
Also during the meeting, garden club members were given an opportunity to experience how to use spinning wheels which were brought in by the guest speakers. In addition, swatches featuring fascinating fibers were passed around. These knitted squares of various textures featured, yak fiber, alpaca fiber, corn silk, silk from silk worms, mohair from goats, camel wool, cotton from cotton bolls, Romney wool from Romney sheep, and one little square made from the soft hair of Donna’s mustard colored kitty.
Milo Garden Club gives warm thanks to Coffin and Greenough of Mainely Spinners for sharing their time and expertise.
The next Milo Garden Club meeting is scheduled for Tuesday March 11 at 1 p.m at the Kiwanis Building, 15 Harris Pond Road behind NAPA on outer Park Street in Milo.
The program topic is tick education. For more information call 207-943-2400.