Fleeced lightnin’: West Vic knitters turn a jumbuck into a jumper in 9 hours

How long does it take to shear a sheep, spin its wool and knit an adult-sized jumper? 

It sounds like the lead up to a joke, but every year teams from across the globe - including West Vic - put themselves to the test to find out.

What happened? Two teams competed at the Tarndwarncoort homestead near Birregurra on Saturday for the International Back to Back Wool Challenge - a marathon event where groups must shear a sheep, spin its wool and knit a jumper in the fastest time possible.

• Both teams achieved a personal best time.

• Team Polwarth completed their jumper in 11 hours, 35 minutes and 52 seconds.

• Team Sisters in Stitches completed their jumper in 9 hours, 57 minutes and 52 seconds.

Rapid, at speed, with pace: Organiser Tom Dennis said Sisters in Stitches’ time was 8 hours faster than last year’s result.

• “If they've shaved off a whole working day of their lives to make the jumper, then it gives you an idea of how much effort they go to,” he told the Brolga.

• “Even though [Polwarth] wasn't as fast as the other team, they were really happy with how it looked. They used the black sheep to create the jumper, so it's got a really nice pattern in it, and it looks like something you'd want to wear.” 

Global event: The wool challenge event saw people travel by train from New South Wales to attend. Across the world, teams from North America and Europe compete annually. 

Last year’s overall winners were the San Diego County Spinners, setting a record in the USA with a finish time of 7 hours and 12 minutes.

• “We don't know just how many are going to be in it [this year],” Dennis explained. “They do it at different times, but they have to get it done before the 30th of June.” 

• “We know a couple of teams in America have already done their challenge, and there were a couple over in Gippsland earlier.” 

• “I suspect there'll be about 10 or so around Europe, North America and Australia.”

For a good cause: The challenge at the homestead doubles as a charity event - Tarndwarncoort has raised money for Rare Cancers Australia over the last four years.

“Last year we reached $10,000. Because we had one less team this year, we thought we'd go for $7,500 as our target.”

• People can support the fundraiser through donations or by purchasing a beanie pattern.

• Donations are open until Easter, then a final tally will be recorded.

Dennis said Bronwyn White, a patient advocate from Rare Cancers Australia, made the trip to the homestead to share her experience with receiving a rare cancer diagnosis.

“The good thing was that she was also a knitter. She's only in her 40s, and she's had a rough trot with unusual cancers, but she has obviously found a form of solace in knitting.”

Living slow: Dennis said the wool challenge promotes “slow fashion”, and the fun of watching the jumper materialise over the course of the challenge is a way to embrace purchasing clothing that is made locally and ethically over fast fashion made overseas.