Day 21 - the Tour may have finished, but I'm not quite done yet. Another day needed to ply, then skein this alpaca gradient. Maybe two.

#tourdefleece2025 #tdf2025 #tdf2025offrav #hilltopcloud #spinnersofpixelfed #pixelfedspinners #teamhilltopcloud #handspun #handspinning #ashfordjoy #ashfordnz #akerworks #fibre #yarn #spinning

Day 20 - It took longer than I had hoped to finish spinning the alpaca single, but I did manage to start the plying. It is unlikely that I will finish it tomorrow.

#tourdefleece2025 #tdf2025 #tdf2025offrav #hilltopcloud #spinnersofpixelfed #pixelfedspinners #teamhilltopcloud #handspun #handspinning #ashfordjoy #ashfordnz #akerworks #fibre #yarn #spinning

Day 19 - much like the abbreviated stage, I didn't quite manage to finish the braid today. It will need another couple of hours tomorrow before I can start plying.

#tourdefleece2025 #tdf2025 #tdf2025offrav #hilltopcloud #spinnersofpixelfed #pixelfedspinners #teamhilltopcloud #handspun #handspinning #ashfordjoy #ashfordnz #akerworks #fibre #yarn #spinning

Day 18 - further progress made on spinning the second braid of buttery soft alpaca.

#tourdefleece2025 #tdf2025 #tdf2025offrav #hilltopcloud #spinnersofpixelfed #pixelfedspinners #teamhilltopcloud #handspun #handspinning #ashfordjoy #ashfordnz #akerworks #fibre #yarn #spinning

Day 18 - finished spinning the first braid of alpaca and just about started on the second.

#tourdefleece2025 #tdf2025 #tdf2025offrav #hilltopcloud #spinnersofpixelfed #pixelfedspinners #teamhilltopcloud #handspun #handspinning #ashfordjoy #ashfordnz #akerworks #fibre #yarn #spinning

Day 16 - continued working on the first 100g of alpaca while the riders struggled up Mont Ventoux.

#tourdefleece2025 #tdf2025 #tdf2025offrav #hilltopcloud #spinnersofpixelfed #pixelfedspinners #teamhilltopcloud #handspun #handspinning #ashfordjoy #ashfordnz #akerworks #fibre #yarn #spinning

Day 15 - made a start on the pastel shaded Royal Alpaca before tomorrow's rest day. So soft.

#tourdefleece2025 #tdf2025 #tdf2025offrav #hilltopcloud #spinnersofpixelfed #pixelfedspinners #teamhilltopcloud #handspun #handspinning #ashfordjoy #ashfordnz #akerworks #fibre #yarn #spinning

Day 14 - completed the plying of the Rambouillet and managed to wind it onto the niddy noddy (200g of fairly fine yarn takes ages).

#tourdefleece2025 #tdf2025 #tdf2025offrav #hilltopcloud #spinnersofpixelfed #pixelfedspinners #teamhilltopcloud #handspun #handspinning #ashfordjoy #ashfordnz #akerworks #fibre #yarn #spinning

Day 13 - just carrying on with the plying, trying to keep the gradient nice and smooth.

#tourdefleece2025 #tdf2025 #tdf2025offrav #hilltopcloud #spinnersofpixelfed #pixelfedspinners #teamhilltopcloud #handspun #handspinning #ashfordjoy #ashfordnz #akerworks #fibre #yarn #spinning

Day 12 - a later start to plying the Rambouillet than intended as my drive band separated and I had to bodge a new one together (a new one has been ordered). I don't work with cotton yarns so tried a couple of different wool yarns I had lying around, but they overstretched. I ended up using tent pole bungee cord, under tension, tied with a reef knot. Let's see if it holds.

#tourdefleece2025 #tdf2025 #tdf2025offrav #hilltopcloud #spinnersofpixelfed #pixelfedspinners #teamhilltopcloud #handspun #handspinning #ashfordjoy #ashfordnz #akerworks #fibre #yarn #spinning