Sarah Bordelon involves 1,700 competitors from 25 countries
Sarah Bordelon never expected this.
When the Destrehan resident founded Tour-de-Sock, a speed knitting contest deriving its name from the Tour-de-France bicycle race, she thought it would be a good outlet for a major interest of hers and a chance to raise money for a good cause.
But her idea has swelled far beyond those modest expectations — it’s blossomed worldwide. This year’s tour will involve 1,700 participants from 25 different countries and six continents. In its six years of existence, participants have raised more than $30,000 for Doctors without Borders.
“I had no idea it would take off to this degree,” Bordelon said. “My husband always laughs about it. It just gets bigger and bigger.”
Bordelon participated in a different speed-knitting game initially — and came close to winning it before a scheduling conflict took her out of the running. The game eventually folded, and after reading comments from her fellow knitters lamenting the game’s end, she decided to do something about it.
“I opened my big mouth and said, ‘I can do that!’” she said with a laugh. “I hosted it on a website called Ravelry, and before I knew it, I looked at my husband and it’s, ‘Oh my gosh, look how many people have signed up!’”
Competitors sign up for a registration fee of $7.50, and the goal is to be the first to finish six sock patterns. This year’s competition began July 16. On that date the first of those patterns was released. Everyone gains access at the same time and, once the project is complete, racers email Bordelon pictures of their completed socks. Time stamps determine finishing order.
“It’s kind of like NASCAR in a way,” she said. “First place gets a certain amount of points and then on down.”There are also moderators on Ravelry to determine each project meets requirements.
At the end of six stages, the points are added up and prizes are awarded.
This year, the field increased by more than 500 entrants.
Also, Bordelon said that for the first time this year, requests were made by those who signed up to add an entry box on the Tour-de-Sock registration site enabling entrants to add a larger donation fee to Doctors Without Borders, a cause Bordelon believes in wholeheartedly.
“Doctors Without Borders is amazing,” she said. “They go into areas where nobody else is going, areas where soldiers aren’t even going sometimes, to help people. I have a niece … she is going to medical school. Her goal isn’t to go be a doctor and make lots of money, it’s to go be a physician with Doctors Without Borders. That blows my mind. I’m very happy to help an organization like that that does so much globally.”
She said the Ravelry website has been the focal point of growing the competition, which she said is friendly and has fostered great camaraderie among its participants, who may compete individually or divide up into teams.
“Everyone is very supportive of one another,” she said. “We have very experienced knitters, and others who have made their very first pair of socks through Tour-de-Sock. Some ask questions and for help, and someone might post a link to a tutorial online … everyone is very warm and helpful.”
That has spurred Bordelon to keep the event alive.
“I think if this game ever got cutthroat, I’d probably stop,” she said. “I tell them, as long as I’m having fun, we’ll keep doing this. I consider it like throwing a party.
It has to be fun otherwise why am I putting in the work?”Bordelon has long been an avid crafter. At 5 years old, she learned to crochet from her grandmother, who Bordelon said taught her the hobby as a way to “keep me quiet.”“That part didn’t work,” she quipped. “But I did fall in love with crafting.”
In high school, she learned one of her best friends could knit, and asked the friend if she would knit her a sweater if Bordelon would make her a blanket.
“She didn’t have the time for it, but I liked her (knitted) sweater,” she said. “I figured I’d learn and make one myself.”
Now, her hobby has grown into an international competition.
“It’s mostly based in the United States, but we’re seeing more and more entrants from other countries. It’s been amazing,” she said.
The best part is announcing to the group what they’ve raised to help the cause.
“When I see that number, my heart kind of bursts a littlebit and I get a big smile on my face,” Bordelon said. “I love announcing that to the group. They’re the ones who do it. They’re very, very generous people. And they’re wonderful to work with.”
Be the first to comment