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Skein & Garment Competition

 

Click Here for Mamie Francis Blanket Competition



Skein & Garment Competition Rules

1. All articles and skeins must be at least 50% wool. Wool is defined as fiber produced from the fleece of sheep. Please note the exceptions in the Handspun Yarn Section (Classes 1 - 5) and in the Mamie Francis Blanket Competition (Classes B1 - B5), where 100% wool is required. For the Alpaca Special Prizes, articles must be 50% wool and 50% alpaca.

2. Work must be new, i.e., completed since the 2007 Festival, clean, and free of all odors. All work submitted must be independently created by the participant (unless noted in the rules) and not the product of a workshop.

3. Each handspun article (garment or other article) must be spun and constructed by the entrant alone except for Class 37. Articles not made entirely from yarn spun by the entrant must be entered in the Commercial Yarn Section.


4. Felted articles (hand-knitted and then felted, handwoven and then felted, felted from fleece, and needle-felted) should be entered in classes 40 - 44. Knitted or woven articles that have been fulled, i.e., stitches or warp and weft yarn can still be seen, must be entered in Classes 34 or 35, or in the class of the primary technique.


5. Each skein must contain a minimum of 2 ounces of handspun fiber for thick and medium, and 1 ounce for fine. Each skein must be 1½ to 2 yards in circumference, wound neatly, and tied in at least 3 places. Failure to do so will disqualify the skein. Skeins spun from commercially prepared fiber may be entered only in Classes 6, 7, 12 & 13. If sculptural entry, all pieces must be attached to make up one unit.


6. An article may be entered in only one class. A maximum of two entries per class will be accepted from each entrant. There is an entry fee of $3 per skein or article. Make checks payable to Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival. There is a $25 fee for any returned check. No entry fee is required for Junior (18 or under) entries.


7. All entries - whether submitted by mail or at the Festival - must include the following:

a completed entry form (below); a self-sticking address label for each article, with your name, address, and telephone number, so that viewers may identifiy your article after the judging; and a note (preferably on a 3x5 card) for each article. The following information must be included on each card: (1) class name and number; (2) a brief description including fiber content; (3) intended use; (4) technique; (5) sheep breed if known and a lock of fleece if available; (6) indicate whether the article was commercially prepared in any way; (7) age of entrant if 18 or under; (8) indicate if the yarn was spun from a Maryland sheep or a sheep owned by a member of the Maryland Sheep Breeders Association and identify the producer.

Do not include hangers or display equipment!


8. Entries are accepted Friday, May 2, 2008, between 9 am and 1 pm at the fairgrounds. Late submissions will not be accepted. If the 1 pm deadline cannot be met, mail entries.


9. Mailed articles should be sent to Skein & Garment Competition, PO Box 1905 Ellicott City MD 21041. They must be received no later than April 30, 2008 and must include entry fee. Articles will not be returned by mail. Inquiries can be made to:

Martha Maras, mrmaras@aol.com


10. Judging will take place Friday, May 2, in the afternoon and evening. The judges have the right to shift entries to more appropriate classes. Judges are not required to award all ribbons if, in their opinions, the entries are not of appropriate quality. judges’ decisions are final. All entries will be displayed uncovered but supervised during Festival hours. The Festival will make every effort to display and care for the entered pieces but assumes no responsibility for damage or loss.

11. Entries will not be released before 4:30 pm on Sunday, May 4, and must be claimed by 5:30 pm that evening. Articles not picked up will become the property of the Maryland Sheep Breeders Association, Inc.

Premiums:


Cash prizes will be awarded in each class for
First Place ($15),
Second Place ($10),
and Third Place ($5).
Ribbons will be awarded for First through Fifth Place.



Special Prizes All are $25 cash awards or gift certificates unless otherwise noted.


Best in Show - donated by Cloverhill Yarns of Baltimore, MD ($50 gift certificate)

Best Woven Article - donated by The Weavers Guild of Greater Baltimore

Best Handspun Skein - donated by The Weavers Guild of Greater Baltimore

Best Handspun 2-ply Yarn Spun on a Drop Spindle - donated by Chrissy & Bill Bellows

Best Handspun Article - donated by The Cloverhill Spinners

Best Basket of Yarn - donated by The Waterford Weavers, Waterford, VA

Best Novice Skein from Maryland Wool - donated by The Drafting Zone, in memory of Marianne Franklin

Best Novice Spinner - donated by The Chesapeake Spinners & Weavers

Best Junior Fiber Artist - donated by Sandy Spring Friends School

Best Junior Knitted Article - donated by The Leslie Woodward Memorial

Best Junior Spinner - donated by Waterford Weavers, Waterford, VA

Best Hand-Knitted Article - donated by The Central Maryland Knitting Guild

Best Sweater Knitted from Commercial Yarn - donated by Fiberworks of Ashton, MD

Best Knitting for Dolls and Bears - donated by The Central Maryland Knitting Guild, in memory of Lynna Babs Spornick

Best Innovative Design - donated by The Potomac Craftsmen

Best Hat - donated by Springwater Fiber Workshop, Inc. of Alexandria, VA

Best Alpaca Garment - donated by Gail Campbell at Ameripaca Alpaca Breeding Co. ($50)

Best Alpaca Handspun Skein - donated by Gail Campbell at Ameripaca Alpaca Breeding Co. ($50)

Best Hand-knitted article from Commercial Yarn - donated by Woolstock Knit Shop

Best Natural Dyed Article or Skein - donated by Michelle Lee McDaniel as the Marilyn M. Lee Memorial Prize

Best Original Fashion Forward Article / Felted technique - Miriam Carter Felt Maker,
donation of 1lb. of fiber to be picked up at her booth during the Festival

Maryland Sheep Breeders Association Prizes


Any yarn spun from a Maryland sheep or a sheep owned by a member of the Maryland Sheep Breeders Association is eligible for the following:


1. Best of Maryland Wool - Skein
2. Best of Maryland Wool - Article
3. Best of Maryland Wool - Producer

 

The “Freddie” Award


This is a $100 cash award for the weaver of the most unusual handwoven article in the show. This award is funded by an endowment from the family and friends of Mary Frederika Pfeiffer, an avid Festival supporter. The “Freddie” Award will continue her encouragement of excellence in creative handweaving.

The Sixth Annual Keyser Prize


A $50 cash prize for the handspun, hand knitted article that demonstrates mastery of technique and excellence in design. It is funded by the Cloverhill Spinners in remembrance of Judy Keyser, an active member who inspired students at the Park School and shared her spinning, knitting and weaving skills freely.

 

CLASSES:

Handspun Yarn Section:


Skeins - 100% Wool prepared by spinner from raw wool (fine is 20 or more wraps per inch, medium is 10 to 19, thick is less than 10)

 

1. Fine singles yarn

2. Medium to thick singles yarn

3. Fine plied yarn

4. Medium plied yarn

5. Thick plied yarn

photo by Larry Fisher

 

Skeins - at least 50% Wool

6. Singles yarn from commercially prepared fibers

7. Plied yarn from commercially prepared fibers

8. Singles or plied yarn blended by spinner

9. Singles or plied yarn natural dyed by spinner

10. Singles or plied yarn chemically dyed by spinner

11. Novelty yarn. To qualify as Novelty, the yarn must be spun using a defined technique and be well constructed (examples are boucle, corespun, tufted, etc.).

12. Handspinners dyed yarn basket - a minimum of one pound of yarn spun in any manner for use in one project displayed in a basket. Include a description of the fiber techniques used to spin the yarn and its intended use. A pattern, sketch or sample swatch of the project must be displayed. This class will be judged on craftsmanship and creativity.

13. Handspinners natural colored yarn basket - same as Class 12

14. Novice spinner (spinning one year or less) - singles or plied yarn




Hand-Knitted Articles:

15. Garment made from yarn of one color or one multi-colored yarn

16. Garment made from more than one colored yarn

17. Garment made from natural colored yarn

18. Wearable accessories

19. Blankets, afghans, scarves, shawls

20. Miscellaneous




Handwoven Articles:

21. Small to medium garment

22. Large garment

23. Blankets, afghans, scarves, shawls

24. Miscellaneous


Commercial Yarn Section:

Hand-Knitted Articles

 

25. Garment made from yarn of one color or one multicolored yarn

26. Garment made from more than one colored yarn

27. Blankets, afghans, scarves, shawls

28. Miscellaneous


Handwoven Articles:

29. Small to medium garment

30. Large garment

31. Blankets, afghans, scarves, shawls

32. Miscellaneous



Miscellaneous Section:

Miscellaneous Techniques:

33. Sewn Garment - made from commercially produced fabrics

34. Combination of techniques - small to medium article

35. Combination of techniques - large article

36. Crocheted article

37. Group-produced article made from handspun yarn. Identify all participants (maximum of four people) and their respective contributions to the finished piece. Purchased yarn may not be used.

a. knitted article

b. woven article.

38. Miscellaneous article using technique(s) other than those listed above (e.g., rug hooking, locker hooking, needlepoint, embroidery)

39. Knitting for dolls and bears (handspun or commercially produced yarn)


Felting Techniques:

40. Knitted & fulled articles

a. Small

b. Medium to large


41. Felted non-wearables/home decor (wall hangings to rugs). Techniques to include wet felting and/or needle felting techniques.

42. Felted wearables using wet felting and/or needle felting techniques

43. Sculptural or figurative articles using traditional wet or needle felting techniques
44. Fiber Jewelry to include felted techniques, knitting and other needle work, beading
may be included but not the primary technique of the article.


Special Classes


45. Hats using any technique or combination of techniques

46. Skein of plied yarn handspun from at least 50% wool and 30% alpaca

47. Garment made from handspun or commercially spun yarn at least 50% wool and 30% alpaca

Special Classes:

Junior Division:

Participants must be 18 years old or younger. The Junior Division is composed of classes 1 through 47 and B5 (see Mamie Francis Blanket Competition, below) using the same criteria as the Adult Division. Ribbons and cash prizes are the same as the Adult Division.

Mamie Francis Blanket Competition

Rules

1. This blanket competition is part of the Skein and Garment Competition and all Skein and Garment Competition rules apply except Rule 1.

2. Entries in this blanket competition must be accompanied by the completed Skein and Garment Competition Form (below)

3. Both warp and weft in the blanket must be 100% wool.

4. Blankets entered must have been completed after the 2007 Festival.

Classes



B-1. Lap Robe in plain weave, 36-50" wide, any length

B-2. Lap Robe in weave other than plain weave, 36-50" wide, any length

B-3. Blanket in plain weave, larger than 50" wide, any length

B-4. Blanket in weave other than plain weave, larger than 50" wide, any length

B-5. Lap Robe or Blanket in any weave woven by a Junior (18 or under), minimum 36" wide, any length


Grand Prize $500

(4) First Place Awards $100

Best All-Maryland Award $100


There will be five classes. A first place blanket will be selected in each class. From these first place blankets, a grand prize winner will be selected to receive a $500 check donated by the Mamie Francis family. The other four first place winners will receive $100 checks; these prizes were donated by:

Design Source (distributor of Manos Yarns) $100

Harrisville Designs $100

Interweave Press $100

The Mannings $100

In addition, the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival has donated a $100 check for the Best Blanket Woven by a Maryland Resident Using Maryland Wool

2008 Skein & Garment Competition and Mamie Francis Blanket Competition Entry Form

(Circle one)      Senior     or      Junior  (18 yrs. and under)

Name
Address
City
State
Zip
Phone
Email
Name of person picking up entries after 4:30 pm on Sunday (if other than entrant):

The Festival Committee will make every effort to display and care for the pieces entered, but assumes no responsibility for damage or loss.

Signature and Date:
Class
Tag #
Description of Item (indicate here if item is spun from MD Wool and list producer)
Prize Awarded
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       

No. of Entries ______ Entry Fees: $______________ Prizes Paid: $ ________

To be signed upon pickup of items. I have picked up the entries listed above.

_____________________________________________________________
Signature