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 - B4), 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 2009 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 26. 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 40-42. Knitted or woven articles that have been fulled, i.e., stitches or warp and weft yarn can still be seen, must be entered 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 with the two ends of skein tied neatly together and the skein tied loosely in at least 3 places with a figure 8 tie of fine string. Failure to do so will disqualify the skein. Skeins from commercially prepared fiber may be entered only in Classes 6, 7, 11, 12 & 13.
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 and may include a listing of entries on one form) and a 3 x 5 card for each article. All 3 x 5 cards should include a small address label with entrant’s name and address on it along with the following: (a) class name and number; (b) a brief description including fiber content; (c) specific intended use; (d) fiber preparation, spinning and finishing techniques used (e) sheep breed if known and a lock of fleece if available; (f) indicate whether the article was commercially prepared in any way; (g) age of entrant if 18 or under; (h) 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.
8. Do not include hangers or display equipment. If sculptural entry, all pieces must be securely attached. No unattached parts will be allowed.
9. Entries are accepted Friday, April 30, 2010, 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.
10. Mailed articles should be sent to Skein & Garment Competition, PO Box 6411 Ellicott City MD 21042. They must be received no later than April 28, 2010 and must include entry fee. Articles will not be returned by mail. Inquiries can be made to mrmaras@aol.com or bonnielease@gmail.com.
11. Judging will take place Friday, April 30th 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. Entry fees will not be refunded for disqualified items. 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.
12. The building will close at 3:30 pm and entries will not be released under any circum- stances before 4:30 pm on Sunday, May 2, 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 Yarn Shop 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 Article - donated by The Weavers Guild of Greater Baltimore
• Best Handspun 2-ply yarn spun on a drop spindle - donated by Chrissy & Bill Bellows
• Best Basket of Yarn - donated by The Waterford Weavers
• Best Junior Spinner - donated by Waterford Weavers Gallery
• Best Novelty Skein - donated by The Waterford Weavers
• Best Novice Skein from MD Wool (in memory of Marianne Franklin) - donated by The Drafting Zone
• Best Novice Spinner - donated by The Chesapeake Spinners & Weavers
• Best Junior Fiber Artist - donated by Sandy Springs School
• Best Hand-Knitted Article - donated by The Central Maryland Knitting Guild
• Best Sweater Knitted from Commercial Yarn - donated by Fiberworks of Ashton
• Best Knitting for Dolls and Bears (in memory of Lynna Babs Spornick) - donated by The Central Maryland Knitting Guild
• Best Innovative Design - donated by The Potomac Fiber Arts Guild
• 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 (gift certificate) - donated by Woolstock Knit Shop
• Best Original Fashion Forward Article/Felted Technique - donated by Miriam Carter, Felt Maker, donation of 1lb. of fiber to be picked up at her booth during the Festival. See fair office for certifiicate.

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:

• Best of Maryland Wool - Skein
• Best of Maryland Wool - Article
• 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.

CLASSES

Note: Fine is 20 or more wraps per inch, medium is 10 to 19, thick is less than 10

Handspun Yarn Section

Skeins - 100% Wool prepared by spinner from raw wool

• 1. Fine singles yarn
• 2. Medium to thick singles yarn
• 3. Fine plied yarn
• 4. Medium plied yarn
• 5. Thick plied yarn

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 bouclé, 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
• 15. Novice spinner using commercially prepared fiber-singles of plied yarn.

Hand Knitted Articles

• 16. Garment made from dyed yarn
• 17. Garment made from natural colored yarn
• 18. Wearable accesories
• 19. Blankets, afghans, scarves, shawls
• 20. Miscellaneous

Handwoven Articles

• 21. Small to medium garment
• 22. Large garment
• 23. Blankets, afghans, scarves, shawls
• 24. Miscellaneous

Hand Crocheted Articles

• 25. Miscellaneous

Group Articles

• 26. Group-produced article made from handspun yarn. Identify all participants (maximum of four people) and their respective contributions to

Commercial Yarn Section

Hand Knitted Articles

• 27. Garment made from yarn of one color or one multicolored yarn
• 28. Garment made from more than one colored yarn
• 29. Blankets, afghans, scarves, shawls
• 30. Miscellaneous

Handwoven Articles

• 31. Small to medium garment
• 32. Large garment
• 33. Blankets, afghans, scarves, shawls
• 34. Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous Section

Miscellaneous Techniques

• 35. Crocheted article
• 36. Miscellaneous article using technique (s) other than those listed above (ex: needlepoint, embroidery, etc.)
• 37. Rugs - using any techniques mentioned throughout; small, medium and large
• 38. Knitting for dolls and bears (handspun or commercially produced yarn)
• 39. Wool hooking technique
  • a. original pattern and designs
  • b. bought patterns, kits or preprinted designs

Felting Techniques

• 40. Knitted or woven articles that have been fulled
  • a. Small
  • b. Medium to large
• 41. Wet and/or Needle Felted
  • a. non-wearables/home decor (wall hangings to rugs)
  • b. wearables
  • c. sculptural or figurative articles
• 42. Fiber jewelry: to include felted techniqes, knitting and other needle work, beading may be included but not the primary technique of the article.

Special Classes

• 43. Hats using any technique or combination of techniques
• 44. Skein of plied yarn handspun from at least 50% wool and 30% alpaca
• 45. Garment made from handspun or commercially spun yarn at least 50% wool and 30% alpaca

Junior Division

Participants must be 18 years old or younger. The Junior Division is composed of Classes 1 through 45 and B3 (see Mamie Francis Blanket Competition, next page) 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 Entry Form.
• 3. Both warp and weft in the blanket must be 100% wool.
• 4. Blankets entered must have been completed after the 2009 Festival.

Classes

• B-1. Lap Robe in any weave, 36-50” wide and any length
• B-2. Blanket in any weave, larger than 50” wide and any length
• B-3. Lap Robe or Blanket in any weave woven by a Junior (18 or under), minimum 36” wide and any length
• B-4. Baby Blanket in any weave, less than 36” wide
• B-5. Lap Robe or Blanket in any weave or size above made from a 50/50 wool blend

Prizes

• 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 winners will each receive checks or prizes in the amount of $100 donated by:

• The Mannings Handweaving School and Supply Center
• Louet North America
• Interweave Store
• Harrisville Designs

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