FIBER ARTS AND YARN SHOW

Judge: Laura Todd • Neotsu, Oregon

Laura Todd first became involved with the Black Sheep Gathering as an exhibitor in Fiber Arts. She volunteered as a co-chair for several years, eventually becoming the BSG Coordinator in 2009. Laura learned to knit as a child and has been knitting, spinning, weaving, dyeing and felting for over 35 years. Laura has judged fiber arts for county fairs, taught knitting since 2007, and has been awarded ribbons and multiple best-in-show awards for fiber arts at numerous festivals and fairs nationwide, including three Black Sheep Cups at BSG. Laura loves working with natural fiber from the hoof to the finished product and sharing that passion with the enthusiastic BSG community.

• Fiber Arts Entry Form
• Item Card for each fiber entry
• Yarn Card for each entry
• ENTRIES must be in place by 10am, June 28, 2024.
• Entries received with forms at Fiber Arts area in the Willamette Center, at the rear of the Marketplace.
• RELEASE AND SIGN OUT ITEMS TIME is from 2-5pm, Sunday, June 30, 2024. Early release must be arranged with Fiber Arts attendants.
• FEES: $2 per skein of yarn. $4 per fiber arts item.
• Entry Fee will be waived for the first item entered for all juniors. To receive free entry, and to be eligible for the Black Lamb Cup, juniors must be entered in the age-appropriate classes.
• The Judge is free to change any exhibit not properly entered in correct Lot, Class or Division.

AWARDS:

New felting award by Nina Schafer

• BEST USE OF NATURAL COLORED WOOL AWARD. Entry must be made with predominately natural colored wool.
• THE SHARON NOFZIGER MEMORIAL BLACK LAMB CUP, will be awarded to the best overall entry from those seventeen and younger. All these items will be judged before the presentation of the cup.
• BEST WEAVING AWARD sponsored by Eugene Weavers Guild for the best handwoven piece in the Fiber Arts Show.
• AWARD FOR THE BEST QUALITY FELTING donated by Nina Schafer.
• THE BLACK SHEEP CUP will be awarded to the best overall adult entry. This is a perennial trophy donated by the Black Sheep Newsletter. EXCEPTION: Lot O: Group Works will NOT be eligible to compete for this trophy.

YARN DIVISION RULES

1. Each person entering, please fill out a Fiber Arts Entry Form.
2. Each skein must have an Entry Info Card, for Yarn. Fill out the form, print and bring it in, or pick it up at check-in at the Gathering.
3. Yarn must have been finished within the last year by the entrant. Yarn must be from 100% animal fibers, except where noted.
4. Yarn must be in skeins with a minimum 30 yards and a maximum of 200 yards, appropriately tied. No balls of yarn will be accepted.
5. Each skein must have a fiber sample.
6. Each skein must have a swatch showing intended use for yarn.
7. All yarn must be handspun, if electric spinner was used enter in class 6, E-Spinner.

JUDGING GUIDELINES FOR YARN ENTRIES:

1. General overall appearance.
2. Preparation for exhibit – clean, properly skeined and tied, of listed yardage and/or weight, blocked if necessary.
3. Suitability of fiber to yarn – amount of twist, diameter of yarn.
4. Technique – twist evenly executed, appropriate plying twist, diameter consistent throughout, structurally durable, yarn designs consistent, consistent dyeing/blending.
5. Suitability of yarn to use – direction of twist, amount of twist, diameter of yarn, handle of yarn, appropriate number of plies.
6. Finished Execution – originality, creativity, complexity.

LOT:

1. 100% Grease White Wool Yarn.
2. 100% Grease Natural Color Wool Yarn.
3. 100% Washed White Wool Yarn.
4. 100% Washed Natural Color Wool Yarn.
5. 100% Mohair Yarn, Natural Color or White.
6. 100% Angora Rabbit Yarn, Natural Color or White.
7. 100% Camelid Yarn, Natural Color or White.
8. 100% Silk, Natural Color or White.
9. 100% Cashmere, Natural Color or White.
10. 100% Pygora Goat, Natural Color or White.
11. 100% Other Animal Fibers (i.e., qiviut, buffalo, yak, possum, dog, etc.).
12. Blended fibers, Natural Color or White (must be greater than 50% animal protein).
13. Plant/Mineral-dyed Natural Color Yarn.
14. Plant/Mineral-dyed White Yarn.
15. Plant/Mineral-dyed Yarn from Blended Fibers (must be greater than 50% animal protein).
16. Synthetic-dyed Natural Color Yarn.
17. Synthetic-dyed White Yarn.
18. Synthetic-dyed Yarn from Blended Fibers (must be greater than 50% animal protein).
19. All natural color or white animal fiber, with addition of metallic yarn.
20. All dyed animal fiber, with addition of metallic yarn.
21. Raw fiber to yarn (spinner must have done all fiber processing).

CLASS:

1. Singles.
2. 2-ply.
3. Multi-ply.
4. Novelty yarn of choice.
5. Fine-spun yarn.
6. E-Spinner.
7. Spindle Spun.
8. Pee Wee handspun – age 7 and under.
9. Children handspun – age 8-12.
10. Teen Handspun – age 13-17.

FIBER ARTS RULES

FINISHED ITEMS

1. Each person entering, please fill out a Fiber Arts Entry Form.
2. Each actual item must have an Entry Info Card, for Items. Fill out the form, print and bring it in, or pick it up at check-in at the Gathering.
3. Item must have been finished within the last year by the entrant.
4. Item must be made from 100% animal fiber, except where noted. A small amount of non-handspun surface embellishment is allowed, less than 5% of total, including buttons and trimmings.
5. All knitted or crocheted items must be made from handspun yarns. Woven items must have either the entire weft or the entire warp handspun. Felted Items must be made of animal fibers.
6. Each item entered must have a Fiber Sample.
7. All work on finished item must be done by entrant.

JUDGING GUIDELINES FOR FIBER ARTS ENTRIES:

1. General overall appearance.
2. Suitability of yarn to article – consistency of spinning, appropriate yarn characteristics.
3. Suitability of fiber to project – fiber preparation, drapability, durability, hand.
4. Technique – gauge/sett, even tension, perfect execution, no uncorrected mistakes.
5. Finishing – blocking, ends, cleanliness, seams, appropriate notions.
6. Finished Execution – originality, creativity, complexity.

LOT:

1. Made from 100% Natural Color Wool – Undyed.
2. Made from 100% Natural Color Wool – Dyed.
3. Made from 100% Natural Animal Fibers – Undyed (includes white wool and/or silk).
4. Made from 100% Natural Animal Fibers – Dyed (includes white wool and/or silk).
5. Made from 100% silk.
6. Blended fibers (must be greater than 50% animal protein; includes metallic).
7. Recycled Yarn. (Some handspinning must be involved.)

Hand-Knitted or -Crocheted

– Knitted or crocheted items must be handspun (indicate on tag).

CLASS:

1. Sweaters, jackets, coats.
2. Vests.
3. Shawls, ponchos, capes.
4. Afghans.
5. Accessories – hats, scarves, belts, etc.
6. Socks.
7. Pee Wee knitted projects – age 7 and under.
8. Children knitted projects – age 8-12.
9. Teen knitted projects – age 13-17.

Woven

– either the entire weft or the entire warp must be handspun; remaining fibers may be either hand or machine spun and may contain plant fibers.

CLASS:

10. Sweaters, jackets, coats.
11. Vests.
12. Shawls, ponchos, capes.
13. Accessories – hats, scarves, belts, etc.
14. Rugs, tapestries, wall hangings.
15. Blankets, afghans and yardage.
16. Table linens.
17. Pee Wee weaving projects – age 7 and under.
18. Children weaving projects – age 8-12.
19. Teen weaving projects – age 13-17.

Felting

– Felted Items must be made of 100% animal fibers. Some small use of non-animal fiber embellishment may be allowed.

CLASS:

20. Wet-Felted Wearable.
21. Wet-Felted Non-wearable.
22. Laminated Felt.
23. Needle felted Critter or Humanoid.
24. Needle felted Embellishment (may be commercially made base – must be natural fiber).
25. Needle felted Other.
26. Combination of techniques.
27. Pee Wee Felted – age 7 and under.
28. Children Felted – age 8 - 12.
29. Teen Felted – age 13-17.

Miscellaneous Protein Fibers

(must be handspun)

CLASS:

30. Machine knitted items.
31. Stuffed animals.
32. Locker hooking.
33. Hooked rugs and hangings.
34. Crewel and needlepoint.
35. Combination of techniques.
36. Basketry.
37. Pee Wee projects – age 7 and under.
38. Children projects – age 8-12.
39. Teen projects – age 13-17.

GROUP WORKS

These projects will NOT be eligible to compete for The Black Sheep Cup or the Black Lamb Cup.

SPINNER’S GALLERY

40. A collaborative single item / entry eligible for a single ribbon.
41. Multiple items created by a group of individuals. Each group member will enter their piece(s) indi-vidually in "Group Work" and have their piece cri-tiqued. Any ribbon awarded will be to the project as a whole.

The Spinner’s Gallery is dedicated to the memory of Sharon Nofziger’s gentle spirit. Inspired by her desire to have a place for those wanting to exhibit this year’s projects without participating in judging. The criteria and entry fees will be the same; on the entry form indicate you are entering the Spinner’s Gallery by listing the lot to read 00.