Black Sheep Gathering

SPINNER'S LEAD

The Spinner's Lead takes place in the Cascade Livestock Pavilion in the Sheep Show Ring, after the picnic dinner on Saturday night of the Gathering. Entrants wear their handspun garments or creations while leading a sheep, goat or alpaca.

The event is open to all producers and spinners of wool, mohair, alpaca. If you wish to enter, please read the rules carefully.

Complete the Entry Form and mail it to the address on the form.

Mail-in entries will be accepted until June 16; however, forms will be available at the Information Table until noon Friday. Onsite forms can ONLY be submitted at the Information Booth in the Willamette Events Center until 6pm on Friday, June 23, 2023. Any entry received after this time will not be accepted.

If you don’t have livestock entered in the Black Sheep Gathering animal shows, we can arrange for you to borrow an animal. However, these arrangements must be made in advance so we can find a match for you.

Spinner’s Lead Rules

  • Articles must be 100% handspun or felted, (commercial warp or canvas OK)
  • Entries may be hand or machine knit, hooked, woven, crocheted or felted.
  • The articles may have been completed at any time; it is not limited to items made in the past year.
  • Someone other than the entrant may make the article, although the maker of entered article must be identified in the entry form.
  • Articles must be at least 80% wool, mohair, alpaca, or rabbit.
  • Garments should represent the breed of the animal being led.
  • Entrant doesn’t have to own the animal used in the lead.
  • Only animals entered in the Gathering are eligible for the Spinner’s Lead.

Judging Criteria for Spinner’s Lead

Originality and difficulty of design   30 points
Color, fit and style   25 points
Suitability of garment to use of fiber   20 points
Handspun by entrant   5 points
Knit, woven, etc., by entrant   5 points
Overall appearance of entrant and animal   10 points
Animal owned by entrant   5 points

NOTE: In case of a tie, judges will award bonus points on the basis of originality.

ALL PARTICIPANTS MEET AT THE SHEEP SHOW RING BLEACHERS AT 7:30PM ON SATURDAY, JUNE 24 IN THE CASCADE LIVESTOCK PAVILION PRIOR TO THE EVENT.

SHEEP SHOW

Judge: David Cook
Wakeman, Ohio

The Cook family started raising purebred sheep in 1891; they were showing nationally from railcars by 1906. David has been around the show ring his entire life. Read More.

ANGORA GOAT SHOW

Judge: Dr Fred Speck
Kerrville, Texas

Dr. Fred Speck is a 5th generation Texas Angora goat producer. His grandfather gave him eight registered Angora does and one buck to start his own herd when he was eight years old. Read More.

FLEECE SHOW

Wool and Alpaca Judge: Ann Brezina
Fort Bragg, California

udging for over 30 years while maintaining her own handspinning flock, Ann’s passion and expertise promise to make it an informative and entertaining show.  Read More.

FIBER ARTS AND YARN SHOW

Judge: Kira Dulaney
Oakland, California

Kira Dulaney has been teaching fiber arts classes and hosting crafty events since 2002 and is the designer behind Kira K Designs, a line of original knitting and crochet patterns and kits. Read More.