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Fleece to Fabric Competition

Carolina FiberFest is hosting a friendly and educational Fleece to Fabric Competition. With a maximum of three teams competing, CFF attendees will see how raw fleece turns into a beautiful shawl.

This competition is made up of 3 teams of 4 members who will demonstrate and explain the process of creating a shawl from natural fiber to woven fabric using traditional methods and equipment. Each team will prepare raw fleece, spin the singles, ply the yarn and weave a shawl in a 5 hour time limit. Competition will be limited to 3 teams.

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How to Enter

Registration will be accepted online at CarolinaFiberFest.org or by emailing Jane Clark at criblemansurialpaca@gmail.com Since this competition is limited to three teams, early registration is recommended.

Team name, participants’ names and addresses, contact phone numbers, and email addresses of all team members will be needed. Please indicate the captain or responsible person of the team.

Registration deadline: February 15, 2023

For question, contact Jane Clark at criblemansurialpaca@gmail.com

Rules

  • Each team will be made of up to 4 members who can both spin and weave, as decided by the team. This team should decide on the color scheme and design of the end product.
  • Each team will provide their own equipment (spinning wheels, pre-warped loom, shuttles, bobbin winder, hand cards, drum carders, flickers, etc.)
  • Each team is encouraged to dress in a style appropriate for theme. Costumes or team ensembles are encouraged.
  • Each team will be required to take a 30-minute break.  Breaks will be staggered with the first team taking a break at 11:30.  When teams take a break, no work can be completed during their 30 minute timeframe. The break schedule will be determined by agreement of the teams prior to the start of the competition.

  • **WARP: Any natural fiber can be used for the warp.  The warp may be handspun or commercial, natural colored or hand dyed at no fewer than 8 ends per inch with a required 4 shaft pattern of the team’s choice. Warp should be tied on the loom on arrival, with no header woven.

    **WEFT: Each team will provide its own fleece for the weft. The fleece may be washed and/or dyed, but no further processing is allowed. Weft fiber will be prepared for spinning during the contest by teasing, flicking, hand carding, or using non-electric drum carders.

    •  Hand-spun weft must be plied and will not exceed 3 times diameter of warp.
  • Each team will provide a storyboard poster detailing:

    **Team information, names of team members, guild name if appropriate, location of team, and theme.

    **Inspiration: What inspired you to make this particular shawl, color selection/pattern

    **Technical information: equipment used, weaving pattern/strategy, fiber and yarn samples, spinning techniques, fiber processing methods and weaver’s notes.

  • Equipment must arrive between 8 and 9 am and be set up by 9:30
  • Competition will begin at 10 am on Saturday, March 14, 2020, and end at 3 pm.
  • The completed shawl must be a minimum of 22 inches wide sleyed on the reed. The woven length must be 70” min/76”max long, excluding an optional fringe.
  • Weaver’s notes: The weaver’s notes shall include the weaving draft, fiber content with description/identification including a sample of warp, fiber content with description/identification including a sample of weft spun during competition and a description of the intended use of the finished product.
  • There is no entry fee.
  • Judging will be done by a fiber arts judge.
  • Prizes: Teams will receive appropriate ribbons:  1st Place $150; 2nd Place $100; 3rd Place $50. Non-monetary prizes may be awarded as available.
  • Finished shawls may be auctioned after the competition concludes.  This will be a 50/50 auction- 50% to the team and 50% to Carolina FiberFest Youth Scholarship.  If the shawl isn’t completed during the competition, it can be completed prior to the auction.

scoring- 100 POINT CRITERIA

    • Team storyboard poster
    • Team attire
    • Team spirit
    • Creativeness of theme

    Education of audience: knowledge of process and interaction with observers – 5 points

  • Choice and Preparation

    Dyed Warp and/or Weft

  • Uniform preparation, size & type of yarn produced

    Ability to keep weaver supplied

  • Design

    Straightness of edges with minimal draw in (use of temple is not allowed)

    Evenness of beating

    Handspun warp

    No threading or treadling errors

  • First finish

    Second finish

  • Aesthetic appeal, including drape, hand and appearance

    Bonus points

    Fringe—5 bonus points

    Deductions for measurements outside of standards

    Length—minus 5 points

    Width—minus 5 points