Hand Spun Skein Contest

1. 1. All skeins must be handspun by the exhibitor and completed since the previous NHS&WF.
   2. There is no limit to how many skeins you may enter per Class.
   3. There is no entry fee.
   4. All skeins must be at least 50 yards long except for Class 7, Novelty Yarn. There is no maximum.
   5. Deadlines: Mailing skeins is highly encouraged as it eases the judge’s time constraints in our growing contest.
      By mail: Skeins may be mailed with their corresponding cards, to arrive two full weeks before the Festival, to Patty Williams, Box 240 Enfield Center, NH 03749.In person: skeins may be brought to the Festival Friday afternoon from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Building A at the Guild spinning demonstration area, or on Saturday morning (festival admission fee required) from 8:30-9:45 a.m. in the Fleece Barn (see map) at the NH Spinners & Dyers Guild display area.
   6. The judge may move a skein to a different Class if deemed more appropriate.
   7. Skeins must be tied in at least 4 places.
   8. Skeins will be judged on Friday and Saturday. After judging, skeins will be displayed in the Fleece barn.
   9. Return of skeins: Neither the Guild nor the NH Sheep & Wool Growers Association is responsible for unclaimed skeins or awards.
      In person: Entries will be released on Sunday at 3 p.m. and can be picked up in the Fleece Barn until 4:30 p.m. If someone other than the entrant will pick up skeins, indicate so on the entry form.
      By mail: Entrants may include a pre-addressed, prepaid mailer for the return of their skein(s). Ribbons and any award won will be included in the return package. Please note: each skein will have at least one ribbon (0.1 oz.) accompanying it, so plan postage accordingly. (You may also win one or more rosettes, which weigh 0.75 oz. each.)

Please fill out the entry form and attach two 3×5 cards to each skein with the following information:
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY AS IMPROPERLY MARKED ITEMS WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO BE JUDGED!

On Card #1, write legibly, and using both sides if necessary, include the following:

• Class number
• *Age of entrant if 18 or under;
• Fiber content, including breed if known
• *Producer of wool if grown in New Hampshire: name farm or shepherd
• Description of preparation techniques used if by exhibitor, e.g. carded, combed, blending board, etc.
• Description of spinning techniques used, e.g. worsted, woolen, from the fold, etc.
• Description of color handling or dye technique, e.g. fractal, natural dyes, etc.
• Declaration of intended use, if known
• *Note if hand-dyed by exhibitor; if so, whether dyed as yarn or unspun fiber.
• *Note if spindle spun

*These designations may qualify your skein for an additional award.

On Card #2, on one side only, print your name and address.

100% sheep’s wool

1. 2-ply yarn spun from commercially prepared fiber.
2. 2-ply yarn spun from fiber prepared by exhibitor.
3. 3- or more ply yarn spun from commercially prepared fiber.
4. 3- or more ply yarn spun from fiber prepared by exhibitor.

Blended fiber: at least 50% sheep’s wool by weight, blended with another fiber, designed to show the versatility of wool when combined with other fibers.
5. 2-ply yarn.
6. 3- or more ply yarn.

Singles & Novelty yarn

7. Singles and novelty yarn; must contain at least 50% sheep’s wool by weight. Novelty yarn will be judged on the effectiveness of color, texture, multi-plying, and other techniques skillfully used to achieve a textured type yarn.

Exotics

8. Any yarn made from animal fiber other than sheep’s wool (e.g. alpaca, angora, camel, cashmere, mohair, silk, etc.) or blended fiber containing less than 50% sheep’s wool.
9. Any yarn made from natural plant fiber. (e.g., cotton, flax, hemp) This category does NOT include manufacture fibers. (e.g., cellulosic, rayon, nylon)

Other Classes

10. Novice Class: beginner spinner over 18 years old, spinning less than a year, spindle spun or wheel spun, 2 or more plies, 100% wool either commercially prepared or prepared by exhibitor.
11. Youth – age 18 and under. Any yarn at least 50% sheep’s wool spun by an individual meeting the age requirement.

Each skein will be judged on its own merits and awarded points accordingly. Ribbons will be assigned according to the Danish system. One rosette will be assigned to the top scoring skein in each class.

Each youth entrant will be awarded free, one-year membership in the NH Spinners & Dyers Guild with electronic newsletters and other communications.

Special Awards are offered as follows:

$35 for Best Skein Over All.
$25 for Best Skein Made from Wool from a New Hampshire sheep.
$25 for Best Skein Made with a Spindle.
$25 and one-year Guild Youth Membership for Best Skein Spun by a Youth.
$25 for Best Skein Made from fiber dyed by the Exhibitor.
$25 and one-year Guild Membership for Best Skein Spun by a Novice Spinner.