Hand Spun Skein Contest

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. Skeins must be tied in at least 4 places.
6. Deadlines: Skeins may be mailed with their corresponding cards, to be received one full week before the Festival, to: Patty Williams, PO Box 240, Enfield Center, NH 03749; or they may be brought to the Festival on Saturday morning from 8:30-10:00 a.m. at the 4-H/Fleece Sale barn (see map) and submitted to the NHS&DG representative there.
7. The judge may move a skein to a different Class if deemed more appropriate.
8. Skeins will be judged on Saturday. After judging, skeins will be displayed in the 4-H/Fleece Sale barn.
9. Entries will be released on Sunday at 3 p.m. and must be picked up in the 4-H Building by 4:30 p.m. Entrants may include a pre-addressed, prepaid mailer for the return of their skein(s); please state the number of skeins to be returned by mail. Ribbons and any awards won will be included in the return package. Neither the Guild nor the NH Sheep & Wool Growers Association is responsible for unclaimed skeins or awards.

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

On Card #1, write legibly. Using both sides, if necessary, include the following:

• The Class number (see next section)
• *Age of entrant if 18 or under
• Fiber content, including breed if known
• *Producer of wool if grown in New Hampshire: name of farm or shepherd
• Description of preparation techniques used if prepared 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.
• *Note if hand-dyed by exhibitor; if so, whether dyed as yarn or unspun fiber.
• Declaration of intended use for the yarn
• *Note if spindle spun

*These designations may qualify your skein for an additional award.
Do NOT include your name on card #1.

On Card #2, on one side only, write legibly and include the following:

• Print your name, address, telephone number, and email address.
• Additionally, if your skein will be picked up by someone other than yourself, include your designee’s name.
• Please say if you provided a pre-addressed, prepaid mailer, and how many skeins should be included in the return, for example: “return ___ # of skeins by mail”.

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 of 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 manufactured fibers. (e.g., cellulosic, rayon, nylon)

Novice – beginner spinner over 18 years old, spinning less than a year

10. Any yarn spindle spun or wheel spun, 2 or more plies, 50% sheep’s wool either commercially prepared or prepared by exhibitor, meeting the age and experience requirement.

Youth – age 18 & under

11. 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:

A.  $35 for Best Skein Overall, sponsored by the NH Spinners & Dyers Guild (NHSDG)

B.  $25 for Best Skein Spun from Wool from a New Hampshire sheep, sponsored by the NH Sheep & Wool Growers Association (NHSWGA).

C.  $25 for Best Skein Spun with a Spindle, sponsored by the Northeast Handspinners Association (NHA).

D.  $25 for Best Skein Spun then dyed by, or spun from fiber dyed by, the Exhibitor, sponsored by the NH Spinners & Dyers Guild (NHSDG).

E.  $25 and NHSDG membership for Best Skein Spun by a Novice Spinner, sponsored by Aker Fiber Farm.

F.  $25 and NHSDG Youth Membership for Best Skein Spun by a Youth, sponsored by Aker Fiber Farm.