Lambtown's Best Spinner Contest

Lambtown, USA Dixon, CA: Saturday, October 2, 2010
3:45 to 5:00 pm, Warm Up Spin at 3:30 pm
JUDGE: Nancy Jane Campbell
Spinning Contest Chairperson: Dana Foss ( dcarpio@lambtown.com )

September 15, 2010 is the deadline to guarantee your entry; a few openings may be available on the day of the event.

Object:
Through a series of both serious and fun classes, provide the public with information and demonstrations of a variety of techniques and ways to make your own yarn. Thus the spinner demonstrates their versatility in creating yarn from a range of fibers, adaptability to unfamiliar equipment, and handling time constraints.

In order to be named Lambtown’s Best Spinner, it will be necessary to participate in most of all of the events in order to accumulate enough points to be declared the overall winner.

Fibers:
A variety of fibers will be provided to the spinner in order to test their versatility and creativity in spinning a usable yarn.

Spinners to Bring:
Wheel and/or drop spindle, Lazy Kate, minimum of 3 bobbins (to produce two-ply) if using wheel (Andean bracelet technique would work if using drop spindle), all normal spinning accessories, including hand cards, flicker, or combs.

Foam core boards, masking tape, note paper, pens, blindfolds, and gloves will be provided.

Rules:
1. A competitor can enter as few as one class or all the classes. However, the more placings/points accumulated in individual classes, the more likely to be determined the overall winner.
2. Entry Fees: $7 per individual class, OR $25 for all five classes.
3. Prizes: $25 for first place in each of the five individual classes, fiber or other for 2nd and 3rd place in each class; $100 for the overall winner; fiber or other for 2nd and 3rd.
4. Each contestant will receive an 18”x24” marked foam core board and masking tape to secure yarn on board.

Division S: Lambtown’s Best Spinner Contest

Judging criteria is noted for each class.

Class 1: Longest Thread
Contestants will be given 10gm carded wool and spin for up to 10 minutes. Object is to spin the longest possible thread in the times allotted. Wind yarn off onto 18x24 foam core board. Yarn will be judged 60% length, 25% quality, and 15% amount of fiber used. Contestants will need wheel or drop spindle.

A) Wheel Spinner

B) Drop Spindle Spinner

Class 2: Rainbow Round Robin
Contestants choose a one ounce bump of colored fiber that they will spin throughout the competition. Spinner will start with their own wheel or drop spindle, then take their fiber and move to another person’s spinning equipment when the judge calls time. Three rotations will be made. Object is to show adaptability of spinner to different equipment and changing situations while still maintaining a quality yarn. Three rotations, one minute to familiarize with equipment, 4 minutes to spin fiber until time called. Wind yarn off onto 18x24 foam core board after each rotation. Each section of yarn will be judged 75% on length, 25% on quality. Contestants will need wheel or drop spindle.

A) Wheel Spinner

B) Drop Spindle Spinner

Class 3: Strategic Spinning
Contestant to receive one ounce of mystery fiber, determine the best weight to spin the fiber, spin all or as much as possible in 15 minutes, including plying the resulting singles into a two-ply yarn. Contestants not finished within the allotted time will lose points based on the weight of fiber remaining unspun. Object is for spinners to demonstrate their ability to assess fibers and how to use them. Wind yarn off onto 18x24 foam core board. Judging will be 75% on amount of plied yarn, 25% quality of yarn and singles. Contestants need wheel or drop spindle, Lazy Kate or means to hold spindles (or use Andean bracelet technique for plying), extra bobbins or drop spindles for singles.

A) Wheel Spinner

B) Drop Spindle Spinner

Class 4: Creative Spinning
Each contestant will be given three small amounts of varied fibers/colors and 20 minutes to design, spin, and ply a designer yarn. Hand cards, wool combs, or flickers may all be used for fiber preparation. Object is to demonstrate the spinner’s ability to think/design on the fly and create an interesting/innovative yarn. Contestants will write brief description of yarn and how to use it. Wind yarn off onto 18x24 foam core board. Judging based 60% on quality of spun yarn, 20% on amount of fiber used, 20% design interest and description.

A) Wheel Spinner

B) Drop Spindle Spinner

Class 5: Spinners Triathlon
Carded wool will be provided. This three-part competition consists of: 1) spinning two minutes normally; 2) spinning two minutes wearing rubber gloves (provided); 3) spinning two minutes blindfolded (blindfolds provided). Object is for spinner to demonstrate control of spinning even when all senses not available. Wind yarn off onto 18x24 foam core board. Judging based 75% on yardage spun, 25% on quality of spinning. Contestants need wheel or drop spindle.

A) Wheel Spinner

B) Drop Spindle Spinner

If you have any questions please contact Dana Foss, Lambtown Fiber Fair Chair
at (707)678-7386, or contact us by email at: Dana Foss.
Mail requests to: Dana Foss, Lambtown's Best Spinning Contest, P.O.Box 995, Dixon, CA 95620