Sounds like fun!!  Off to read guidlines and see what fiber I'd like to spin up!

Thanks for organizing the contest!

Natalie

The contest eliminates me.  I don't count the twists per inch and I don't know my "yards per pound".  I just spin for my enjoyment.  Heck with all the math.

Hi Rosemary,

Don't let the math discourage you from entering--just include a sample of your yarn and we can do the math.

Best wishes,

Amy

Thanks Amy.  You are making it enticing!  Rosemary

Is it just me? I can't open the guidelines pdf. I got excited and can't see what is required. Help! It sounds exciting.

Vicki, are you clicking on the picture of the pdf file?  Or the button on the top right that says "Download" with the green arrow?

It took me a few minutes to find it myself.

-John

This is going to be great fun! I am teaching a class on weaving with your handspun this Saturday. This should give my students some incentive to create some wonderful projects.

Leslie

I received this email and asked Leslie O. for permission to post it here since I imagine others will have the same question:

Hi Amy,

I was wondering if you could clarify something for me about the handspun scarf contest.  In the contest description, it says the scarf must be of our own design, but where it says to list stitch pattern, you can indicate if the pattern has been published before.  So is it alright to use a non-original pattern?

Thanks!

Leslie O.

Hi Leslie,

That’s a good question! We’d like the over all design of the scarf to be your original design, but you can use a stitch pattern from a published source—just make sure to reference it when you send in your entry. May I put your question and my response on our website so that other people with the same question can read it?

Best wishes,

Amy

Amy Clarke Moore

Editor of Spin-Off magazine

Question...

The entry guidelines state "processed from scratch by you"  Could you explain in more detail?  Can a fiber mill process the wool/fiber into rovings for us to spin from or not?  Also cashmere, bison, yak, and qivuit need to be "dehaired" to make it useable for spinning and this is generally done by a fiber mill.  

Thanks,

Diana Blair

I want to know what prepared means too.  I have some bison and pacuna.  They aren't combed carded etc.  but not a fresh fleece.  Linda in Billings

I'm disappointed in the "processed from scratch by you" requirement also. Since this is a Spin Off contest, isn't the whole point the spinning? I buy fibers already processed so that I can enjoy the part I do best, the spinning.

Since Spin-Off is about Natural Fiber every issue, we decided to make this contest a little more challenging than the average contest--and ask participants to start with raw wool, scour it, card it, etc. If you're working with silk, to start with cocoons, or if you're working with a plant fiber, to begin with the stems, ret them, comb them, and then spin them. It does make the challenge more challenging and I realize that some people will not participate because of that. This is one contest with very narrow guidelines, we'll have others that are easier to participate in. We really want to honor the Year of Natural Fibers in the Fall issue--so we thought this would be the best way to do it.

I hope this helps answer your questions on processing!

One more question, as I do want to get it right...

What kind of "equipment" can we use?  PG Picker? Hand cards?  Hand drum carder?  Small electric drum carder?  As "any type of equipment" in our possession is not accurate as I do have a Mini Mills dehairer....

Any info is appreciated.

Diana Blair

Hi Diana,

There are no restrictions on the kinds of equipment you use to process the fiber--that's up to you.

Thanks!

Amy

If I understand this all correctly, since I take the fiber that I shear off the animal to a mill to be carded, and then spin it, I cannot enter it in the contest.  Is this correct?

Hi LlamaLeader,

Yes--sorry to be so restrictive on this one--but there will be others that are more open. Just set aside some fiber from your shearings this spring and process a bit by hand. You won't need much for a scarf.

Best wishes,

Amy

I am excited I think from the source processing to end product is great fun and a wonderful challenge. I can' t wait to get my boy shorn and get started.

OK, Hand prepared.  I am thinking....llama and angora goat might make an interesting blend.... This sounds like fun.  I will just have to finish the fleese I am currently spinning.

are acid dyes out? I just washed and dyed a bunch of cotswold... I guess I could wash up more... This does sound like fun!

also... do we have to select which category? or will spin-off be categorizing each scarf? If a scarf fits into more than one category, do we pay $5 for each category we want to enter? THANKS!!

In response to a  thoughtful note from a reader, we changed the guidelines slightly to remove a prejudice in favor of those who have the good fortune to raise fiber bearing animals themselves. We also created a new category--called: Raised the fiber yourself!

If you downloaded the guidelines earlier, you'll want to print off a new version to see this change.

To answer Jeanie's question--you can let us know what category you'd like your scarf to be considered for, but know that if we think it'll do better in another category, we'll move it.

Jeanie--yes, acid dyes are out--we're looking for all natural--so have extended that to the coloring of the fibers as well--use naturally occurring colors or dye with natural dyes.

This is a great idea and I love that Spin-Off is honoring the Int'l yr of Natural Fibers!  Yea!!!   I posted a link to this page to a few groups.

Getting it done in time to photograph and mail it though....  However, it might make good use of some fleeces I have  hanging around... I know that would make my husband happy. lol...

Very Exciting - Hope I can get something done!

Ercil

I am hung up on the 'Original Design' part...   Ok, I know lots of drafts etc.. but of course they have been published or done before...

i.e.  if one does a basic twill 1,2,3,4 threading .. in almost any treadling you name ... it has been done, it has been published.  

Is it original if you apply a weaving draft you know in a scarf you design?  I.e. Davison's drafts are eternal... but the application is original.  

I am not sure how to apply the rules here?  Please help me out.

To continue my confusion in response to a note from Amy above,

If we can use a published stitch pattern, does this mean we can use a published draft pattern?

Sorry if I am beating a dead horse here, I just want to be clear before I begin.

Thanks!

I am hosting a sheep to scarf Keep the Fleece event at my natural dyeing studio. Can I submit a scarf made by a team?

Thank you Amy for the change in the guidelines and the new catagory!

Hi Ercil,

Yes--you can use a published draft pattern--just reference it.

And Kristinev--Yes--you can submit a project from a group--just include all the contact info for the people who contributed and elect one person to be the contact person for the group.

Best wishes,

Amy

Jeanie--I forgot to answer your question about the $5 fee--that's just per scarf, not per category.

Thanks Amy for being on top of things as always.

hugs,

Ercil

I have a question about using silk.  Can I use raw silk laps?

Thanks.

Teri

This contest is more limited than others we've had and will have--it is focused on processing as well as spinning and making the scarf--so the idea is to start with cocoons with silk, rather than already processed fiber (such as silk laps).

I hope this helps!

Amy

Please define "electronic copy". Is it an email? A cd? Sorry I'm not very electronically savvy.

No worries! I'm happy to explain. An electronic copy means either emailed to me as an attachment, saved into the text of the email, or saved to a CD and sent through the mail. Most people create their documents in a word processing program such as MS Word or Wordperfect--so I'm just asking that you send a copy of that document along with the print out--it'll save me time typing things in again and also prevent the introduction of errors.

I hope that helps.

Best wishes,

Amy