Competitions
THE ANNUAL COMPETITION:
Each year, in conjunction with the AGM and Christmas party, the Guild holds a competition. The competition is open to all members and is divided into the craft categories we promote: spinning, weaving and dyeing.
There is an annual theme, usually announced early in the year (after the first committee meeting) giving members plenty of time to plan and prepare their entries.
The following criteria were devised many years ago but may be useful for your preparation and helpful when you place your secret ballot in the vote for the winner of each category.
COMPETITION CRITERIA:
Spinning:
A skein of spun yarn may be submitted as an entry or your entry may be spun yarn that has been made up into something. All spinning methods acceptable, wheel or spindle, Mayan or ‘Dizzy’ (see supplier Bee Weir)
http://www.craftsfromthedungeon.com
- evenly twisted yarn with constant diameter
- yarn should be constant in strength
- for the actual display of spun yarn the yarn should be exhibited in a skein, tied in four places and labelled with the name of the fleece/fibre
- work should be exhibited with an sample of the fleece/fibre and singles yarn
- suggested use for yarn should be stated
Weaving:
- first impression
- are the yarns and fibres suitable for the finished purpose
- are the colours pleasing
- is the article of the correct size
- is the weave even and are the edges straight
- is there a good finish
- overall appearance
Dyeing:
- first impression
- evenness of colours if this is the intention (difficult to assess with ‘rainbow’ dye)
- coverage of the dye (no spots of underlying yarn where skein was tied)
are the colours pleasing? - overall appearance
- is the article suitable for the finished purpose?
The winner of each section receives a small challenge trophy which they are entrusted to return in time to be presented at the next competition.
2023 ‘Images of Water’ A good response to the challenge this year. The winners were (from the left):Weaving; Ann Gill Armstrong Trophy for best overall entry: Judy Dyeing: Janet Spinning: Huda |
Previous examples:
In 2014 the theme was ‘Something for the Table’
The winners were: (left to right)
Dyeing: Merle Hesp Spinning: Ann Ashcroft Salt Weaving: Averil Otiv
2014 Additional competition ‘Silk Hankies’
Lynn Seddon, Rosie and Ellie were invited to judge the silk hankie competition which Lynn had originally suggested. The Guild had supplied each member with 10gms of silk hankies which were to be used and interpreted in an ‘anything goes’ style. A good response with a remarkable range of interpretations!
Silk hanky winners:
Gill Moore for her Poppies (middle row left)
Gill Armstong for her earrings (top row right)
Sarah Talbot for her knitted scarf (middle row right)
2015 ‘SWD Project Not Previously Entered for a Guild Competition’
2016 theme ‘Thirty’
Additional competition – Design a lanyard for your Guild name badge, winner Janet Gleave
Winners:
Dyeing Janet Gleave Weaving Ann Ashcroft Salt Spinning Janet Gleave
2017 theme ‘Celebration of Winter’
Winners
Dyeing Mandy Griffiths Weaving Ann Ashcroft Salt Spinning Ann Ashcroft Salt
2018 theme ‘Stash Buster’
A chance to use up those samples, odds and ends, bits and pieces and not forgetting ‘I don’t remember buying this’! Work or rework into one of our categories: weaving, spinning and dyeing. From an idea by Val.
Winners:
Creating somewhat of a a record this year, Gill A. scooped the weaving and dyeing trophies and was equal first with Janet G. in the spinning section. Gill is on the left of the pic.
2019 theme ‘Still Waters’ to coincide with the theme for work to be displayed in a six inch circle at the Association of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers National Exhibition at Leigh Spinning Mill in 2020. (Sadly this exhibition had to be postponed)
Pat Morrell (centre of picture) won the dyeing section, Mandy Griffiths (right) the weaving and Janet Gleave the spinning section.
One of our members, Gill Armstrong, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in March 2019. A special award has been created in Gill’s memory. The first recipient of the award is Lorna Page. The selection was made by Gill’s husband Gordon and son Sam in recognition of the bright colours of the Lorna’s work, colour being one of Gill’s favourite things. Gordon and Sam’s waistcoats were woven and tailored by Gill.
Gill can be seen on the left of the picture for the 2018 competition when she scooped all the trophies.
2020 ‘A Container’ rolls over to 2021
2021
A striking range of interpretations of ‘container’! The winners were: