March 13, 2012, 7pm to 9pm: Meeting at John Bryan Community Center
FLEECE TO HAT CONTEST
This is a variation on sheep to shawl contests; sheep to shawl starts with a live sheep, which a member of the 5 person team shears. All members of the team then have 2.5 hours to weave a shawl from the sheared wool. The weaver has pre-warped the loom. Every one cards or prepares wool for a while until there is enough wool that the spinners can spin. When the spinners have enough for the weaver to wind a shuttle she begins the weaving. There is a minimum size for the shawl off the loom. Everyone helps knot the fringe and it is done.
This smaller variation starts with the fleece and ends with a hat. Teams can have from 3-5 members, who can prepare fleece, spin and knit (crochet, weave). After 2 hours the team should have a completed hat that fits an adult, made totally of the fleece.
Each team supplies their own fleece. The fleece may be washed prior to the start of the event but must still look like fleece—no prior carding, teasing, combing. etc. This fleece can then be flicked, carded, teased or what ever to prepare it for spinning after the start of the contest. Spinning can be done on drop spindle or wheel. You can use singles or plied yarn. Most people knit their hats. The hat needs to be completed by the 2 hour time limit.
Teams usually meet and practice. They need to inspect the fleece and decide how to prepare the fleece for spinning. Can all the spinners spin a similar yarn? Will you work with singles or plied yarn? What pattern is appropriate to transform this yarn into a hat? What size needles do you need?
Form a team! Practice
UPDATE: We have two teams formed for the contest and room for more.
Team 1: Ellen Ottoson, Bonnie Byrnes, Rena Conrad, Cathy Klenke
Team 2: Karren Brito, Lois Pelekoudas, Diana Nelson, Pat Parida