The Fleece to Fabric Competition is made up of teams of 3 or 4 members who will demonstrate and explain the process of creating a shawl from natural fiber to woven fabric using traditional methods and equipment. Each team will prepare raw fleece, spin the singles, ply the yarn and weave a shawl in a 5 hour time limit. Competition will be limited to 3 teams.
RULES:
1. Team: Each team will be made up of 3 or 4 members who can both spin and weave, as decided by the team. This team should decide on the color scheme and design of the end product.
2. Fleece:
**WARP: Any natural fiber can be used for the warp. The warp may be handspun or commercial, natural colored or hand dyed at no fewer than 8 ends per inch with a required 4 shaft pattern of the team’s choice. Warp should be tied on the loom on arrival, with no header woven.
**WEFT: Each team will provide its own fleece for the weft. The fleece may be washed and/or dyed, but no further processing is allowed. Weft fiber will be prepared for spinning during the contest by teasing, flicking, hand carding, or using non-electric drum carders.
3. Each team will provide their own equipment (spinning wheels, pre-warped loom, shuttles, bobbin winder, hand cards, drum carders, flickers, etc. No electric equipment will be allowed (electric drum carders, electric spinners, electric fringe twisteers)
4. Hand-spun weft must be plied and will not exceed 3 times diameter of warp.
5. Equipment must arrive between 8 and 9 am and be set up by 9:30.
6. Competition will begin at 10 am on Saturday, March 14, 2026, and end at 4 pm.
7. The completed shawl must be a minimum of 22 inches wide sleyed on the reed. The woven length must be a minimum of 70” long, excluding an optional fringe.
8. Weaver’s notes: The weaver’s notes shall include the weaving draft, fiber content with description/identification including a sample of warp, fiber content with description/identification including a sample of weft spun during competition and a description of the intended use of the finished product.
9. Each team will provide a storyboard poster detailing:
**Team information, names of team members, guild name if appropriate, location of team, and theme.
**Inspiration: What inspired you to make this particular shawl, color selection/pattern
**Technical information: equipment used, weaving pattern/strategy, fiber and yarn samples, spinning techniques, fiber processing methods and weaver’s notes.
10. Each team is encouraged to dress in a style appropriate for theme. Costumes or team ensembles are encouraged.
11. Each team will be required to take a 30-minute break. Breaks will be staggered with the first team taking a break at 11:30. When teams take a break, no work can be completed during their 30 minute timeframe. The break schedule will be determined by agreement of the teams prior to the start of the competition.
12. There is no entry fee.
13. Judging will be done by a fiber arts judge.
14. Prizes: Teams will receive appropriate ribbons: 1st Place $150; 2nd Place $100; 3rd Place $50. Non-monetary prizes may be awarded as available.
15. Finished shawls may be sold after the competition concludes. If sold, the proceeds will be 50% to the team and 50% to Carolina FiberFest Youth Scholarship. If the shawl isn’t completed during the competition, it can be completed prior to the auction.
16. SCORING—100 POINT CRITERIA
Team work and display—10 points
Team storyboard poster
Team attire
Team spirit
Creativeness of theme
Education of audience: knowledge of process and interaction with observers—5 points
Fleece—10 points
Choice and Preparation
Dyed Warp and/or Weft
Spinning—25 points
Uniform preparation, size & type of yarn produced
Ability to keep weaver supplied
Weaving—25 points
Design
Straightness of edges with minimal draw in (use of temple is not allowed)
Evenness of beating
Handspun warp
No threading or treadling errors
Time—10 points
First finish—10 points
Second finish—5 points
Finished Shawl—15 points
Aesthetic appeal, including drape, hand and appearance
Bonus points
Fringe—5 bonus points
Deductions for measurements outside of standards
Length—minus 5 points
Width—minus 5 points