Spinning

Atlantia A&S Criteria

The making of cloth or yarn from fiber. Entry should be skein or on spool; no woven cloth, embroidery, etc. Multiple skeins/spools of the same product may be entered to show quantity produced. Entrant should note fiber used and means of spinning (drop spindle, hand distaff, wheel, etc.).

Information also available as PDF.


DOCUMENTATION (0-30 points. SCORE 0-10 then MULTIPLY BY 3):

Must have at least “EZ Doc” information. More is acceptable, although one or two pages (not counting visuals and bibliography) should be more than enough. If your documentation is more than three pages for exceptionally detailed and in-depth work, you should provide an executive summary. The best documentation will cover what they did in period, what the creator did in the project, and why the difference (if any). It will explain any conscious compromises made, and provide footnotes, illustrations, and references, as well as any original research or experimentation as it applies to the project. Score based on the following considerations:

  • A minimum of: what it is, where is it from, when is it from, and references;
  • Materials used in the project;
  • Techniques and tools used during the process;
  • Research (country, period of origin, typical characteristics, etc.), visual and descriptive references (books, portraits, etc.) from reliable sources;
  • Artistic design and appropriateness of product to intended use.

AUTHENTICITY (0-20 points) [SCORE 0-10 and then DOUBLE THE SCORE]:

  • 0: Clearly modern in some aspect (Ex. man-made fiber, modern color, etc.);
  • 1-2: Generally period, with some obviously modern elements (Ex. used electric wheel to produce period looking results);
  • 3-4: Generally period but obvious mixture of materials or techniques from radically different cultures or periods;
  • 5-6: Overall period product and process, with minor inconsistencies (Ex. used authentic fibers commercially prepared for spinning);
  • 7-8: Period product and process with no inconsistencies;
  • 9-10: Special effort to achieve a completely period product by use of period raw materials, tools, etc. Completely period process without modern shortcuts. (Ex. sheared own sheep or grew own fiber plants, made period wheel, etc.).

COMPLEXITY (1-10 points):

Rank the ambition of the entry, not the workmanship, scale of 1-10 considering the following:

  • Difficulty of spinning method used;
  • Difficulty of fiber used;
  • Fineness of thread;
  • Preparation and finishing methods (shearing, combing, harvesting, bleaching, waxing, etc.);
  • Scope of endeavor (length and number of skeins, number of plies, etc.).

WORKMANSHIP (3-30 points. SCORE 1-10 then MULTIPLY BY 3):

Rank the quality of execution and success of the entry on a scale of 1-10 considering the following:

  • Choice of materials, tools, methods: is combination suitable?;
  • Form: is it of intended fineness?;
  • Uniformity in weight, twist, strength?;
  • Function and durability: will product stand up to its intended use?;
  • Personalization and/or special embellishment.

OVERALL IMPRESSION (1-10 points):

Evaluate the work as a whole, rating the complete effect and appeal beyond the mere technical proficiency. Consider how you react to the entry (intuitive response) and other items not previously addressed.