One Skein Challenge!
- rmvcaluya
- May 14, 2021
- 6 min read
Updated: May 16, 2021
Published May 14, 2021
Because International Heritage Breeds Week is coming, I decided to make a fun make along challenge. This challenge is open to all fiber artists - Knitters, Crocheters, and hand loom weavers (I'm talking small scale here since my skeins are not very large/long). As some of you have noticed, I make very small skeins - 2oz and can range from 120 - 250-ish yards depending on the yarn weight. I offer yarn weights from superfine to worsted. Since I currently spin with an Electric Eel Wheel Nano 1.1, I'm limited simply because of the size of my e-spinner (I'm hoping to upgrade soon...).
In any case, I'm quite curious as to what can be done with my yarns. Handspun yarns are not common in the market at large because of the variances and the pricing. You typically find them in farmers markets, local yarn shops that offer them, Etsy, or some indie businesses. I think the only handspun provider on a large scale would be Noro. So to make things interesting, I've decided to see what you can do with a skein of yarn that doesn't have much yardage. Participating yarns are Handspun Legacy Jacob: Natural/Dyed, and Cafe Shetland. While I possess other heritage breed fibers in my stash, I am not a very fast spinner.
The other purpose of this contest is to educate you of some American Heritage breeds, support local and small farmers, and introduce you a bit to The Livestock Conservancy. In an effort to generate awareness, strengthen genetic biodiversity, and encourage farmers to raise heritage breeds to prevent specie extinction.
Contest Rules:
Who can join?:
- If you live/reside in the US or Canada: You can join!
- If you got yourself either a Facebook/Instagram/email account: You can join!
- While fiber artists come in different ages, genders, etc, if you are too young to have a social media or email account but you're a fiber artist, you can always ask your grown up to vouch for you and enter for you. All prizes are pretty PG, so you should be fine. Please ask your grown up to include your first and last name so you can enter the raffle draw.
- What if you're outside the US or Canada? Selling physical and shipping physical products to the EU is complicated. I don't even have a VAT number. Sigh... unless someone can help me understand how to lawfully sell, I'm at a loss really. I'm sorry! I think in theory, I can sell to Australia/Asia? But since it takes a lot of time for my stuff to get there, plus shipping costs, I don't think it's worth it at this time.
What you can use?:
- YARN: all Handspun Jacob and Shetland (dyed or natural) yarn from my shop.
- you can knit/crochet/use a small loom/ and you may also submit a needle felted entry
- you can add stuffing, buttons, beads, or accessories if your project indicates the need - ex. When making a stuffed animal, you can add stuffing and buttons for eyes/nose. Or padding for slippers.
What counts as an entry?
- You can purchase one to a maximum of 2 skeins (since I don't produce many skeins a week, I'd like others to have a chance at it)
- The main challenge is to see how many finished projects you can create with 1 skein.
- 1 finished project = a finished pair of anything (mittens/socks/booties/slippers) or a singular object (shawl/beanie/cowl/baby clothing/Christmas stocking/amigurumi toy/etc). The total size of the project can be for babies or adults, it doesn't matter. It just needs to be finished (meaning you don't need an additional skein to finish the project).
- Points system: 1 finished project = 1 point. 1 skein=1 point. So if you purchased 2 skeins and only managed to finish 1 project, that's 2+1= 3 points. If you purchased 1 skein and finished 3 projects, that's 1+3= 4 points. Or if you managed to purchase 1 skein and things happen and you don't end up creating anything by the end of the deadline, you'll get 1 point (so nothing is completely lost).
- You can't make the same finished project and count that as a separate entry. Ex. You purchased 1 skein and made the same exact felted mouse 5 times. This will only count as 1 entry point. However, if from 1 skein you made 1 pair of booties, 1 pair of mittens, 1 baby bonnet, that counts as 4 points.
- You can make the same project but the second entry must be a different technique: ex. 1 skein= 1 knitted pair of slippers (cabled then stitched together) + 1 knitted pair of slippers (simple stockinette design with zipper), 1 skein= 1 knitted headband + 1 crocheted headband, 1 skein= 1 crocheted amigurumi bear + 1 crocheted amigurumi bird. (I hope this makes sense)
- You can make granny squares. You can make different granny squares with different designs but to make it a finished project, it must have the same size. Ex. 1 skein = 4 different 4"x4" granny square patterns = 1 + 4 = 5 pts. If you combine all this to make a small blanket/table cloth, it becomes 6 points. If they're all the same exact granny square pattern, it counts as 1 entry point.
- You can submit an original piece or a pattern you got online (purchased or free). Please give credit to the designer and indicate where you got the pattern from (ex. Pinterest, Blogpost, Ravelry, etc).
- You can make a fair isle/color work project but the total weight of the project must not exceed 2 oz/60-62.9g (because 1 skein = 2 oz). Ex. You combine 2 colors to create a color work cowl and the total weight = 2oz or you use half of each skein exactly, the points you get are 1 pt (skein) + 1 pt (cowl) = 2pts. If you use 2 full skeins to create 1 project, you will get a penalty meaning you'll only get points for the skeins you bought but not for the project you made.
Promo duration:
- You must purchase yarn from May 16-24, 2021 (until 11:59pm PST-Pacific Standard Time)
- You must submit your entries by May 31, 2021 (until 11:59 PST). Make sure all entries are submitted at the same time on one platform (either Facebook/Instagram/Email).
- Winners will be announced and contacted on June 5, 2021 (evening time).
How to Submit Entries:
- You can either post it on Facebook/Instagram/Email submission.
- Facebook/Instagram: (1) write your first and last name, (2) the skein you used (including details of color, yardage if any, and weight), (3) the pattern name and designer, technique used for each entry, (4) measurements of each entry, and (5) use all 3 hashtags #1skeinMAL2021 #himaymaycreations and #HeritageBreedsWeek. Make sure to take a photo of the skein you purchased and a photo of each entry. You can make a single post with 1-5+ photos.
- Email: same as Facebook/Instagram without the hashtag. Send it to my email at rufina@himaymaycreations.com. Make sure that your attachments are less than 25mb to prevent having to send me 2 separate emails. Use the title/header: "One Skein Challenge 2021"
Prizes:
There will be 4 winners: If you won one prize, it automatically makes you ineligible to win another. In the event that there aren't a lot of participants for this contest, I will only apply 1 prize per person (if there are 4 or less participants hypothetically).
- Largest single skein project: Free shipping 1lb of roving yarn: superwash merino wool
- Smallest single skein project: Free shipping spinner's starter kit (1 drop spindle + sample merino wool and angora
- Random grand prize draw (2 winners): $50 gift certificate Bide A Wee Farm. (Grand Prize change- see note below)
Note disclosure (grand prize): The original plan was to gift an SE2SE passport and gift card. However, after deliberation with some admin from SE2SE (along the lines of SE2SE participation being only available to the US and how gifting the passport is not possible), I have decided to change the prize.
In case there's a tie for either the largest/smallest single skein prize categories, I will record a YouTube drawing and announce the winner by June 5, 2021.
- As a friendly reminder, this event is to celebrate International Heritage Breeds Week and hand-spun, hand-dyed yarn. So the prizes are related to these goals. Also, I'm a sole proprietor. It's a one person team trying to make a difference, so please be kind. I'll do my best to spin as much yarn as I can to give more people a chance to participate.
- Once I announce the winners, you have 2 weeks to claim your prize from the winner release date (to allow for shipping times and arrangements with Bide A Wee Farms). I will also need a valid shipping address which you can either pm on social media/email reply back to me once you get contacted.
"Worldwide, about one domesticated livestock breed is lost to extinction every month. To help prevent those important losses, International Heritage Breeds Week raises global awareness about the importance of heritage breed livestock and poultry to local communities. Follow the hashtags #IBHW and #HeritageBreedsWeek throughout May to learn more about the global effort to save heritage breeds."
The Livestock Conservancy, MAY 2021 Newsletter excerpt
Disclaimer: I am not a provider of SE2SE fiber. Neither am I paid or sponsored to host this event. This is simply my way of contributing to help keep heritage breeds alive as a small business owner and as an SE2SE spinner. All prizes from this event are from my own expense.
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