Black Sheep Gathering – Sheep to Shawl

Black Sheep was awesome!  I had even more fun this year, than last and I have to say it’s because shopping was a minor part of the experience.  First Sheep to Shawl!

I was one of the spinners for our team.  It was so much fun (as I’m sure you can tell by that picture) and I’m feeling ready to do it again!  Even though our shawl turned out to be quite an adventure.

Can you see Sara through the loom?  Our loom was the main problem.  It’s very old, and kept breaking.  Of course, a loom that continues to break is going to slow down the weaving process dramatically, and that really doesn’t help when speed is a major factor to the competition.

Here Sara and I are threating the loom to keep it in order, which did seem to work for awhile.  Time was getting close here, and I spent the last portion on the floor fixing the loom when it broke to save time.

The shawl did make it off the loom though, and we had five minutes to put the finishing touches on the shawl.  I have to say that at this time, it was pretty high action.  I didn’t care so much if we won, I just wanted to finish!

We did (I’m not sure how, and it may not have been perfect) get the shawl done in time for the judging.  It was a few inches short, and that took us out of the running for placing in the contest.  The other three teams had all finished at least an hour before us.  I really like the design that Sara and Miriam picked out.  The brown was from a Shetland sheep named Electra.  It was very easy to spin and made a beautiful yarn.

This is a close up of the huck lace design pattern we used.  Don’t I sound like I know what I’m talking about?  I don’t.  Weaving is a little less of a mystery after this, but I still don’t know much about it.  I will leave the weaving to Sara, she did a great job, and I can’t believe it got finished in time.

Of course no contest would be complete without a team photo.  Go Sinister Spinsters!