A submission to a GVWSG exhibition or sale is evaluated in the category that is most appropriate for it. The GVWSG has two broad categories of evaluation:
- Handwovens, Skeins, or Felted Submissions
- Open Submissions
Handwovens, Skeins, or Felted Submissions
In a woven article the major focus of the article must be handwoven. Commercial kits are not acceptable. When designs are historical or traditional reproductions or adaptations there must be an accompanying label giving credit to the source.
Suitability of materials and design
- Fibres and yarn used should have compatible properties and be suitable for the purpose of the article, e.g. table linens should be launderable, fibres for wallhangings should be suitably durable.
- Weave, pattern and sett must be suitable to the intended use.
- Re-used materials should be labelled as such.
Worksmanship
- No threading errors.
- No knots in warp or weft. All joins must be inconspicuous. On the back of traditional tapestries it is permissible to leave ends of weft hanging free.
- Absence of skips and treadling errors.
- Consistent beat.
- Good edges and even selvedges.
- Sets of towels or placemats and napkins should be the same size with a maximum of 0.5 cm in difference.
Finishing
- Secure and even fastening of fringes which are suitable and in proportion to the article. Any fringe should be durable with respect to the function of the items.
- Inconspicuous machine and hand stitching unless used as embellishment.
- All articles for sale should be preshrunk and pressed except for some decorative items, e.g. wallhangings, rugs and must be provided with cleaning instructions and fibre content.
- Linings should be compatible with the function and design of the article. Cushions should have inner linings and be filled appropriately and according to government regulations.
- Wall hangings must be ready to hang with a mounting device attached. Hanging or mounting materials are an integral part of the design and must be appropriate for the weight and size of the hanging.
- Hems should be in harmony with the overall design and function of the item.
- The inside seams of woven garments should be finished neatly and securely (with coordinating thread) — machine or hand overcast, taped or serged.
Handspun and hand-dyed skeins
- Skeins must exhibit uniformity of spinning technique, i.e. consistently even or deliberately textured.
- Yarn size should be compatible with the character of the fibre used, i.e. length of staple, crimp.
- Handspun should be free of stains, second cuts and foreign matter.
- Hand-dyed yarns must be washed and free of residual dyes.
- Twist must be set.
- No knots in a skein, i.e. a continuous length of yarn.
- Skeins should be tied securely and neatly.
- Fibre content, weight and length must be recorded on an attached label.
- Hand-dyed skeins must include information on dye-stuff and mordants.
Felting
- Felting for garments should be firm enough to stand wear — especially slippers.
- There should be no thin or weak spots (hold it up to the light).
- Edges of garments should be finished neatly — either rounded cut or oversewn — no straggly edges.
Open Submissions
Open submissions are evaluated on an individual basis. Pieces will reference or use the materials, techniques or history of weaving, spinning, textiles or related processes. They may be functional, decorative, imaginative, aesthetic, or intellectual in content.
April 11, 2019