• Design and hand spin a yarn in which a minimum of 80% of the components in the yarn have been handspun. It is possible to use eg: a fine commercial binder yarn, or a metallic singles for glitz effects etc.as part of the yarn, together with the other handspun elements. There are no restrictions on the type, number and variety of fibre(s) used.

• Present a 20 metre (minimum length) skein of your designer yarn together with a 10cm x 10cm sample of your designer yarn knitted or woven or crocheted or used in some similar way for the exhibition and judging.

• The skein and sample will be attached to an entry form which will be included in the April Guild News for you to photocopy and pass on to friends etc. This form will require details and small samples of the fibres used, fibre preparation methods, small samples of each singles used and a description of the plying method together with dyeing and finishing details and any other information explaining how the yarn was made. Create a name / title for the yarn and include a short statement about your inspiration. Your name and address will only be put onto the reverse side of the entry form.

• You may enter as many yarns as you wish but each yarn must be attached to a separate entry form. There is no charge for entering yarns.

• Yarns must be presented for entry before 10.00am on the Open Day and can be collected after the presentation of prizes. For those unable to attend either give your yarn and entry form to a friend or buy a Post Office padded bag and post your entry to arrive at the Guild by 4 July. Include return labels and the necessary stamps for return postage in the bag so your entry can be returned to you.

• The Guild would like to temporarily keep the winning entries and some other selected entries (for possibly about a year) to form a travelling display to be used to publicise the skills of Guild members at events such as Stitches and Craft etc and to make the display available to country groups who request that it be sent to them for a short time and then returned.

• The judging will be by popular choice selection by all those attending the Open Day.

New for 2006 Open Day! 2006 Treasure Bag of the Year Award
Following a similar plan to the Designer Yarn of the Year Award, this year there will be an additional competition and display for all members of the Guild and Network Groups which will be judged for the first time at the Guild's 2006 Open Day to be held on Saturday 8 July.

Design and make a bag from fibre/yarn/fabric treasures or design andmake a bag for carrying or storing treasures. Weaving, knitting, crochet,spinning, braiding, felting, dyeing or any combination of these techniques can be used as the major construction method/s. Machining, embroidery etc can be used for minor construction and embellishment but the major amount of work should be from fibre, yarn and fabric areas in which the Guild specialises. Use your common sense, creativity and designer skills and have fun!

Enter as many treasure bags as you wish. No charge for entering bags.

Please do not make the bags very large as display area is limited.