Certificate of Excellence in Handspinning
My name is Gwen Powell. I live in the Los Angeles area of California, United States. I started handspinning on Mother's Day 1981. In addition to achieving the COE Handspinning from the HGA, I have taught spinning and fiber arts at adult schools, judge fairs and exhibits, and give lectures and workshops for fiber arts guilds.
I completed the Handweaver's Guild of America's Certificate of Excellence in Handspinning in 1991. The requirements for the COE Handspinning have been revised twice since then. Please take these samples in context to the requirements at the time. Also, I would like to note, I am embarrassed by my poor grammar throughout and would recommend if you are applying for the COE that you have someone proof read all your text. The documentation herein has very few modifications from the original that was submitted. It is noted in pale blue any changes I made to the documentation while writing the web pages.
Please note, any text in pale blue (this color) are current comments. Any text in black is the text as it appeared in my documentation presented to the committee. For further explanations of these samples, please refer to the sample key. You may email me with questions at gwenemail@gmail.com.
Part I: DEMONSTRATION OF TECHNICAL SKILL IN SPINNING
SECTION 1: FIBER STUDY | |
Sheep's Wool: 2 ounce skein of each | |
Sample 1 | Worsted, fine (25-45 wraps per inch) |
Sample 2 | Worsted, medium (12-20 wraps per inch) |
Sample 3 | Woolen, fine (25-45 wraps per inch) |
Sample 4 | Woolen, medium (12-20 wraps per inch) |
Sample 5 | Woolen, heavy (9 or less wraps per inch) |
Sample 6 | Handspun worsted, even 2-ply, indicate size |
Example A | Swatch of sheep's wool sample. |
Cotton: 2 ounce skein of each | |
Sample 7 | Smooth, fine (40-60 wraps per inch) |
Sample 8 | Smooth, medium (20-30 wraps per inch) |
Sample 9 | Smooth, heavy (14 or less wraps per inch) |
Sample 10 | Handspun cotton, 2-ply from two finely spun yarns in fine or medium range. |
Example B | Swatch |
Flax: 2 ounce skein of each | |
Sample 11 | Smooth, fine (25-35 wraps per inch) |
Sample 12 | Smooth, medium (15-20 wraps per inch) |
Sample 13 | Smooth or textured, heavy (10 or less wraps per inch), singles or plied |
Sample 14 | Even 2-ply |
Sample 15 | Even 3-ply |
Example C | Swatch |
Silk: 1 ounce skein of each | |
Sample 16 | Smooth, fine (40-60 wraps per inch) |
Sample 17 | Smooth, medium (20-30 wraps per inch) |
Sample 18 | Textured, fine (40-60 wraps per inch) |
Sample 19 | Textured, medium (20-30 wraps per inch), from expanded form of cocoon |
Sample 20 | Textured or smooth, heavy (10 or less wraps per inch), 2 or more ply, 2 ounce skein |
Example D | Swatch |
Other Fibers: 2 ounce skein of each | |
Sample 21 | Animal fiber--down |
Sample 22 | Animal fiber--fur |
Sample 23 | Cellulosic fiber |
Sample 24 | Man-made fiber |
Example E | Swatch |
SECTION 2: USE OF TOOLS 2 ounce skein of each, even and consistent, compatible with equipment | |
Photographs of equipment used. | |
Sample 25 | Bobbin & Flyer Wheel |
Sample 26 | Spindle--wheel driven |
Sample 27 | Drop spindle |
Sample 28 | Large Supported Spindle |
Sample 29 | Small Supported Spindle (1 ounce) |
SECTION 3: YARN DESIGN 1 ounce skein of each | |
Sample 30 | Consistent, even quality, S twist |
Sample 31 | Consistent, even quality, Z twist |
Sample 32 | 3 skeins, 1 ounce each, more than 2 plies, even twist demonstrating versatility and variety of plies. |
Sample 33 | |
Sample 34 | |
Example F | Swatch |
Sample 35 | Special effect yarn produced with Fiber Preparation |
Sample 36 | Special effect yarn produced with Texture |
Sample 37 | Special effect yarn produced with Blend of Fibers |
Sample 38 | Special effect yarn produced with Plying |
Sample 39 | Special effect yarn produced by Spinning around a Core |
Example G | Swatch |
Sample 40 | Yarn spun for a specific purpose using the Amount of Twist |
Example H | Swatch |
Part II: SPECIAL STUDY IN SPINNING
Section 4: Background (I know these are out of order. It makes more sense this way.)
Proposal to the COE Handspinning Committee for Approval
Section 1: Statement of Purpose
Section 5: Preliminary Work
Knotting: Knot instructions:
Double Coin | Double Connection | Pan Chang | Clover Leaf | Good Luck |
Triple Connection | Button | Phoenix Tail | Macramé Square | Brocade or Congregated |
Commercial
Yarns
Handspun yarns
Unsuccessful Projects: Cotton Handbag, Silk Necklace
The preliminary work and documentation for the 5 final projects are
with the Presentation of Work below.
Section 2: Presentation of Work
Linen Belt | Butterfly Jacket |
Section 3: Conclusions
Section 4: Bibliography