Creative Fibre Award for New Weavers

In 2000 the Society received from an anonymous member a donation to institute an annual weaving award. The donor was concerned at the number of looms being offered for sale and wanted to encourage new weavers (who often get no further than learning the very basics) to keep weaving. Although this funding has now ceased it was the Creative Fibre National Council’s view that the award was important in promoting the development of weaving and voted that the Society fund this award annually. 

The selected recipient receives $500 to be used for resources such as equipment, yarns, books or further weaving education. 

Conditions of entry

• The entrant must be a New Zealand resident member and a current Creative Fibre member.
• A New Weaver is defined as one who has moved beyond the basics, has been weaving for less than two years, and shows enthusiasm to extend their weaving skills.
• The applicant must present a portfolio/folder, samples of woven projects or samplers woven, three to five pieces of work, and project notes which should include yarn choice, calculations, design inspirations etc. To guide the entrants, a project record card (and the information on this page) can be downloaded here. A project yarn calculation spreadsheet can be obtained from the National President.
• The application has to show a basic understanding of the theory of weaving. The form and amount of documentation is up to the applicant.
• The winning portfolio/folder is to be displayed at the following Festival/Event and the award presented at the Annual General Meeting of the Society.
• Tapestry weaving is not eligible.

There will be two selectors for the award and the selectors decision is final.

Some or all of the tuition received by the applicant may have been given in a course or privately with one or more tutors/mentors. Tutors and course topics should also be mentioned in the applicant’s portfolio.

Applications by 1 March of each year to the National President.

Portfolio suggestions (these are suggestions from the selectors)

• Submit work in a binder or other form of portfolio.
• Introduce yourself and tell the selectors about why you weave and your future weaving plans, and your sources of inspiration and information.
• Although photos of past projects can be included, submitting either actual samples or projects will better represent your work.
• Work submitted (samples and finished projects) should be wet finished (washed and fulled) and pressed as in the same manner as any finished project would be. All projects submitted should have appropriate finishing techniques for hems or fringes.
• If work has been done as part of a class/workshop or under the guidance of an instructor, please indicate this. Classroom samples can be submitted but it helps the selectors understand the difference between an applicant’s own work and that produced under instruction.
• Samples or work submitted should include warp and weft calculations, sett and sley, as well as threading and treadling plans, shrinkage rates or measurements before and after wet finishing (see attached sample forms).