Department: 123-Fabric & Fiber Arts | Open
Superintendents
Lynn Weger, Fabric & Fiber Arts
Margie Lubinski, Natural Fibers Divisions
Prizes & Awards
Best in Show - $50.00
Champion - $25.00
Reserve Champion - $10.00
First Place - $8.00
Second Place - $5.00
Third Place - $3.00
Big Sky Fiber Arts Guild and Missoula Weavers Guild Awards, $10 from each guild for Overall Champion in Natural Fiber Spinning, Knitting, and Weaving Classes.
Premiums will be awarded provided there are three (3) or more exhibits in the class. Officials have the authority to move or place exhibits into an appropriate class. Not all classes may merit a placing.
For all exhibitors winning cumulative premium money exceeding $600.00, a completed W-9 form is required, and a check will be mailed within 60 days.
All entries entered into Divisions A-C will be judged according to the Northwest Spinners and Fiber Arts Association (NwSFA) standards by an accredited judge.
Division A – 100% Natural Fiber Handspun
Division B – 100% Natural Fiber Knitting
Division C - 100% Natural Fiber Weaving
Division D - Quilting
Division E – Crochet
Division F – Knitting
Division G – Hand Embroidery
Division H – Machine Embroidery
Division I – Sewing
Division J – Macramé
Division K – Rugs
Division L – Tatting
Division M – Textile Painting & Dyeing
Division N – Upcycled Fashion
Division O – Visible Mending
Division P – Weaving & Basketry
Important Facts & Dates
Age & Ability Groups
Amateur
Age 11 & under (Dept. 123A)
Age 12 to 17 (Dept. 123B)
Age 18 & older (Dept. 123C)
Participants with Disabilities Age 11 & under (Dept. 123D)
Participants with Disabilities Age 12 to 17 (Dept. 123E)
Participants with Disabilities Age 18 & older (Dept. 123F)
Professional (Dept. 123G)
No age classes. Either employed or selling to qualify as a professional.
Teacher (Dept. 123H)
No age classes. Employed as a teacher to qualify.
July 16 – FINAL DAY FOR ONLINE ENTRIES
Pre-registration required. Enter online by 5 p.m. Thursday, July 16, 2026 using the online entry system. Parents must sign if exhibitor is under 18 years of age. Following registration, print and save your receipt for entry confirmation.
July 18-19 – DELIVER EXHIBITS TO FAIRGROUNDS
Bring exhibits to the Commercial Building #13, Missoula County Fairgrounds, 1101 South Ave. West. Exhibits will be accepted 1p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, July 18 or 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, July 19. After Sunday July 19th, exhibits may be dropped off 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Fair office (Building #12). There is no guarantee exhibits dropped off after Sunday July 19 will be judged or exhibited.
AUGUST 8 – PREMIUM PAYOUT
Premiums are available for pickup 1 to 4 p.m., Saturday, August 8 at the Fair Office (Bldg. #12). Premiums are also available 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday (August 10-12). Any unpaid premiums after 6 p.m., August 12 will be forfeited.
AUGUST 9-10 – EXHIBITS RELEASED
Exhibits will be available for pickup from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday-Monday, August 9-10, 2025. If exhibits are not picked up by Thursday, August 13 at 6 pm, they will be donated.
General Exhibiting Guidelines
All entries must be the artist’s own recent, original work and must not have been previously exhibited at the Western Montana Fair. Works must have been completed within the past three years.
By submitting your content to this contest, you consent to Missoula County Fairgrounds posting and/or sharing images or videos of your exhibit for promotional purposes.
Entries are limited to 25 exhibits across all Divisions. Entries are limited to one (1) entry per Class.
Officials reserve the right to reclassify entries not entered in the correct division or class, or as otherwise needed for competition. Officials have the right to exclude any content from consideration if it includes explicit content that is not family friendly or if it is not Exhibit ready, as determined by officials at time of drop off.
All exhibits will receive care and protection in the surroundings, but always are subject to owners’ risk, and the Missoula County Fairgrounds nor Western Montana Fair can’t be held responsible for damage that may occur.
Space/capacity may be reached before the entry deadline and may limit the number of exhibits permitted. In this instance, exhibits will be accepted in the order the entries were received.
Division A – 100% Natural Fiber Handspun
CLASSES
Class 1: Skein using 100% Sheep Wool (Specify Ply)
Class 2: Skein using 100% Alpaca or Llama Wool (Specify Ply)
Class 3: Skein using Wool Blend (wool combined with other fiber) (Specify Ply)
Class 4: Skein using Exotic Fiber (Silk, Tak, Angora, Qiviut, etc) (Specify Ply)
Class 5: Skein using Plant Fiber (Cotton, Hemp, Flax, etc) (Specify Ply)
Class 6: Knitted Hat or Gloves
Class 7: Knitted Scarf or Cowl
Class 8: Knitted Shawl or Sweater
Class 9: Knitted Garment (coat or other large garment)
Class 10: Crocheted Item
Class 11: Woven Item
Class 12: Household Item
Class 13: Other, not listed above
Guidelines and Reminders
Entries must use entrant’s handspun yarn.
Please label fiber content on each entry.
Additional Prize: Big Sky Fiber Arts Guild and Missoula Weavers Guild will each provide a $10 premium for the Champion in this division.
Division B – 100% Natural Fiber Knitting
CLASSES
Class 1: Socks (may contain 25% synthetic)
Class 2: Hat or Gloves
Class 3: Scarf or Cowl
Class 4: Shawl or Sweater
Class 5: Garment (coat or other large garment)
Class 6: Household Item
Class 7: Knitted, then Felted Item (slippers, hat, bag, etc.)
Class 8: Other, please specify.
Guidelines and Reminders
Entries must use Commercially spun yarn.
Please label fiber content on each entry.
Additional Prize: Big Sky Fiber Arts Guild and Missoula Weavers Guild will each provide a $10 premium for the Champion in this division.
Division C – 100% Natural Fiber Weaving
CLASSES
Class 1: Scarf or Cowel
Class 2: Shawl
Class 3: Garment (coat or other large garment)
Class 4: Towel (kitchen, bath, hand)
Class 5: Small Table Linen (placemat, napkin)
Class 6: Large Table Linen (runner, tablecloth)
Class 7: Rug, Tapestry, Wall Hanging
Class 8: Household Item (pillow, cover blanket, etc.)
Class 9: Handwoven Basket (using all natural materials)
Class 10: Other, not listed above
Guidelines and Reminders
Entries must use Commercially spun yarn.
Please label fiber content on each entry.
Additional Prize: Big Sky Fiber Arts Guild and Missoula Weavers Guild will provide a $10 premium for the Champion in this division.
Division D – Quilting
CLASSES
Class 1: Quilt, Art
Class 2: Quilt, Embroidered - Hand
Class 3: Quilt, Embroidered – Machine
Class 4: Quilt, Hand Appliqued
Class 5: Quilt, Machine Appliqued
Class 6: Quilt, Hand Pieced - Hand Quilted
Class 7: Quilt, Hand Pieced - Machine Quilted
Class 8: Quilt, Machine Pieced - Hand Quilted
Class 9: Quilt, Machine Pieced - Machine Quilted
Class 10: T-shirt Quilt
Class 11: Quilt, Recycled Material
Class 12: Quilt, Whole Cloth (specify quilting method)
Class 13: Quilted Purse or Tote Bag
Class 14: Quilted Table Décor
Class 15: Quilted Vest or Jacket
Class 16: Quilted Wall Hanging
Class 17: Tied Comforter or Quilt
Class 18: Modern Quilt
Class 19: Other, not listed above.
Guidelines and Reminders
Class entries must be at least 50% of technique used. If your quilt has been professionally quilted, please put the name of professional quilter next to the quilt description on your entry form.
Division E - Crochet
CLASSES
Class 1: Accessory (hat, mittens, scarf, etc.)
Class 2: Afghan and Blankets
Class 3: Doll or Toy Item
Class 4: Garment
Class 5: Household Item
Class 6: Other, not listed above
Division F – Knitting
CLASSES
Class 1: Afghan and Blankets
Class 2: Accessory (hat, mittens, scarf, etc.)
Class 3: Doll or Toy Item
Class 4: Garment
Class 5: Household Item
Class 6: Other, not listed above.
Division G – Hand Embroidery
CLASSES
Class 1: Cross-Stitch Item
Class 2: Doll or Toy Item
Class 3: Garment
Class 4: Household Item
Class 5: Picture
Class 6: Other, not listed above
Division H – Machine Embroidery
CLASSES
Class 1: Quilts and Wall Hangings
Class 2: Clothing (Examples: Shirts, Jackets/Vests, Dress, Pants/Shorts, Other)
Class 3: Accessories (Examples: Hat/Caps, Purse/Bag, Scarves, Jewelry, Other)
Class 4: Household Items (Examples: Kitchen towels, Napkins, Runners, Table centers, Placemats, Pot holders, Pillow Cases, Other)
Class 5: Free Standing Lace & Free Standing Applique (Examples: 3D items, Flat Ornaments/Doilies, Cards/Stationary, Bowls, Candle Holder, Picture Frames)
Class 6: Toys
Class 7: Costumes (Ex: Cosplay, Other)
Division I – Sewing
CLASSES
Class 1: Accessory (purse, bag, hat, etc.)
Class 2: Doll Item
Class 3: Garment
Class 4: Household Item
Class 5: Toy/Stuffed Animal
Class 6: Costumes
Class 7: Other, not listed above.
Division J – Macramé
CLASSES
Class 1: Accessory
Class 2: Garment
Class 3: Household Item
Class 4: Other, not listed above.
Division K – Rugs
CLASSES
Class 1: Braided
Class 2: Crocheted
Class 3: Hooked
Class 4: Recycled Material
Class 5: Sewn
Class 6: Woven
Class 7: Other, not listed above.
Division L – Tatting
CLASSES
Class 1: Needle Tatting
Class 2: Shuttle Tatting
Class 3: Other, not list above.
Division M – Textile Painting & Dyeing
CLASSES
Class 1: Stenciling
Class 2: Textile Painting
Class 3: Tie-Dye
Class 4: Shibori
Class 5: Block printed
Class 6: Other, please specify.
Division N – Upcycled Fashion
CLASSES
Class 1: Denim Do-Over
Class 2: Lovingly Laced
Class 3: Retail Reimagined
Class 4: Stunningly Studded
Class 5: Thrift Turned Treasure
Class 6: Other, not listed above.
Guidelines & Reminders
Please include a description of materials used and method used for upcycling. Upcycling can include basic tailoring of garments. If available, please include before and after photos of your upcycled project.
Division O – Visible Mending
CLASSES
Class 1: Darned
Class 2: Patched
Class 3: Boro (scraps united)
Class 4: Sashiko/Geometric
Class 5: Other, not listed above.
Division P – Basketry
CLASSES
Class 1: Basket, coiled
Class 2: Basket, handwoven
Class 3: Other, not listed above.