Raffle Tickets for Sheepdog Classic Afghan On Sale Now

For the second year in a row a group of talented Vashon knitters are helping to raise funds for island youth by creating an afghan that celebrates the wool from sheep.  The drawing for this community based art project will take place Sunday, August 24 at the Vashon Sheepdog Classic. Cascade Yarn’s Eco Duo, a soft blend of merino wool and alpaca, was donated to the project by the Vashon Pharmacy.  It’s been estimated that a total of 900 hours of volunteer labor. went into the creation of of this original piece. Those who helped create the afghan include Tori Beck, Anne Bell, Susan Commeree, Edna  Dam, Jan Frost, Rebecca Graves, JoAnne Hennessey, Nancy Kapleman, Margie Wetherald, Myra Willingham, and Lois Yunker.

The afghan  was on display outside the Tea Shop during the July 11 Art Walk.  During the August First Friday Art Walk, the Two Wall Gallery will be hosting a full show dedicated to the Sheepdog Classic. Included in this show will be the “yarnstormed” field gate, created by knitters during the 2013 dog trails. This gate will be the official pen gate at the 2014 dog trials.

The afghan measures 45-inches by 72-inches and made of connecting 10-inch squares.  Each  square  was designed and knit by a different woman from the Second Saturday  Knitters (SSK) who meet monthly at the Vashon Senior Center.  Assembling the squares for the afghan was challenging because everyone knits  in a slightly different way.  Next steps were placement, stitching together the squares and, finally,  putting in  a fencing border (a broken rib stitch in the language of knitting ) by a few of the LOAFERS (Ladies of the Afghan Fundraiser. ) The result is a genuine piece of community based art.    

Some lucky someone will claim this luxurious piece of art with a winning lottery ticket.  Tickets are $2 each or three for $5 and are available at The Vashon Bookshop, Blooms, Island Lumber, island Quilter, Vashon Pharmacy, and Pandora’s Box.  For more information about the trials, go to
www.vashonsheepdogclassic.com/general-information.html