OMG — check out this Big Guy from the Minnesota State Fair:
I’ll try not to boar you any longer! I just had to go to the Fair today, come rain or shine (it was VERY rainy 🙁 ) and despite the fact that I was sick. I had entered multiple knitted items in the fair and needed wanted to know how they did. Attending on the first day is a ritual for me.
Okay. I am just going to spill it, and you can decide for yourself if I am as big a pig as my friend here, but I entered ten things in the fair. They all received ribbons: 6 first place, 3 second place and 1 third. I also won the Sweepstakes.
So, what did I enter? Here are two items: My silk Diamond Fantasy Shawl and Camilla Gloves:
I entered the gloves last year and got 2nd place. If you do not get a blue ribbon, you can re-enter the item. I should have quit while I was ahead ;). I was extremely pleased that the shawl won something because I did not expect it at all.
I also put in the little lace top from Vogue Knitting that I made for my youngest daughter:
She won’t even wear it, but at least it got a ribbon!
Next are a pair of socks I made right before the fair. I wasn’t sure that they would win anything because so many very talented people knit socks…lots and lots of socks — they did get second place even though you can’t see the ribbon:
The pattern is from “More Sensational Socks” and they are knitted with Fortissima Socka Bamboo in Color 07 Ocean.
I also threw in one of my Lace Tams for the heck of it and was stunned it got a BLUE ribbon:
It is knit in Rowan Silk Wool DK.
I finally got the zipper sewn into Eris and it received a blue ribbon:
I struggled mightily with the zipper pulls. I cut off the ones that came with the zipper — perhaps an OOPS! — and then made 457 attempts at “pretty” zipper pulls. It was crazy. I finally ended up using some beads I already had and attached them with wire wrapping.
My Peacock Shawl did very well and I was surprised and very pleased about that. I know a lot of people knit fabulous shawls so I knew the competition would be tough:
The Modular Tote also did well:
Another total surprise was Ballerina. I finished Ballerina last year but did not have a category to put it into, so I entered it this year in the plain knitting cardigan category.
You can see it also won the knitter’s Guild Award, but I have no idea how that is determined. And I’m not sure what it means either!
When I got into the building I started looking for my things and could not find Oregon anywhere. It was not in any of the main knitting cases. Sometimes they place knitting in odd places as part of a theme (i.e., Norwegian Sweaters with rosemaling, etc.), so I started searching high and low. I found Oregon between two gorgeous quilts:
Oregon surpassed all my expectations. I was hoping it would do well because it was such a thorn in my side for so long and was so darned much work!! I was beside myself! It was thrilling to see those ribbons, I must admit.
I was equally thrilled to see that my dear friend, Kim, won a blue ribbon for her gorgeous Cats and Mice mini-afghan:
When I got there, the little cats were standing on their heads, so I asked them to flip it around — and they did! I knew this darling blankie would do well. I’m so proud of Kim. It is an Alice or Jade (?) Starmore design.
I’m also VERY proud of my friend Linda who won second place for her cookies.
She is a great cook and very deserving! The only bummer was that my other friend did not get a ribbon for her ethnic bread, but she will try again next year.
Now, could I do a state fair post and leave out the infamous Sock Monkeys — au contraire, mes amies! Our lil sock monkey fiend friend has been hard at work all year exploiting perfecting the sock monkey concept:
And perhaps more practical for you:
All in all a great time — until I got laryngitis. I mentioned that I was sick and it did go into my chest/throat. I hope this bout is shorter than last time (a full week!).Â
I’m sure by now you are thoroughly bored, but are you as boared as this 1200 pounder?
And I know what you are thinking — yes, they are HUGE!!
