theraineysisters knitting and so much more

Yes, it’s the 2026 State Fair post! Surly came to visit so she could accompany us to the fair. We’ve been having a great visit.

I have been suffering with some tendinitis in my hips and was worried I wouldn’t be able to walk very well. And I was unfortunately correct. It did put a damper on things!! Because of my ambulatory issues, our sightseeing was greatly limited. My local brother and husband also joined us.

My main goal was to get a blue ribbon for my Rambling Rose Slipover. This was a true labor of love. I took the colorwork chart from Alice Starmore’s Rambling Rose Cardigan and then created my own design for a tabard-like, open at the sides vest. It had six steeks: each side, each armhole, the v-neck, and a baby steek at the back neck. I bound off the entire outside edge in one fell swoop! Because I didn’t have an actual pattern to follow, every step required a decision, a choice, some kind of direction. That means infinite possibilities. Exhausting!

Because I had put my heart and soul into this project, the blue ribbon meant a lot to me. I usually go in hoping for the best, but bracing for the worst. This year, I had Surly go in ahead of time to see how it did. She came out with the good news, so I wasn’t afraid to go in and look for myself!!

The large rosette is for my Thursday knitting group’s Penelope Knitting Award. Each year we choose a category to honor. This year was sleeveless sweater or vest. I am the one who sends out the $20 Panera gift card to the winner, which seems a bit self serving, so I won’t have to do it this year!!

Last year I entered Jul and got nothing. I decided to re-enter it in the senior division. It took first place there!

I got second place in seniors for my recently finished Anemoia Shawl (Andrea Mowry). They only have three knitting lots: sweater, scarf, not a sweater or a scarf. Whoopie! I entered it as a scarf.

I entered my Comfort Fade Cardigan because my peeps kept telling me to. I didn’t expect a ribbon, but it did get 4th place! Of course, it was turned inside out. I should have expected this. They can’t seem to fathom that reverse stockinette is a thing. I think it was probably judged correctly but switched by the people who put the displays together. We spotted another Comfort Fade that was inside out as well.

A fun surprise was the second place ribbon won by my friend Christine for her 2026 Winter Games Hat! We were both surprised it got anything because it is knit in worsted weight yarn.

Several entries did not get ribbons, which is to be expected. There were a record number of entries this year!! Last year’s record of 600 was smashed: 1,000 entries in knitting alone! Baked goods saw a 30% increase over last year. Our fair is so competitive, it is increasingly difficult to win a ribbon. I feel pretty lucky! I think they need to add more categories, or somehow limit the number of entries. They display all entries so knitting was piled up in cases all over the building. I never did find one of my items!

ETA: I also entered a Melt the Ice Hat, just so it would be displayed. Apparently, a bunch of knitters felt the same! They put together a resistance hat montage!