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!
PS to Anne: You can only resubmit if it did not previously win a blue ribbon anywhere at the fair. So, if I got a blue ribbon last year in a regular knitting category, I couldn’t resubmit it in seniors even though it’s different judges.
I don’t know how common it is, but I’ve done it many times. I resubmitted my Oregon Vest after it took 2nd place. Upon resubmission it won the blue and a special award. Another time, years ago, a sweater went from 2nd place to winning the sweepstakes!
items must be completed within 3 years if I remember correctly.
It was a fun day but the crowds were crazy!
Comment by Sally Rainey — August 30, 2026 @ 10:31 am
I LOVE the annual county fair posts! Congrats on your wins and longtime participation. Am a long time fan girl of Alice Starmore, having knit several of her designs over the decades.
Comment by Kris Jensen — August 30, 2026 @ 12:53 pm
Stunning Tabard. Congrats! Sorry about your hip! Chloe
Comment by Chloe — August 31, 2026 @ 7:11 am
Congrats on the blue ribbon! Your vest definitely deserves it. It’s just stunning!
I’m sorry to read about the hip pain, but I’ve found myself say that I’m not aging as gracefully as I’d planned to an awful lot lately.
Comment by Samina — August 31, 2026 @ 10:15 am
Congratulations on the blue for the Rambling Rose Slipover – and all the others too! I love all the evidence of resistance in the Melt the Ice display. I always love the glimpses you share of the state fair.
Comment by Pam — August 31, 2026 @ 10:23 am
Congratulations on so many truly well-deserved ribbons! The resistance display is very moving. I would love to visit your state fair some year but I suspect it needs many days to see it!
Comment by bethh — August 31, 2026 @ 12:36 pm
Congratulations on the blue ribbon for the slipover, it’s well-deserved! I’m curious about the rules for your state fair: you can enter things that were finished more than a year ago? For MD Sheep & Wool, you can only enter things that were made since the last festival.
Sorry about the tendonitis; aging can be rough!
Comment by Anne C. — September 1, 2026 @ 10:39 am
Absolutely smashing vest—well-deserved blue ribbon! And congrats on the others. Take care of those hips.
Comment by Elaine in NYC — September 1, 2026 @ 12:14 pm
Congratulations! Always enjoy your fair entry posts.
Love, love, love your award-winning Rambling Rose Slipover.
The tabard-style is a wonderful and inspirational idea.
Comment by Elizabeth — September 2, 2026 @ 7:45 pm
Thank you for taking the time to photograph and share your projects. I am so impressed!
Comment by Lauren — September 5, 2026 @ 10:34 pm
Beautiful work!
Comment by Marie — September 6, 2026 @ 3:28 pm
I love ? your blog. Congrats on the ribbons. The Rambling Rose is stupendous! I go to the fair and stare at the details of your knitting! I was disappointed the fair display designers put your popover way in the corner rather than up front where it belonged.
I too, entered a scarf in the senior decision and placed 3rd. I thought that was fair plus I was happy to even place because the pattern wasn’t that difficult. Your entry on the other hand should have been first plus the Sweepstakes award. I loved the design and the surround I- cord!
I’ve entered the fair many times and my items usually place, but I’ve never gotten a blue. I’m trying to figure out the judging system (good luck, right). Do the judges scorn on worsted weight yarn? A comment about your friend getting 2nd on her hat when it was knit in worsted got me thinking along those lines. Could you please share other biases you’ve figured out or at least suspect? The first time I entered I thought I would get a more robust critique to really help me become a better knitter. Wrong on that one, but I do realize the judges need to move quickly. Honestly, I think the process is more subjective than I would have believed before entering. Are the judges accomplished knitters? I think the evaluation sheet is too vague and or allows for subjective responses.
Again I love your blog and am in aw of your knitting accomplishments. I did my best to attend the pop up classes at the Yarnery when they were doing those. You might even recognize me. Take care!!
Comment by Kathy Benshoof — September 8, 2026 @ 1:59 pm
Thanks so much for the state fair report. The photos are great.
Your Rambling Rose is such a gorgeous sweater, very impressive indeed.
Comment by Lisa RR — September 10, 2026 @ 10:26 pm
Congratulations on your awards in a stiff competition! I enjoy your posts on the State Fair.
I like that the construction of the slipover allows both sides to be opened—a big advantage for blocking and drying.
Comment by Laurie Gibson — September 30, 2026 @ 8:04 pm