Yep, and even though I hate to step on my own blog post, today was the first day of the fair. That means the results are in. My Knitters Camp friend, Kim, and I set sail early this morning so we could get a front row seat for the knitting at the Minnesota State Fair. This year I was really excited to see if Kim did well with her beautiful sweater.
She did: she received a blue ribbon!!
Kim’s ‘New Zealand Sweater’ from Knit One, Knit All worked in Simply Shetland Jumperweight, color Grouse
That flipped over piece of paper is her JRB Associates Woolgrower Association award! Way to go, Kim!
My personal quest was to see how my latest Niebling doily did — Gloxiniaeflora worked in size 30 DMC Cebelia Coton, Size 000 needles. It did well:
I have never worked so hard on anything in my life. The knitting was physically difficult on such tiny thread with those $%^^$$ needles!! But I do think it goes quite well with purple!!
My other “bigger” project was my Daydreams in Lace — it also garnered a blue:
I can’t get a good picture of it in any light, and certainly not through the reflecting glass of the state fair case!
I put in a few other small items and they were displayed all in a cluster:
Four of my entries are in this photo — my Friday Again is well hidden behind the gorgeous blue vest. The textured hat (called Flavia and available on Ravelry) and brown Escargot hat are both mine, and my Grey Gardens gloves are hanging to the upper right.
Here are better pictures of the hats (both got 2nd place ribbons):
Not a state fair shot!!
The textured hat is actually sage green, but the color just faded out in the pictures and under the harsh lighting. My gloves took a 3rd place:
First place in the glove category also receives a prize from my knitting group, The Penelope Knitters (click link to read the blog post about the name of our group). This year’s winner was my good friend Bonnie (her Ravelry project page):
Really beautiful!!
Last and least, I entered my Ponchette, which took a 3rd place:
Honestly, Kim and I spent 45 minutes looking for the thing! They had the shawls and scarves displayed at the far back of the building next to the baked and canned goods!
All in all, I was really pleased — especially to see Kim do so well. I know she worked really hard on the sweater and it is absolutely stunning in person! I ate the best pork chop on a stick that I have ever had in my life and did some shopping! Great day at the fair.
Now, off to knitting…woo hoo!!
Well done! Congratulations to you both. I’m looking forward to seeing these and all the other entries when go to the fair next Thursday.
Comment by Julie — August 23, 2012 @ 5:30 pm
Congratulations on those many ribbons. They are all well deserved!
May I ask whether your friend Bonnie made up the pattern for those gorgeous gloves herself? Or is it a purchasable pattern? Many thanks!
Comment by Christine — August 23, 2012 @ 7:15 pm
Congrats to all of you! Those are all amazing pieces.
The fair is so fun 😉
Comment by Beth — August 23, 2012 @ 8:15 pm
Congratulations to all of you. Those are beautiful, ribbons are well deserved! Can you give any more information about the New Zealand sweater knit by your friend? I’d love to see the pattern.
Well done.
Comment by Ruthanne — August 23, 2012 @ 8:24 pm
Thanks for the photo of my little fair isle dress & her red ribbon!
Comment by Joyce Riedesel — August 23, 2012 @ 8:46 pm
Congratulations, Susan! I saw your name many times while checking my results and was not at all surprised. The Niebling and the textured hat are especially delightful to me, but they are all great.
And thanks for the first peek at one of my ribbons – I can just see my handspun eyelet cardi in the right side of the photo of your gorgeous gloves!
Comment by twinsetellen — August 23, 2012 @ 9:29 pm
Congratulations. You did a great job, both of you, as always. I am very happy for you,
Renate
Comment by Renate Baur — August 23, 2012 @ 10:05 pm
Congratulations! Your Niebling is gorgeous.
Comment by Carolyn — August 23, 2012 @ 10:08 pm
Congratulations!
Comment by surly — August 23, 2012 @ 10:21 pm
I look forward to your annual report on your visit to the MN State Fair as I am not able to be there. The knitting ribbons are well deserved. I cannot believe the precise intricacy of the Niebling doily. Are your eyes permanently crossed from knitting on such tiny needles? Thank you for posting the photos!
Comment by pamela — August 23, 2012 @ 11:40 pm
Congratulations! I didn’t enter anything this year, but I checked the results anyway – no surprise to see your name all over that winners’ list. 🙂 I’ll be sure to ogle them in their glory on Labor Day.
Comment by June — August 24, 2012 @ 9:12 am
Congratulations!! Your work is beautiful.
Comment by Bertha Mallard — August 24, 2012 @ 10:43 am
Congratulations! I’m heading up to the State Fair next Tuesday and I’ll be looking for your projects & ribbons. I’m always inspired by the volume of beautiful knitting projects people have entered into competition.
Comment by RuthieJ — August 24, 2012 @ 11:22 am
Congrats on all the ribbons and good work! And thanks for the glimpse of my sweater behind your hat. 🙂
Comment by Amy — August 24, 2012 @ 12:05 pm
Congratulations. Thanks for posting I can see my socks.
Comment by Ann — August 24, 2012 @ 12:57 pm
Thanks for the preview of the beautiful knitting at the Fair! I won’t be able to go til the last weekend, so now I’m extra excited.
Comment by Stephanie — August 24, 2012 @ 3:26 pm
Is there a story behind the name “Penelope Knitters’ Award”?
Comment by Julie — August 24, 2012 @ 3:39 pm
I love your fair posts! Beautifully done. I shall aspire to that quality of work.
Comment by Needles — August 24, 2012 @ 3:46 pm
Congrats to both you and Kim. Beautiful all they way around!!
Comment by Penny — August 24, 2012 @ 8:53 pm
Susan,
Do you have any details on the gorgeous blue Fair Isle sweater which is in the same picture with your smaller items (and it is behind the red and white child’s dress)?
Congratulations on your “haul” of ribbons at this year’s fair. I enjoyed seeing your Daydreams in Lace again and am again tempted to make it, but I am sure mine would not be as nice a finished project as yours.
Millie
Comment by Millie — August 25, 2012 @ 11:18 am
Thanks for the shout-out and thanks also to the Penelope Knitters! Your Niebling was stunning and your other entries were lovely – as usual.
Comment by Bonnie — August 25, 2012 @ 6:04 pm
Congratulations for the beautiful work and the well-deserved ribbons!
Trudy
Comment by Trudy — August 26, 2012 @ 4:54 pm
Congratulations, Susan!
Comment by Catherine S. — August 28, 2012 @ 9:23 pm
Always love your State Fair posts! Your entries were just lovely — so glad you received some nice ribbons! (And hoo-ray to Kim, too.)
Comment by Kym — August 30, 2012 @ 4:10 pm
Is the hat and upcoming pattern? The twisted stitches on it are beautiful.
Comment by GinkgoKnits — September 17, 2012 @ 12:59 am