Last year, at just about this time, some of you may recall that I received an anonymous letter “asking” me to stop entering my knitting in the Minnesota State Fair. Today’s blog title is my response to that request. 
I did enter a few items this year and now wait in anticipation for the “big reveal” tomorrow, as are so many others. I think that’s the biggest reason to enter: the torture of waiting! I didn’t enter as many things as last year, because I didn’t consider them “fair worthy.” It sure seemed like I didn’t get much knitting done this year, but when I perused the blog, I found more than I had remembered:
Icarus Shawl
Adamas Shawl
Alix Shawl
Mystic Waters Shawl
Lyra
Roslin Hoodie
Saartje’s Booties
Merci Scarf
Lopi Cardigan
Kauni Cardigan
Rudy the Felted Reindeer
Sweetheart Glovelets
Fetching Glovelets
Hemlock Ring Throws x 4
Felted Modular Purse
Started, but…not finished
Roseleaves Tunic
Mitered Cardigan
Hanne Falkenberg Plisse
That’s a really good reason for having a blog: you can look back on your projects and their ongoing progress. I can’t rely on my memory for this stuff!
There are some fun Knitters Guild activities going on at the fair tomorrow, and I am meeting some of my peeps at the Creative Activities Building early in the a.m. I’ll do an update with pictures tomorrow!
Yay, Susan, and good luck tomorrow! I’m so glad you didn’t let the turkeys get you down. And hopefully we’re not competing against each other in too many categories! I’m planning to be at the fair tomorrow morning too – maybe I’ll run into you there.
Comment by Shelly Kang — August 21, 2008 @ 1:02 am
Sending you good luck wishes on the fair entries. Your knitting is fabulous. And what a tremendous achievement when you look back on the past year.
Comment by Evie — August 21, 2008 @ 3:29 am
all your projects are prize worthy for sure. Good luck! you are already a winner in my book. One who I aspire to be! thank you for all your hard work:D
Comment by cici — August 21, 2008 @ 5:03 am
I’m glad you declined — what a daft request. And – good luck!!!!!!
Comment by Soo — August 21, 2008 @ 6:11 am
Knock ’em dead!
You sure were busy last year. I had to look up a couple of things in your list.
Comment by Marina — August 21, 2008 @ 7:01 am
Good luck!
(And for those who are wondering — no she didn’t enter ALL of those items into the fair. That’s a chronicle of her knitting this year, not of her state fair entries.)
Comment by surly — August 21, 2008 @ 9:38 am
Good luck! I hope you keep entering, seeing your projects inspires me to push myself to improve my knitting.
Comment by Christa — August 21, 2008 @ 11:00 am
Good luck! I’m glad you decided to keep entering.
Comment by Kathy W — August 21, 2008 @ 12:17 pm
Good luck, Susan. I will be going to the Fair this year and
will look for your items. It’s all part of enjoying the Fair
and I’m glad that you decided to continue entering your
wonderful work.
Comment by Julie — August 21, 2008 @ 12:26 pm
Thank you for entering your beautiful work in the Mn State Fair. Last year I admired your 1st place modular tote bag. I was inspired by your work and now I am knitting one for myself. (I also really appreciate your online explanation of how the bottom of the bag is knit.) Your knitting is one of the things I most enjoy about the Fair. Thank you.
Comment by Mary Hackman — August 21, 2008 @ 3:20 pm
Wouldn’t it be nice if people would be more honest and more transparent? I’d be so much happier with the letter writer if she (assumed) had written:
Dear Susan the Knitting Goddess;
I am SO tired of not winning ribbons of any color at the state fair I could shoot a sheep or tink something mohair, or frog my great grand daughter’s christening blanket.
It is always YOU who wins all the ribbons.
I am SO jealous. Envious even. Even though it is a capital “S” sin.
Would you be willing to do any of the following?
1.Knit with one hand behind your back
2.Teach me to knit better
3.Only enter every other year
Probably a year’s worth of sessions with a good psychotherapist (or you, Meg Swanson, Lucy Neatby or somebody of their ilk) would take care of my issues, but I’m kinda lazy and wanting immediate gratification, so I just thought I’d write and ask.
Your humble, if frustrated, admirer,
A. Nonny Muss
Comment by PainterWoman — August 21, 2008 @ 3:22 pm
Please enter any and all of what you knit next year! The more high calibre work in the competition, the more winning will actually mean.
And congratulations on the Sweepstakes winner!
Comment by twinsetellen — August 21, 2008 @ 11:42 pm
I went back and read the post from last year – why are some people so hateful? Pure jealousy, I suppose. But anyway, I went to my LYS over lunch and saw that they had copies of The Great American Afghan and thought, I’ve always wanted to make this, and flipped through it. And there you were! I had no idea that’s the book you were talking about. Your square is stunning. I want to make a whole blanket of just that square!
Comment by kristin — August 22, 2008 @ 10:38 am
That sounds like a lot of FO’s to me. And besides, Lyra is the equivalent of several normal projects. Read today’s entry as well — Congratulations on the well deserved prizes!!!
Comment by Astrid — August 22, 2008 @ 3:53 pm
I would never ask nor tell someone not to enter the fair. But, there is perhaps an element of sportsmanship in play. If you are an excellent knitter and can consistently win in every category you enter, it could appear to some to be “piling on” if you enter something in every single category.
I am not say that is what you did, and I don’t believe it is, I am just putting it out there as something to consider. I like to see all of the wonderful crafts at the fair and I wouldn’t want someone not to enter just because they are “too good.” But, I also would hate to see someone do a Michael-Phelps sweep of all the knitting categories every single year as that might ultimately discourage other people from entering.
I saw your stuff at the fair and it was gorgeous. Frankly, I think you should be judging the competition as I doubt there are very many better knitters in the state.
Comment by Jill — August 26, 2008 @ 1:34 pm