Thursday, September 1, 2011

A long overdue fair knitting post!

Now that just about a month has passed, I'm finally getting around to posting about my fair knitting!

Last year I only entered a few things, though was in 4-H or worked for OSU Extension for a huge portion of my life, I wasn't quite sure how the Sr. Fair side of things worked. This year I filled every category that I could, and I already have plans for more next year!

1st up, scaves 2nd place
I will preface this by saying I HATE KNITTING SCARVES. The only reason I knit this scarf was to fill this category. And about halfway through I remembered just how much I hate knitting scarves, sewed some buttons on it and called it a day.
I like the way it turned out though, and it will be nice to have something to keep my neck warm this winter. Next year I am definitely doing a cowl (or a lace shawl, but I'll talk about that in a minute)

Mitten and gloves 2nd place
This category is always easy for me, the kids always need mittens, and by needing to have them done in August, it insures that they will actually have them to wear when it gets cold outside. I really love how these turned out and I'm planning a matching hat to go with them

Baby clothing 1st place
I was really surprised with the 1st for this category, it's the most competitive (has the most entries) and there were a lot of really cute things this year. It's a little over the top, but I loved this outfit on Elise when she was tiny

There are some booties that go with it, but they didn't make it into this picture

Adult clothing.
This category surprised me a little bit. I didn't get anything, which is fine, I can't win them all. But there were only 4 entries and there are 4 places. 2 entries didn't have ribbons. I'm wondering if maybe they thought since it was a shawl it should have been in the scarves category. This was also the item I thought was my best work. I knit it for my church's prayer shawl ministry, it took almost a year of slowly knitting and praying (it didn't really take that long to knit, I just only knit during meetings when I wasn't holding a baby or talking)

Children's clothing, 3rd place
I should have entered one of the boys sweater because they look more impressive, this was the item I was most proud of though as it's from my pattern and I figured out the cables myself too. It's nice to sit back and look and something and say "I created that" The idea for it, and then the pattern, and then I knit it.

Other knitted items
Like I said, I was in the mood to enter as much as I could, so I entered this Cub Cuddler as a "photo prop" in the other category. It didn't win anything, and I am pretty sure they had no idea what it is. But I still love it.





Knitted baby Afghan 2nd place
I love this blanket, I'm glad it won something. Elise still uses this all of the time in her carseat when it's just a little chilly. I can see this being her blanket she sleeps with long after it covers her little body anymore.




And since I've been slowly teaching myself to crochet, I entered these shoes in the crocheted baby clothing category and got 2nd! Not bad for someone just learning! The first place was SO cute! A little owl hat with ear flaps, I might just have to hunt down that pattern. but here are my shoes


So the past 2 years the 1st place overall for knitting as gone to a lace shawl. I do not wear shawls, but I am determined to knit something next year for a chance at that prize! I do love lacework though, so it should be fun. I have some lovely Wollmeise lace that I can't decide if it should be a shawl or a laceweight sweater for me. I need to start looking at patterns!