Hi, Jan,
Today was the opening of the MN State Fair. Kathy and I volunteered at the MN Knitting Guild booth along with Ruth. Karen was there with her adorable Koka Monkeys. She has set up a slick how-to demo on a digital photo frame and many children, women, and even men sat there mesmerized as they watched these very cute monkeys come to life.
There was gorgeous stuff on display outside of the booth. Susan Rainey’s Lyra was a Sweepstakes winner. I am seriously considering knitting a round version, with only one strand of yarn and maybe on a larger needle so it will be lacier, for Karen’s veil.
Eryka was a winner, too, with her first entry ever! Her pidge is made out of a totally lux yarn and is tres chic buttoned around her neck.
And guess who else won? Yep, two of my three entries will be coming home with ribbons.
I honestly didn’t expect to win. Still, I certainly felt a thrill when I saw the ribbon on the vest and when I saw the cap had won, I laughed out loud. Very happy. And then, over time, tiny bits of discomfort rose in my chest. Very tiny, but I have to recognize them.
As I mentioned before, the vest was a bit worn. I couldn’t resist not using it last winter. Though I did try to comb it well, I thought the slight pilling would hinder the judges from ranking it with the winners. Still, I know I did a great job on both the knitting and the finishing, and I feel quite proud of that ribbon. The cap, on the other hand, while edgy and fun and not total crap, just isn’t an example of outstanding colorwork.
Honestly, this is not false modesty. I really like this cap. I think Wilson will look so adorable in it this winter. But it really isn’t EXCELLENT. The gauge was too loose for a superwash yarn, so the stitches have slipped a bit and the pattern isn’t as crisp as it should be.
As I commented on The Rainey Sisters, I don’t want my ribbons at the state fair to be for participation. I want to feel euphoric when I get a ribbon, especially one as high as 2nd place, because I know it marks my work as superior. If nice but not stellar work gets awards, will I start to lower my standards? Will others? I hope there are more excellent entries in coming years, knitters whose work it is truly an honor to measure one’s progress against.
Of course, maybe I should talk more about this in a few years, after I see how hard it is to get a blue ribbon! I will be competing with Susan, after all!
Enough philosophy. This being a state fair, there had to be things on sticks. Of most novelty to me this year - quilts on a stick. This one was especially nice, with an ode to corn on one side and an homage to mini-donuts on the other.
And how’s this for real Minnesotiana?
No state fair visit is complete without some animals. It doesn’t get much cuter than hours-old piglets. Say it together now, “Aaaaaaaah!”
Love,
Ellen
Jan and Ellen are identical twins who have always had an innate fashion sense. Crafting is an integral part of their lives and they stay stitched together sharing their love of knitting, family and community.
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:52 am
RE: “Did you enter anything?” — of COURSE you did! And a ribbon to boot! Congratulations! Thanks again for the enlightening comment on my blog…..
August 22nd, 2008 at 5:28 pm
Congratulations to a very deserving winner. And to all the deserving winners. I’m not sure how it is with knitting judges, but I do know that in the beekeeping arena, you don’t just get a ribbon by default - if no one has the points to merit a ribbon that ribbon goes unawarded.
That being said, I truly wish the displays were done differently, with grouping and labeling of the different classes, and then it might come clear why one item may have been ranked higher than a competing entry. In addition, if submissions in any one class were observably low, it may encourage submissions in that class in the following year.
Brava Ellen!
August 22nd, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Congrats on your ribbons! Your vest is one of the most beautiful I’ve seen and the hat? Since I can’t really see it up close and personal I’ll take your word for it but it’s such a fabulous hat!
I love it…. ‘hotdish on a stick’!! :^)
August 23rd, 2008 at 12:15 am
Congratulations! What a wonderful thing to see when you went to visit your entries. As to your comments on relative excellence, I agree with kathy that it would be wonderful to have some kind of commentary attached to each ribbon so that everyone knows what the criteria under consideration were. Because I’m betting those judges didn’t just give your hat a ribbon to be generous; there was something they saw that made them look again and that they judged to be important.
Also, thanks to both of you for your kind comments on our first weeks at this new school!
August 23rd, 2008 at 12:43 am
Hi Ellen,
Congrats on being a superstar at the fair! Your vest is so amazingly beautiful, but what else would you expect from a level one master knitter! Also, the skull hat, how did you make that? BTW, thanks again….
August 23rd, 2008 at 4:38 am
It’s not false modesty…it is an incredibly high standard that you apply to yourself. We can psychoanalyze why in private, but in public I’ll say that ALL of your knitting is amazing…I’m sure you very much deserve the ribbons!
August 27th, 2008 at 12:19 am
Congratulations! I love the vest and you certainly deserved your ribbons. I’m sure the fair was a lot of fun.