The Alaska State Fair opened last week and I had several pieces of knitting entered so I was excited to go on Wednesday to see how they did. My son and daughter-in-law went last Friday and phoned to let me know that their daughter's baby sweater which I "borrowed back" in order to enter, had two ribbons on it... "one of them was a really big yellow one". I had know idea what that category might be so was interested to go see for myself.
We had a great time at the fair. We didn't get rained on or blown away... at this time of year a gift that can't be taken for granted. We ate too much, visited all the animals... too few for my tastes... and did lots of walking. (I don't think I walked of the Denali wild berry cream puff that indulged in though!)
It was so overcast that all the pictures of animals look like were-monsters of some kind with their red bulging eyes, so I'm not including were-pigs, were-sheep, nor were-goats. Only the chickens and rabbits were in a well lit area, but I'm never quite as entranced by chickens and rabbits, so forgot to take any pictures.
All the knitting, quilting, sewing, spinning, and crocheting is displayed together in a high-ceiling barn-like structure with very dim lighting. I would have loved to take a picture of the whole display as it was a riot of texture and color. Unfortunately the lighting is very bad so that made taking pictures a nightmare. Most of my pictures didn't turn out very well, and several didn't turn out at all... just a blur.
Here are pictures of some of my result:
My grand daughter's Dale of Norway, Bondegard design, baby cardigan
My Seaforth gansey tunic, a pullover entry
My Stillwater cardigan, a cardigan entry
I had a couple other entries too, but the pictures didn't turn out.
Of course, now that we had a dark dismal overcast day, today the sun is blazing and it's almost warm outside. All the leaves are beginning to turn and Fall is definitely in the air.
Hellooooo, Carolyn. I haven't been to a fair for ages. I see a lot of blue on those knits. Congrats.
Posted by: Sigrun | September 04, 2009 at 02:54 PM
Are those all blue ribbon first prizes??? Yay Carolyn! I mean, I knew it, but it's nice to see it! Congratulations!
Posted by: Carrie K | September 04, 2009 at 03:08 PM
Watch out for the replies on Typepad. For some reason they decided yesterday to post your replies to comments to your blog. You have to go in and change the email address manually. So annoyed by this.
Posted by: Carrie K | September 04, 2009 at 03:09 PM
TypePad HTML EmailThanks, Sigrun!
Posted by: CarolyninAlaska | September 04, 2009 at 10:15 PM
I have to say that I had seen these projects before on rav and when I was at the fair today I was thinking "where have I seen these projects before?!?!" I figured it out and was planning on messaging you "congrats" when I saw this post! They are even more beautiful in person - amazing work!
Posted by: Kelsey | September 04, 2009 at 10:18 PM
Lovely sweaters and look at all the ribbons! So what was the big yellow one for -- do I see Judge's Choice on there???
Posted by: Anne | September 05, 2009 at 03:35 AM
Congrats!!! I love your projects!!
Posted by: Toni | September 05, 2009 at 10:51 AM
Congratulations! That little Dale cardigan is so cute.
Posted by: Sonya | September 07, 2009 at 03:10 AM
Carolyn- I love the Dale, and I wonder if the judges appreciate how much work goes into a gansey?
I love fairs.
Posted by: Lorraine | September 07, 2009 at 06:13 AM
TypePad HTML EmailThanks, Sonya!
The cuteness factor almost made weaving in all those ends worthwhile... the bane of washable wool is no spit splicing!
Posted by: CarolyninAlaska | September 07, 2009 at 10:01 AM
Look at all those ribbons!
YAY! I love those projects too. :)
Oh, and Scottish Fleet isn't the easiest to knit with either! YAY!
Posted by: miyamojo | September 08, 2009 at 11:17 AM
Oh, that's so wonderful! I'm so glad they won ribbons - so, what does the yellow one mean? Judges' Choice? They're beautiful, and you should be very proud of yourself!!
Posted by: Brigitte | September 17, 2009 at 09:14 AM