100th post and news from the Fair!

So apparently this is my 100th post; I guess I feel slightly less horrible about not posting more this month because I have some pretty big news in the scheme of my knitting/spinning life to share.

 

First, I got a new card reader so my camera and new(ish) computer can talk, so hopefully no more blurry pictures. Sorry about all of those. I may have to take some make up shots of my various yarns, but we'll save that for another day.

 

This last week was the local fair! I entered 5 items, two knit and 3 skeins, into the novice category. I know, I know, I'm really not a novice knitter, but I think I really do still qualify as a novice spinner, and this fair lets you enter as a novice your first year almost regardless of experience (granted if I ever find a fair that has similar rules, I won't be taking advantage of the real newbie's). And it worked out this year; I was the only novice, so I wasn't taking ribbons away from someone who is really new. Anyway, here's how it all went down.

 

Gotland- 2 ply- from Tour de Fleece
First place in novice 100% wool 2 ply
I was very happy about this, as this was my first skein to hang straight directly off the niddy noddy. The judge also made some nice comments about the consistency of the ply, so yay!

Dyed BFL- 2 ply- Spun in January or February
Second in novice 100% wool 2 ply
Since these first two skeins were spun so far apart, it's nice to see that the latter really was better. This skein, along with three others is marked for a shawl from the Malabrigo Book 4. That also means I get to enter the shawl next year in a special category called "Second Time Around." I hope it'll work out, I might have some issues with the gauge...

That lovely alpaca sweater from my handspun alpaca!
First place in novice large wearable items
This is where I got to show that I really was a novice, to the fair at least. Apparently when you spin the yarn and then enter the project, the judges like to know that you spun the yarn and didn't buy it. I probably could have gotten bonus points if I had said this was my first "real sweater", but I didn't (I guess that's not fair, I did knit a little sweater for Tiny when she was like 3, but for some reason I never count that as a sweater...).

Tapiz Mitts- Malabrigo Silky Merino- 4 color Fair Isle
First Place novice small wearable item
Started the first one right after the alpaca sweater in like February, and finished the second one less than a month ago, but they made it. The judges liked my color choices, and there weren't many other color work items, so that will have to be something to keep in mind for future fairs.

Last but not least, 100% alpaca- 2 ply- from TDF

First place novice exotic fibers

 

I wasn't even going to enter this because I dyed it with food coloring (which I will tell you about at some point), but a friend told me to put it in because not too many do exotic fibers and it should do well. It made it into the special awards case. It didn't get a special award, but it was in the case with all of them. Pretty good considering it's only the second time I've spun alpaca other than what I did for that sweater.

 

So I can now say that I am an award winning spinner and knitter. I don't have to tell people what the awards were, but I do have awards. I already have thoughts going 'round for next year's fair to help keep the ribbons coming!