So say the judges

The judges' scorecards are in and here are the results for my entries in this year's California State Fair -- booyah!

• Wind on a Wheat Field Haapsalu Shawl
  
  Wind on a Wheat Field
  Project details on Ravelry
  

  2nd Place, Division: Knitting,
  Class: Knitted Wearing Apparel
  Judge's Comments: Lovely, lacy design. Border adds to overall design. Piece shows good tension and attention to blocking. Well-done [sic].

  
  
  
• Mixed Tide Shawl - original design
  
  Mixed Tide shawl
  Porject Details on Ravelry
  

  Honorable Mention, Division: Knitting,
  Class: Knitted Wearing Apparel
  Judge's Comments: Good color choice for a "tide" pattern. Better blocking would "show off" pattern more clearly. Well done for a challenging technique.

  
  
  
• Crackle Sac
  
  Crackle Sac
  Project Details on Ravelry

  2nd Place, Division: Other Fiber Art,
  Class: Any Other Fiber Art
  Workmanship: 20
  Level of Difficulty: 19
  Design: 19
  Appropriate Pattern or Technique: 19
  Creative use of materials or fabric: 18
  Judge's Comments: Very good job! Weaving, making bag, matching pattern on seams! Well done.

  
  
  
• Merino, Baby Camel, Silk Handspun Yarn
  
  Lisa Souza Merino, Baby Camel, Silk Top 2-ply handspun
  Project Details on Ravelry

  Honorable Mention, Division: Other Fiber Art,
  Class: Any Other Fiber Art
  Workmanship: 19
  Level of Difficulty: 18
  Design: 17
  Appropriate Pattern or Technique: 17
  Creative use of materials or fabric: 18
  Judge's Comments: Luscious hand to this yarn--nice job!

  
  
  

Going to the fair

My entries for the California State Fair are packed and ready to go to Sacramento.


Going to the fair

Here's what they look like out of their plastic bags--


Lisa Souza Merino, Baby Camel, Silk Top 2-ply handspun


Crackle Sac


Wind on a Wheat Field


Mixed Tide shawl

Per my previous experience, I have no idea how these pieces will do so I'm trying not to get my hopes up. I'll let you know what the results are later this month. Wish me luck!

Two more for the road

I wanted to show you a couple photos of the Mixed Tide shawl in the Stitches West Fashion Show. What a thrill it was to see it on stage, modeled so beautifully. Look at that drape.


Mixed Tide in the Stitches West Fashion Show
Photo courtesy of XRX.


Mixed Tide in the Stitches West Fashion Show
Photo courtesy of XRX.

After SW, I was motivated to finish the project I had on the needles, the Mixed Tide for me. This one is also worked in Valley Yarns Colrain Lace in Grey Olive, a cone that I purchased at Stitches West 2008. Working from stash FTW!
Here's the obligatory "before blocking" photo:


Mixed Tide before blocking

And here's the blocking photo--notice the curved shape of the shawl. That's achieved by constantly decreasing at the top edge, working in a few short rows on either side of the "points", and staggering the bottom edge so each point is lower than the last.


Mixed Tide, blocking

Wendy was kind enough to model the shawl at Spinnity's spin-in this month. The funny thing about that is, Wendy has modeled my shawls before and each time she has just happened to wear a solid colored top in a contrasting color that was perfect for showing off the stitch pattern. We don't coordinate before hand, it just happens. Simpatico.


Mixed Tide shawl
Project details on Ravelry


Mixed Tide shawl

Last but not least, here is a photo of the prototype for Mixed Tide. It is worked in Universal Yarn's FibraNatura Whisper Lace, a lovely Merino/silk. The wedges are worked in alternating colors of Natural and Cloudy Morning. This is the piece where I worked out the decrease rates, the increases, and the points. There's a bit of wonkiness in the beginning, but it all worked out in the end. I just wish I looked a little happier in the photo, lol.


Mixed Tide prototype
Project details on Ravelry
Photo courtesy of Universal Yarn.

Introducing the Mixed Tide Shawl

ETA: Mixed Tide is available on the WEBS web site:
Buy the pattern from WEBS
Mixed Tide pattern on Ravelry
Mixed Tide Blog Post on WEBS

I am happy to introduce to you the Mixed Tide Shawl, designed for the WEBS 40th Anniversary celebration. The shawl is worked in Colrain Lace, a blend of Merino wool and Tencel that has a beautiful drape and a subtle shimmer. The seafoam stitch pattern is at the heart of Mixed Tide, with decreases along one edge and short rows and rounded points on the other, resulting in a gently curved shawl.


Mixed Tide Shawl

Look for Mixed Tide in the Stitches West Fashion Show tomorrow night. You can find the pattern in the WEBS booth (404, 406, 408, 410, 412, 503, 505, 507, 509, 511) and it will be available for purchase from the WEBS web site soon.

I stopped by the WEBS booth at the Stitches West Marketplace preview to meet Kirsten Hipsky who was kind enough to tech edit the pattern before leaving for the show. She greeted me with a smile and showed me the pattern--the first time I saw it with in print. How exciting!

I had to take a photo of Kirsten with the pattern.


Kirsten and the Mixed Tide Shawl pattern

Special thanks to Kathy and Steve for giving me this opportunity. Happy Anniversary!

Related posts --
Must See at Stitches West: My short list of "must see" vendors.
Stitches West 2014 Discount Coupon: 50% off Stitches West Coupon
Coming soon: Stitches West 2014: Passport Game and Marketplace maps, updated 2/15/2014

Stitches West 2014
Feb 20-23
Market Hours
Friday 10am to 6pm
Saturday 10am to 6pm
Sunday 10am to 4pm
Santa Clara Convention Center
Santa Clara, CA