UPDATE: The results are in for Variations on a Theme

June 8 update:
We placed 2nd in Division 165: Other Fiber Art, Class 4: Any Other Fiber Art!! Come see the entry in July!

California State Fair
July 13-29
1600 Exposition Blvd
Sacramento, CA 95815

*******************************************

May 26, 2018 Original Post:

It's time for the CA State Fair and this year our monthly spinning group AKA Spinnity Spinners, has a team entry called "Variations on a Theme". We started with gorgeous Merino Silk 50/50 in Mirabel from Lisa Souza, then each of us spun the fiber in a different way and made a sample with our handspun. The result was 7 hanks of yarn and 7 samples--some look like siblings, others look like cousins, but the family resemblance is unmistakeable. It is a study that shows how different methods of fiber prep, spinning, and plying can unlock the potential of fiber and color.

Thanks to the team, Mary, Grace, Marie, Sheetal, Emy, and Julia! Some of us got together earlier this month and shared our progress to date.





Here's what we sent to Sacramento:



And here are close-ups of each of the yarn-sample pairs.

Emy:


Yours truly:


Marie:


Julia:


Grace:


Sheetal:


and Mary:


Now we wait...

HKF

It's handspun Hand Knit Friday! What hand knits are you wearing today?


Mars Mission socks
Project info on Ravelry

HKF

It's handspun Hand Knit Friday! What hand knits are you wearing today?


Mars Mission socks
Project info on Ravelry

HKF

It's handspun Hand Knit Friday! What hand knits are you wearing today?


Mars Mission socks
Project info on Ravelry

HKF

It's Beadlemania craft fair, kumihimo lanyard, & handspun Hand Knit Friday! What hand knits are you wearing today?


Kumihimo Lanyard


Mars Mission socks
Project info on Ravelry

HKF

It's handspun Hand Knit Friday! What hand knits are you wearing today?


Mars Mission socks
Project info on Ravelry

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!

HKF (barely)

Nicole and Jenny from Stash and Burn stopped by the Stitches West registration to say hi and at some point the conversation switched to hand knits. I wasn't wearing any and Nicole said, "But it's FRIDAY!". Oh crap. Mari also commented about my Hand Knit-less Friday garb. Oh my goodness.

My sister came to my rescue with High Road that she knit in her own handspun.


High Road by Mary-Heather Cogar

That was too close for comfort. What was I thinking?

I hope you remembered to wear hand knits on Hand Knit Friday.

HKF

It's Hand Knit Friday! What hand knits do you have on today?

I'm wearing socks knit with handspun yarn.


Mars Mission socks
Project info on Ravelry

First, second, and "not this time"

The  results are in from the California State Fair Creative Arts competition!

Paper Roses 2-ply handspun
Details on Ravelry

Handspun Yarn: 1st Place

Blend of colors with slight sparkle, evenly woven, soft hand, nicely presented. A beautiful skein -- Congratulations!

Haapsalu Shawl - Silvia
Project details on Ravelry

Knitted Wearing Apparel Adult: 2nd Place

The degree of difficulty, delicacy, and accuracy of technique and finishing--all indicate that you have mastered your craft.

Hedera Jacket
Project details on Ravelry

Knitted Wearing Apparel Adult: Did not place

Well knitted and constructed--comfortable to wear. In a highly competitive class.

True to form, I'm obsessing over the sweater that will be coming back. It didn't even get an Honorable Mention. Ugh. I need to accept the decisions and move on. Thank GOODNESS the other two placed and placed very well! I'll definitely be eyeing the sweaters that got ribbons when I go to Sacramento in July, because that's just the way I am. :D

California State Fair
July 12-28
1600 Exposition Blvd
Sacramento, CA

How do I rate?

More specifically, how do my State Fair entries rate? I'll know next week. The folks at the California State Fair posted this on their FB page:

The Creative Arts judging took place yesterday, May 22nd, and the results are being processed. A link to the results will be posted here as soon as they are ready. Exhibitors will receive copies of their scorecards by mail in the next week. We had a lot of fantastic entries this year, and are excited to see the exhibit!

*gulp*

Every year I try to keep my expectations low, but it's difficult. All of the hours and work that go into creating the entries make them very personal. Every year I hope the judges appreciate their beauty and craftsmanship, while I pray that they don't see the flaws that I know are there.

Without further ado, here are this year's entries for the California State Fair--


Hedera Jacket
Project details on Ravelry


Haapsalu Shawl - Silvia
Project details on Ravelry


Paper Roses 2-ply handspun
Details on Ravelry

HKF

It's Hand Knit Friday! What hand knits do you have on today?

I'm wearing socks knit with handspun yarn.


Mars Mission socks
Project info on Ravelry

HKF

It's Hand Knit Friday! What hand knits do you have on today?

I'm wearing socks knit with handspun yarn.


Mars Mission socks
Project info on Ravelry

HKF

It's Hand Knit Friday! What hand knits do you have on today?

I'm wearing socks knit with handspun yarn.


Mars Mission socks
Project info on Ravelry

HKF

It's Hand Knit Friday! What hand knits do you have on today?

I'm wearing my go-to cardigan and socks knit with handspun yarn.


Basket Stitch Cardigan
Project details on Ravelry


Mars Mission socks
Project info on Ravelry

HKF

It's Hand Knit Friday! What hand knits do you have on today?

On this second HKF of 2012, I'm wearing socks knit with handspun yarn and a hemp cardi.


Mars Mission socks
Project info on Ravelry


Basket Stitch Cardigan
Project details on Ravelry

HKF

It's Hand Knit Friday! What hand knits do you have on today?

On 11.11.11, I'm wearing socks knit with hand spun yarn.


Mars Mission socks
Project info on Ravelry

HKF

It's Hand Knit Friday! What hand knits do you have on today?

I'm wearing socks knit with hand spun.


Mars Mission socks
Project info on Ravelry

More from the 24x7 Fiber Shop

Along with Superwash BFL, I have Superwash Merino and Superwash Merino-Bamboo-Nylon in the 24x7 Fiber Shop.

The Superwash Merino is Louet 7.400, one of my favorite fibers to spin. So pretty.


Available Now: Cool Chocolate

The Superwash Merino-Bamboo-Nylon is 60-30-10 and the fibers take up the dye at different rates with the bamboo adding shine.


Available Now: Waves


Available Now: Cool

I spun 4 oz of the Cool colorway and it's really soft. I can't wait to knit a pair of socks out of this yarn.


Cool bobbins


Cool 3 ply