HKF / HMF

It's Hand Knit Friday and Hand Made Friday! What lovely handmade creations do you have close at hand?

This is a kit I got at Stitches West 2019. It's the Crossflower Shawl designed by Katy H Carroll of Katinka Designs in Marianated Yarns Hoth Practicality. The stitch markers weren't included in the kit, but they are handmade.

Closing the chapter

The CA State Fair closed at the end of July and my entry was returned this week. I tore open the box and pulled out an envelope that contained the ribbon and judge's scoresheet.





The judge's comments are,

Wow! This is a wonderful piece of double knitting. I'm amazed at how well you maintained your tension with so much going on! Good job!

I had to read it twice because I thought if anything was going to knock me down a few notches, it was going to be the tension. I guess not. And it was good to hear that she recognized the technique and the level of difficulty. So, that closes the the chapter on this year's entry. As I'm working on next year's entry, I'm thinking, "Why do I put myself through this?" lol

Here are the rest of the photos I took at the fair. Enjoy the amazing work by these talented makers and other sights from the fair!


Lunch on a stick


Kabobs


Meat on the grill


Cow wash


Best of Show
Decorated Cake, Tiered Cake
Wine Country Vines and Flowers
Shay Weisbrich


Best of Class
Decorated Cupcakes, Uniform Cupcakes
Hamburger
Joana Rodriguez


Winners in Leavened Bread, Non-Leavened Bread, and Quick Bread


Best of Division
Decorated Cookies, Themed Cookie Set
Golden State Sweets
Cynthia Torres


First Place
Decorated Cookies, Themed Cookie Set
Sunshine & Summertime
Kimberly Vadenais


Best of Class
Youth Decorated Cake, Age 16-18
Chess Cake
Sara Cheng


King Arthur Flour gluten free baking contest
First Place
Mexican Corn Stick
Jennine Quiring

Second Place
Strawberry Cabernet Cake
Rachael Ryen

Third Place
Brown Butter & Mixed Berries Mini Cakes
Peggy Linberg


Second Place
Models, Buildings and Rooms
Fallingwater
Bill Reese
Sacramento


Third Place
Models, Buildings and Rooms
Caveman Camping
Kevin Knight
Sacramento


Best of Division, Embroidery (Counted Techniques)
Judge's Choice
First Place
Mother of Winter
Lona Bradford
Sacramento








Award of Excellence
3-D Artworks
Patience
Molly Brown
Sacramento


First Place
Handspun Yarn, Wool
Sock Yarn
Melissa Plummer
Amador


Second Place
Handspun Yarn, Wool
Derby Girl
Rachel Coffman
Placer


First Place
Handspun Yarn, Art/Textured Yarn
Christmas!
Betty Henderson-Sparks
Sacramento


Second Place
Handspun Yarn, Art/Textured Yarn
Fairy Queen
Ha Dang
Sacramento


Honorable Mention
Handspun Yarn, Luxury Fibers
Sunset Silk
Tabitha Warren
Marin


Honorable Mention
Other Fiber Art, Weaving
Amethyst in the sunshine
Pamela McSmith
Riverside


Honorable Mention
Other Fiber Art, Weaving
Color: I can't help myself!
Roberta Valdez
Santa Cruz


First Place
Modern Quilts, Two or More People -Medium/Large
Alissa McBain
Sacramento


Honorable Mention
Crochet, Crocheted Afghans
2017 Temperature Blanket
Josephine Salazar
San Joaquin


First Place
Crochet, Any Other Crocheted Item
Bed Doily
Suzanne Sullivan
Sacramento


First Place
Crochet, Crocheted Wearing Apparel
Judge's Choice
Forest Fairy
Suzanne Sullivan
Sacramento


Second Place
Crochet, Crocheted Wearing Apparel
Summer Vest
Suzanne Sullivan
Sacramento


Honorable Mention
Crochet, Crocheted Wearing Apparel
Sacramento Crochet Guild Award
Royal Baby
Noelia Briones
Sacramento


First Place
Dolls and Toys, Amigurumi
Wakanda Forever
Adwoa Cooper
Solano


First Place & Third Place
Crafting a Brighter Future, Newborns in Need: Any Baby Hat or Booties
Melinda Wong
Sacramento

1, 2, 3, 4!

Yesterday was a perfect day to go to the California State Fair. The weather was cooler than normal--high 80's to low 90's--and there was a slight breeze. We arrived early enough to get one of the coveted parking spaces under the solar panels. Hooray!



Our first stop was the CA Crafts Competition. They moved it to a different exhibit hall and my initial impression was that there were a lot fewer pieces on display. But now I'm not sure--it could be that the different space and layout just made it seem that way. Anyway, I'll get right to the results of the Knitting, Scarves & Shawls competition since so many of my friends want to see the winners--


First Place
Brittany Birch Knitting Award
Amille Wedding Shaw
Kate Vanderslice
Sacramento


Second Place
Homage Shawl
Jillian Jackson
Butte


Third Place
Woven Friends Shawl
Denise Boyce
Placer

and of course,


Fourth Place
52 Pickup + 2 Jokers
Janice Kang

I liked all of the pieces that placed higher than mine and my favorite was the 3rd place shawl. The color choice and the woven sections made it stand out. Pretty and smart.

I wished I could have seen the first place wedding shawl in all its glory. Displaying it folded up didn't show off the size or detail of the piece.

Speaking of displays... the way my piece was displayed was more than unfortunate, it completely obliterated one of the coolest features of double knitting--that there is no "wrong" side to the scarf! Typically double knitting is done in 2 colors and one side is the negative of the other. But this scarf not only has no "wrong" side, each side of the scarf is a completely different pattern and all is worked in 3 colors. Unfortunately, the way it was displayed showed only one side of the scarf so the complexity and "how'd she do that?" mystery was hidden. It really bothered me. I could not let it stand.

Now it is fixed.



I have more photos from our visit to the fair and I'll post them in the next few days.

HKF

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

I'm wearing Matsudana, a free Knitty pattern.


Matsudana

Stitches West 2018

This year I took Franklin Habit's class, "Snip 'n' Zip", where we learned how to steek and sew in a zipper. I hadn't taken a class from Franklin before, but his reputation preceded him so I was looking forward to the session.



He had some really nice samples to show how steeks could be used.


The Dandy Vest






Tea cozy




V-neck of tiny sweater


Armcye of tiny sweater

Fanklin's class was great. His instruction was clear and concise, he was funny and entertaining, and I thought he had good command of the classroom and kept us all on track. Best of all, I did this:


Bridge reinforced with crochet


Cutting!


Cut!!


The edges are so neat.


Zipper installation is complete. Success!

Now I want to cut all of my knitting. Bring it on! lol

In addition to learning a new technique, I got to see a lot of friends, some I only see once a year and others I see more often. I ate lunch with Mari everyday (yeah!) and I saw Beadlemania pieces in the wild. Mari wore a beaded Kumihimo necklace & bracelet, and Krista wore her #RESIST #UNITE amethyst earrings for the student fashion show.


Felicia and Krista

I stopped by Beth Brown-Reinsel's classroom on Sunday and we got to catch up in person. What a treat to see her!



There were many more friends and acquaintances and that's what makes the show for me, seeing all these lovely people in a place full of beautiful yarn and fiber. And speaking of beautiful yarn, fiber and whatnot, I brought home a few things.


Gifts for friends from Bar-Maids


Beautiful Laceweight from Lisa Souza


Clockwise from upper left: Batt Lifter from Clemes & Clemes, Beading Tool from Stunning String Studio, Beautiful shawl patterns by Romi Hill, Cloudborn from Craftsy, ChiaoGoo tips and cords.

Last but not least (unless I forgot something), I found the yarn I need for 52 Pickup by Alasdair Post-Quinn. I showed the yarn to Alasdair and he said, "That should work" as he signed my pattern. I received the nod of approval that I need to get started!



It's Cloudborn from Craftsy. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to wind a few balls so I can get this show on the road.