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

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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...

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.

Stitches West 2017

Stitches West 2017

The market preview & first day of Stitches West 2017 is over and my feet hurt. lol

I bought a few things last night:


Purchases

And this little ditty--it's a USB stick with 3 of Jean Frost's books on it. Retail price is $35 (a bargain!) and this weekend they're marking the stitchips down 20%. Stop by the XRX booth.


Stitchips

I spent the morning working the registration desk with Joyce, Sallie, and Brenda.


Joyce and me.

The rest of the day was left for browsing the show floor and sewing the Must Have Cardigan.


Must Have Cardigan

Tomorrow I'll be in the It's A Swing Thing class with Barry Klein.

It's Stitches West 2017!

Stitches West starts today and I'm just now printing out the market map. Yeah, I'm not ready for this. Usually by now I have the map marked with the vendors I need to see and have a list of must-buys. Not so this year. I have a few plans--working registration on Friday and Barry Klein's "It's a Swing Thing" class on Saturday--but other than that I'm going for the fun of it.

Here are links to Erin's map to help you navigate the market floor and a discount coupon:

• Erin's Stitches West Market Map - 2 page version for printing
• Erin's Stitches West Market Map -Single page for tablets
• Stitches West 2017 Discount Coupon, $3 off Market Admission

Stitches West
Santa Clara Convention Center
Hyatt Regency Hotel
Santa Clara, CA
Feb 23-26, 2017

Stitches West 2015 - Marketplace coupon and other links

Stitches West is less than a week away! Here's some information that you may find useful for the show--

Stitches West
Feb 19-22, 2015
Santa Clara Convention Center
5001 Great America Pkwy
Santa Clara, CA 95054
(408) 748-7000

Stitches West details on The Knitting Universe: Classes, schedules, market sessions, special events, social media links, and more.

Stitches West Discount Coupon: 50% off Marketplace Admission from WEBS

If you're shopping at Stitches West, you absolutely positively need Erin's map. Don't leave home without it!
2 page PDF Marketplace map, suitable for printing
1 page PDF Marketplace map for tablets

Social Media links:
Facebook: Knitting Universe, SW Event
Twitter: @KniTalk
Google+: Knitting Universe posts
Flickr: XRX Flickr Sets
Rebel Mouse: Show feed aggregator
Stitches West Ravelry Group

From The Knitting Universe site: "The hashtags for this show are #STITCHESWest for Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Flickr, & Instagram. And if you take a 'selfie' at the show, please use #STITCHESselfie for those pictures on Instagram. Make sure you include a picture in your tagged posts so that it shows up in the KniTalk RebelMouse feed."

Have a great time at the show, I know I will!

The Best Day Ever - Part 2: What is "Other Fiber Art"?

When filling out the entry form for the California State Fair, I am challenged when I need to choose a category for certain pieces. For example, is a shawl "Knitted Wearing Apparel" or is it "Any Other Knitted Item"? I would think that if it is worn it is considered apparel, but maybe it's considered an accessory and belongs in the "other" category. Just to be sure, I checked with the folks in Sacramento and they confirmed it was apparel. Good enough. But here's the thing--there was another shawl submitted to the "Other" category--and by the way there far fewer entries in the other category than there are in the apparel category--and that shawl won 1st place. I wonder if I didn't ask and labeled it as "other", would I have done better? Well it doesn't matter now and my sense of fairness says I did the right thing. My items were judged against other items that were made to be worn. But still... oh, never mind.

There's another division called "Other Fiber Art". I view it as a catch-all category for those pieces that don't fit into the obvious knit or crochet divisions. Within this division, there are these classes:

• Lace/Tatting
• Traditional Hooked Rugs
• Any Other Fiber Art

So we have an "other" class within an "other" division.

"Other Fiber Art" -> "Any Other Fiber Art" is where you'll find handwoven items, handspun yarn, felting, basket weaving, rag rugs, etc.. It can be a rather large and diverse class when you think about it. So why did I bring this up? Well it turns out that my sister's handwoven blanket not only took first place in the "Any Other Fiber Art" class, but it also won Best of Division for all "Other Fiber Art"!


Best of Division, 1st Place, 165 - Other Fiber Art, 03 - Any Other Fiber Art
Grace Kang
Emanation

Wow! This was the first year that she entered something in the fair and she had a fantastic result! Well deserved congratulations to Grace. Kudos!!

I'm sure this means we will be competing against each other for years to come. Not sure that I'm excited about that idea only because I don't recall that she and I competed against each other (much? ever?) in the past. This is a new thing. But at least if I come in second (or third or honorable mention) to her pieces, I can be happy for the both of us. Speaking of second place & honorable mention, that's exactly what happened this year. One of my entries in the "Any Other Fiber Art" class received a second place ribbon and another received an honorable mention.


2nd Place, 165 - Other Fiber Art, 03 - Any Other Fiber Art
Janice Kang
Crackle Sac


Honorable Mention, 165 - Other Fiber Art, 03 - Any Other Fiber Art
Janice Kang
Merino, Baby Camel, Silk

Last but not least, here are a few of the other entries in the Other Fiber Art Division. All in all I'd say we did well with 3 of 36 items that placed in this division. We have no way of knowing what the total number of submissions was.


3rd Place, 165 - Other Fiber Art, 03 - Any Other Fiber Art
Eve Broughton
Series VII #14


1st Place, 165 - Other Fiber Art, 01 - Lace/Tatting
Eve Broughton
Series VII #14


15 - Camellia City Rug Hookers Guild Award, Honorable Mention, 165 - Other Fiber Art, 02 - Traditional Hooked Rugs
Elizabeth Williams
Long Runner

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!