Today would have the first day of the 2020 Minnesota State Fair. Traditionally, it is also the day the Guild spends at the Demo Booth in the Creative Activities Building. I am certainly going to miss it as that first day at the Fair is always so special. The fairgrounds are clean, the grass and flowers look their best, and knitters (and other crafters) flock to the CA Building to see if they've won a ribbon. (Still want to win a ribbon this year, enter our "No Fair" Competition!)

Last summer, I did a display at the Textile Center featuring ribbon winning projects from Guild members and some history of knitting at the MN State Fair. I thought today would be a good time to share some of that history, especially for those who may not have seen the display in person.

The Fair started in 1859, but the earliest annual report in the Fair Archives is from 1887. That year there were seventeen knitting classes listed in the Premium Winners List. All the categories are lumped together under Manufactured Goods. 

First Premium winners in 1887 received a prize of $3.00. That would be equal to almost $82 today. 

By the 1900s there was a Woman's Department and knitting classes were part of Ladies' Textile Work.

In the 1910s, knitting and crochet had their own shared category that started to look more like the categories we have today. By 1916, the department was saying it needed 100% more case space to display items and keep them from getting dirty, being handled, or stolen.

During WWI and WWII, the Fair focused on patriotism and service. The Red Cross took over a big part of the Woman's Activities Building demoing knitting and making knit garments for soldiers. The Fair's annual reports noted in 1918 that, "The needle work display was less elaborate than last year and we would not wish it otherwise. Women have been too keenly interested in patriotic and philanthropic work during the past year to devote the usual leisure hours to intricate fancy work. There were some striking illustrations of conservation of scarfs and sweaters made of ravelled (sic) yarns..."

You can just see this poster in the background in the photo above of Red Cross volunteers knitting socks at the Fair in 1918.

In the 20s and 30s, knitting was in the Division of Domestic Arts and most of the classes were in Garment Making. Even early on, space was at a premium to display all the items that were entered. The 1922 annual report mentioned that every item entered was judged, scored, and a score card was "returned to the exhibitor who cannot fail to see by this score card where her work is a failure or why it is a success."  But "as will be an inspiration to visitors and an example to workers, we show only such articles as score about 70." In 1926, the U of M Home Ec Department suggested that showing all articles entered in the Fair was not educational, "that there was nothing to be learned from seeing articles no better than a woman could make herself," so only prize winning articles were shown. Apparently, this caused disappointment because people felt the normal variety of projects wasn't shown and people who entered were disappointed not to see their entry on display.

By the 1930s entries in sewing and garment making were decreasing in amount and quality because ready-made clothing could be purchased cheaply. Entries in handcrafts was increasing though and adjustments were made to the classes in the premium lists.  

It was not until the 40s that knitting was separated from crochet.  Knitting was then in the Division of Handicrafts in what was called Woman's Activities. Entry drop off in 1941 didn't look much different than today.

Thrift continued to be highlighted in the 40s and thrift articles were distributed throughout the premium list, such as this one from 1943.

As early as 1943, there was a call to rename the Woman's Activities Building. From the 1943 annual report, "...I think we have defeated our own purpose because when you label a building 'Women's Activities,' it seems you then limit the interest you might have in it. Maybe you don't feel that way, but I feel that maybe you do. For instance, when you are building an Agricultural Building, you don't label it or any of your buildings, 'Men's Activities' or 'Men's Interests,' but you say Agriculture or Horticulture or Livestock or Machinery, or whatever it may be...Maybe I am all wrong, but I think we should call it something which has to do with home and community interests - something that has a little broader meaning than just 'Women's Activities." 

In the 50s, it is again mentioned that the department should be changed from Woman's Activities to something like Family Activities. It does finally change to Home Activities in 1952. "The changing this year of the name of the Woman's Building (which is has borne for decades) to Home Activities caused a little confusion but people seemed to approve the new title. One woman said in a very enthusiastic tone, 'I like the change and it isn't hard to make, for it is such a fitting name.'" Also in 1952, there was the addition of daily craft demonstrations by three craft groups, potters, weavers, and gem polishers. It was quite popular and the annual report said it should be repeated in coming years. (And it is still happening today.)

By the 1960s, there were thirty-four knitting classes under Needlecraft. This is double the number from 1887.

In the 70s, Home Activities was changed to the Creative Activities we know today. The new Creative Activities Building was opened in 1971.

In 2017, the Fair approached the Guild to create an installation of yarnbombed topiaries. The Guild brought in local yarnbomber Knitteapolis, as well as other fiber guilds, and the Great Minnesota Knit Together was born. MKG members knit up squares, fair food, and ribbons to cover our horse Pronto which was displayed on the Grandstand ramp. 

They also knit a Blue Ribbon backdrop that was perfect for Fair photo ops. 

Our horse is still in great shape and is displayed outside the Creative Activities Building each year.

In 2019, there were sixty-two hand knit classes and twenty-two special prizes in Needlework, Garment Making, and Work of Senior Citizens. Almost five times as much as 1887.The Guild sponsors fifteen special prizes in hand knit classes, though we do not get to judge the winners. Each winner of our awards receives a rosette and a year's membership to the Guild. Minnesota Knitters' Guild members won 101 ribbons in 2019! A First Premium winner now receives $8.00 from the Fair. 

Most of the information here came from the Minnesota State Fair Digital Archives. If you are someone who loves the fair and history this is a rabbit hole that is a delight to fall through. It contains the annual reports and list of premium winners since 1887. While the recent reports are pretty dry financial reports and lists of winners, earlier reports are full of stories and speeches, as well as, tales of stolen handmade clocks, injuries caused by battle reenactments, and what to do with those darn teenagers. All to the older images are from the Minnesota Historical Society collection and used with permission.