When I moved back to Minnesota from California in 2007, I added "win a ribbon at the Minnesota State Fair" to my bucket list of things I wanted to accomplish. I was very lucky with my first entry in 2012 and took a Second Premium with my Flying Pig Mittens. I noticed two mistakes in the color work on one of the thumbs on the way to drop them off, so I was happily surprised to get a ribbon at all.

Well, there is something addictive about winning a ribbon and I was determined to not just win again, but to win the First Premium Blue Ribbon. In 2013, I submitted my Retro Goldy Gopher Mittens. I thought the U of M tie-in would make them a sure winner. Unfortunately, these did not place at all. The judges had some issues with the width of the thumb.

2014 was another no ribbon year. Though the Newgrange Mittens were one of my personal favorite entries. The pattern did end up winning a ribbon for someone at the Iowa State Fair though.

As you can see, I also made it a little harder on myself as I also designed the mittens I entered each year. By 2015, I was determined to design and knit the winning pair. I thought both of my non-winners were really good, so I wanted to figure out what the judges were looking for. I had been taking pictures of the winner each year and went back to see what they had in common. 

These are the winners from 2011 and 2012. 2011 took my breath away. These were knit at 19.5 stitches per inch! These two pairs of mittens shared a few things in common, a peasant thumb and small, very neat stitches. 

2012, 2013, and 2014 all shared similar shaping with the pointed top and a peasant thumb. They all also had a line or design dividing the front from the back of the mittens. I noted in 2014 that most of the mittens that won a ribbon that year had a similar Scandinavian look.

So, I decided my design needed to have a Scandinavian or Latvian inspired design. It needed to have a pointed top, an edge design, and a peasant thumb. Of course, neat, small stitches, even gauge, and no mistakes in the color work pattern were important too. I realized that use of more than two colors was not really necessary. I had heard rumors that the judges tended to pick items worked in blue, but I certainly didn't notice that in the winners from these four years. What I ended up with was my Hearts and Dalas Mittens.

I went with the most Swedish design elements I could think of worked up in lace weight yarn at 15 stitches per inch. I was very proud of that peasant thumb and how the pattern made it almost disappear into the palm. I even threw some blue in for extra luck. So, how did I do?

Not too bad, if I do say so myself. I won First Premium, as well as, the Knitters' Guild Rosette and the Three Kittens' Rosette. The Guild membership I won with the ribbon was what actually got me involved with the Guild in the first place.

So, did winning that First Premium stop my desire to keep winning ribbons? No way. Now, I am after the Sweepstakes Rosette. I've continued to enter every year except one. 

In 2016, I entered my Pride and Prejudice Mittens which were also knit from lace weight. They took 4th place with a note that they were a little long and skinny. That made me laugh as they were the same size as last year's winners and fit me perfectly. 2017's entry was the Under The Sea Mittens which took 2nd place with a score of 98. This color work mitten category is competitive! I had blue ribbon success again in 2019 with the Bloomin' Happy mittens which took First Premium and the Knitters' Guild Rosette. That one surprised me, as I wasn't sure it would be a pattern that would appeal to the judges. 

This year I had planned to enter the Kyoto Mittens. I'll have to wait until 2021 to see what the judges think of them!

We'd love to hear about your quest to win a prize for your knitting!

(In this time when we can't be together with our knitting friends as much as we'd like, we invite you to share your knitter's story with us. It can be anything knitting related, the story of a special project, how knitting helped you through a hard time, a trip that involved knitting & wool...the type of story you'd share with friends at a knitting group. Please email Kate at socialmediamnkg@gmail.com for details.)

As a new term starts for our board and we welcome new board members, we thought it would be nice to know a little bit more about them in a series called Meet Your Board.

Kelsey Sorenson - Secretary

 

She decided to join the Guild thanks to curling; yes, the one with brooms and rocks on ice. Kelsey doesn’t curl, but most of her social circle does—she even met her fiancé, Marty, because he curls with her college roommate!

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.

All the details from this month's Guild meeting incase you weren't able to join us or need more information...

Thanks so much to our speaker Gretchen Funk. We learned so much about machine knitting and how it can be used with hand knitting. 

Here are the resource links from Gretchen's talk.

Midwest Machine Knitters Collaborative - Meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month.

Knit It Now

Olgalyn Jolly “O! Jolly!” and her fantastic article on Machine Knitting Daily

Susan Gaugliumi Who just gave the fabulous talk on Fruity Knitting

Rocking Horse Farms -(320) 252-2996 knitshop.rockinghorsefarm@gmail.com - Great resource for supplies and sells the majority of items you’ll need (or knows where to get them!) and a MKG member

Modern Daily Knitting - Gretchen's article on needle-felted steeks.

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In other Guild news....

We have two opening on the board for Membership Experience Director and Vice President. You can find more details here. 

Entries for the "No Fair" Competition are due by Monday, August 31st. We'll have an awards showcase at the September meeting and winners will receive a year's Guild membership and a rosette. Read all the rules and categories. 

We had a great response to the Drive Up Donation event for our charity partners. Please keep continuing to knit and we will have other drop-off events. You can also send donations to the Textile Center care of the Minnesota Knitters' Guild. If you are interested in being part of the Service Knitting Committee please email Dawn. 

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Designer Spotlight

Our August designer is Megan Williams.

  

What we love about Megan's designs. Shawls, and socks, and sweaters, oh my! Megan's catalog is prolific to say the least. She has a pattern for almost any knitted wearable item. You can also choose your technique adventure with patterns in lace, stranded knitting and cables.

 

Megan has an eye for color and it shows in her work. Her designs embrace a thoughtful use of color and I bet more than a few of her patterns can be used as stash busters. She designs in almost all sizes from children's to size-inclusive sweaters. Designs can be found on her Ravelry site.

 

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We only have one project from this month's show & tell. 

 

 

Jess 

Pattern: Tabouli Cardigan

Yarn: Nua Sport in Rolling Bales

Notes: Such a fun knit! Interesting construction, gorgeous cable / lace pattern, and a really delightful yarn.Project page with lots of details here.

 

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See you all on September 15th!