The Holidays are Coming!

 

What brings it into focus for me is that next week is Thanksgiving and I have to get 
my scarves in the mail to Dawn for this years shipment to military personnel.  Each year for the last several, Dawn has coordinated with military personnal in her hometown to see that folks who do not get packages at the holidays get something.  Her crochet family has done a great job of providing scarves, and other businesses in her community provide extras, like toothpaste, candy, shampoo, etc.  About a year ago, my local Hancock fabrics went out of biz, and I bought several skeins of Lion Brand Wool-Ease at closeout prices.  I have been trying to make scarves out of 1 skein, using all kinds of methods.  I have used stitch pattern books, patterns, elements from afghans, etc.  Whatever I found interesting at the time.  So here are this years scarves.

Good News, Bad News sorta day

Only 11 a.m. and already one of those days.
I got up to the news that Diane has finished the pattern testing on Butterfly Kisses and it is ready to publish to my pattern store in Ravelry.  Got that done.  She is still working on the Pinwheels pattern.  Hopefully, it will be approved later this week.  Good stuff!  And, by looking at her Ravelry profile, I discovered we have the same birthday.  How cool is that?  I have had friends with b-days all around me, but never right on mine.
And just to keep me from getting too full of myself, reality checked in.
My friend, Peter Penguin (not Franzi) went in to the hospital yesterday to have surgery on his pancreas.  Never did understand exactly what the problem is, but he has been waiting months for this surgery.  When they opened him up, they found cancer in a lymph node, so instead of doing what they went there for, they are trying to find the source of the cancer.  Damn!
It has been 7 weeks since my last cigarette!  Now, that is good news.

Pattern Tester Needed

I finished the Butterfly Kisses scarf and I need a pattern tester.  If you are interested, please email me at  cayscrafts@gmail.com.  I found this scarf fun to make but a little challenging to assemble.  But once I got the hang of it, I think it worked up nicely.

 

Better and Better

I am so excited!  Several month ago, I designed a baby ghan that I donated to Project Linus.  Very simple pattern but it makes a real cushy blankie.  Anyway, I talked to Alice, my local PL coordinator, about submitting the pattern to Project Linus.  She got the info for me, and I sent it in to them a couple of months ago.  About a week ago I heard from them and they accepted the pattern.  And, today it is posted on their site!  Baby Bobbles Afghan  So very exciting for me.  I hope everyone who gives it a go donates one to Project Linus.
For more info on them, go here: http://www.projectlinus.org

Fun, Fun, Fun

Friday I went to PYA with Peter so I could show Bente my newest creations and talk to her about the washable wool that I want.  We found one wool that is perfect, but it comes in 50 g balls.  So many ends!  Bente is going to contact the manufacturer and see if that is the only option.  She says sometimes it is available on cones, but they do not advertise that little fact.  We shall see!
And, I sold a felted messenger bag that I had there on consignment.  Yea!
I showed her the Pinwheels scarf and she set it aside for display as soon as the pattern is tested. No pressure, Diane!   I also showed her the beginning of Butterfly Kisses made from sock yarn that she personally dyed.  She handed me a ball of Noro sock yarn and said, can you make a scarf with various size flowers out of this.  Oh, yea! 
I also turned in 2 baby ghans and a lapghan for consignment.  Then I sat myself down and joined the Fiber Artists Friday group and worked some more on Butterfly Kisses.  Before the evening was over, we had a surprise trunk show from a local spinner and dyer.  So much yummy yarn and not enuf money.  There was one alpaca there that I really wanted.  Maybe next time.
Here are a couple of pics of the baby ghans and the newest scarf, for your entertainment.

UFOs

Recently I have been very good at starting projects but not finishing for one reason or another.  So, I have decided to post them all as WIPs on Ravelry.  Maybe that will shame me into finishing these.

I have an 3 color afghan that has gotten too big to carry around.

A mam that needed more green and I bought the wrong one.

 Squares that I work on in my spare time.

A Teddy-ghan that needed more pink than I had.  Thanks, Laurie.  I think I can finish this one now.

Another ghan from squares in cotton-need more yarn

A diagonal box stitch ( I actually did not know what was in this tub).

And, this does not include the WIW bags and in a tub in the garage.  I have no idea how many are there, patiently waiting their turn to come in the house.

Patience

This is a lesson that I am still trying to learn!  It has never been one of my strong suits, and right now it is being tested to the max.  I have this fab idea in my head that I want to do.  I have sketched, done some very rough estimates on the yarn yardage and it is a lot.  Probably between 3 and 4 thousand yds of sport wt or maybe light DK wt yarn.  That is a lot of yarn!  But it is a substantial piece.  And I really want to do it.  But right this minute, that is cost prohibitive. But I can see it in my minds eye and I want to wear it!  On top of that, I took pics of my latest project this morning, went to transfer to my computer, and the %$^^%$ batteries are dead.  So now waiting for them to recharge.  Patience, my child, patience.

So, to entertain myself a couple of evenings ago, I was flipping thru one of my Harmony guides and found some really cool motif patterns.  I have never been real fond of motifs cuz you have to attach them somehow to each other to make anything.  But a couple just kept drawing me back.  So, I picked one and some really pretty wool fingering wt yarn that was gifted to me by a good friend and gave it a go.  I was right.  Attaching them to each other was the challenge.  I tried sl st, sc, a faux braid and none of them gave the right look.  Amazingly, the old stand-by, whipstitch, was just what this needed.  The yarn I used made all the color variations seen in the scarf  I think it turned out very pretty.  Anyone want to test the pattern?

So, now I am playing with the other motif that was calling my name.  I am also crocheting it in a beautiful hand dyed wool sock yarn gifted to me by the same friend.  It has a different contruction than the first, so I am actually able to attach them in the crochet process, kind of a join as you go. Not sure where this is taking me yet, but it sure is a fun ride!

PYA
My new fav place to buy yarn is Piedmont Yarn and Apparel in Oakland.  It is on Piedmont Ave, which is a cute street and has just about anything you want there.  I saw a used bookstore, my other fav place to spend money, but have not had a chance to stop in there, yet.  There is also a Fentons Ice Cream Parlor, which I understand is sinful. Cute clothing stores, antiques, etc.  You can spend the entire day and not see it all.  And so many restaurants that making a choice is very hard.
Anyway, I digress.
Peter Franzi teaches classes at PYA and we had our guild meeting there last month.  The owner, Bente, helped me find a coordinating yarn to go with the Musette from China, so I can crochet "MY" Musette Vest. Also picked up the yarn for our one skein challenge.   I went week before last to the Crochet Circle on Tues.  Saw more yarn that I wanted, always, but need to wait.
But, Bente is on the search for yarn for my next project.  I really want it coned, sport weight, washable wool, in a red tweed.  I mean, if you are going to dream, get what you want!  I am sure there will be compromises in what I actually get because so far her search has not met all the criteria.  So, they may have to change some.
One of the reasons for wanting coned yarn is the size of the project.  I am guessing it will take approx 3,000 yds of yarn, but I am not sure that will be enuf.  So, on cones, better yardage, fewer ends to tie in, and usually most cost effective.  We will see.
Piedmont Yarn takes finished items on consignment, and I have several things there.  They sell original patterns designed by their customers.  Mine will be there soon, and Peter already has a portfolio in the store.  They offer lessons in knit, crochet, spinning, maybe others. They have a nice clean store with such a variety of yarns. Prices are quite reasonable, compared to other LYS I have visited.  So, if you are in the area, take a trip to the store.  I am sure you will not be disappointed.

Temptation!

Three weeks into the non-smoking, and I'm dying here! The last 3 or 4 days have been pure, unadulterated hell. Usually, the urge to have a cigarette will pass in just a few minutes, if I get myself busy. But the last couple of days, it has not been that easy. Even eating or crocheting isn't helping. But, I have gone this far, and I will not give in. The nicotine should be out of my system by now, so am not sure why the urge is so strong. I should be down to just breaking the cycles that are left over from years of having a cig in the car, after meals, etc.   I AM HEALTHIER AND WEALTHIER WITHOUT CIGARETTES!

Women's Health Awareness Month

Most folks think of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month but there are other diseases out there that use October to bring awareness to their situations, also.  I think it is wonderful that enough people have gotten on the wagon and promote breast cancer awareness, but let us not forget the ladies suffering from other, just as debilitating diseases.  The one closest to my heart is the Lupus Foundation (link in the right column, just below the Breast Cancer site).  No one knows what causes lupus, it cannot be cured and ruins the lives of countless numbers.  It is diagnosed only by eliminating many other things.  This is a process that can take years.  The meds to help control it can cause organ damage.  But, uncontrolled, it will eventual lead to organ failure and death.
So, please, add a purple ribbon to your pink ribbon this month to help increase awareness of Lupus.

And the Winner is---

Kath with Autumn Breeze.  There were so many great suggestions that it was hard to choose, but I like this because it is color neutral and the purpose is to keep those breezes from going down the neck.  Thanks everyone!  Kath, please contact me at cayscrafts@gmail.com so I can email your copy to you.  For everyone else, this will be available by tomorrow on my pattern page on Ravelry-Cays Crafts.

Neckwarmer needs a Name!

I designed this cute little pidge a while back and it needs a name.  It is crocheted with a twin v stitch and has two buttons.  It's been sitting in my file for a long time and now I'm ready to post it to my pattern store in Ravelry, but it needs a name.  So, here I am, asking for suggestions from my friends.  Leave your suggestion in the comments and the person whose suggestion I use, will get a PDF of the pattern.  I'll make my choice Tues morning, so get your thinking caps on.  Thanks!

Ravelry

I joined Ravelry a couple of years ago, but have not used it much.  So, in order to prepare for providing the Musette vest pattern, I have been updating my Rav pages, trying to figure out how to provide a pattern for others, etc.  It has taken up most of my time for the last couple of days, but I think I finally have it!  I have one pattern listed there now for free and as soon as one of my friends lets me know she is able to pick it up, I think I will list another.  Just to make sure.  I have probably a half dozen things I have actually written down the patterns for and Peter and I were discussing putting them on his website.  But, it looks like I can do it myself from Ravelry.  Will wonders never cease.
I was really surprised this morning when I looked at the pattern that I posted.  Already several people have marked it as a fav and 1 person actually queued it.  How cool is that?
Oh yea!  If you want to check me out there my id is cayscrafts and my store is Cays Crafts.  Big surprise, huh?

Not Smoking Update
I am on day 11 of being a non-smoker! It has been hard at times, but I am getting thru it.
I have been crocheting like crazy, and baking cookies like there is no tomorrow. First out of the oven were choc chip made with raspberry choc chips that I bought last Christmas season, made with macadamia nuts. Then, I tried to invent a new cookie and it came out ok, but not what I envisioned. I used the choc chip basic recipe and added canned pineapple, coconut and more macadamias. They turned out more cakey than cookiey. But they tasted good. Think I may try them with dried pineapple. The canned seemed to add too much moisture to the mix. And last night, we moved on to peanut butter. Had a hard time choosing between the peanut butter and snicker doodles. Snicker doodles will have their day, and probably soon the way we have been going thru the cookies. Hope this part of the non-smoking does not last long.
When I get weak, I chant to myself- I am healthier and wealthier without cigarettes.

Musette
I have been holding out on you. For the last couple of months, I have been working on designing a vest. Let me tell you how this came about and then I will show you a picture.
Probably about 2 or 2 1-2 years ago, one of the fellows I used to work with went to China on vacation. He brought me 4 skeins of some beautiful yarn ( there is a whole post about that back when I got it). I spent some time finding out what it is and then it sat, waiting for the right thing to be turned into. Not enough for a sweater, too much for a scarf and I do not do scarves.
Several months ago, I ran across a pic of a knitted vest on the internet. Very different than anything I had ever seen. I printed it out and looked and looked and looked at it. Just could not get my mind around how to do it.

Peter was here for lunch one day and he had just finished one of his designs, so we were talking about what he was going to do next. I got my pic out, and we started discussing how this could be done. By the time he left. I had a pretty good idea of how to proceed. My vest only resembles the knitted vest in basic shape, but I am quite pleased with the results. The prototype is worked in fingering wt wool. It took crocheting it 5 times to get the look I envisioned.

And, without further ado, I introduce you to Musette.

Final test
I've been a smoker for over 40 years, and this week I'm making my umpteenth attempt to quit. I want to do this. I know for my health I need to do this. I can no longer afford financially to smoke. All good reasons. But right this minute, I would give just about anything for a cigarette. I keep telling myself that this will pass in just a few minutes. I've crocheted like a mad woman for the last two days. I've washed dishes more times in the last two days than the last month. (Penny normally cleans the kitchen)
I have all the tools I need this time. I am taking Chantix, and the nausea is starting to pass. Thank God. I have nicotine inhalers, if I need them. So far, I've resisted the urge to use the inhaler. Penny is quitting with me this time for many of the same reasons that I'm quitting. Yesterday in the car I almost buckled. But, I stayed strong and made it home by buying ice cream and eggs instead of cigs.
My record as a non-smoker is 3 weeks. This time will be different. It has to be.

Appeal for HELP!
I am having a terrible time trying to upload my pics to Webshots.com so I can post them to my blog. If you go to my album County Fairs 2009, you will see that only part of them have been edited, rotated, etc. No descriptions or anything. I'll be going along just fine, and then the whole thing freezes up. So consequently, I've not posted about the San Mateo County Fair.
The second part of this problem is with my computer itself. When I move pics to Webshots or burn them to cd, the damn computer makes copies of them! I can't delete them, because it will make more copies.
I have Windows XP, and use My Pictures for the upload. My camera is Nikon Coolpix.
Between the two problems, the one most frustrating is the arbitrary copy making. The idea in burning to cd is so not use so much memory for pics. But they just keep multiplying.
If anyone has any suggestions for me, I would be forever grateful. I've been frustrated for a long time with this, but figured sooner or later I could figure it out. NOT!
OK. A couple hours later, and now I can't even get into Webshots! Not true. I can't access my album from my blog. I am so utterly, unbelievably frustrated!
The other thing I can't seem to figure out this morning is how to make a shortcut to Blogger on my desktop. Think I tried to do this before with no luck. But that makes no sense to me.
If you can help me with any of these issues, please email me at cayscrafts@gmail.com. Thanks in advance.

Fair #2 results are in
Well, we went to Alameda County Fair (CA) on a Thursday during the day. Perfect, all the way around. Not too many folks, the weather was just about perfect!
My Tropical Mist doily took 1st, Granny Ripple Afghan 2nd, Bread and Butter pickles 2nd,Baby Shawl Afghan 3rd, I had 4 more entries that didn't win anything. This fair does give you the scorecard and sometimes the judges do write comments, but to me it is still very confusing. Wish my scanner was working so I could show you one of these. It is graded 25% appearance, 50% workmanship, 25% suitability. The grading scale is well done +, acceptable ^, needs improving -. On this sweater, I received a + on every point, but no ribbon. also, no comments. Go figure. However, on my tomato preserves, there are notes that I left too much head space and preserves should have fruit pieces. Now, that tells me what I need to improve to do better next year. Thank you culinary judge!
When we went today to pick up our items, I got the phone # and name of the person to contact so I can volunteer next year. I have bitched for the last 3 years about the way the items are displayed, so it's time to get off my duff and do something about it.
We have had a really hard time finding our entries at this fair. If there is a method to how things are displayed, I still haven't figured it out. And to complicate things, they had Home Arts in 2 buildings. I'm sure there was supposed to be reason for what went in each building, but there were afghans in both, sweaters in both, baby stuff in both. Can't find the pattern here. So, hopefully, I can get on the committee that does the displays and can give them some input. We'll see.
All in all, a very good day.

How much is too much?
Peter and I were discussing pattern prices the other day. In most of the online groups that we belong to, everyone seems to want all patterns for free. Makes it very hard for the designers to make any money. So, how much is too much for a well written pattern?
I am as guilty as the next guy about using free on-line patterns. Love them! But I've also been known to spend quite a bit when it was something I really, really wanted. Of course, I will spend more $ on a sweater than I will a potholder. To me, an afghan or beautiful doily pattern is worth more than a cap or scarf.
So, I've put a poll on the right side of my blog so you can help answer this question. You have until July 10th to answer this question.

Next Project
Recently on Crochet Partners, there has been a discussion on how we pick our next project. I've had to laugh at this, because most of us have several things on our hooks at the same time, and WIMs lined up just waiting their turn.
Last week, I had all my fair entries done, too hot to work on the afghan I'm making for Project Linus, so I thought "This is the perfect time to try that wire crochet." My friend, Kitty, gave me the book a couple of years ago, I bought the wire and beads. Guess what? I can't find any of it! I usually put the pattern and supplies in a Ziploc type bag until I'm ready for it. But I can't find the bag. Unfortunately, I haven't had a good place to put the bags so they kinda get stuffed wherever I can find room for them. I've been looking for a week and still can't find the darn thing.
So, I started making a tote bag for Mattie, who is one of the ladies in my guild chapter. She always raves about my purses when I show up with a new one. She doesn't really carry a purse so I decided to make her a tote for her crocheting. She is well into her 80's and makes a minimum of 3 or 4 blankets for Project Linus every month, volunteers at the Food Bank at the Community Center every week and still volunteers at Oakland Children's Hospital. No one deserves this more. Someone gave me a huge cone of suede ribbon yarn in a steel blue gray. Alice gave me a patch that says Project Linus blanketeer which I'm going to sew on the front. I have the bottom, both sides, the front and about 1/3 of the back done in just a couple of days.
I guess my NEXT PROJECT should be finding a storage place for my WIMs that are ready to do. I was thinking of shelves to sit the bags on, but I have so many different sizes that I'm not sure that would work. I'm thinking maybe just a good size plastic tub would be the best. Then I need to gather up all those projects and put them there so when I need something to do, it is the first place I go.

Comfortghan Squares
As most of you know, Crochet Partners is a huge on-line group of crocheters from around the world. Every once in a while, we find out about a member who has had a tragic event occur in their lives, so we have a small group of ladies (at this time, no men are doing this) who assemble comfortghans that we can send to them when they need a hug. Different people assemble different sizes of squares, so no matter what pattern you have or want to try out, there is someone who is working with that size. You can find out more about the Comfortghan Project here - http://home.earthlink.net/~sdcrochet/CP/CPCP.html
There are some challenges for the assemblers because everyone's gauge is different. For example, my square calls for using an I hook, and the one you are crocheting is using a G or H. Ok! Obviously, you will have more stitches on your final round than I do. I have found an assembly method that will take that into consideration and make a nice join.
The real challenge is when we receive a square that is not the proper size. I think one of the problems may be that people don't know how to measure a square and what to do when it's not quite the right size. So, I'm going to pass on some hints that I've learned over the years.
First: Measuring. Lay your square on a hard flat surface, desk, tv tray, coffee table, etc. Use a hard ruler, wood, metal, or plastic. No measuring tape! Measure across the middle of the square from both directions. If the measurement is correct, e.g, 8", then finish off, tie in your ends, and mail it to me. But, let's say it is not quite up to the size, then it needs to be enlarged.
Second: To increase the size of any square, rows can be added after the final round of the pattern. If you need 1 more inch, do a row of hdc (half double crochet) around, then measure again. If that is too much, then try a row of sc. Most of the time I have found that if I need 1/2" I use sc, 1" hdc, 1 1/2", dc. They will not ever be perfect, but when they are being combined with squares made by 30 other people, the closer to correct size, the better. Anything with a variance of more than 1/4" needs to be adjusted, and if I have to do the adjusting, then it's not just your square anymore.
If your square is only 7", mail it to the person who is using 7" squares. We all need squares! I'm just more vocal than some of the other assemblers.
Third: Finishing. I find it much easier to assemble the squares when there is a ch2 in each corner. That way the corner on every square is clearly defined and there is no guessing on my part where the corner is. I learned many years ago, that when weaving in loose ends, to work them back into the fabric away from the edges. It makes for a neater edge, and since the center of the fabric gets less wear, it is less likely that an end will work its way undone. Thanks Mom, for that bit of advice.
Fourth: Thank you, thank you, thank you to each of you wonderful crocheters who share your talent and love with those who need it. Without you, there would be no Comfortghan Project.

Blocking Doilies
At last! I think I have a good method of blocking my doilies. As you know if you have ever done this, what to use as a blocking board, how to get it dry in a reasonable amount of time, and where to put it while it dries are the age old problems. Then the next time you're ready to block, the perfect piece of cardboard has disappeared or been used as a backdrop for a school project. Ok!
With the suggestion from one of my Crochet Partners, I ordered those soft tiles that you snap together. They are 12" x 12", so I ordered nine for less than $25 from www.imaginationproject.com
. I figured that was big enough for anything I was going to block. They can be configured any way you need them, 3x3, 2x4, or just use one for a small doily. I am storing them in one of those zippered bags that a set of sheets came in. Voila! The blocking board problem is solved.
I usually hand was my doilies unless I'm doing all of them at once, then I put them in a lingerie bag and throw them in the washer with a load of clothes. I put them in a zip lock type bag with my liquid starch and let them set for a while to really soak up that starch. I squeeze out as much excess starch as possible, but they are still really soggy! So, needing to get one dry in a very short amount of time, I threw it in the dryer for about 5 or 10 minutes. Wonderful, still wet enough to block but not so wet it will take a week to dry. With the help of a fan, I dried a 28" doily in about 6 hours. To pin the project, I like to use the stainless steel T-pins. I got mine at Walmart a long time ago. Hope they still have them because I need more. If I don't have enough of them, I use stainless steel quilt pins with the little ball on top. I find the t-pins are the easiest to use. Your fingers can get really sore after putting dozens of pins in a doily. Not so much with the t-pins. By the way, I still use wax paper under my doily so it doesn't stick to the tiles.
Now it's blocked and just needs time to dry. What to do with it? Need to eat on the table, don't want a cat laying in the middle of it. These tiles are snapped together good enough to move the whole project. This morning, I took mine outside and leaned it up against a wall on a small table. How great is that? Drying in the fresh air, not in my way. Hooray!
I hope these tips help you out, and if you have any more, please share.

Hooray! and I'm sorry
The deadline for turning in the entries for the Alameda County Fair is today. As you probably know, i wanted to enter the Tropical Mist Doily in this fair, but I was having lots of problems with the pattern. If I would just learn to read, patterns would be so much easier! I was reading tc cl, when it really said tc cl shell. Hmmm, no wonder I didn't have ch 3 where I needed it on the next row. I was on a marathon crocheting on Thur and Fri and finished the doily last nite about midnight. The last half hour I was trying not panic as it looked like I might run out of thread. I maybe have 3 yds left on the spool. That's cutting it a little close.Finished the blocking about 1 a.m. Turned the fan on it, and went to bed praying it would be dry by morning. It was and is absolutely gorgeous. Peter and I just got back from dropping off our entries and I am absolutely exhausted.
Now for my apology. I was bad mouthing the pattern because I thought there were mistakes in the way it was written. So, Ms Hiddleson, I am so sorry that I complained about this pattern. It was all my own fault for trying to hurry and not reading the instructions thoroughly.
And a huge Thank You to all who tried to help.

Frustration! Frustration! Frustration!
Can you tell that I am frustrated? The delivery for the Alameda County Fair is this weekend, fair starts 7/1. Well, I have been working on a doily called Tropical Mist by Hiddleson that I purchased from E-Pattern Central. Got to row 23 and my count is off. Now, you have to understand I count every stitch, but apparently didn't do such a good job counting loops. I have had a real hard time with this pattern almost from the the first stitch. It is telling me to use ch 3 loops when no ch 3 loops were made in the previous row, etc. So I adjusted the pattern to what I thought was a good plan. Wrong!
Tried to find some quick help (deadline looming) from CP and Ravelry. Out of time.
So, I started another doily called Pink Palette (my thread color is linen) from an old issue of Magic Crochet. I am on the next to last row when I see a serious mistake about 7 rows back. Rip it! Rip it! When I get to the boo-boo, my count is wrong. What is wrong with me? I continue to rip for another couple of rows but still can't find the error that is causing this problem.
This is not going to make my deadline, so I just frogged the whole thing! My granddaughter almost fainted when she walked into the den to see it all back in a ball.
Ok, so I can't seem to crochet. But I have made my bread and butter slices and tomato preserves for the fair. Look good. Sure hope they do well this year. I have won 2nd for the pickles but have never entered the preserves before.
Since it is about a month before I need the stuff for the San Mateo County Fair, I am going to try the Tropical Mist doily again. In fact, did the first 11 rows last night.
Wish me luck on completing it in time.

The Fairs have started.
Well, the first of the three county fairs that I'm entering this summer is this weekend. We went today, Penny, Kitty, Nicolle, and Peter. We did very well! Yea!
Since this is my blog, we'll start with my stuff. I won a 2nd for my Sweater (the category is Men/Women crochet or knitted). Then the Grandma's Napkins doily took 2nd. My original pattern cap & scarf did nothing but look good on the shelf. Didn't even take a picture of it. Duh! Just because it didn't win doesn't mean it should have been ignored. My baby ghan took 2nd And last but not least, my Granny Ripple afghan also took a 2nd. Red Ribbons all around. No blues for me this fair. But there's another right around the corner.
Penny got 1st place for both her cross stitch picture Weekend in Pairs, and her cross stitch quilt Bears and Balloons.
Peter won 2nd for the Shifting Sands shell and 1st for the Elegant Swellegance sweater (same category as mine.
So in a category for both knit and crochet, we took 1st and 2nd with crochet! How cool is that? Good day. Had a lot of fun looking at all the stuff and eating of course. I had my very first gelato today.
You can see the pics in the photo section to the right in the album 2009 County Fairs.