Saturday, October 17, 2015

My 2015 NC State Fair Wins

This year I entered nine items in the 2015 North Carolina State Fair. Today I went with my daughter to see how I did. What an exciting experience! Six of my entries won ribbons.

Blue Ribbons (1st place)




Knitted edging on tea towel (my first time entering a knitted piece)



Red Ribbons (2nd place)






Crocheted baby sweater (first time entering a sweater/crocheted)


White Ribbon (3rd place)

Crocheted shawl with beads (first time entering a shawl/crocheted)




7 comments:

Madtatter80 said...

Oh such beautiful ribbons, and great job Wow Congratulations, I really like the pillowcase tatting too. This is wonderful and makes me want to enter mine next year!

Carolyn Kotlas said...

Carollyn, yes, yes, do enter it. If your fair is like mine, too few people enter pillowcases so not as much competition as in other categories. This is especially good since some categories are so crowded that it takes an outstanding piece to make the cut...and even then not always. Last year my pillowcase edging got 2nd place beat out by a crocheted piece with beads (the judges seem to love beads), but this year no sign of crochet competition.

The thing that really blew me away was winning a 3rd place for the crocheted shawl. I had planned to enter a different piece but it just wasn't working out so about a week before the deadline I went into my stash and found some ribbon yarn a friend had destashed and given to me years ago and then I found some beads in my stash that worked out great with the yarn. The whole thing was pretty much done in about 3 days including blocking. The only reason I bothered is that I'd registered for the category and didn't want to back out of it. My thought was well, at least I'll have an entry, but no chance of winning anything. So I was truly amazed when I saw it in the case with a ribbon. I figured the shawl competitions would be pretty fierce...and the knitted shawl category really was...it took me a while to find my knitted shawl up on a top shelf with some other "also rans". Maybe the crocheted shawl category isn't as competitive and I should consider entering it again next year.

I was tidying up my craft room and came across a WIP that I think will make a great pillowcase edging entry for next year. Just have to find the pattern I was using (hate it when I put something aside and forget to include the pattern that goes with it.) And I have an idea brewing for a tatted framed piece for next year as well. I think I've caught fair competition fever!

muskaan said...

Huge Congratulations !!!
All that effort at hiding ends, etc. in the pillowcase edging was so worth it after all, don't you think :-))) It really is a superb piece of art.
Looking forward to all that you will be making for the next competition - very inspiring .

Jane Eborall said...

Well done. I feel like I've won too with the pillowcase edging!

Carolyn Kotlas said...

Thanks, Jane! I checked out your patterns and it does look an awful lot like your flowery SCMR bookmark! I'll have to work that pattern some day soon. I love your designs and love that you are so generous with sharing them. I took a class years ago that you and Sue taught at Tat Days and it is such a fun experience. Would love to see you again at Tat Days

Jane Eborall said...

That'll teach me to look more closely, Carolyn!!!!!! It isn't what I thought it was!!! Now, can I tat a new brain?!?!?

Jane McLellan said...

Congratulations! How wonderful that your work has been recognised.