2016 PA Farm Show Results

Farm Show Results:

This year I entered 12 items into the Family Living Department at the PA Farm Show. And in total I was awarded two honorable mentions, one 5th place, three third places, and 1 second place.

Honorable mentions are always particularly exciting because for all of the numbered place I watch online for results. But you only find out about honorable mentions when you go to the show and pick your stuff up. Both of these projects were random crafts that I had made during 2016 and randomly was able to submit into various categories.

The quilling for my greeting card was talked about here. I realized that I could squeeze it on a greeting card. Although it had at some point during the months between quilling and card attachment sustained a bit of damage that I couldn’t figure out how to repair.

My small tote bag came about because I always like having project bags around for things and fat quarters went on sale at JoAnns. I loved matching all of the fabric colors and then finding this fairly intense (for me) sewing pattern online. I like sewing but it always seems to take forever.

This 5th place jazzy jar was quite fun. I never would have thought to make a “jazzy jar” except that it was a category in the farm show. The little papercut was so much fun to make. I’m particularly proud of the super tiny lamp post. The snow paint on the other hand was less fun. Most notably when I managed to spray myself accidentally - good times.

Winning third place yarn was also pretty awesome. And a friend won first! She and I were talking and we have no idea what they are judging for when it comes to the yarn. It seems to be super random which is pretty frustrating. Right now our best guesses are that they like if you include a tag describing the yarn/how you spun it. Spindle spinning might be a plus in their minds. And we think they really like soft things. Also they may be judging on color.

This third place knitted bunny doll is one of the most amazing things I’ve ever knit so I was actually a bit disappointed in third. But I probably shouldn’t admit that out-loud.

The bookmarks were supposed to be themed around “Celebrating 100 years at the Farm Show”. It was fun to mock up a bunch of random farm show things and cut them out. The only thing I wonder is with cutting machines becoming increasingly common in the crafting world do they assume that's what I’m doing, or do they acknowledge the awesomeness that is Scherenschnitte.

And my best placing of the year was this crochet sweater. I’m mostly proud of it for the color bands which I dyed myself when I couldn’t find the colors I wanted in the store! Alas the yoke fit is a bit strange when I actually wear it, so I haven’t. I really ought to see if maybe I can block it into submission.

And finally I must talk about the sad story of the most amazing cabled sweater. I knit this for my father. It is huge. It is amazing. I gave it to him for Christmas and then immediately took it back just so I could enter it. So I felt really bad when it didn’t win anything. But I’ve since made a matching hat and a woven scarf with the same yarn. So hopefully the wait is worth it for him.

Father was unavailable so I had to use the model I keep on-hand.