Disappointing results for me again at the Western Fair. Unfortunately, the judging does not give you feedback to explain their decision or what the knitter should do to improve their work. My best guess is that the judging at the Western Fair is subjective, based entirely on what the judge likes. I have pictures so you can draw your own conclusions.
I entered two knit items. Up first, knitted sweater. In this category, I knit Jim a Shetland jumper weight sweater, which didn't place. This pic shows my sweater on top and the first place sweater below.
The second category for knitted items was non-wearables. In this class I entered a knitted dragon, named Oolong. He took second place.
First place was a knitted hedgehog, made with fun fur. I didn't get a usable picture of it, but this is pretty close to the same thing.
And third place was a knitted pig. Note the tiny teddy in this picture. Incredible knitting!
I am trying to be a gracious looser. I really shouldn't be disappointed, because I know what the judging at this fair is like. I think it is time I stopped entering my knitting. I know I am a good knitter, I don't need a ribbon to prove it. The biggest reason to enter is to promote the craft of knitting. But how does it help educate the public when the judging results are so odd?
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Hey Laurie, I think you shetland sweater is absolutely gorgeous and honestly took a lot longer to knit and required a greater skill set. It should have received a 1st place ribbon. In my experience, judging for knitting is very subjective. I've noticed it's all about the colour!!! Cheers, Isa
ReplyDeleteThe Shetland sweater you knit is stunning! As a knitter I also know it was far more time consuming and difficult to knit than the sweaters that won the ribbons. They probably have the same judges year after year. I'm sorry you didn't get a ribbon with that sweater. It certainly deserved one.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the judges are knitters themselves. A few years ago I was asked to judge a category I knew nothing about so I declined but the Fair would have been happy to let me be a judge in spite of my lack of knowledge.
ReplyDeleteI think Anonymous has the answer; your Shetland Sweater is magnificent. No need to rely-upon the uninformed for validation - revel in its glory, and say "Yay, ME!"
ReplyDeleteThe same thing happened to me. I entered an Alice Starmore fair isle knit at the state fair. A very plain sweater won first place. I later found out that this knitter was friends with the judges. I haven't entere any since then.
ReplyDeleteCould you contact them and volunteer your services as a judge, or assist in writing standards for judging protocols? That would, of course, remove you from entering, but you would still be contributing to the craft. Or offer to hold a demo table to help educate fair-goers on the different types, uses, and methods of knitting? There are more ways to help spread the word than just entering, and they may welcome (hopefully) a fresh perspective to the committee.
ReplyDeleteShelley
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