State of the State
First, here’s probably the last time that this feather and fan shawl will be able to be stretched out to show and detail. It’s on the 47″ needle and I expect it will stay there until binding off. The lighting isn’t very good because I took this picture at about 6 in the morning but you get the idea. I’m currently at round 85. I’m still a little worried about the variegated yarn but I’m forging ahead. It certainly is pleasant to look at color wise. It’s also not terribly difficult to knit. I opted for the shawl which uses two charts for the feather and fan. The two chart version has a decrease and yarn over as well as 4 purl stitches right in the center of the repeat. I sometimes am flying along on the three rows between the pattern rows and run right by the purl stitches. Generally I see them the next time around and then carefully switch them from knit to purl stitches. I’m excited to see this shawl to the finish. I think it will be a nice size and the yarn is very lovely.
I have 106 rows to go and then the crochet bind off. If I average 2 rows a day that’s 7 weeks to finish. SOAR is in less than 6 weeks. Not enough time. So that means I’ve gotta do more rows per day. If I can do 4 rows per day that means I can finish in about a month. HHHMMMM. I need to do more than four rows per day at the moment because I know there will be days when I do less and also near the end the pattern rows will probably take me close to an hour to do.
I do kind of like having a deadline though.
In other news, I found this at the State Fair today. Right outside the goat pens. I can’t help it. The clovers with the unusual numbers of leaves just shout to me.
And then Ryan milked a cow. Jersey cows are my favorite. They have friendly faces.
Maggie did try milking the cow too but she (the cow) kept hitting Maggie in the face with her tail.
I just liked this cow. I don’t know what kind it is. I think it’s meant for meat. The dairy cows usually have a different build. 
And the reason I went to the fair today was to find out how I did. First place in the Gold Ribbon Division for Handspun Yarn. This is the Blue Faced Leicester skein. It is a singles yarn spun on my Golding Spindle.
First place in the general division of handspun yarn. This is the Qiviut/Silk singles yarn spun on my Ann Grout Acorn support spindle.
And another First Place for Lily. I will pick all of them up from the fair on September 3rd and Lily will be retired from competition. I will actually wear her this fall. I’m so excited for that. I think next year’s entry will be knit with handspun. I need to pick a pattern and a fiber. The Highland Triangle from Folk Shawls is looking very attractive.
9 thoughts on “State of the State”
mmmm….I love Jersey cow milk…yum. Congrats on your prizes! More ribbons! I always find the clovers, too…I made a game of it when I was weeding in my grandparents’ fields and found 13-15 that year…fun!
oh, and I did find your wish list so don’t worry about that…I just needed to pay attention, I guess!
Oh my, you stole the whole state fair show!!!! Congrats!!!!
Oh jealous of all the blue ribbons! Congrats. 🙂
The cow is likely a Shorthorn btw. They have both milking and beef Shorthorns, but you are correct in guessing it is likely the beef making breed.
I said I thought I wanted a solid yarn for my next shawl/stole. But after seeing your feather and fan shawl I might want some of that. 🙂
If you like the _faces_ of the cows, why did you only take pictures of their hind ends??
Congrats, congrats, and congrats on your state fair entries. Keep hounding me, and I might enter something, too, some day…
Congratulations! Those are some mighty pretty, and well-deserved ribbons! And I’m so glad you’re going to finally wear Lily – we need a picture of her modeled!
BTW, I’ve been meaning to ask – what needle size did you knit Lily on? I’m using #1 for the Zephyr, but the angora/silk is so thin I’m thinking a 0 at the most….
Congrats on the ribbons! Well deserved honours, nice jo!
more ribbons? go you!
holy cow!
and i’ve never milked a cow…*pout*