You guys, we have never seen anything like the entries you all sent in for our design contest. Every day the contest ran, we’d go out to the mailbox and just be stunned by what we found.
Y’all are quite the talented bunch!
In the time between our quilting and block printing workshops this past week, we put together a judging committee to find the four best patterns in each category. The committee included: a Texan, a man, a yarn-shop owner, two non-knitters, and me. We went for the broadest appeal possible.
Susan sat out of the judging and refused to have anything to do with it, because she wants everyone to win (it’s true!).
We went over and over our entries, discussing the merits of each piece (ie, arguing with each other about why this-gorgeous-cowl is better than that-gorgeous-cowl– it took quite a bit of time, and there were more than a few surprise upsets!).
But what struck us again and again was the sense of generosity surrounding the whole thing. Not only did you people knit or crochet each lovely item by hand, but you dreamed them up to begin with, out of nothing at all but the required 1-2 balls of Chadwick or Willa! What’s more, once made, you sent your work off in the mail to be judged. That takes guts. We appreciate it. And thank you. Thank you so much.
So, getting back to it, the rules of the contest are,
We will select our four favorite designs for each yarn.
During the week of
March 5March 12th (we changed this, since so much good stuff came in after the deadline!), we’ll post our top 8 (4 Willa and 4 Chadwick) on the Juniper Moon Farm blog and open up voting.The public will vote to decide which designs are first, second, third, or fourth place. (We’ll be reminding people to vote, but you’ll probably want to encourage your friends and family as well.)
The designs (either Chadwick or Willa) with the most votes will be 1st place and win $300 worth of Juniper Moon Farm yarn, 2nd place in voting will win $200 worth of Juniper Moon Farm yarn, 3rd place in voting wins $100 worth of Juniper Moon Farm yarns, 4th place in voting wins $50 worth of Juniper Moon Farm yarns.
And a short note about the following photos:
These are neither 1) the photos provided by the designers who entered their work in our contest, nor 2) the photos that will be used when their patterns are published. We just really really wanted to share these fantastic projects with you all, and spent a quick hour shooting them yesterday, so that we could share. So, don’t fret– these are quick snapshots, and neither the Real-Deal photographs that you all sent us, nor those that we’ll be using for publicizing these patterns. (If you’re feeling overexposed, imagine how I feel, about to put up a post with about thirty pictures of my own self!)
ETA: A NOTE ABOUT VOTING
Per request, we’ve stopped logging the IP addresses of voters, so that people who share an IP address can both vote (two people sharing one machine, say, or if a whole company shares an IP address). Logging IP addresses is a simple way to make sure the voting is fair– so, in removing it, the poll’s opened up to potential funny business. However, be warned– we can still see who votes for what, and from what IP addresses. So, if we see any monkey business (a flood of 500 votes from the same address in 1 minute, say), we’ll consider those votes invalid, and turn IP logging back on. We run a clean joint and a tight ship, so be on your best behavior. Sound good?
So, with no further ado, I give you our top four in the Willa Category:
To the Top by Rik Schell:
Sailboat Vest, by Patricia Kirtland:
Buttons Anywhere, by Shirra Stone:
and Turtle Baby Vest, by Kathryn Maynard:
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.
Our top four in the Chadwick Category are:
Christie’s Cowl and Cloche, by Karen Watson:
Cloud 9 Bed Socks, by Rebekah Baquiran:
Geometric Hat, by Jenn Cox:
and Pink Ripples Hat, by Guzel Eaves:
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.
Voting will end at 11:59 P.M. EST, on March 22, 2012.
Our other entries, which were so beautiful that we couldn’t not let you see them, are pictured below– the way we see it is, even if everyone who deserves to win can’t, the least we can give you all is an Enthusiastic, Honorable, and Super-Excited Mention! Just look at how talented you all are!
Also, if there are any projects that catch your interest, get in touch with the designer (patterns are linked, where possible), and encourage him or her to publish! (I can’t think of any better impetus to put something out there than twenty emails saying, “I’m dying to knit your hat, please, let me!”). So, knitters, crocheters, get on it!
Loopy Wicker Cowl, in a single-color and two-color version:
The Four-From-Two Set of Headbands:
The Catch-the-Waves Cowl came all the way to us from Alaska!
Lady Chadwick, in a single-color and two-color version:
LD:
Cable Me One Side, Rib Me The Other Cowl:
Cable Me One Side, Rib Me The Other Child’s Reversible Hat:
Tickle Me Child’s Vest:
We had such fun with this. I walk a little taller, knowing that our readers are so talented, creative, giving, and, skilled– best of luck to our semifinalists, and congratulations and many hearty thanks to everyone who entered.
