Oma would be proud...

My knitting skills are largely attributable to my Oma -- my Dad's Mom. I can't remember a time when she didn't have a knitting project on the go, either in her hands or on the sofa-seat beside her. And boy, could she knit fast! She was the one who taught me the long-tail cast on long before I realized it was the "cool" thing to do, and I thought she created the three-needle bind-off! She would count the stitches in Dutch (I can still catch myself counting to ten in Dutch as I cast on), and distinctly remember her showing me this picture of a knit dress (yellow) that she wanted to knit for me -- I gracefully declined in favour of sweaters, which she knew would get more love/use.

One of my fondest memories of Oma's knitting was her entries in the fall fair each year. She would select her prized items, and Dad would drive them down to the fairgrounds for her in time for display and judging. It was an adventure to go and see what ribbons she had won after the judging had occurred, and there were always ribbons. I think I still have the red first-place ribbon she won for an intricate poncho she knit for me in public school.... and I know I still have the poncho!

Those memories were forefront in my mind this weekend as I took advantage of the encouragement from a work colleage and entered some of my handknit items in one of Ontario's oldest fall fairs. I had done this last year -- more of a lark -- when she suggested I enter some of my things. At that time, my three entries all garnered first-place finishes and I have tucked away the ribbons that accompanied those "wins".

This year I did it as much for me as for Oma, knowing she would have appreciated the sense of tradition, even though she's no longer with us.

Out of six entries, I'm proud to say five items were worthy of ribbons -- four of them first-place ribbons and one second place finish. Thanks Oma!