County fair

[altivo]

I went, I saw, I judged. The fair actually opens tomorrow and continues through Sunday. It was not as hot as last year, when I did this in 100 degree heat. Entries were down a bit, but the supervisor has plans to promote better for next year, now that the doubt over whether and where the fair will continue has been settled (we think.)

Too many crocheted afghans made of cheap acrylic yarn. Some of the makers have skills and design talents, and it's a shame that they put all that effort into making something out of cheap materials in garish colors. I always try to encourage them to use natural fibers. If you are going to put hundreds of hours into something, it deserves good quality materials.

Knitting had some better work this year, but not as many entries. Two blue ribbons and the best in show went to a lady who did not enter last year, but put in an immaculate sweater and a gorgeous afghan in fisherman knit textures. The work was spotlessly perfect, the designs fresh, and... she used natural fiber yarns of course. Mohair for the afghan, pure wool for the sweater. It was easy to give her the top prizes in knitting.

The whole process took me about three hours, and since I had taken the whole day off work, I had the afternoon free to work on my own projects. Yay.

Comments

[jmaynard.livejournal.com]

Okkay, I have to ask: Just what makes natural fiber so much better? Color selection would seem to be independent of the material itself, and I can understand why that would be an issue.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

For many aspects of practical use, natural fibers are superior. They are more absorbent, yet they dry faster, for instance. They are warmer and more pleasant to the touch in many cases. The fabrics made from natural fiber have a better drape and fit unless you are going for the spandex/lycra sort of thing.

We are also discussing hand work here, whether spinning, knitting, crochet, weaving or other techniques are involved. Most synthetic fibers do not lend themselves well to traditional techniques of construction. They require heat or chemical treatment in order to form them, they do not take dye well, and have other special requirements. The notable exceptions are rayon type fibers, which can handle well but tend to be less durable, and nylon, which is workable but harsh compared to the natural sources.

Colors, I agree, are partly an issue of manufacture. Acrylic yarn could be colored to appear more natural, in softer tones, but it rarely seems to be done that way. Instead it comes in colors you'd never get from a dyepot, because the color is added during the fiber manufacturing process and they can use pigments rather than dyes. In essence, it is plastic. Plastic has some uses, but I prefer not to wear it as clothing most of the time.

If you put two sweaters made using the same techniques next to each other, one of good quality wool or alpaca and one of acrylic yarn, the difference is immediately obvious. The natural wool softens and blends with wear and use, and breathes even while holding warmth. The acrylic doesn't soften, but is likely to pill and grow harsher from use. True, the wool requires a little more caution when cleaning and storing it, but there is no question in my mind which is better in overall quality and durability.

[atomicat.livejournal.com]

I can just picture it and yah, that's too bad. It's the same way with cooking. Um, expression? You can't polish a turd. Oi!

[altivo.livejournal.com]

True, and the perfect example is Microsoft, which has been polishing a certain turd for a couple of decades. I notice that lots of people still buy that turd without questioning what it's made of, though.

[atomicat.livejournal.com]

Oh come now, Vista isn't that bad. Runs fine on my Cray II.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Heck, I'm referring to all of Windows, from way back in 1987 to the present.

(And if you can get any version of Windows to run on a Cray, I'm impressed. Not with Windows, but with your wizardly powers.) ;p

[atomicat.livejournal.com]

Yah, once you're stuck in a rut. *sigh* I was a BIG fan of OS/2, did awesome stuff on my 486-66 & 8M ram. I, along with many others I'm sure, really wanted to see that one take off. Instead they rolled over and went belly-up submissive posture.

Oh, I have a copy of Windows 1.01 if you'd like. Wanna start all over again?
"See there? In line 12,864 that should be an OR, not an XOR. There's your problem!"

[keeganfox.livejournal.com]

I gotta agree with you about the natural materials. If you going to do something, then it's best to do it as best you can afford. Quality trumps price every time for me.

Sounds like you had fun though.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Yes, for once a year it's fun. I'm not sure I'd want to do it more often than that. I'd rather be making stuff myself, or teaching others how to do it. There's also the problem that if I'm judging, I can't very well display any of my own work. ;p

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

Is it possible to use a blend of natural and synthetic? Like a 70/30 blend or something?

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Sure, though that's probably not something I'd usually do myself. These are people who buy commercially produced yarns, rather than making their own. That means they are limited to what is commercially available. There are lots of blended and 100% natural yarns, but you have to go a little farther and pay a little more to get them. The big discount stores here usually stock only the cheapest of synthetic yarns, and those are the ones likely to be used.

I wouldn't care except that the women who submit these items to the fair to be judged competitively and displayed in public often have considerable talent in design and construction. It's sad to see them using second or third rate raw materials when they put so much effort into creating their art.

[hrrunka]

It's sad to see them using second or third rate raw materials when they put so much effort into creating their art.

Aye. It's a shame to see fine work let down by poor materials. It's also a shame to see fine materials let down by poor workmanship, but at least there's a chance the workmanship can be improved...

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Yes, and this situation has been greatly aggravated by mass-merchandising. The chain stores like WalMart and Michael's are run on the principal of stocking only products that move the most quantity the fastest, rather than promoting better products to develop a market.

Interestingly enough, knitters have always preferred better quality yarns, and even handspun yarns when they could get them. Crocheters, however, at least in the US, tend to go for the brightest colors and the lowest prices. They are also less likely to mail order yarn or travel greater distances in order to buy better stuff from a specialty seller.

I have some theories about it that would be interesting to pursue with a real statistical study. My guess is that crochet at the present time is more popular among people of lower average incomes and lower educational level. Saying so in a visible public way would of course be unpopular, but my observation is that this seems true. If it's true, it explains why crocheters often use cheaper yarns and take a short term view on design, durability, and wear.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Blends do need to be considered carefully, as you can't mix just anything and have it work out well. Some of the popular synthetics at the moment, such as the lyocell forms of rayon, of which Tencel(tm) would be an example, are so tough and sharp edged that they can actually cut wool or silk fibers with which they have been blended. So in ordinary wear, the natural fibers are soon broken up into smaller bits and shed away, leaving only the synthetic. This sort of problem is more likely in tightly spun, fine yarns than it would be in loose yarns such as would be used in knit garments. However, it shows up in things like socks, which are subject to heavy wear and friction.

[gabrielhorse.livejournal.com]

You for one have a curious, but interesting life- and unlike most I know- it manages to turn out well for you. How do you fnd the time for all these things you're always doing?

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I have almost always chosen the path that looks "interesting" regardless of whether it seems the safest road. There are many consequences to that, of course. Unlike my brothers, I am not wealthy. I just barely get by. Unlike my brothers, I have never had to file bankruptcy or carry massive debts either, so it evens out in the end.

I have always had little regard for society's notions of what is "appropriate" for my gender, age, educational status, or whatever. If it interests me and harms no one, I will pursue it. This of course meant putting up with a whole trainload of sh*t when I was younger. Refuse to play baseball in gym class and get sent to play tennis with the girls? Sure, why not, if you don't care for baseball and are no good at it? Choose to play the flute in the school band, which is a "girl's" instrument? If you're interested in it, yes. I'm still playing four decades later, which is probably not true of any of those proper boys who choose trumpet or saxophone. Learn to cook? You bet, and win prizes for it too. Read books instead of playing football in the street? Check.

Life is too short to allow it to be dictated by ridiculous social taboos. So I've followed my interests and as a result, I'm "different." ;D

As for finding time, there are a lot of common activities in which I don't participate, such as the big killer for most Americans: watching television. Zero, zip, none. I've never watched it much, and since leaving home for college just haven't bothered with it at all. Tremendous saving of time there. Likewise, I don't go to bars or clubs. More time saved. I get up early, even on weekends, rather than "sleeping in." Normally I'm up at 5 am, even in winter. Even so, I still wish there were more hours in the day or that I didn't need quite so much sleep. I don't manage on less than seven hours a day. That seems to be the absolute minimum. My mate, who requires closer to nine, is amazed even at that.

Well said.

[gabrielhorse.livejournal.com]

Wow... most of that is worth quoting. I agree whole-heartedly on all of those, though my current situation means I spend a deliriously long amount of time travelling- which sometimes makes me sleep longer as a result (sheer exhaustion you know... imagine walking the length of Pensacola twice a day and you'll get a good idea of how my last week went), but normally I don't get much sleep either... lately- except for this morning when I overslept- I've normally gotten about 4 hours at a time. too much to do to lie around or wait for the world to come along. Kudos!

Re: Well said.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Believe me, I don't doubt your diligence. I see it between the lines of everything you write. It's unfortunate that our society has "evolved" to where there's a threshhold you can slip over that makes it so difficult to climb back up to simple employment and housing. Even 50 years ago chances were you could find farm work or restaurant work almost anywhere. The farm work would include some kind of housing and perhaps meals. Restaurant work would at least insure one meal a day plus an hourly wage. Now you have to already have a job and a home in order to get one it seems.

Re: Well said.

[gabrielhorse.livejournal.com]

I'd venture to say it was like that until about a decade ago. Some force behind this is... well, no point in MY going there, people will write it off due to my situation.... but I'm beginning to... uh, forget it. Maybe you'll get the message. I think further details would be fruitless. I do agree with you though- it has changed.