Does anyone compete in village shows?

[JemimaMuddledUp]

Just that really. Our village has a small show with a handicrafts section. Every year I think I could probably make things just as nice as some of the entries, but I never get round to it. I have decided though that 2018 will be the year that I do.

Anyone experienced in competing? Any hints or tips so I don't make a fool of myself?

Join your local WI. Competitions and skill sharing.

Follow the rules to the letter or you will be disqualified. They are ruthless.

Even if you do follow the rules, who wins is generally not based on talent but on village politics

allegedly.

We're in Wales so Merched y Wawr is more prevalent than the WI.

I'm not too bad skills wise, I'm mainly looking at the knitting classes and I could knit before I could write (I come from a long line of knitters).

I'll try not to annoy anyone in the village before next summer if it's all down to politics

Hi, yes I have done this a couple of times in my local show - very low key, one afternoon in a field type event. It's great fun! The schedule usually comes out in January, show is in June. The categories are pretty vague, things like "a handmade card using any craft" or "a knitted item for a child". They have baking classes too and things like jam or soup, and classes for the kids. It costs a grand total of £2 to enter as many classes as you want, and if you win you get £1 and a little card.

My only issue is that they don't do rosettes. I want a rosette.

I did once look at the schedule for Scotland's big agricultural show - Royal Highland Show but was far too intimidated to enter. Stuff entered there is professional standard, especially things like the Shetland knitting. And they have this "theme" thing going on so it's things like "a knitted waistcoat, using Aran wool and cable technique, to fit in with the theme of MOnty Python".

I wasn't aware politics is a factor - I don't know anyone involved in the show or the other competitors. When we enter, we have to write our name on a piece of paper and seal it in an envelope, they only open the envelopes to see who has won after they've decided.

I don't think politics can really be a factor in our local show. The DC have been entering the Children's Section for years and they have a little card with their name and address on which goes face down under the entry. The cards are only turned over after judging has finished.

Entry fee here is 30p per item. So the outlay on that isn't going to be enormous!

I think the prizes are something like £3, £2, £1 for first, second and third. Then there are cups for best exhibit, most points etc in each section.

The classes are quite vague too, things like "Any knitted or crocheted item for a baby" or "Cushion, any medium".

For a small show the standard is quite high - some of the baking, flower arranging, jam and cross stitch exhibitors often win prizes at the Royal Welsh Show. But the knitting isn't quite as high a standard, so I might stand a chance!

I've always wanted to do this (or at least since that show Kirsty Alsopp did!) but there aren't really any near me.

Kirsty's series was great. I know one of the craftspeople that were featured too.

We have a show of some description in every village here, some are Agricultural and some just Horticultural but all have Handicrafts sections. There is pretty much one every week between June and September.

I think it's due to living in Greater London. There is sometimes a token craft category in the local horticultural society's show but I've never found anything else.

Yes, that would explain it. I live in rural Wales, where it is still 1950 and there are lots of shows

I think agricultural shows are a very "country" thing, cities don't have them. Business opportunity though - starting one in hipster land, they'd love it.

I enter our local show (and we're on the edge of a city but I think the area is in denial about that!). DC like entering the children's things. I entered the knitted category once but realised immediately I looked around the display that I was hopelessly outclassed and could only marvel at the deserved winners

I get on better with the general crafts and the embroidery sections, where I've won a few times mainly because not many people embroider any more There is a whole separate section for cross-stitch, and I gather that's very competitive based on the mutterings of people inspecting the tables to see who had won!

I'm with you on lamenting the lack of actual rosettes though... I've only ever had cards, but the DC had a massive silver cup one year and I lived in horror of denting or damaging it before it had to be returned.

I'm in a group on Ravelry where they are mostly American. They have things like State Fairs and talk about winning ribbons and such like... I am jealous.