Competition is open to all knitters. Although welcome, original designs are not required.

Adult sized mittens must be worked in stranded knitting technique (two or more colors), and must have been completed in the 12 months prior to Dec 1, 2024. Up to three pairs of mittens may be submitted. For this competition, the mitten body should not have a lining.

All entries must be hand knit using currently available commercial yarns.

Registration opens Mar 1, 2024.
Entry form and payment are due by Nov 1, 2024. Entry fees are non-refundable.
Email description with photo submissions must be received by Dec 1, 2024.

Three categories will be judged. 1) Full Mittens, 2) Fingerless Mitts, and 3) Mittens with a Flap.

Entrance into the competition requires the following:
1) Participants will register for the event and pay through this website portal.
2) Participants will send an email with a description of their mittens along with a
    prescribed set of photographs to knittingcentralny@gmail.com 

Participants will send a separate email for each entry to knittingcentralny@gmail.com. Subject line will read "Last Name, First Initial, Mitten 2024"

The body of the email shall include:

·   Participant’s full name

·   Number of total entries from the participant, and which entry photos are included in the email. For example, if a participant enters two pairs of mittens, the first email should say Mitten Pair 1 of 2, a second email should say Mitten Pair 2 of 2, and so forth. 

·   A written description of the mittens shall be included with each e-mail, including the name of the pattern, designer, name and colors of yarn used, needle size/s used, and any other information you would like the judges to know. (Not more than 100 words.)

·   Each email needs to have attached a prescribed set of photos for one pair of mittens. Follow the guidelines in “Stranded Mittens Photo Requirements." (below)

Photos must be sent as attachments to Participants' Entry Email sent to knittingcentralny@gmail.com . Follow the guidelines for each category as listed below. 

Photos must be sent in jpg format, and must be no larger than 500KB (72dpi and 500 pixels). 

Label each attachment as follows:
LastName_Category_Photo#    (Ex:Smith_FingerlessMitts_Photo3)  

NOTE: "Public Side" refers to the side of the mitten that is seen while the mittens are being worn.
"Private Side" refers to the mitten as it is seen when turned inside out.

Items will be judged on artistic appeal, color balance and/or harmony, techniques used, and quality of workmanship.

Items will be judged on Dec 3, 2024, and winners will be notified by email by Dec 10, 2024. All decisions are final and binding.  Winners for each category will be posted on the Twisted Stitches of CNY website. In the event that there is an unexpectedly large number of submissions, judges reserve the right to extend the date that winners are announced.

Ribbons will be awarded for First, Second, and Third place winners in each category. Prizes for the first place in each category will be a $25 gift certificate to The Woolly Thistle – an online NH yarn shop that carries a wide selection of Shetland yarns.  Best of Show will receive a $100 gift certificate to The Woolly Thistle.

While participants retain the copyright of all photographs, Twisted Stitches of CNY and The Woolly Thistle retain the rights to use any submitted photos on their websites. 

Items will be judged by TKGA Certified Knitting Judges and/or TKGA Certified Master Hand Knitters.

Items look best after they have been blocked.

Be sure that the lighting is good.  (natural, indirect daylight is ideal)

Avoid having shadows in your photos.

Photograph on a solid background that is significantly lighter or darker than your mittens.

Arrange mittens so that they are attractive and not distorted in the photo.

A limited number of additional photos are allowed, so capture those gorgeous details that you want the judges to see.