Depends a LOT on the fair you're entering. If it's a 4-H type fair, somewhere on the site will be the rules. It's usually (in the Open section) your knitting/sewing/crocheting that is judged. Not the design. I've only seen one area where you have to have your own design, or pattern, and that's in a section with "original design" designation.<br /><br />__________ Fri Sep 17, 2010 8:15 am __________<br /><br />This is the entry rules for a local county fair here in Wisconsin. That's really all there is to it. By the way, "original work of the exhibitor" means that YOU knitted it..not that it's an original design.
OPEN CLASS KNITTING AND CROCHETING
Department 127
RULES
1. See Open Class Division General Rules on page 20.
2. Only one exhibit per entry number.
3. Exhibits will be accepted between 2:00 and 8:00 p.m. Tuesday in the 4-H
Forum. No exhibits will be accepted after 8:00 p.m. Tuesday. Exhibits
must be in place until 7:00 p.m. Sunday. Exhibitors must have their claim
checks to pick up exhibits.
4. All exhibits must have an attached explanation of the type of yarn used,
pattern used, and needle or hook size.
5. Entries must be original works of the exhibitor and must have been completed within the past year.