Sometimes things all fall into place.

I wanted to make a dress for my niece’s third birthday. When the Knitty summer issue came out, I thought the Elenka dress was just the ticket – but was not sure if my niece would like it. Val, her mother, liked it, and so I quickly knitted up the dress to be ready for their visit to the East coast in July – the first time I would see my niece in a year-and-a-half since their last visit.

She loved the dress (such a sweet reward to see a little girl twirl and jump and spin in something you made for her!) and when I mentioned the calendar contest to Val – she was excited to try her hand at taking a great picture of Maddie in the dress.

With wings and wand in tow, Val and Maddie (and Aunt Kathy) went out to Middlebury College Museum of Art on a beautiful August day in front of the Patrick Dougherty installation of twig tipi houses that helped set the scene in fairy-land.

We sent off the pictures to Knitty just in time for the contest deadline and impatiently sat back to wait. Finally, and unbelievably, we found that we had won the grand prize!

I’m so proud of my sister for the fabulous photo she took – and the vision she displayed in setting it up and making it happen.

Check out the full calendar – and all of the winning photos.