Were you able to attend the fashion show at the CGOA Chain Link Conference this past weekend? If not, you can watch the whole show on the Crochet Guild of America Facebook page!

The first half of the video shows the keynote speaker, Pauline Turner, who was inducted into the hall of fame this year. She's such a delightful speaker, and I think you will enjoy her presentation very much as well. The fashion show is in the last half of the video.

Below is a list of all the items that were displayed at this year's fashion show. If a pattern or more information about an item is available online, I have added a link to that information.

Many of these patterns are not yet available but will be soon. If you know of any other links that become available or are not included here, please leave a comment and I will add them in.

Special thanks to Red Heart for sponsoring this year's fashion show. Also thanks to all the amazing crocheters who submitted projects, and to all the volunteers who made the show possible. I can't wait to see everyone again next year!

2018 CGOA Fashion Show Lineup:

Group 1
Item	Crocheter / Designer	Model
Veronica Shawlette	Kathryn White	Kathryn White
Capped Sleeve Top	Gloria Hole / Vicki Chan	Gloria Hole
Purple People Heater	Renee Zinck	Renee Zinck
Modified Coogee Bay Dress	Barbary Hynes / Jenny King	Barbara Hynes
Flora Ombre Convertible Wrap	Emily Reiter / Kristen Omdahl	Emily Reiter
Bugsy's Date	Nancy Nehring	Katie Winegarden
Recycled, Renewed Coat	Bonnie Meltzer	Bonnie Meltzer
Be Yourself	Genevieve Mizzell Clark	Genevieve Mizzell Clark
Crochet Boho Shawl	Jamie Swiatek for Red Heart	Allison Herron
Group 2
Item	Crocheter / Designer	Model
Lava Flow Wrap	Shari White	Shari White
Coral Flame Wrap	Yvette Jiggetts / Suzann Thompson	Yvette Jiggetts
Elvia Shawl	Gwen Buttke McGannon	Gwen Buttke McGannon
Tunisian Two-Step	Renee Zinck	Renee Zinck
Peek-a-Boo Pullover	Deb Seda Testut	Nancy Smith
Colorful Freedom Dress	Mirto Golino	Mirto Golino
Cape - Where land meets water	Bonnie Meltzer	Bonnie Meltzer
DreadHead	Genevieve Mizzell Clark	Genevieve Mizzell Clark
Chic & Strong Crescent Shawl	Rohn Strong for Red Heart	Allison Herron
Group 3
Item	Crocheter / Designer	Model
Cozy Cowlette	Susan Lowman	Susan Lowman
Silk Garden Sweater with Cowl	Dela Wilkens	Dela Wilkins
Flatirons Shawl	Andee Graves	Maureen Borillo
White Arches Shrug	Marette Whitney	Marette Whitney
Seeing Circles Poncho	Carolyn Calderon	Carolyn Calderon
Bonus Points Shawl	Sue Perez	Sue Perez
Butterfly Garden	Margaret Hubert	Regina Venettozzi
Lunar Tunic	Kristi Simpson for Red Heart	Allison Herron
Group 4
Item	Crocheter / Designer	Model
Selkie Shawl	Joan Hughes / Aoibhe Ni	Kathryn White
Sunset Fade	Julie DesJardins	Julie DesJardins
Earthy Vest	Mirto Golino	Mirto Golino
Seaglass Summer Cardi	Tamara Kelley	Regina Venettozzi
Bloomin' Rose Shawl	Shari White	Shari White
Coachella Cardigan	Jennifer Pionk	Lauren Venettozzi
Shining Day Wrap	Andee Graves	Nancy Smith
Kaleidoscope Shawl	Sara Kay Hartmann for Red Heart	Allison Herron
Group 5
Item	Crocheter / Designer	Model
Flirt Cardigan	Karen McKenna	Bethany Dearden
Valladolid Shawl	Anne McFarland / Jennifer Hansen	Pamela Stark
Oasis Shell	Juliette  Bezold	Katy Petersen
Sea & Shells Poncho	Karen McKenna	Maureen Borillo
Crocheted Metal Bracelet	Carole Hamburger	Kathryn White
Hitch a Ride Scarf	Susan Lowman	Susan Lowman
Decadence	Creusa Gilmore	Creusa Gilmore
Changing Tides Beach Cover	Yvette Jiggetts / Lorene Eppolite	Yvette Jiggetts
Spider Lace Maxi Dress   (Design competition winner)	Susan Walsh	Katie Winegarden
Shore Thing Dress	Rohn Strong for Red Heart	Allison Herron
Llama-No-Drama	Nancy Anderson for Red Heart	Allison Herron
Photos courtesy of Jennifer Pionk.

 

Therapeutic Crochet for Children by Debra Lea, Carma Cervetti, and Elizabeth Hall

This is Marie from Underground Crafter, and I'm so pleased to share a guest post by CGOA members, Debra Lea, Carma Cervetti, and Elizabeth Hall, about therapeutic crochet for children in a residential facility. Do you have a story to share about how crochet is helping in your community? Feel free to reach out to me through my website.

Therapeutic Crochet for Children

As you come down the stairs you hear children laughing.  Cries of “I want yellow” mingle with “Do I need a bigger hook”.  You just know it’s a room full of kids having a great time with yarn...And today it is.  This room is at KidsTLC in Olathe, Kansas and these children are residents.  Some have been here for a very long time, some have just arrived.  All of them come with issues severe enough to require residential treatment.  But today they are just kids having fun learning how to crochet.

KidsTLC provides children with a continuum of care through innovative and successful psychiatric treatment, outreach to homeless teens, outpatient behavioral health, autism and parent support programs. Services are focused on evidence-based therapies and trauma-informed care, with a strong emphasis on family wellness and preserving the family unit.

KidsTLC continues to respond to the growing needs of children in the Kansas City Metro area by adding critically needed services that fill community gaps and alleviate wait times for families to receive care. Programs help children heal on all levels through innovative therapeutic treatment philosophies; chaplaincy services; expressive therapies such as art, play and music therapy; and through a wealth of opportunities to improve the physical health of clients including the movement towards integrating our mental health services with local health clinics that provide physical health services, increased nutrition/wellness education, and opportunities for physical exercise.

KidsTLC was founded in 1972 by the Johnson County Young Matrons to fulfill an unmet need for an emergency shelter for abused and neglected children. Over the years, KidsTLC’s mission has expanded as we have stepped forward to further help children and youth in crisis. From its beginning, KidsTLC has responded to community needs by implementing new programs to meet them. The staff are always looking at new treatment modalities and methods that will help their clients heal and be able to go home.  About 2 years ago, they thought they might try crochet.

Crochet or yarn crafting, as research refers to it, provides many benefits to children and young adults who have experienced trauma. Yarn crafting relieves depression, reduces anxiety, projects build self-esteem, builds a sense of community and reduces stress. For KidsTLC clients, the connections and successes developed with yarn crafting prepare a brain significantly impacted by trauma for trust and positive relationships which open the door for healing and hope for the future.

This is where Carma and I come into this story.  My son, who is a nurse at KidsTLC, called and asked if I’d like to come teach their children.  I said yes almost before he quit talking.  I would work closely with Elizabeth Hall, Director of Community Resources, and she remains our champion in all things fiber.  Children come to crochet club with no labels, no diagnosis.  They come as children learning to crochet.  Elizabeth and the unit staff who accompany the children to Crochet Club handle any clinical matters that arise.  They help the children maintain their composure and they answer any questions the children have about what happens to their crochet after we leave.  This arrangement lets the children function as children and lets Carma and I teach them the fun that can be had with yarn and a hook.

The first group had 3 children.  I was able to get all 3 started with chains and 2 with single crochet.  The next month we had 2 children from the month before and a new child.  Our new child found some difficulties in just being part of the group, but found comfort in just holding the yarn.  Each month was different and each month I left with my heart full of gratitude for being with them.  After a few months, as the groups continued to grow, I turned to my best friend, Carma, who also loves crochet and fiber and she very gladly joined me. At this point we were up to 3 groups each Crochet Club day with between 3 to 6 students per group. This past month we had one group of 3 and one group of 10!

KidsTLC residents are eager and ready for Crochet Club! 

Teaching these children requires a new view of our goal and of teaching.  Sometimes it is hard to find a way to crochet that makes sense to that learner.  We needed to know not just ways to teach different learning styles, but different ways to hold hooks and yarn!  Learning to crochet is a vehicle to teach them to be a part of a group, to be patient for your turn, to follow directions, to learn how to interact with your fellow learners.  We teach with small steps.  Today a child might learn how to chain.  Next month the same child may need to learn chains again.  Carma found us a project that used chains,   everyone could participate in a group project that was proudly displayed in the common areas at KidsTLC.

Generous volunteers and KidsTLC residents work together to be successful! 

Some children have progressed to making hats or a scarf as a gift for a loved one.  Each child learns at their own pace and each time they learn something is an accomplishment. Each time is an opportunity to build self-esteem and social skills.  Each time is an opportunity to be successful.   

They all have something to say about crochet (and so many other things!)  Visiting with them is as much fun as teaching them, and possibly more rewarding.  When they come back each month we can see the changes in them. The one thing that remains constant is their love of Crochet Club and their excitement to be there. 

The Crochet Club program at KidsTLC is funded by donations and we strive to ensure that each child has a hook and yarn that they take back to their units with them.  In the beginning it was difficult to source the yarn and hooks for each month’s meeting.  However, the volunteer and donor network at KidsTLC is very responsive to Elizabeth’s calls for supplies.  And what a lucky thing that is!  We go through a lot of yarn each month -. It is wonderful to say we have enough for everyone!  We have also added a few magazines to the stash as they build a small “crochet library”.  

If you see a need to help children with challenges in your neighborhood we would strongly encourage you to do it.  You won’t be sorry that you did and you will make a huge difference in a child’s life. 

For more information on our program or about KidsTLC, please contact Elizabeth Hall at ehall@kidstlc.org. or visit their website. You can also grab Carma or me and we’d be happy to share with you. 

Book Review - Coastal Crochet

Title: Coastal Crochet
Author: Karen Whooley
MSRP: $24.95 USD

Book review by Pia Thadani - Stitches n Scraps

Disclaimer: A free review copy of Coastal Crochet was provided to me by Karen Whooley. Although I accept free products for review, I do not guarantee a positive review.  My reviews are based entirely on my honest opinions. 

All images of copyrighted material are used with permission. Photographer: Anne Podlesak

There's nothing quite as relaxing as a sunny, beach vacation. Warm sand, cool water, and blue skies. That's the feeling captured by the beautiful designs in Karen Whooley's new book, Coastal Crochet.

The book includes 12 stunning projects made in lightweight yarns. The lace and fingering weight yarns drape beautifully, giving these projects an airy feel. If lightweight yarns just aren't your thing, that's ok too. The book includes hints on how to adjust the projects to work with heavier yarns!

The sweater on the cover is called Storm, and it seems like it would be the perfect, every-day tank top. I think it would layer well with the uniquely shaped, openwork shawl called, Deep Blue Sea.

Unlike a lot of beach inspired collections, this one is not all light and summery items. The seamless Beachcomber sweater is a cozy cover up for chillier weather.

There's also a cooler weather hat, and a cowl and fingerless mitts set. From blazing summer sun to chilly autumn evenings, Coastal Crochet has you covered!

All the designs are easy to make, but each has an interesting twist, whether it's unique shaping, creative construction, or fabulous texture. They all include charts as well. 

Those of you who know me know that I definitely prefer to work from charts than from written instructions. If you're new to charts, there's a section at the beginning of the book that walks you through how to read them. 

You can enter to win your own digital (ebook) copy of Coastal Crochet. This prize is generously provided by the author, Karen Whooley. To be eligible, you must be 18 years of age or older, with a valid email address. The winner will be contacted by email, and must reply to that email within 1 week in order to receive the prize. If the winner does not reply within 1 week, a new winner will be selected. See entry form for full terms. 

The giveaway ends at 11:59pm US central time on August 6th. Hurry and enter below! 

This giveaway is powered by Rafflecopter, and they may ask for some log-in information if you are not already logged in. See the Rafflecopter privacy policy for more information. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Breath of Life CAL - Finishing Touches

We're at the end. Can you believe it?! The final touches have been added to the shawl pattern! 

If you're just joining us you can get all the info about the CAL by beginning HERE.

This is the final week. You'll block your shawl and it'll be ready to wear soon! 

If you're just joining us don't worry. The pattern is free so it's not too late to start!

Head over to the Breath of Life shawl pattern for this weeks CAL instructions. 

Join in the crochet-a-long and share your progress with other crocheters.

• Get more information about this crochet-a-long here.
• Stop by our Ravelry group or Facebook group to chat or ask questions. We can’t wait to see your progress! 
• Ravelry members can also add the pattern to your Ravelry favorites.
• Share your progress on social media with hashtag #cgoasummercal and #cgoacal 

Kristine

Ambassador Crochet