CGOA Winter '16 Holiday Crochet Along - Introduction

Hey!  With two successful CALs under our belts, let's round out the year with another fun one!  Excitingly, this is a Holiday CAL and will be finished before Thanksgiving, so that you have plenty of time to finish and send your pieces before the December holidays. 

Did you know that the 2016 Across the Board Pattern Book is out?  It is out and it is lovely!  Containing six wonderful shawl and wrap patterns written by the CGOA Board of Directors, the e-book is absolutely free to CGOA members.  These patterns are so pretty, and I can see crocheting each one for someone different.  The only difficult decision is where to start!  

Well, you can start here with the Crochet Along!  Over the next six weeks (October 1 - November 12), we will be crocheting both the "All the Stars Above" shawl by Karen McKenna and the "Lace Ripple Fans Shawlette" by Susan White Sullivan.

How to Join the CAL

You can crochet on your own, but why not join us?  Check out the Ravelry thread or our Facebook group to chat, ask questions, and share your progress. We are psyched to see what you do!

Share your progress on social media with hashtag #cgoaholidaycal.  Link back to this post so other crocheters can join in. We're looking forward to crocheting with you.

Supply List

We are crocheting two pieces.  For the "All the Stars Above" shawl by Karen McKenna, you will need 

• a yarn needle
• an L/11 (8mm) hook
• about 936 yards of DK weight yarn comparable to Skacel Simplicity Tonal

For the "Lace Ripple Fans Shawlette" by Susan White Sullivan, you will need 

• a yarn needle
• a K/10.5 (6.5mm) hook 
• about 262 yards of DK weight yarn comparable to LB Collection Angora

Winter 2016 Holiday CAL Schedule

Sept. 26 – Intro post: CAL schedule, materials list, & prize list!
Oct. 1 – "All the Stars Above" shawl by Karen McKenna (Rows 1-32)
Oct. 8 – Part 2 "All the Stars Above" shawl by Karen McKenna (Rows 33-80)
Oct. 22 – Finishing "All the Stars Above" shawl by Karen McKenna (Edging & Fringe)
Oct. 29– Beginning "Lace Ripple Fans Shawlette" by Susan White Sullivan (Rows 1-7)
Nov. 5 – Finishing "Lace Ripple Fans Shawlette" by Susan White Sullivan (Rows 8-13, blocking, and ribbon)
Nov. 12 – Giveaway entry deadline
Nov. 19 – Wrap up post / prize winner announcements.

You Could Win!

We are very fortunate that we have four excellent sponsors who are tempting us with five fantastic prize packages!  At the end of the CAL, you can enter to win!

Next Steps: Download your copy of the CGOA 2016 Across the Board Pattern Book at crochet.org, join the CGOA facebook group, gather your materials and get ready to go!  If you want to swatch, you can begin by swatching.

Thanks so much to the rest of the CGOA Now! blogger team for their support, especially Stitches'N'Scraps for finding giveaway sponsors.

And, of course, thanks so much to our giveaway sponsors:

Crochet Guild of America

Eucalan

Fairmount Fibers

Kraemer Yarns (2)

Unicorn Clean

I don't know about you, but I am super-excited to get this CAL going.  Questions? Leave a comment here on the blog, in the Ravelry thread, or on the CGOA facebook page!  Do you want to connect on social media?  I can be found on facebook, Instagram, and SnapChat (It's fun!).  Join my newsletter about crafts, crochet, and education.