"Join us to explore the concept of creating a place to honor 

our knit and crochet heritage." 

A message from the TNNA Yarn Group:

Hi All!

Remember when the Yarn Group decided to support Karen Kendrick-Hands and her work exploring the idea of a Knitting Heritage Museum? Well, the symposium is right around the corner! The event will be held in Madison, WI on November 8-10. Registration for the entire symposium has been capped at $175 for all three days' events with a terrific lineup of speakers, topics and activities. It is an exciting time to envision a totally unique museum, getting off to the right start. Come help us to develop a twenty-first century institution to honor an ancient fiber art.

Here's a link where you can register to part of this wonderful project.

Direct PDF to brochure here.

If you have further questions, contact Karen at kdkhands@me.com. She has been working relentlessly on this and is full of great information!

Best,
Beth Casey,Yarn Group Chair

I Love Yarn Day

If there's one thing crocheters love, it's Yarn! Help celebrate the yarn we love and share your passion with the yarn arts on the official "I Love Yarn Day" brought to you by the Craft Yarn Council. I Love Yarn Day is scheduled for October 12. You can find more information on the website here where you'll also find free patterns for fun projects so you can join in the celebration and show your appreciation for the Yarn we all know and love!

Chain Link Reno: Thursday Night Kickoff Meeting

Get your conference experience off to an exciting start by attending the kickoff meeting. The evening is jam-packed with activities:

1. Watch a short slide show of the 2012 Design Competition winners. If you missed the Manchester conference, you will definitely want to see up close pictures of the fabulous winning designs!

2. Chapter Challenge: Learn about the winners of this year's chapter challenge and be inspired to encourage your chapter to participate in next year's challenge.

3. Member Show and Tell: If the idea of walking down the catwalk during the fashion show on banquet night seems just a little scary, take advantage of this informal opportunity to share your favorite crochet project from this past year with other conference attendees. Bring your favorite finished project and be prepared to share your name, chapter affiliation (if any), name of the pattern and where others can find it, and the name of the yarn you used.

 

4. Gift Exchange (optional): Bring a crocheted item (maximum material cost $25) for a gift exchange. Go home with a special conference memory.

5. Q&A with President Amy Shelton: First, Amy wants to ask conference veterans to share their favorite part of attending a conference. Next, she wants to ask conference newbies what they're most looking forward to at their first conference. Finally, she'll open the floor for members to ask her any questions they have.

If that doesn't get you all excited about the conference, we have one last activity to get that energy level pumped up: We'll leave the Kickoff Meeting and head right over to the Market Preview, where you can get a sneak peek at everything on the show floor. Be sure to bring your cash, checks, or debit/credit cards with you, as you will be able to make purchases that night. If we have enough time before the end of the Kickoff Meeting, Amy will even share some tips on how to make the best use of the Market Preview.

Chain Link Reno: Vendor Preview

Are you going to have a booth on the market floor at Chain Link in Reno? If so, please post a comment and let us know what crocheters will be able to find in your booth.

If you know a vendor who will be exhibiting, please invite them to come post a comment.

We hope you’ll come to Chain Link to take classes and participate in CGOA activities, but we also hope you’ll support our vendors on the show floor.

Amy Shelton
CGOA President

Chain Link Reno: Class Suggestions

Are you still deciding which classes to take at Reno? Pre-registration is open through August 27, so you have a little time left to make your final decisions and take advantage of the pre-registration discount on class prices.

Here are some selected classes you might want to consider:  

Susan Lowman
T111C, Beginning Filet Crochet
T211C, Intermediate Filet Crochet
F105C, Playful Polish Star
S209C, Intermeshing 101
N106C, Reading and Understanding Crochet Patterns

Marty Miller
S205C, Linked Stitches and Extended Stitches
T110C, Foundation Stitches
S106C, Post Stitches

Suzann Thompson
F304C, Polymer Clay Button Boutique 2
S106C, Pretty Picot-Rama

Margaret Fisher
F104C, Crochet a Moebius

Joan Davis
F208C, Omega Lace Crochet: The Basics

Karen Whooley
F210C, Learn to Delta Lace Crochet
N111C, The Lover's Knot

Darla Fanton
N102C, Double Helix Bead Crochet Necklace and Bracelet

If you're interested in working with thread, I highly recommend taking one of the above classes that feature thread. While thread crochet uses all the same stitches as when working with yarn, there are some hints and tips that make it much easier to work on a smaller scale. It's really great to have a teacher right there to help as you learn new tensioning skills.

Have you ever wanted custom buttons to perfectly match the garment you're making? I can't recommend Suzann Thompson's Polymer Clay class highly enough. I was lucky enough to take it in Greensboro last year, and I learned so much. Once you learn Suzann's tricks, it's very easy to quickly make your own custom buttons. Big Tip: Don't pack huge amounts of polymer clay in your carry-on baggage like I did (with 15 packs of clay). The plasticizers in it make it read as an EXPLOSIVE: not a good thing to take security, especially in the metal box I had mine in. Luckily, the TSA agents didn't confiscate it and let me take it on through. At least most of it was in its original packaging, thank goodness!) I did have some explaining to do, though!

The Polish Star stitch is beautiful, but a little tricky when you're first learning how to make it. I took this class from Pauline Turner, and I know Susan will do just as wonderful a job walking you through the intricacies of this stitch.

Marty's classes are excellent technique classes that will let you add new dimensions to your work, especially if you like experimenting and coming up with your own designs.

Any of the classes listed above would be an excellent addition to your class list.

Chain Link Reno: Dance Party Rescheduled!

Are you all finalizing your plans to come to Chain Link in Reno next month? I know I'm getting very excited. It is going to be one fabulous conference! I hope you're able to come join us. Just wanted to give you a heads-up that the Dance Party has been rescheduled to Friday evening from 9 PM to midnight. Having the Dance Party on Thursday after classes, a CGOA Kickoff meeting, and the Market Preview, means that many people wouldn't get a chance to eat dinner that night. And while the party snacks are nice, they're not a substitute for a full meal. So to help make sure that our DJ (the incomparable Doris Chan!)and dance party sponsors don't faint dead away from lack of food and have to be tucked into a corner so people don't trample on them, we decided to move the Dance Party to Friday night. You'll have time for a quick dinner between 5:00 and 6:15, which is the start of the CGOA Mini Member Meeting. That meeting should be over by 6:45 or 7:00, so you'll again have time to squeeze in a quick meal if you're going to the Chapter event at 8:00. The Chapter event is scheduled from 8-9 PM, but might run over if there's a lot of good sharing taking place. Don't worry---you'll still have plenty of time to get to the Dance Party. I can guarantee the party will still be going strong when it's time to shut it down at midnight! So mark your calendars and plan on attending the Dance Party Friday night!

Announcing: 2012 Design Competition Winners

Doris Chan, Andee Graves, and Shari White (the Design Competition Committee) are pleased to announce: CGOA 2012 Design Competition Results   Category: Accessories, sponsored by WEBS, Americas Yarn Store   Third Prize $100 30 “Romantic Pineapple Shawl”, designed by Kathryn White Second Prize $200 44 “Vineyard at Dawn Shawl”, designed by Linda Dean First Prize $300 29 “Knots of Love Shawl”, designed by Kathryn White   Category: Afghans, sponsored by Red Heart   Third Prize $100 69 “Diagonal Modern Art”, Nancy Smith Second Prize $200 67 “Ahana”, designed by Brenda Bourg First Prize $300 34 “Princess and the Pea”, designed by Michele Wilcox   Category: Fashion, sponsored by Interweave Crochet   Third Prize $100 51 “Cool Breeze Tee”, designed by Jill Hanratty Second Prize $200 49 “Glendalough Shrug”, designed by Jennifer Ryan First Prize $300 65 “Mystique”, designed by Tammy Hildebrand   Category: Small Wonders Jewelry, sponsored by Boye and the Crochet Dude brand   Third Prize $100 ​14 “Hairpin Lace Bracelet”; designed by Jean DeMouy Second Prize $200 10 “Marseille Necklace”, designed by Shelby Allaho First Prize $300 ​47 “NC Necklace”, designed by Karen C. K. Ballard   Category: Thread Crochet, sponsored by AllFreeCrochet. Com and FaveCrafts.com   Third Prize $100 ​27 “Southern Rose Doily”, designed by Kathryn White Second Prize $200 ​18 “Pineapple Rose Delight”, designed by Carol Booth First Prize $300 ​24 “Charm Blouse”, Natalia Kononova Category: Fanciful Fashion, sponsored by Tahki Stacy Charles Yarns   Third Prize $100 ​62 “The Whirlwind”, designed by Diana Toni Second Prize $200 ​17 “Freya Dress”, designed by Linda Skuja First Prize $300 ​25 “Summer Dreams Bolero”, designed by Dot Drake   Category: Artistic Expression, sponsored by Tulip Company   Third Prize $100 ​33 “Sensory Herbary”, designed by Martha Furman Kojro Second Prize $200 ​38 “Cat Tree”, designed by Sachiko Adams First Prize $300 ​28 “Ageless Elegance Gatetop Purse”, designed by Kathryn White   $200 Special Award for Technical Merit, sponsored by Designing Vashti​ 25 “Summer Dreams Bolero”, designed by Dot Drake   $100 Founders Award, sponsored by Gwen Blakley Kinsler 34 “Princess and the Pea”, designed by Michele Wilcox   $1000 Grand Prize, sponsored by Vogue Knitting Crochet ​52 “Reversible Rowan Tree Vest”, designed by Laurinda Reddig​      

March is National Crochet Month!

What do you know? It's March again already, and that means it's National Crochet Month! Your CGOA Board of Directors invites you to help us celebrate! Let's have a month-long conversation and Crochet-Along right here on the blog.

Do you plan on doing anything special in March to help promote awareness of just how awesome crochet is? Please post a comment and let us know your plans. Feel free to post links to your activities!

If you need help deciding how you’d like to help promote crochet during March, here are some ideas:

Promote crochet.
Teach someone to crochet.
Offer to create a crochet display at your local library.
Write a book review of any crochet book. (Post it here on the blog!)
Expand your own crochet skills.
Learn a new crochet stitch or technique.
Experiment with a new yarn.
Visit your local library to see what crochet books they have.
Crochet for charity.
Select a special charity to crochet for during March.
Explore new charities you might like to crochet for. A good resource for finding charities is Lion Brand's Charity Connection.
Make new crochet friends.
Attend a local crochet meeting.
Join or start a local CGOA chapter.
Strike up a conversation with someone you see shopping for yarn. You can break the ice by asking if they know March is National Crochet Month!

Let's have a month-long party in celebration of National Crochet Month!

Fabric of Life: Melissa's Crocheted Table Cloth Gift

We received this touching story via email directly from the author, and thought you might be interested in reading it.

Fabric of Life: Melissa's Crocheted Table Cloth Gift
By Keith John Paul Horcasitas
© 2012 Keith Horcasitas. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.



A short story about Melissa's crocheted table cloth gift for my wife, and how it continues to transform me - initially, in how to be a better listener and social worker and continually, in finding ways, like she did, to craft the fabric of life for God, myself and others.

It was the first Sunday of the month, so we got ready to coordinate the donuts' ministry after the 9:15 AM Latin Mass at St. Agnes in Baton Rouge like we usually did. After picking up the donuts and getting to church before Mass, I set up the table outside to be ready for when the little (and big) kids would come running later for some sweet rewards for good behavior in church.

The table cloth this time was different from the normal white covers we usually used - it was a beautiful crimson red crocheted circular shaped cover that fit neatly over the folding table; Maria must have put this in the supplies bag, since it was in January, technically still in the Christmas season (not in any way symbolizing my support for Saban's Alabama - for what was then the upcoming BCS game in New Orleans that LSU lost!). A rush of memories suddenly came over me as I recalled this table cloth, which I had commissioned Melissa to make many years ago for my sweetheart, Maria, before we were married. And with March being "National Social Work Month," I couldn't help but see how instrumental Melissa was with my development in the field.

When I first met Melissa in the fall of 1981, I was unaccustomed to interacting with folks at nursing homes. So I was a little tentative in knowing what to say as a greeting or how to fully engage with her. Even though this was part of the mental health outreach work that I was involved in to isolated elders in the San Joaquin area of California per the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC), I had not previously done a lot of visitations, either personally or professionally, with elders.

Her semi-private room door was already ajar, so I gently knocked on it to alert her that I was coming in and said, "Is this a good time for a visit, Ms. Melissa," as I had been foretold by the charge nurse that she was someone identified who may possibly benefit from professional contact for depression and isolation. It sounded like Melissa had no local family contacts and was very limited in her mobility due to severe degenerative joint disease.

As our eyes met when I went closer to her bed, she appeared very diminutive and emaciated yet manged to convey a cheerful smile as she softly spoke, "I'm here working on another treasure - come and see it." I stood right next to her and noticed how contorted her body was with pillows all around her hospital bed for cushioning and relief. My eyes were then immediately drawn to her hands that evidenced the twisted trauma of rheumatoid arthritis.

Somehow, securely in place between her thumb and index finger was a crocheting needle affixed in some cloth material with a pattern for some design that she was working on. She proceeded to ask me the normal pleasantry question one does when meeting a new person for the first time: "Where are you from?" as she continued to work her crochet needle elegantly in a continuous fashion with her eyes fixed on some cloth that appeared to be a quilt being made.

After I told her my name, my work role and that I was from New Orleans, there was a period of that silence that most of us know about - when you are uncomfortable about what to say next. Here I was, a social work apprentice remembering the dictum to "start where the client is," so I shut up and tried to use some listening skills that I supposedly had acquired in undergraduate studies. Over the next hour and following many of subsequent visits with Melissa, I learned much from and with her about what coping strategies can help elders and anyone in dealing with depression and isolation - intertwined with other "fabrics of life" lessons - not to mention learning how to crochet! Later, I certainly made brownie points with Maria from Melissa's beautiful crocheted birthday gift!

I followed my JVC year by concentrating on gerontology within the Graduate School of Social Work at San Diego State University. It was neat how after my first year of graduate school, Maria and I were married and able to take a trip to the San Joaquin Valley to visit with Melissa, who had declined but was still crocheting. The gerontology section of the School of Social Work was the smallest of the four divisions, with only 10 students. The students in the other social work divisions seemed reluctant, even fearful of working with the elderly. They were preparing for the fields of mental health, children and families and hospital social work. They wondered aloud why I would consider working with "that group." I certainly shared with them some memories of lessons learned from Melissa and Lucille, a frail elder whom I was a care giver for in my first year of graduate school.

My fellow grad students thought of working with the elderly as depressing; they were put off by the urine smells in nursing homes and by the death and dying. One student even shared a fear of "touching someone with wrinkles." These feelings were shared honestly, and my fellow students were better suited to work with struggling families and children or in hospital settings. I couldn't help but recall how touched I was by Melissa's rheumatoid hands and spirit!

Aside from my time studying the biological, economic and psychological aspects of aging, my school experience taught me that too often old age is hidden not just from our eyes but even more from our feelings. We not only tend to deny the reality of old men and women living in closed rooms and nursing homes, but also, as Henri Nouwen noted, the old man or woman who is slowly awakening in each of us. Melissa certainly gave me an invaluable understanding far beyond book knowledge of aging, coping with losses and death and dying.

Back at church, after Maria and I had finished giving out the mouth watering donuts with milk and orange juice intertwined with some great conversations, we folded the exquisite crocheted table cloth from Melissa and shared a prayer of thanksgiving for the living legacy of what Melissa had shared with us - the fabric of life!

Keith John Paul Horcasitas, LCSW, MHA
1133 Knollhaven Drive, BRLA 70810
khorcasitas AT yahoo DOT com
January 15, 2012

:CGOA 2011 Design Competition Winners

CGOA is pleased to announce the winners of our 2011 Design Competition. First, a big thank you to our wonderful judges:

Judges
Marcy Smith, editor of Interweave Crochet magazine
Kathleen Sams, ambassador for Coats&Clark
Drew Emborsky, the Crochet Dude.

All entries were evaluated equally in a blind judging across a range of qualities including: design appeal, use of stitches, color, selection of materials, workmanship, finishing, appearance and functionality as indicated.

We had more entries than ever this year, submitted by a number of very talented designers. Please check the CGOA blog (cgoanow.blogspot.com) within the next week or so for a link to a flickr pool so you can see photos of all the fabulous entries!

Winners

Due to time constraints while at Chain Link, we are unable to post photos of winning entries today. We hope to get this done Friday or Saturday morning at the latest. We apologize for the delay, but we thought it important to let everyone know who all the winners are as quickly as possible!


$1,000 Grand Prize Winner sponsored in Crochet Partners and Interweave Press: #29, So Many Motifs, So Little Time by Diane Halpern of Pittsburgh, PA

Here’s praise from the judges:

Marcy Smith said: “Deliciously vintage garment that’s ripped from the runway.”

From Drew Emborsky: “Amazing blend of freeform and on-trend fashion . . . Exquisite!!!”

And Kathleen Sams sums it up: “Beautiful use of freeform suitable for all. Runway fashion at its best.”

Fanciful Fashion (sponsored by Tulip Co, makers of exceptional tools including Etimo cushion grip crochet hooks and Carry T): fancy adult garments and accessories, including gowns, dresses and evening wear.

First Place, $300: #09, Modern Victorian Black Crochet Dress by Victoria Johnsen Carrington of Windsor Heights, IA

Second Place, $200: #38, Queen of Fall by Linda Skuja of Riga, Latvia

Third Place: $100: #94, Flower Princess by Willena Nanton of New Rochelle, NY

Fashion (sponsored by Tahki Stacy Charles, bringing you fine yarn lines Tahki, S Charles, Filatura Di Crosa and Loop-d-Loop): for women or men, including sweaters, tops, jackets and skirts.

First Place, $300: #60, Rasta Rose Jacket by Tammy Hildebrand, of Kernersville, NC

Second Place, $200: #70, Spa Tunic by Susan Lowman of Prescott Valley, AZ

Third Place: $100: #39, Stonecrop by Stephanie Hatfield of Gilbertsville, KY

Accessories (sponsored by WEBS, America’s Yarn Store): including shawls, socks, scarves, hats, bags, belts and jewelry.

First Place, $300: #43, Birds N Blossoms Shawl by Kathryn White of Apache Junction, AZ

Second Place, $200: #69, Lucy Shawl by Sandy Gold of Frederick, MD

Third Place: $100: #108, Poptastic Purse by Janice Lonnroth of LaGrange, IL

Small Wonders (sponsored by Boye and the Crochet Dude brand of crochet tools and accessories): anything small scale, including baby items, toys, amigurumi and small décor items.

First Place, $300: #81, Hope, the Christmas Angel, by Susan Pendleton of Kerrville, TX

Second Place, $200: #12, Baby Cardigan by Sherri Hondorp of Poughquag, NY

Third Place: $100: #102, Vegetable Garden Playmat by Laurinda Reddig of Camas, WA

Afghans (sponsored by Caron International and BuyCaron.com): any and all afghans, throws, blankets and bed or sofa covers.

First Place, $300: #103, Mystery Machine Afghan by Laurinda Reddig of Camas, WA

Second Place, $200: #50, Happy Hexagons Throw by Shari White of Rockaway, NJ

Third Place: $100: #52, Wild Irish Roses Throw by Shari White of Rockaway, NJ

Thread Crochet (sponsored by FaveCrafts/Prime Publishing, offering diverse crochet e-newsletters, e-books and patterns at FaveCrafts.com): anything made with crochet thread, including doilies, décor and accessories.

First Place, $300: #84, Christening Dress by Carol Booth of Teaticket, MA

Second Place, $200: #46, Irish Mystique Doily by Kathryn White of Apache Junction, AZ

Third Place: $100: #48, Chantilly Doily by Kathryn White of Apache Junction, AZ

Artistic Expressions (sponsored by Leisure Arts, bring you the art of everyday living): designs more artistic rather than functional in nature, including free-form and mixed media pieces, hangings, sculpture and wearable art.

First Place, $300: #113, Patricia’s Tree of Life by Patricia Williams of Ozone Park, NY

Second Place, $200: #66, Split Infinitive by Lori Carlson of Hillsborough, NC

Third Place: $100: #26, Lady of Marrakesh by Julia Bryant of Toronto, Canada

DesigningVashti $100 Special Technique Award for outstanding use of alternate crochet techniques and construction (including Tunisian, Broomstick and Hairpin): #108, Poptastic Purse by Janice Lonnroth of LaGrange, IL

Crochet Liberation Front $100 Peoples’ Choice Award (to be chosen on site by attendee voting; winner will be announced at end of conference)

Message from Doris re Design Competition

Hi, everyone! I just got a message from Doris, courtesy of Vashti Braha. Doris is without power, so no Internet. She wants everyone to know that, she's safe on high ground with no storm damage. All contest entries she's received so far are safe and sound!

I hope all our CGOA members in areas affected by the storm are also safe and sound.

Design Competition Deadline Extended

Due to recent geological and meteorological events, the entry deadline for the CGOA 2011 Design Competition has been extended to 6 September.  If you entry will be arriving after 31 August, please let me know at the e-mail address listed in the official competition information.  No worries.  Be safe.

Submitted by Doris Chan, Chairman CGOA 2011 Design Competition Committee

Reminder: CGOA Design Competition Deadline Approaching

It’s time! The window for shipping your CGOA 2011 Crochet Design Competition entries begins 15 August, 2011. Thanks to grants from our magnificent sponsors, the competition is the most rewarding ever, with designers vying for over $5,400 in cash prizes in seven judging categories:
1. Fanciful Fashion (sponsored by Tulip Co, makers of exceptional tools including Etimo cushion grip crochet hooks and Carry T)
2. Fashion (sponsored by Tahki Stacy Charles, bringing you fine yarn lines Tahki, S Charles, Filatura Di Crosa and Loop-d-Loop)
3. Accessories (sponsored by WEBS, America’s Yarn Store
4. Small Wonders (sponsored by Boye and the Crochet Dude brand of crochet tools and accessories)
5. Afghans (sponsored by Caron International and BuyCaron.com)
6. Thread Crochet (sponsored by AllFreeCrochet.com and FaveCrafts.com, offering diverse crochet e-newsletters, e-books and patterns)
7. Artistic Expressions (sponsored by Leisure Arts, bringing you the art of everyday living)

$1000 Grand Prize, sponsored by Crochet Partners and Interweave Press.
$100 Special Technique Award from DesigningVashti for outstanding use of alternate crochet techniques and construction
$100 Peoples’ Choice Award from the Crochet Liberation Front, winner to be chosen on site by attendee voting

Judging will take place on location at the CGOA Conference in Greensboro, North Carolina, 21 September and winners will be announced during the Awards Ceremony on 22 September. You do not have to be present to enter or to win but you will want to be there to marvel at the awesome display of entries and unveiling of the winning designs.

If you are preparing to ship your design, please fill out and submit the electronic entry form now and make sure that it exactly matches the crochet pieces you are sending. You will receive an e-mail confirmation letter, which is your form returned. Please make a hard copy of that returned form and include it in your package. See the official information pages at crochet.org for compete details. Deadline for entries is 31 August. Best of luck!

Submitted by
Doris Chan
Chairman, CGOA 2011 Design Competition Committee

TV Coverage for Minneapolis Chain Link

The Minneapolis Chain Link conference and Knit and Crochet Show received coverage on the local TV station, KARE 11.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Check it out! Click here to see the video and written article on the KARE-11 website. Or just view the video right here:

Would you like to help yarn bomb the New York Mets stadium on September 13? The New York City Crochet Guild will be working with Stitch and Pitch for the first yarn bombing of a major league baseball stadium. You're invited to submit a swatch in Mets colors (orange and blue). For more information, visit the Stitch and Pitch website: http://www.stitchandpitch.com for their contact information.