>Each of the competition entrants was asked for permission to give contact information. Many agreed. Those names are now linked to their own websites or blogs. If patterns are currently available, you can check with the individual designers.
The CGOA Design Competition is totally about creativity, not about pattern writing. However, a number of the winning designs will certainly be picked up by editors and will appear as patterns in the future.
>
Grand Prize $1000 (Coats & Clark)
(Category: Small Wonders); “Kyoto Coat”, Shelby Allaho
Child’s Japanese Kimono inspired coat in orange, brown and pink wool with a crazy quilt style sash and delicate ruffled skirt.
Edie Eckman: ” I was so impressed with the way Shelby mixed crochet with other fiber arts in this darling coat. Every technique she used–crochet, sewing, embroidery, quilting–was executed flawlessly, and each disparate part came together to create a perfect design. The colors were unusual but modern. Well done!”
Jean Leinhauser: “A unique combination of fabric and crochet”
Bobbie Matela: “I have never seen fabric accents combined with crochet in such an appealing way. Her use of color, texture and design lines make this a stand-out grand winner!”
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| Kyoto Coat |
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| Bridal Fantasy Back |
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| Bridal Fantasy |
CATEGORY: Special Occasion
First Prize $300 (Coats & Clark)
“Bridal Fantasy”; Patricia Williams
Dress took four and a half months to complete. 100 percent Japanese silk was used for the design which was worked using various stitches into the modern take of Irish Crochet. Buttons are all hand made, done with glass beads.
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| City Nights |
Second Prize $200 (Caron) and Peoples Choice $200 (Caron)
“City Nights”; Willena Nanton
The dress is a combination of Caron Country merino wool blend with Red Heart acrylic and the neckline is made with Nashua Grand Opera (wool, viscose, metallic, polyester) yarns. The dress uses tapestry crochet to show the city skyline at the bottom and the top is made with various designs using single and tapestry crochet.
Third Prize $100 (Leisure Arts)
“Weightless Tunisian Stole”; Vashti Braha
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| Weightless Tunisian Stole |
When I think of this stole, I remember the first time I wore it. It was a special night, breezy and cool, and I felt beautiful. The Tunisian stitch pattern is my own combination of eyelet, slip, and twisted Tunisian stitches. I have not found this kind of eyelet lace used anywhere else so I’ve named it “Wicker Stitch”. I like that the return rows settle into enough of a diagonal grain that the fabric acquires more stretch than the usual Tunisian stitch pattern. Yarn is a 75% kid mohair and 25% silk lightweight yarn called Ovation by S.R. Kertzer.
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| Cotrimot Sweater |
CATEGORY: Daywear
First Prize $300 (Caron)
“Co-Tri-Mo Sweater”; Carole Schumann
Colorful triangular motifs were used to build this design. Part of the fun is selecting several colorways and arranging the colors as you go. A clever crochet trim worked down the front of the sweater simulates a cardigan style, with beads added as faux buttons to complete the look.
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| Fantasy in Purple & Lime |
Second Prize $200 (Interweave)
“Fantasy in Purple and Lime”; Margaret Hubert
Short sleeve fun cardigan in a specialty rayon yarn in vibrant colors. Some free form embellishments spice it up. While not really special occasion, it can go from day into evening. The yarn inspired this design.
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| Corktown Cropped Cardigan |
Third Prize $100 (Leisure Arts)
“Corktown Cropped Cardigan”; Sandra Van Burkleo
This mixed media cardigan was my response to a terrible woman who announced (in a knit design class) that crochet was only good for TRIM. So this cardigan has KNITTED trim. With pockets.
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| Flower Boxes Play Mat |
CATEGORY: Small Wonders (Baby, Kid Stuff)
First Prize $300 (DRG)
“Flower Boxes Play Mat; Deb Burger
The bright primary colors and thick felted texture make this an ideal “floor play” mat or playpen mat. The blanket is crocheted from a filet chart, then flowers embroidered with wool yarn and then it is all felted together. Pre-shrunk by the felting, the blanket is machine wash-and-dryable… easy on Mon, fun and safe for baby.
Second Prize $200 (Leisure Arts)
“Reversible Antique Brooch Baby Blanket”; Tanis Galik
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| Antique Brooch Baby Blanket |
This baby blanket is created in Coats&Clark Red Heart Soft yarn in Seafoam and Off-White using Interlocking Crochet Antique Brooch stitches. One side has seafoam background with off-white antique brooches; the other side has an off-white background with seafoam antique brooches.
Third Prize $100 (Boye)
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| Baby Bubble Throw |
“Baby Bubble Throw”; Shari White
The throw was done in Bernat Baby Sport: Baby White, Baby Denim Marl and Baby Blue. The bubbles were created by using a sc cluster and cables used to accentuate the throw.
CATEGORY: Accessories
First Prize $300 (Caron)
“Jewels of the Sea”; Shelby Allaho
A freeform crochet necklace inspired by shells found on the beach in Kuwait. Scrumbles and felt cut-outs are embellished with embroidery and arranged to showcase the seashells.
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| Jewels of the Sea |
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| Tree Hat |
Second Prize $200 (Interweave)
“Tree Hat”; Leslie Nelle-Urinyi
The Tree Hat is a one of a kind piece created for the 2010 International Freeform Crochet Guild’s online show and book, “Somewhere in My World”. Yarns used: Patons Classic Wool and Berrocco’s Softtwist and some minor amounts of metallic/mohair yarn. Hat is primarily crochet except for the “tree limbs” which were made using pipe cleaners inserted in knitted I cords. Top of hat started with a crochet piece with “tree trunks” that was then felted. Landscape crochet using various colors and stitches were added to form the body of the hat with a reverse sc edging. “Tree Limbs” were then inserted in felted “tree trunks”; various size leaves were then sewn to the “tree limbs”. Some crochet corkscrews and a couple of vintage lucite teardrop beads were added. Stitches used, sc, hdc, dc, bobble and some surface crochet. Various size hooks used.
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| Peony Blossom Shawlette |
Third Prize $100 (Coats & Clark)
“Peony Blossom Shawlette”; Deb Burger
Light and airy Mohair/silk blend, and shoulder warming shape make this a perfect accessory for spring evenings. Peony blossoms decorate the edge, adding elegance.
CATEGORY: Décor
First Prize $300 (Coats & Clark)
“Hinterland”; Shannon Mullett-Bowlsby
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| Hinterland |
This piece was created using a modern sensibility along with a combination of traditional filet crochet techniques and the archetypal look of the grand creations from the past. The pattern is very organic in its construction as each stitch is determined by the stitch it is building upon in the row below using the “if, then” logic process. These techniques from the past and modern interpretations of the traditional art of crochet merge to create this goregously patterned heirloom afghan. This afghan is worked from the center out, and the logic process used in the patterning ensures the smooth lay of the piece.
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| Locomotive Afghan |
Second Prize $200 (Boye)
“Locomotive Afghan”; Susan Lowman
Ten colors of Red Heart Supersaver were used for this afghan. It was made in intarsia method of color changes and is worked entirely in sc stitches. Pattern published in Crochet World, December 2009 issue.
Third Prize $100 (Leisure Arts) and Technical Merit $150 (KJ Hay)
“Reversible Native American Afghan”; Tanis Galik
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| Reversible Native American Afghan |
This afghan is created in black and red acrylic yarn using numerous Interlocking Crochet stitches. One side has a predominately black background with four designs in red; the other side has a predominately red background with four different designs in black. Tanis’ book Interlocking Crochet comes out in November.
CATEGORY: Thread
First Prize $300 (Coats & Clark)
“Evening Bag”; Kathie Earle
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| Evening Bag |
Evening bag worked in No/ 40 DMC crochet thread with steel hook. Approx 600 plastic rings incorporated into the design and each ring covered with single crochet as the work progressed. Grape and Vine leaf motifs in traditional Irish crochet technique.
Second Prize $200 (Coats & Clark)
“Victorian Tea Gown”; Cynthia Mallett
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| Victorian Tea Gown |
The Victorian Tea Gown consists of a beaded bodice with leg-of-mutton sleeves and a laced back. The gathered skirt features a scalloped lace design on the front panel and hem. Both pieces are heavily beaded and made with a light green cotton thread.
Third Prize $100 (Boye) and Technical Merit $150 (KJ Hay)
“Rose Infinity”; Kathryn A. White
Doily done in size 20 thread in cream, pink and green. Design has a spiral effect and measures about 18 inches across.
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| Rose Infinity |
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| The Flowers are Alive |
Honorable Mentions
(Category Thread); “The Flowers are Alive; Daisy and Blackeyed Susan”; Elaine Brown
This is my idea of what flowers would look like if they were alive and looked like people. Daisy appeared in my mind fully formed. I knew I had to bring her to life. So this is my vision of what I saw in my mind. I also had to make her a friend so Black Eyed Susan was born. Susan is my favorite summer flower.
(Category: Thread) “Waterlilly”; Kathie Earle
Contemporary table centre worked in traditional Irish technique, using Coats Patons no/ 100 thread and no/ 10 for padding.
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| Waterlilly |
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| Pop Top Bottle Top Purse |
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| Free Spirit Tote |
(Category: Accessories) “Pop Top Bottle Top Purse”; Denise Royal
Purse is made from pop tops, bottle tops, corn yarn and recycled fabric.
(Category Accessories) “Free Spirit Tote”; Lindsey Stephens
The Free Spirit Tote will quickly become one of your favorite projects. The majority of the bag is done in single crochet with variations such as slip stitch embroidery, back loop only stitches, and frequent color changes to make it anything but boring. The Free Spirit Tote is nice and roomy, with button loops that go around the sides of the top to cinch in the opening and keep contents secure.
>We don’t visit the cemetery where my dad is at rest. There is no need. In a prominent corner of her dining room, my mother keeps a shrine housed in a lacquered display case shipped home with a great deal of fuss and at outrageous cost during a visit to her family in Japan eleven years ago. Every morning my mother prays, makes an offering of fruit and a cup of coffee fixed just the way my dad used to like it. There is incense and a little gong which she gongs three times. It’s all ooga-booga to me, but if this routine, this small, beautiful and perfect moment of reflection, reverence and remembrance is what my mother needs to carry on, then it’s OK.
My dad never got to see the blossoming of my crochet career. Crochet to him was that stuff my mom and I did with the strings and sticks. As long as we didn’t make too much noise while the ballgames were on TV, he hardly noticed. Dad learned to love baseball as a teenager while working off his debt to the people who “adopted” him. They paid his way to America from China, and in return they expected from him indentured servitude in their Chicago laundry. Throughout those hard years the radio was his only company. He never said, but I imagine that the games on the radio that helped him through the long hours of drudgery were played by the Cubs… or maybe the White Sox.
By the time I knew him, he had become a Boston Red Sox fan, that is until 1962. That was the year of the major league expansion that created the New York Mets. (Oh, Dad still followed the BoSox, particularly the career of Carl Yaztremski. Does anyone else remember Yaz bread?) By the time the fledgling team moved to Shea Stadium in 1964, my dad had become a Mets fan. My god the Mets were lousy at first. But I guess my dad loved rooting for the underdog, because he stuck with them. I so vividly remember the “Cinderella” year, 1969, when the Mets won the World Series. There was a lot of “I told you so” in our household that season.
So when Stacy Charles of Tahki Stacy Charles yarn company, on behalf of The National NeedleArts Association’s Stitch N Pitch event, asked me to share with my blog readers the details of one very special and monumental Mets game, I agreed.
On June 5th, at Mets Citi Field, crocheters will attempt to set the Guinness Book of World Records for Most People Crocheting Simultaneously. Please check out the site to find out more about Stitch N Pitch, or download the flyer for details about this event.
I wonder what my dad would think. It’s one thing to be in your living room sharing the sofa with two crocheters while the Mets game is on TV. Quite another thing to be sitting in a section at a stadium among potentially hundreds and hundreds of crocheters. I would like to think my dad would approve, even be impressed if the record got set. But not so impressed that he wouldn’t be disappointed if the Mets lost the game. Really.
BTW: Final Score, NY Mets 6, Florida Marlins 1; Crocheters 419, Guinness World Record for Most People Crocheting Similtaneously set.
>Who’da thunk it? Mary Beth Temple, during last night’s Getting Loopy podcast (go here to download from archives) of the Crochet Liberation Front 2009 Flamie Awards ceremony, mentioned that I had to be dragged kicking and screaming into blogging. While accepting the award for Best Crochet Blog, I did not disagree.
Funny how you tend to take stuff for granted until someone shines a spotlight on it. For nearly two years I have been wandering over here periodically to play and post about whatever was bothering/tantalizing/obsessing me on that particular day. I was never a diary or journal keeper. The mere idea of writing a permanent record of my feelings and opinions was scary new.
The most horrifying aspect of blogging lies in its very nature. I come from a background of traditional radio broadcasting where your work, including every little stupid flub, although glaringly public, was a passing parade. The moment a syllable passed my lips it was sent out on the airwaves, then done and gone in an instant (unless someone like the station’s program director was recording my airshift, YIKES!). In the disc jockey parlance of the day, flaming meant talking on and on and on, seemingly without internal editing. But for all my flaming, I never had to hear and be tortured by my work ever again, and neither did anyone else.
Blogging and podcasting are forever. Anything set free on the internet lives on. Anything you write or say can only be intensified; vibrations that transcend time and space and could conceivably come back to bite you in the butt years later. This truly frightens me.
But from the inaugural post on 17 May 2008, and over the course of dozens of deeply personal essays, silly tirades, crochet design backstories, self-promotional blurbs and several attempts at pattern support, I learned to relax and just do it. Hey, this blogging stuff is fun!
Now, imagine my mortification at lucking into this Flamie award, equivalent to having a 1.21 gigawatt beam focused here.
I will get over it. Yes, I will. 🙂 Thank you, CLF and Fearless Leader (Laurie Wheeler) and to all for your vote of confidence.
>Nobody has to remind me. I know that I talk fast. My pace must sound mad and maddening to listeners not indigenous to the Philadelphia-New Jersey-New York-metro-monstro-city. I can’t help it. I’m just drawn that way.
I wish talking fast could hurry up certain conversations. Then I could get back to crocheting sooner. And I wish I could crochet as fast as I talk.
Talking fast (the first kind) is not the same as fast-talking (the second kind: to persuade with facile argument, usually with the intention to deceive or to overwhelm rational objections).
Talking fast is not always a sign of mental agility or acuity. People don’t necessarily talk fast because they are thinking fast or thinking well.
Talking fast is not due to having lots to say. I can go full-throttle and say nothing at all.
Talking fast is not about making the most of the time allotted. It’s not like I believe there’s a set number of monthly program minutes for talking, and lord help you if you go overtime. Most of us have unlimited minutes.
The exception is broadcasting and broadcast advertising in particular, where talk is not cheap and time literally equals money. For a couple of years my job was to write, produce, voice-over and schedule hundreds of 30 and 60 second wonders for various radio station commercial accounts. I am not proud of the fact that I specialized in fast-talking (the second kind), loud, obnoxious spots for certain advertisers. Some clients, under the impression that those kinds of messages got the most attention, could not be dissuaded. Automobile dealerships and bankrupt furniture outlets were the worst offenders. How many fracking times can you squeeze “Sale… hurry… last chance… offer ends soon… don’t miss this opportunity to save!” into 30 seconds? Those instances where I couldn’t talk fast enough, I had to go back and splice out every breath and pause. Or sometimes I’d multi-track the voice-over and overlap my own words in order to get it down to time. If I didn’t talk fast before, I sure learned the skill by the time I retired from broadcasting.
The reason I’m blogging about this, now that I’m getting around to mentioning that I will be the next guest on Mary Beth Temple‘s blogtalkradio show Getting Loopy, Monday, 5th April, 9pm EDT, is to warn anyone who tunes in that both she and I talk fast. You may wish to engage the services of an interpreter. Or skip the live show altogether and download the archived episode from iTunes later and maybe replay the unintelligible bits over and over until it makes sense. I wonder. In the same way you can electronically enlarge digital images, is it possible to e-x-p-a-n-d digital audio, somehow slow down my conversation with MBT to fill, say two hours instead of the 45 minutes we’ll have that night?
We are planning to discuss my new book, Crochet Lace Innovations, out this month. MBT hinted at giving a copy away as that night’s contest prize. Will she be able to let go of one? And will we range so far off topic that I’ll have to download the archive myself to figure out what the hell I said?
Doris Chan Crochet 
