In the aftermath of the titanic Comic-Con, San Diego is bracing for a gathering of a completely different nature. The Crochet Guild of America 2015 Conference arrives at the Town and Country Resort in San Diego next week, running July 22 through 25, with nary a zombie, Wookie or superhero in sight, but plenty of geeks to be sure, brandishing not lightsabers but crochet hooks (although you might spot a sonic screwdriver or two if you look hard enough). We’re there for the yarn, the classes, the special events and the camaraderie; on all counts I am planning to participate.
For the first time ever, Vashti Braha (the boss) and I will be exhibiting at the Knit & Crochet Show, the open-to-the-public market that runs concurrently with CGOA-Con. Come to booth number 109 and experience DesigningVashti Lotus yarn (previously available only on-line), plus limited edition Treat yarn, for purchase in skeins or packaged in ready-to-go kits with special edition kit patterns. Right next door in booth number 111, Tulip Company (Etimo cushion grip hooks!) returns to the market, with the latest in exceptional crocheting and knitting tools and accessories.
Throughout the show, Vashti and I and our DesigningVashti booth slaves… uh, volunteers… Linda Dean and Kristin Lynn, and the Tulip Company team of Kazue and Kang will be in the house to chat, answer your questions, give demonstrations of crochet techniques and, yes, hand over the yarn, tools and kits. I’m especially pleased to invite women of all sizes and body types to my fitting lab, an opportunity to see, handle and try on garment samples of my independent designs, patterns available exclusively at DesigningVashti.com. Brand new this season is DJC: Lotus Lattice, a seamless crochet top in 13 sizes, all of which will be on display.
Also at the Knit & Crochet Show (market admission required), you can be in the audience for our 20-minute demonstrations on the market stage. I’ll be demystifying Top-down Seamless Construction featuring the Lotus Lattice on Friday, 24 July at 11:00 am; Vashti will delve into her Fresh Twist on the Friendship Bracelet, Saturday, 25 July at 12:30.
For registered CGOA Conference attendees, if your language is geek-speak, then join Vashti … with me sort of hovering and backing her up… for the session Get Your Geek On, Wednesday 9:00 to noon (ticket required). Keep your eyes on the prize as the 2015 Design Competition winners are announced during the Excellence in Crochet event, Friday evening. And once again I will be producing the CGOA Fashion Show (emceed by Ellen Gormley, editor of Crochet! Magazine and my chocolate cake buddy) following our wrap-up dinner on Saturday night (ticket required), where I hope to drag all my friends onto the runway to strut the latest crochet fashions.
So … CGOA attendees and San Diego area visitors alike … I hope to see you there to share the excitement and crochet joy. In case you haven’t guessed, I’ll be the one with the sonic screwdriver!
Doris Chan Crochet 