CGOA 2014 Design Competition Winner List

With each year’s Design Competition, we are reminded of the crochet love and the depth of talent that abounds and abides in the membership of the Guild. The brilliant designs in this year’s field of entries made me gasp, laugh, cry (in a good way) and quite a few made me enormously envious… like, why couldn’t I have designed that envious. But most of all, working with these entries makes me feel proud to be a crocheter.

I’d like to introduce this year’s judges, who had the impossible task of choosing tonight’s winners:

Jenny King, Susan Lowman, Karen Manthey

Thanks to our magnificent sponsors, we have a gang of cash prizes. Please let them know we appreciate their generous support:

Gwen Blakley Kinsler

Boye, and the Crochet Dude

Cari Clement

Creative Yarn Source

Designing Vashti

Interweave

Mainly Crochet

Red Heart

Tulip Company

WEBS, America’s Yarn Store

Category: Fashion, sponsored by Interweave Crochet

Honorable Mention: “Seashell Dress”; designed by Linda Jefferies

Seashell Dress, designed by Linda Jefferies

Honorable Mention: “The Claudia Sweater”; designed by Susan Walsh

Claudia Sweater, designed by Susan Walsh

Third Prize $100: “Purple Majestic Vest”; designed by Maxine Pike

Purple Majestic Vest, designed by Maxine Pike

Second Prize $200: “Fantasy Skirt”; designed by Kathryn White

Fantasy Skirt, designed by Kathryn White

First Prize $300: “Peach Stack”; designed by Annette Hynes

Peach Stack, designed by Annette Hynes

Category: Accessories, sponsored by WEBS, Americas Yarn Store

Honorable Mention: “Reversible Rabbits”; designed by Hazel Furst

Reversible Rabbits Scarf, designed by Hazel Furst

Honorable Mention: “Waterfall Collar Necklace”; designed by Jessie Rayot

Waterfall Collar, designed by Jessie Rayot

Honorable Mention: “Riviera Shawlette”; designed by Kathryn White

Riviera Shawlette, designed by Kathryn White

Third Prize $100: “Pearls”; designed by Jean DeMouy

Pearls, designed by Jean DeMouy

Second Prize $200: “Crimson Fiesta Shawl”; designed by Theresa Kehrer

Crimson Fiesta, designed by Theresa Kehrer

First Prize $300: “Fall Leaves Wrap”; designed by Jessie Rayot

Fall Leaves Wrap, designed by Jessie Rayot

Category: Afghans and Home Decor, sponsored by Red Heart

Honorable Mention: “Summer Breeze”; designed by Rena Watson

Summer Breeze, designed by Rena Watson

Third Prize $100: “A Soldier’s Christmas”; designed by Deborah Bagley

A Soldier’s Christmas, designed by Deborah Bagley

Second Prize $200: “Around the World and Back”; designed by Annette Hynes

Designed by Annette Hynes

First Prize $300: “Star Bright Cot Blanket”; designed by Joan Peate

Star Bright, designed by Joan Peate

Category: Thread Crochet, sponsored by Boye and the Crochet Dude

Third Prize $100: “Flutter”; designed by Rose Ramirez

Flutter, designed by Rose Ramirez

Second Prize $200: “Pretty Pathways Doily”; designed by Joyce Geisler

Pretty Pathways, designed by Joyce Geisler

First Prize $300: “Secret Garden”; designed by Kathryn White

Secret Garden, designed by Kathryn White

Category: Artistic Expression, sponsored by Tulip Company, makers of exceptional tools including Etimo cushion grip crochet hooks

Third Prize $100: “The Deadly Dragon”; designed by Rachel Schuster

The Deadly Dragon, designed by Rachel Schuster

Second Prize $200: “Steampunk Amigurumi Soiree”; designed by Donna Childs

Steampunk Amigurumi Soiree, designed by Donna Childs

First Prize $300: “Backyard Visitors”; designed by Sachiko Adams

Backyard Visitors, designed by Sachiko Adams

Special Award for Technical Merit, sponsored by Designing Vashti, the online crochet pattern boutique.

Technical Merit Award goes to Jennifer Ryan, designer of Celtic Coral Charm and Feileacan Shawl

Celtic Coral Charm, designed by Jennifer Ryan

Feileacan Shawl, designed by Jennifer Ryan

Anniversary Award $100, sponsored by Gwen Blakley Kinsler

“Backyard Visitors”; Sachiko Adams

Peoples’ Choice Award $100, sponsored by Cari Clement

“Chrysler Art Deco Jewelry Set”; designed by Shari White

Chrysler Art Deco Set, designed by Shari White

$1000 Grand Prize, sponsored by Creative Yarn Source and Mainly Crochet

“Nicky’s Caribbean Adventure”; designed by Dot Drake

Nicky’s Caribbean Adventure, designed by Dot Drake

The Crochet Guild of America continues to celebrate and reward excellence in crochet design, as we invite you to participate in the CGOA 2014 Design Competition.  Please download the official information package here and find out what our membership already knows: this is the only competition of its kind and is an amazing showcase for our craft.  This is my sixth year of involvement with the competition and I am so proud that each event brings more and greater prestige not just to crochet and to the competition itself, but also to the participants and the award-winning designers we honor.

Perhaps you saw the back page of the Winter 2014 issue of Interweave Crochet, and marveled at the little face staring out at you.

Marcy Smith, editor of Interweave Crochet, President of CGOA Board of Directors and one of our competition judges last year, was so entranced with this entry, Summer Visitors, that she asked winning designer Sachiko Adams for permission to feature her work in a magazine piece. YAY, Sachiko!

Of course there’s more at stake here than pride, crochet glory and a gang of prize ribbons. Thanks to generous grants from our magnificent sponsors we have thousands of dollars in cash awards, sweet indeed. Please join me in acknowledging and appreciating these supporters of crochet and CGOA, including to date:

Cari Clement

Crochetville

Interweave Crochet

Gwen Blakley-Kinsler

MainlyCrochet

Red Heart

WEBS, America’s Yarn Store

The competition is open to CGOA members; deadline for entries is July 1, 2014.  Judging and exhibition of entries will be held during the CGOA Conference, 23-27 July in Manchester, New Hampshire. If you’re up for the challenge, please visit the CGOA website at crochet.org to become a member and then get ready to show me your crochet!

CGOA 2013 Design Competition Results, as announced during the Awards Ceremony at the CGOA conference in Charlotte, NC, 3 October 2013:

In the category Accessories, sponsored by WEBS, America’s Yarn Store:

Honorable Mention

Fiji Flowers on Flowers (61), designed by Linda Dean

Fiji Flowers on Flowers by Linda Dean

$100 Third Prize

Josephine’s Amazing Technicolor Dreamcape (86), designed by Maxine Pike:

Josephine’s Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat by Maxine Pike

$200 Second Prize

Windowpane Wrap (19), designed by April Garwood:

Windowpane Wrap by April Garwood

$300 First Prize

Dragon Wing (1), designed by Joyce Lewis:

Dragon Wing by Joyce Lewis

Dragon Wing is also the winner of this year’s $200 Technical Merit Award, sponsored by Designing Vashti, for outstanding, fresh use of Tunisian crochet techniques.

In the category Afghans and Home Décor, sponsored by Red Heart:

Honorable Mention

Granny’s Tree of Love (42) designed by Deborah Bagley:

Granny’s Tree of Love by Deborah Bagley

$100 Third Prize

Alpine Lodge (88), designed by Sue Solakian:

Alpine Lodge by Sue Solakian

$200 Second Prize

Octie: Flower to Octagon Blanket (70), designed by Jessie Rayot:

Octie Flower to Octagon by Jessie Rayot

$300 First Prize

Simple Pleasures (24), designed by Julia Bryant from Canada:

Simple Pleasures by Julia Bryant

In the category Small Accessories, sponsored by Tulip Company, manufacturers of Etimo cushion grip crochet hooks:

Honorable Mention

Rainbow Crochet Carryall (100), designed by Cynthia Fiebig:

Rainbow Crochet Carryall by Cynthia Fiebig

$100 Third Prize

Is That A Platypus Scarf? (74), designed by Laurinda Reddig:

Is That A Playpus Scarf by Laurinda Reddig

$200 Second Prize

Purple Cascade (56), designed by Jean DeMouy:

Purple Cascade by Jean DeMouy

$300 First Prize

Fair Isle Love Beanie (2), designed by Deja Jetmir:

Fair Isle Love Beanie by Deja Jetmir

In the category Thread Crochet, sponsored by Boye and The Crochet Dude, Drew Emborsky:

Honorable Mention

Rendezvous (9), designed by Kathryn White

Rendezvous by Kathryn White

$100 Third Prize

Rose Ensemble (20), designed by Kathie Earle:

Rose Ensemble by Kathie Earle

$200 Second Prize

Calcutta Doily (8), designed by Kathryn White:

Calcutta Doily by Kathryn White

$300 First Prize

Princess of Circles (25), designed by Carol Booth:

Princess of Circles by Carol Booth

In the category Fashion, sponsored by Interweave Crochet:

Honorable Mention

Summer Lace Dress (94), designed by Janelle Ponte:

Summer Lace Dress by Janelle Ponte

$100 Third Prize

Frilly Summer Cardigan (13), designed by Susan Walsh, from Australia!

Frilly Summer Cardigan by Susan Walsh

$200 Second Prize

Connemara Beauty (51), designed by Jennifer Ryan:

Connemara Beauty by Jennifer Ryan

$300 First Prize

Afternoon Tea (6), designed by Kathryn White:

Afternoon Tea by Kathryn White

And in the category Artistic Expressions, sponsored by Jenny King Designs:

Honorable Mention

Meeting Mr. Tumnus by the Lamp in Narnia (41), designed by Deborah Bagley:

$100 Third Prize

Owl Sit With You (43), designed by Deborah Bagley:

Owl Sit With You Bean Bag Chair by Deborah Bagley

$200 Second Prize

Philomena (96), designed by Kate Buckner:

Philomena by Kate Buckner

$300 First Prize

Summer Visitors (63), designed by Sachiko Adams:

Summer Visitors by Sachiko Adams

Summer Visitors is also the winner of the $100 Founders Prize, sponsored by CGOA founder Gwen Blakley Kinsler;

And finally, the $1,000 Grand Prize sponsored by Crochetville and MainlyCrochet.com:

Mille Fleurs Dress (32), designed by Dot Drake:

Mille Fleurs Dress by Dot Drake

One last prize, the Peoples’ Choice Award,is still to be decided by popular vote during the course of the conference; winner to be announced on Saturday night.

Meanwhile, enjoy a slideshow of the entire competition, all images provided by Doris Chan.

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Whether you’re an entrant ready to go pro… or so not interested… the annual CGOA Design Competition is for many the gateway to publication.  Let me be clear.  The competition is open to all members, amateur hobbyists and professional designers alike; the event is about celebrating creativity and excellence in crochet, and not about publication. It is a fact that we don’t require written patterns. However, when such a collection of outstanding crochet goes on display at our event and on-line, certain entries are bound to catch the attention of magazine editors hungry for fresh meat… uh, great designs. The prize winners in the Fashions and Accessories categories are the particular targets, with some designs getting sold and snatched right off the exhibit.

So, if you are a professional designer, or hope to become one, or think that you kinda sorta might be able to write a pattern (especially since they’re paying you!), you could find yourself among the ranks of our past winners who have gone on to further fame and glory: publication.  Here’s a look at some of our 2012 crossover hits.

Designed by Tammy Hildebrand, her Mystique top, 2012 First Prize winner in the Fashion category, morphed into the published design, Bloomsbury, featured on the cover of Interweave Crochet, Spring 2013.

Designed by Jennifer Ryan, the Glendalough Shrug, winner of the 2012 second prize in the Fashion category, got a makeover to become Kerry, as seen in the Spring 2013 issue of Crochet! Magazine.

Designed by Kathryn White, winner of the 2012 first prize in the Accessories category, Knots of Love shawl became Love is a Rose, featured on the cover of Interweave Crochet Summer 2013.

Designed by Linda Dean, Vineyard at Dawn, winner of the 2012 second prize in the Accessories category, appeared in the Spring 2013 issue of Crochet! Magazine.

Designed by Diana Toni, The Whirlwind, 2012 third prize winner in the category Fanciful Fashion, also graced the pages of the Spring 2013 issue of Crochet! Magazine.

I am now preparing the 2013 Design Competition to be held next week at the CGOA Fall Conference in Charlotte, NC. Winners will be announced here following the official Awards Ceremony, Thursday evening 3 October.  Keep a close eye on the results, and watch for some talented winners and their brilliant designs to pop up in our favorite crochet magazines in the coming seasons.  Best of luck to all!