Eventful Crochet Year and New Opportunities

This is always the time of year that I take stock of what the last year has brought. Honestly, it helps me realize that I am not just spinning my wheels, I really am doing things!

Teaching

For example, this year I have taught 53 classes at my local yarn store (not including private lessons), I have taught 16 classes at 5 different national events. Four classes at DFW Fiber Fest in April (find me there this year teaching the CGOA Masters Day), four classes at the Jimmy Beans Wool annual retreat in June, two classes for the Northern Illinois Chapter of CGOA in May, five classes at the Crochet Guild of America annual Chainlink Conference, and a class for a unique on-line conference, Stitch Markers Live.

This is part of the contributing factors of my 10 trips in 26 weeks that really kept me on my toes. Some were business networking, some were educational, and some were teaching. But all were really enjoyable.

Retreats

I also started day long crochet retreats. Celebrating my first event at a local winery; getting a tour, enjoying learning about wine and crocheting, a grat day was had by all. I have the second event is already on the calendar for the end of January this time at a chocolate shop. Find information to join me here.

Crochet with Linda at the Winery, August 2019

Designs

I didn’t just sit back when it came to designing. I only had 8 designs in freelance publications, but I created 15 designs, 4 for sale in my pattern line, the rest are either free patterns on my website or available for purchase in kits with various retailers.

Charity

I also started an afghan block pattern line to encourage people to learn a crochet stitch and help a national non-profit, Warm Up America. Warm Up America utilizes volunteers to put these blocks together and donate afghans to those in need. I have created 7 blocks this year, and continue to strive to create a new block design every few weeks.

Newsletter

Another large event for me, was actually pulling it together and creating a monthly newsletter. I highlight what has been happening in the month prior and what I am excited about in the month to come. This has really helped me to stay focused and reflective. If you haven’t already, sign up to receive it here.

Volunteering

Then in the midst of all this teaching and creating, I have continued to lead the Crochet Guild of America, as its President. That means monthly Board meetings, and keeping volunteers moving forward with various initiatives and undertakings. Working with 6 other Board members to help spread the word of crochet, preserve its heritage, and encourage more learning.

Home Life

I have juggled this with scheduled power outages to prevent forest fires. With the busy calendars of my two kids, be it sports, band or 4H there is never a dull moment. In addition I have juggled all the running of a household as my husband has had to work increasingly demanding work hours. I know that this is nothing new for women, but it is worth remembering that it takes time and has value.

The Decade

I was considering taking a look at where life has taken me in the last 10 years, but really a decade ago to now, is almost not recognizable. I made new friends, I lost people I care about. I was working in the field of Social Work for the older adults. My children were just starting school, my husband had human being work hours, and I was not in a position to even imagine that I would be self-employed in working in crochet. It is like a completely different world, and leaves me really wondering where the next ten years will take me.

Refreshing Business in Crochet

ScannedImageIt is so refreshing to realize that there are many supportive and encouraging people in the world, even in the world of business. I am sure that this experience is not limited to just crochet and its related industries, but it is the experience I had last week at the Knit & Crochet Show in San Diego, CA last week that will leave a lasting impression.

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Designing Vashti booth with Vashti Braha and Kristin Lynn at the Knit & Crochet Show in San Diego (June 23-26, 2015)

My friend, Vashti Braha of Designing Vashti, was putting together a booth for this convention to make a public debut of her yarn, Lotus. There is much that goes into putting a show booth together, more than the average consumer realizes when they go shopping. During the time and planning, and figuring costs of materials and shipping, I was also speaking with another good friend to me, Lisa Souza of Lisa Souza Knitwear & Dyeworks. Lisa has been selling her yarn and working convention booths for nearly 30 years, and generously offered her suggestions and was even generous enough to share material for the booth set up, supplying all the grids that created the Designing Vashti booth.

Now just that would have been generous enough, one small yarn company aiding another in selling their product, but then there was more. Tulip, the needle and hook company from Japan, also needed some display material, and Designing Vashti shared her supply with them to help better display the product; and then when Tulip was unable to accept credit cards Vashti offered to assist them.

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businesses working together, supporting each other, Designing Vashti and Tulip, with all grid displays from Lisa Souza Yarns

It may not seem like much, but to me it is a breath of fresh air to see that these small businesses are open and willing to assist other small businesses, I know they already be friends of mine, but the fact that I respect the business practices they display endears me to them even more.

So if you are looking for some great yarns, or crochet products, please consider supporting these ladies that offer support to others.

Sharing Free Pattern- Cented Flowers

ScannedImageSo with the craziness of the end of summer and the beginning of fall weather, I have been able to do a little regrouping. In the process, I realized that I had not shared a pattern I was intending to release after the Knit & Crochet Show at the end of July.

I was honored to be included in the Crochet Guide of America’s Make & Take projects that were available this year’s conference (its 20th Anniversary), in Manchester, NH. I designed and donated the pattern, Marty Miller shared her time and knowledge doing the technical editing of it, and Designing Vashti was generous enough to supply the Lotus Yarn for the sample as well as the projects at the conference.

IMG_6177.1I admit I over thought the pattern, and probably over symbolized it. Since it was for the Anniversary conference, and the theme colors were Emerald, White and Platinum, I made sure to include them in the project. Then for 20 year anniversaries some websites indicated that the Aster flower was the recognized flower for the event, so I created a daisy like flower. Then I added dimes in the center, made sure there were 2, so that there was 20 cents, 1 for every year. So I had two white flowers with green leaves, and “platinum” color centers. Yes, I probably did over think this.

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A few of the attendees of my Make & Take

The Make & Take was scheduled for Saturday during lunch and I had a total of 18 people participate (people did not have to stay the entire time, but drop in and go as they liked). Many people learned some new skills, as the pattern included foundation double crochet, surface crochet, and extended stitches. The project is mounted to a snap hair clip, but can easily be used to embellish many things, and created in many beautiful colors.

So, I wanted to share the free pattern “Cented Flowers” (yes, it is a little puny) with those that may not have been able to attend the conference in New Hampshire, I hope you enjoy it. Please feel free to down load it here. Cented Flowers