Volume 26, Number 2 of the Crochet Guild of America (CGOA) Chain Link newsleter, dated Summer 2016 contains my article on The National Crochet Contest 1937 - 1958. In that article I promised more pictures to be published here.

First are five pictures from the crochet booklet: Prize Winning Crochet Designs National Crochet Contest - 1937, from the very first annual contest.  (For those of you following the National Crochet Month {NatCroMo} blog tour and who plan to participate in my giveaway on 31 March, I will be offering a couple of these booklets.) You see here the cover with an inset of the "National Queen of Crochet," Mrs. Frank E. Hayward.  That is followed by a picture of Mrs. Hayward holding her winning blanket.

 







Next you see a page with details of the first contest & depicting the showroom with the contest entries, followed by a page listing all the winners and depicting Mrs. Hayward demonstrating crochet tips.

 

The back cover lists the details for the upcoming 1938 Second Annual National Crochet Contest.  And here is a press-release photograph of Mrs. Hayward receiving her winning citation.

Next are both sides of a postcard given to a state or county fair blue-ribbon-winner, authorizing the recipient to enter the National contest.  Apparently, the blue-ribbon-winner who got this card decided not to enter the National contest.

Here's a press release picture of John Miller, identified as a California lumberjack (what could be more manly?), the winner of the Men's Division of the 3rd National Crochet Contest, being congratulated by Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., a contest patroness.  Despite having competed in a much smaller field of 15 male contestants, out of a total of over 2,300 entries, newspaper articles gave more attention to Mr. Miller and his lovely bedspread than they did to the National Champion, Mrs. E. N. Noble of Minneapolis.  However, I did find a comment that Mrs. Roosevelt declared Mrs Noble's banquet cloth to be "the most remarkable piece of crochet she had ever seen."  Unfortunately I have yet to find a photo of that banquet cloth.

Mrs. Adolph E. Burkhardt of Poland, OH, fared better.  Here is a press release photo of her with her entry (hard to see but looks like it might be Irish Crochet in the center).  She was the Grand Champion in the 1940 4th Annual National Crochet Contest of 350,000 contestants, then sponsored by the National Needlecraft Bureau.  Harry Troxell of Cleveland, OH, won the Men's Division.  His 23rd Psalm bedspread was prominently displayed in back of Mrs. Burkhardt and Mr. Troxell in a newspaper article I found.

In 1949, Mrs. Thomas L. Nightingale of Sacramento, CA, won the Crocheting Championship for the third time, previously having won the title in 1938 & 1942 with relatively little press recognition.  Mrs. Thomas won her rewards with size 150 thread filet crochet creations.  After this win, contest rules were changed so that prior year's winners were no longer eligible for future entries.   I wonder how many more contests the 71-year-old, Mrs. Nightingale would have won had the rules not been changed.

Industrial Foreman, George Link of Bunker Hill, IL, won the 1951 Men's Division of the National Crochet Contest.  The press reported simply that "The Grand Championship reward at the contest went to a woman."

In 1952 the title of the contest was changed to the Nationwide Crochet Contest.  Here is a poster advertising the 1953 contest.

Here's a press release photograph of Mail Carrier Anthony White of Portland, OR, winner of the Men's Division of the 1954 Nationwide Crochet Contest.  The trend of highlighting interesting Men's Division winners more than the Champions continued through the last contest in 1957.

Oooops!  The latest issue of Crochet! Magazine with its CGOA Chain Link newsletter (for members only) just arrived on my doorstep.  I didn't expect it to be distributed until after the first weekend of April.  And the article I wrote for the newsletter on the National Crochet Contests promises more pictures of the National Crochet Contest Here.

Here is one picture.  I will post more with explanations tomorrow.

My Goals, prioritized

2016 is shaping up to be an extremely busy year!  Every year I have goals, but I tend to take on too many, adding more throughout the year, resulting in my not accomplishing as much as I desire.  This year I decided to publish those goals in prioritized order, to help me to focus, knowing at anytime anyone of my Face Book and blog followers could query me on their status.  If I add any new goals I need to determine where they fit in priority. I think this will help me to avoid straying from my 2016 Goals:    OK, I did it, I am talking with someone about adding another goal---#11!  But it is too cool to pass up!  In 2016 I succeeded on many of these and others were not so successful, but this goal list did make me aware of what I was doing, what I was accomplishing and what I needed to work on, so I plan to do it again in 2017.

1) This probably has to be my first priority, since I have been committed to writing quarterly articles for the Crochet Guild of America's (CGOA) Chain Link Newsletter for a long time.  Deadlines around the 20th of January, April, July, and October.  I have many ideas for topics.  Need to post National Crochet Contest pics to this blog in early April to support the article I wrote in January.  April's submission is due during mid-April.  All quarterly articles were written and published during 2016.  This is an on-going commitment and will be resurrected in my 2017 goals,

2) National Crochet Month (NatCroMo): I have promised to provide a free pattern and a vintage crochet book give-away for my day: 31 March.  I plan to make the pattern overlap with my number 7 and possibly my number 11 goals.  I have advertised this on my Facebook page.  Gathered books for the give-away, some really great ones!  I did not provide a free pattern, but did do the book give-away.  This is a yearly commitment and I plan to participate again in 2017,

3) Committed to giving a short discussion and display of vintage yarn winding tools to the Prince William Purlers on June 7.  This is a high priority goal, because of a firm commitment, but it will not require much work. Gave a very successful discussion/display of yarn winders for the Prince William Purlers and later for the Prince William Crochet Guild. Additionally gave a talk to the Prince William Purlers on the WWI Knitting Campaign.  Both the Prince William Crochet Guild and thePrince William Purlers have invited me to give 2017 presentations.

4) Writing a crochet book, can't release details yet, but related to my  fifth goal.  For me this is a very big goal and I am stretching to do something new, so probably a 5-year goal.  However, I expect to have it well on its way (with a publisher lined-up) by August 2016.  I have done much research, and started some projects--  Started a handful of projects, 2 are finished, and done more research.  I acquired many publications and done much research and some crocheting.  Much more work remains.

5) Get together a mid-19th century Crochet Instructress impression by August 2016.  I have started some projects. gotten some accessories, and identified other accessories still needed.  I have gotten most supplies and accessories.  Much sewing and other crafting to be done.

6) Gear-up on my freeform Textile Tribute to the Arts collaborative project.  The only reason it is this far down on my priority list is because of the far-off submission date: September 2017.  I have created a Face Book page(https://www.facebook.com/TextileTributetoArt/?ref=hl), but have not advertised it yet---that must be done by roughly September 2016.  Created a bibliography of freeform books, available on my webpage: http://threadwinder.info/pubs/freeform.htm . Much work to be done,  

7) By 1 May, create my contribution to the Cyra Lewis' 2016 International Free Form Fiberarts Guild book, theme: Flora/Fauna of my Country/Region. My general design is planned, and started.   This project can be related to my number 2 & 11 goals.  I was not able to accomplish this goal, perhaps I can participate in 2017.

8) Create a submission for CGOA's Annual Design Contest, probably must be done by May or June 2016.  Design started and all supplies accumulated.  I was not able to complete this in time, but much work has been done and hope to submit it in 2017.

9) Committed to give a presentation/display at Prince William Purlers meeting on WWI & WWII knitting items, during fall 2016.  Completed presentation on WWI knitting and have been asked to return in June 2017 to give presentation on WWII knitting.

10) I have not committed to this, but Prudence Mapstone has put out a call for submission for a Jumpers & Jazz festival and is soliciting brightly-coloured freeform knit & crochet Jumpers (sweaters) by April 2016 (soon!).  Because of my relationship with Prudence, I would really love to participate, but I am reluctant to do so because I have so many other commitments.  I gave in on this one and created a squirrel scrumble which made it to the top of one of Prudence's trees,

11) Another goal, not yet a commitment, but talking with Brian Horrigan of the MN Historical Society about possibly providing WWI Workbasket Campaign items for the Home-front portion of his April 2017 planned exhibition of WWI America.  I wrote to Brian a couple of times and he promised more information about what he requires.  The ball is in his court as to whether this comes to fruition.

12)  A goal, not a commitment: Larisa Chilton is sponsoring an Irish crochet butterflies and flowers world map, with brightly colored butterflies and white flowers.  I love Larisa's art, want to take a class from her some day, and this project sounds fabulously beautiful.  Additionally, there is no deadline on the submissions, making it hard for me to put this on my priority list.  However, I can combine this effort with my number 7 goal and possibly my number 2 goal.  I need to follow up on this,  I don't know if it ever got off the ground.

13) Not a commitment, but want to create at least one contribution for the UK Hyperbolic Crochet Forest Project.  The deadline on this is unclear, but I believe their plan is to start exhibition in September 2017.  I am stoked by my idea for this project, but can't commit to it.  I created a 12-foot stream for the project, with the coolest ever mini-waterfall.

14) No commitment or deadline, but I need to do some beading for me.  I have some fabulous cabochons (one a Sonoran Sunrise and another an Ian Escaro outer-space inlay) that are "screaming" at me for attention.  Their necklaces have been designed, just need the time to sit down and bead.  Took a beading class on 27 February to quell the screaming a bit.  I almost completed my Sonoran Sunrise Necklace (just needs the clasp) and I will finish it in 2017.  Maybe I will do the Outer-Space Necklace in 2017 too!

Remiss --- Catching up

I have been so remiss in posting to my blog, so here is my attempt to catch up.  Within the next couple of days I will post my planned activities for 2016, but for now here is a quick rundown of my most significant activities during 2015:

Early in the year my son, Paul Allan Ballard, and Corinna Herden eloped.  I was honored that she wore the  necklace I beaded for her, it is my variation of Maggie Meister's Victorian Grand Tour Necklace.

In March I participated in Prudence Mapstone's Fifty Years of Flower Power project with two submissions: 

Later in the year, Prudence assembled all the contributions into a magnificent art piece, started its tour, and it was featured in Down Under Textiles, with my contributions centered on the cover of that magazine!

I also contributed to Kathryn Vercillo's Mandalas for Marinke, a project to raise depression awareness.  I also posted a pattern for the middle mandella (earlier in this blog).

and to Yarndale.co.uk 's "Flowers for Memories" Alzheimer's research project.  I wish I had written a pattern for this.

2015 was my first year in participating in the International Free Form Fiberarts Guild annual challenge.  Last year's theme was Ocean - The Color of Water, and my submission was included in the book.  I call my submission "On Golden Sands":

The year ended with my father's passing and with me feeling sad and very mortal.

Here is my pattern for Wink2 Tribute.  It is a mandala I designed, using Marinke's design elements into my own original design.  I made it to be part of Kathryn Vercillo's Mandalas for Marinke Project to honor Marinke's life and to raise awareness about depression.  See: http://www.crochetconcupiscence.com/2015/06/mandalasformarinke-crochet-project-in-memory-of-wink-from-a-creative-being/ for more details.  I am offering this free pattern especially for those of you who may like to use it for Kathryn's project.  Feel free to contact e if you have any difficulties with it.

Crochet Hook: I used a U.S G-6/4mm because I like tight work.  However, the yarn I used recommended a 5mm (U.S. 8) and it might be easier to use a larger hook than the one I used.  This should not matter for the Mandalas for Marinke Project since a mandala size was not specified.

Yarn: I used Paris Drops, a loosely plied 100% cotton that was Wink’s favorite yarn.

                Colors Used:

                   Color A = strong yellow #14 (for center of center flower and sun rays)

                   Color B = vanilla (light yellow) #35 (for cluster-petals of center flower)

                   Color C = opal green #11 (for stems and leaves)

                   Color D = white #16 (for fence)

                   Color E = hot pink #06 (for blossom clusters)

                   Color F = dark turquoise #10 (for sky edging)

                   Color G = red #12 (for heart)

Sewing thread in color G, Darning needle, Sewing needle, and Scissors

Rnd 1:  Using color A, ch 2, 8 dc in 1^st ch, sl st in 1^st dc; finish off.

Rnd 2:  Using color B, (dc 4, sl st in back of 1^st dc, [cluster made], ch 3) around, sl st in top of 1^st cluster; finish off (8 clusters).

Rnd 3:  Using color C, (sc 4 in ch-3 sp {between clusters}) around, sl st in 1^st sc; finish off (32 sc’s).

Rnd 4: Using color D, attach yarn above one cluster, (sc 2, long sc into space below 3^rd-Rnd {between next two clusters}, sc in next2 sts) around, sl st in 1^st sc; finish off (40 sc’s).

Rnd 5:  Using color C, working in back: (trc in 3^rd-Rnd before a cluster, ch 2, trc after the cluster, ch 5) around, sl st in 1^st trc; finish off (16 trc’s).

Rnd 6: Using color E, (4 dc in ch-2-sp, sl st in back of 1^st dc [cluster made], ch 8) around, sl st in top of 1^st cluster; finish off (8 clusters).

Rnd 7:  Using color D, (sc 5 in ch-8-sp;  ch 2, sl st in 1^st ch [picot made];  dtrc in 4^th-Rnd-long-sc [spoke made], sc 5 in same ch-8-sp) around, sl st in 1^st sc; finish off (8 spokes topped with picots).

Rnd 8:  Using color A, working in back loops only: dc on one side of a picot, (ch, dc on the other side of picot, ch, sk 1, dc, ch, sk 1, dc over closest side of cluster, ch, dc, ch, sk 1, dc, ch, sk1,dc on closest side of picot) around, sl st in 1^st dc; finish off (48 dc’s).

Rnd 9:  Using color F,  starting between 2-dcs-above-spoke (dc 2 in next ch-1-sp, dc 3 in next ch-1-sp) around, sl st in 1^st dc; DON’T FINISH OFF (120 dc’s).

RND 10:  Continuing with color F, sc in same st as sl-st, (sk 3, dc 6 in next st, sk 2, sc {directly above 6^th-

Rnd-cluster} [1^st fan made]; sk 3, dc 6 in next st, sk 3, sc  {directly above 7^th-Rnd-picot} [2^nd fan made]) around—ending with sl st in first sc; finish off (16 fans).

HEART:  Using color G, ch 6, dc in 3^rd ch, sl st in same ch, ch 2, trc in same ch, ch 2 , sl st in 2^nd ch of foundation-ch, finish off.  Weave tail through 1^st ch of foundation-ch and up one side of heart and down the back-middle, weave other tail up other side of heart and down back-middle. Using sewing thread, tack heart to center of mandala.

I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date!  

Spiraled/Twisted Crochet Hooks

I promised a blog posting on May 31, 2015, and I am sorry that I am almost a month late.  This blog was to accompany the article in the Autumn 2015 Crochet Guild of America (CGOA) Chain Link Newsletter.

In that article I referred to a favorite antique hook...and although it is not spiraled, but rather has cross-hatched markings,  here it is:

It is bright copper, with an elongated in-line size 13 hook head.  Other than liking in-line style heads, I can't really say why I like it so much, but I find it to be a great hook for working fine threads.  Finding a hook like this is one of the advantages of collecting many types of crochet hooks.

But my article was about spiraled or twisted crochet hooks.  Here is a picture of those in my collection:

Most of these hooks are vintage.  On the top is a very long spiraled celluloid plastic one.  Celluloid is an early plastic.  The two hooks on the left in the line-up are bone with simple spirals incised in the base of the handle.  The third is also bone, but has more deeply carved spirals.  The fourth is ivory, with a lacey spiral-carved handle, with a clamp on top for the missing hook.  The fifth is bone,with incised spiraled vines.  The sixth (the one with the carved hand) is ivory and also incised with spiraled designs.  It is followed by one with a spiraled mother-of-pearl handle.  The eighth is the 2012 CGOA annual hook.  It was made by Knitting Glass Guy and is glass with spiraled latticino within the handle.  It is followed by a Celtic Swan forged brass hook.  I probably bought this about 15 years ago, when they still made brass ones.  I would love to get one of Celtic Swan's silver or gold ones in which they now specialize.  That is followed by three vintage forged steel hooks.  The second to the last hook in the line-up is a metal hook with incised spirals.  I think it was a nut pick, that was repurposed into a crochet hook.  The last in the line-up is one with spiraled wire, spiraled again around the handle.  On the bottom is a relatively new hook with a spiral-carved olive-wood handle.  This hook was found on eBay.

I mentioned one other kind of spiraled hook, one that is made of naturally twisted wood.  I don't have any like that in my collection, so I started a search for one.  I did not have any luck.  I found a vendor on Etsy who carves hooks, some which look almost like they are naturally twisted in the photographs.  I asked her if they were and she told me that wood like that usually has been damaged by insects or rot.  Anyway, I still want one.  We had a pawpaw tree fall in our yard, with many years' growth of vines.  Below is a photo of some of the twisted branches/vines I salvaged.  Maybe someday I will attempt to make one (or more) of my own.

Current Activities, Freeform Crochet, Beading, WWI Knitting, and Mining

Update on my activities.  About two months ago I finished my freeform crochet contributions to Prudence Mapstone's latest crochet/knitting collaboration: 50 Years of Flower Power.  My paisley

 is typical of many of the other contributions , but then I decided to create a tribute to Peter Max.

I can't wait to see how Prudence will assemble her collage of many hundreds of freeform contributions!  She is such a busy lady, teaching freeform knitting and crochet worldwide.  So I don't know when it will be completed, but occasionally she posts teasers of small sections that have been assembled.  See her blog (You may have to sign-up to access it):  http://50yearsofflowerpower.blogspot.com.au/2015_05_01_archive.html

A couple of weeks ago I completed my submission to this year's International Free Form Fiberarts (IFFF) Guild.  This year's theme is: The Ocean/the Color of Water.  I was inspired by Bobby Vinton's song "somewhere Beyond the Sea...on golden sands" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bRAtV-jgoQ , by shells naturally "freeformed" by sea worms and surf (which I found at Carolina Beach, NC), and by my love of beachcombing.  Mine is done in thread and bead crochet and various beading techniques, including freeform peyote beading.  I can't release my pictures yet, not until approximately late June, but in the mean-time check out past year's IFFF challenges on 

http://www.blurb.com/b/5466596-one-colour  and  http://www.intfff.com/

Currently I am writing an article on WWI Knitting Propaganda for the Center for Knit and Crochet--due in about a week.  Their earlier articles (many of which are really interesting) can be found on: http://centerforknitandcrochet.org/ckc-blog/

A few months ago I bought a beautifully-made and unusually-colored Sonoran Sunrise Jasper cabochon from Laura Lyle Wing (who sells her cabochons on Facebook).  It is blue turquoise and copper color rather than the more usual blue-green and red.  This cabochon has been calling me while I have been working on all my commitments above.  It really wants to be made into a necklace.  Despite deadlines, I have bezeled it and have started its design.  I plan to submit my design to one of the many beading magazines.

Lastly, I am so excited about (and am starting to prepare for) my upcoming (July 10-12) Mining Women Beading Retreat with Amy Katz http://www.beadjourney.com/about.html and Paulette Baron http://paulettebaron.com/ .  We will be mining at Poland (Maine) Mining Camp for quartz, tourmaline and other gem stones and will have beading classes in the evenings from Amy and Paulette.  All food and bedding supplied by the Camp.  What could be more fun?  One of our little party has had to drop out due to family issues, so if you are interested in purchasing her slot contact Amy or Paulette.