The Making of a Contest Entry (Part 2)

Things are progressing nicely with my contest entry.  I have completed 2 panels in a beautiful Japanese stitch pattern.  Now,  I am working in layers on top of the panels to introduce other colors.  The photo above is  of the back side.  I still have 2 more rows to do plus some embroidery embellishment to the top side.  It is very exciting making decisions as I go and not worrying about anyone ever having to reproduce the piece!

The Making of a Contest Entry

I am so excited to have started working on my entry for the 2010 CGOA design competition.  I decided on the category, theme, and shape, and then headed to the yarn shop and let the yarns speak to me.  I chose one, multi-colored yarn, that had all the colors I was looking for.  Then, I looked for some solids to go with that one.  Since the piece doesn't require a written pattern and will be freeformish, I went down all the aisles that might have some sort of crochetable material and collected a few things that were in my color scheme. After that,  I went home and went through my stash to find anything that went with the yarns, etc that I had purchased.  Now, I have a basket of yarns to choose from.  I picked out a lovely stitch pattern from my new Japanese stitch dictionary, and have done a few sections.  Even though I have the shape figured out, this piece will evolve as I work on it.  It will not be made up of crocheted scrumbles like my previous contest entries have been, but it will have a freeform feel to it and be embellished in my signature style with embroidery accents. It is so freeing not to have to worry about working in a currently available yarn, or  writing the pattern as I go.  I have a great vision for this design and I almost don't want to sleep so I can keep working on it and see it come to fruition!

Aslan Trends Design Contest 2009

I am so thrilled and am celebrating tonight!  I just received an email from Aslan Trends yarn company, regarding my contest entry.  I won second prize in the accessories category!  I am considering it quite a victory as it was billed as a "Knitting Challenge" and I won with a crocheted item.  Yeah for crochet!  I will receive a cash prize as well as some of their beautiful yarn.  They will be posting photos soon, but for now, here is a photo that I took before I sent it off.  I am planning to self-publish the pattern and offer it for sale, as soon as I get the shawl back.  I created this "Silhouette Shawl" using their 100% merino wool Del Cerro yarn.  It was really lovely to work with!

Here is a complete list of the winners, if you would like to see them.

Better luck next time!

Congratulations to all of the winners of the Berroco Sock Star Design Contest!   I was hoping to be one of them, but it wasn't in the cards for me this time.  It was thrilling to be chosen as a finalist, and I did get some wonderful feedback on my design.  I plan to offer the necklace pattern along with a bonus matching ring pattern for sale in my Ravelry shop as soon as I get it ready.

To cheer myself up a little, I have ordered myself a deluxe set of Etimo crochet hooks from Knitty City, the only retailer that sells them in the US.  I have been told that they are the "Cadillac of crochet hooks", and that they are sheer heaven to crochet with.  After I have had a chance to use them, I will post a review!

I am a finalist!

This is a design I submitted to the Berroco Sock Star design contest.  I am so thrilled, I just found out today that I am one of the finalists!  The voting is taking place online from now until Monday (September 28th) at 11:45pm EST. 

Here is the link to the voting:

http://www.berroco.com/knitbits/html/KB311.html

If you like my necklace, it would be great to have your vote!

CGOA Design Contest Entry

This pillow was my entry for this years Crochet Guild of America's design contest. I was thrilled that it won 2nd prize in the home decorating category. It is freeform crochet with some embroidery embellishment and made up of a large collection of yarns and threads.

Now, I am thinking about next year's entry (assuming that CGOA will continue the contest tradition)! Last year I won 2nd prize in the accessories category. Maybe I will try to make something for the fashion category this time.....

Here are the photos of the winners of this year's contest.