2010 CGOA CHAIN LINK REPORT
"From July 7 through the morning of the 10th, the atmosphere in Manchester, NH definitely kicked up a notch when crocheters from around the country – and the world (Canada and Ireland, most notably) – rolled into town for the 2010 CGOA National Chain Link Conference," said Cari Clement in her Chain Link newsletter report. And Cari was so right when she said "It's the personalities of the attendees who really make Chain Link such a rewarding, learning – and pleasantly exhausting – experience." The fun starts whenever we all get together!
With a record-breaking number of crocheters (more than at any previous Chain Link Conference), it is small wonder that scores of classes sold out in early registration. New activities, a great retail market, multiple crochet author book signings, award announcements and sparkling fashion shows contributed to the event's success.
In conjunction with Chain Link, on the Wednesday prior, CGOA Professional Development Day (PDD) featured presentations by renowned designers Kristin Omdahl and Lily Chin and breakout sessions by many other crochet professionals. The day is designed to provide networking with other crocheter professionals and to encourage new crochet professionals in design, publication, crochet creation and teaching. PDD activities were sponsored by Lion Brand Yarn®.
Crocheters selected classes taught by their favorite crochet teachers on topics like amigurumi toys with Tracie Barrett, Tunisian crochet with Darla Fanton, freeform crochet with Margaret Hubert or crocheting with recyclables in the "Plarn, Tarn & VHS Tape: Upcycle Crochet" class with Susan Huxley. A total of 82 chapters from the across the country are affiliated with CGOA. One of those, Those Yarn Crocheters, the Harrisburg Chapter of CGOA, presented a free class on the basics of understanding a crochet pattern.
Awards were presented to winners of the CGOA Design Contest. From hundreds of entries, top designs were recognized in the categories of Special Occasion, Daywear, Small Wonders (Baby, Children Items), Accessories, Décor and Thread. Grand Prize winner was the Small Wonders "Kyoto Coat" by Shelby Allaho. Prizes were sponsored by Coats & Clark, Caron International, Leisure Arts, Interweave, DRG/Crochet! and Boye. A full announcement of winners can be viewed at http://www.crochet.org/pdfs/2010CGOADesignCompetitionWinners.pdf.
The Club Caron dance party was sponsored by Caron International, with music licensing underwritten by Crochetville. An annual CGOA member meeting presided over by CGOA President Marty Miller was sponsored by Bryson Distributing. Clover Needlecraft sponsored the CGOA Chapter Coffee where chapter members shared ideas with each other.
Chain Link activity culminated in a dinner and fashion show sponsored by Caron International. Fashions by CGOA members and teachers were organized into a modeled fashion presentation by Doris Chain with Karen Whooley announcing. Penny Sitler, Executive Director of CGOA, has shared that, by arrangement with photographer Alex Iannelli, a video was produced of the Fashion Show.
Photos from various Chain Link activities, including many by Alex Iannelli and staff, have been posted online: