Link Published by Chainthe Crochet Guild of America • Volume 16 Number 5 • Sept. 2007 Inside... President’s Letter Yarn Reviews The way magazines are produced necessitates that I write this to discounts with our participating travel businesses…when you show p. 2 message weeks before the annual meeting, and you unfortunately get to your Auto Club membership card, your savings can more than pay for read this after the annual meeting the cost of your annual membership.” Member Spotlight p. 3 I always believed that everyone interested in crochet would want to What a great idea! Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could do the same be a member of CGOA and would want to join with other interested with our membership card? That started the Board not just thinking but Chapter News p. 4 crocheters to promote the craft we love. I have discovered, however, doing. We’ve been out there “beating the bushes” looking for discounts that many crocheters question the validity of joining. “What do I get for on yarn, on supplies, on publications. Our plan is to make the CGOA Book Review my $35?” is the perpetual question. membership—like the auto club membership—pay for itself. p. 5 My small crochet group has 15 enthusiasts who are happy to Now, if you were at the annual meeting, you probably heard us Member meet once a month to share their crochet projects and to learn new announce the plan. By the time you read this, I’m hoping that we’ve Interviews p. 6 techniques. But there are only about 3 of us who are CGOA members. worked out all of the kinks, and that we’ll be able to tell you exactly Executive The mother of ten children has to think twice about spending $35 what discounts we’ve arranged. We’re going to answer that perpetual Director’s on her hobby. Should she use that extra $35 to buy yarn, or to join an question; we’re going to be able to say, “Plenty!” Message p. 7 organization with no tangible benefits? Can I ask the member who Who says driving a car is better than crocheting? Masters in Thread takes old projects apart so she can re-use the yarn to put up $35 to Graduate p. 8 support the world of crochet when she can barely afford to buy yarn? Rita Weiss Recently I read an advertisement from the American Automobile Association in which they announced that “Your membership is about to pay for itself.” Why? Because “as an auto club member, you’re entitled Moderator’s Message The CGOA Online Message Board is proving to be a fun and CGOA Chapters with. Until Chapters can be established in all of educational addition to CGOA’s growing Crochet World. our home towns, the online board is here to provide the CGOA members with a much needed way to communicate with, and Lyn Robinson graciously volunteered to be a moderator to the enjoy the friendship and knowledge, of those who are committed list. Her style and knowledge are very appreciated. Lyn’s attendance to Crochet. and perspective of events will be an enormous benefit in keeping those who cannot attend informed. The existing and newly created Chapters are growing and providing the seeds for generations of crochet enthusiasts to Samantha Stopple has volunteered to organize our Crochet advance, improve, and enjoy. These CGOA Chapters are to be Along’s for this year. She is working with our talented and admired for providing inspiration to everyone who wants to generous designers to provide the on line list with CAL’s that will be on top of, and involved in, everything Crochet. There is no provide us with fun while extending our crochet education. amount of praise that can describe the gratitude deserved by those Dawn Dempsey is our moderator who keeps our online group who belong to, organize, contribute to, and maintain the CGOA safe with the approval process. Dawn’s hard work keeps our online Chapters. membership up to date and current. If you are taking advantage of the online CGOA Membership Treva McCain is our communication liaison, Treva is our behind Board group--you are in excellent company. If you have not yet the scenes guide, and keeps us advised on all CGOA happenings. taken advantage of this CGOA benefit, please join us! We look Without the advice, help and guidance of these volunteers, the forward to sharing our Crochet World with you. online list could not function! Sincerely- Our database is being updated--so that the members who do not Sandy “Sandyfroglegs” Scofield in DeMotte, Indiana. have the benefit of belonging to a CGOA Chapter, are able to go CGOA Message Board Moderator into the base to seek other members whom they can create new Crochet Guild of America CGOA Yarn Review/Evaluation 2007 Name and Residing State (Identification) of contributing CGOA mem- Yarn characteristics: Officers & ber - Audrey Morris, Los Angeles, CA 1 - Ease of working with? I found it fine, but beginners might find the variation Directors Date of review/evaluation - April 2007 in width and difficulty in seeing your stitches to be annoying 2 - Does it produce airborne lint while working with it? Not to speak of. President Basic Yarn information: Rita Weiss Does it shed while wearing? Yes! Mine sheds very long pieces of white 1 - Name of Yarn being reviewed/evaluated? Patons Divine (mohair?). I used the Deep Earth (darkish brown) color. 2 - Fiber content and weight? 79.5% Acrylic, 18% Mohair, 2.5% Polyester Bulky Vice President 3 - Does it pill? Don’t know yet Nancy Brown weight (5) See www.patonsyarns.com/product.php?LGC=divine for colors, etc. Does it show wear even while working with it? Not that I could see. 3 - How many ply? At least 2--one heavy, uneven and multicolored (perhaps more 4 - Any stretch? Not built into the yarn, but some stitches would produce Secretary than 1), one thread-like and solid color Vashti Braha stretch, just like with any other yarn. 4 - W.P.I. or Wraps per inch? 6-7 5 - Similar or identical to another yarn? I used it in lieu of the Red Heart 5 - What does this yarn retail for? about 4.99/skein (142 yards) Treasurer Symphony called for in the pattern I had. Joann’s has a house brand version. It’s Treva McCain 6 - Where did you purchase it? Joanns or Michaels, I had bought it on sale for a just one of those bulky, fuzzy-mohair type yarns. different sweater and misplaced my pattern 6 - How does it reflect light? (matte, sparkly, lustrous, chalky)? Matte; it is Directors 7 - Where can it be purchased? mass market stores/online/some of my LYS Carol Alexander very fuzzy and it CAN reflect if light hits it perfectly. Ed Hamrick Project Specifics: 7 - Does the yarn look good crocheted? I think so, but someone who wants to Marty Miller 1 - What project worked successfully using this yarn? granny-square based see every stitch detail would not like it. sweater from Aug 2006 Hooked on Crochet Care of yarn: 2 - Can you do several different kinds of stitches with it, or do you have 1 - How is it cleaned? it says to hand wash, dry flat. I will be using the gentle to keep it simple to see the stitches? This yarn is bulky and uneven in its size, cycle and drying flat. so only simple stitches will show the details. I didn’t want the stitch detail to be 2 - How does the fabric look after it’s been cleaned? Don’t know yet super obvious for this project, so it was perfect. 3 - Does it hold its shape and size? I don’t know about post-cleaning; it does 3 - What Hook size did you use? I used an L to get my size halfway between the NOT stretch out on a hanger, though. S and M sizes. My gauge perfectly matched that of the pattern, and it worked. 4 - Drape of the finished fabric? It drapes, but it makes a pretty heavy fabric. Summary/ Recommendations: 5 - What projects would you say this yarn is more suited for? hats/scarves, 1 - Would you purchase again? If I am going for this look again, I will certainly a poncho or sweater without too much “drapyness” required. It would make a very consider it, epsecially if it’s on sale and in the color I want. warm and cozy afghan. 2 - Would you keep a item crocheted with this yarn for yourself? I am! *Name and Residing State (Identification) of contributing CGOA member- 5 - What projects would you say this yarn is more suited for? garments, Carole Sullivan, Vail, Arizona but not loose stitches.. *Date of review/evaluation- March 07-completed April 10 07 Yarn characteristics: Basic Yarn information: 1 - Ease of working with? zips along with ease. doesn’t split 1 - Name of Yarn being reviewed/evaluated? BERNAT HAVEN (NEW) 2 - Does it produce airborne lint while working with it? barely noticeable 2 - Fiber content and weight? 59% acrylic, 22% cotton, 16% alpaca, 3% Does it shed while wearing? didnt appear to --too hot to keep on long right now nylon www.Bernat.com 77 yards to 50 gr/1.75 oz made in Taiwan, bulky weight, 3 - Does it pill? not at this point--may with wear Does it show wear even I chose color of honeysuckle while working with it? yes...cant discern plies 4 - Any stretch? only because of stitch used.