Have Hook, Will Travel!

"Have Hook, Will Travel" is The HHCC's motto!

On Sunday, March 25th, members of the
Happily Hooked on Crocheting Club
will be joining members of
The Hooked on the Sound
The Creative Crochet Guild of Long Island
and
The New York City Crochet Guild
on a field trip to the Lion Brand Outlet
located in New Jersey.

This will be the first time, outside of the CGOA Conferences, these
Chapters have gathered together. 

The History of National Crochet Month

The History of National Crochet Month
reprinted with permission from Dee Stanziano

The CGOA (Crochet Guild of America/ www.crochet.org) originated the idea of celebrating crochet nationally during a single week during the month traditionally known as National Crafts Month. In 2003 the CGOA requested crocheters aid in promoting National Crochet Week with the following suggestions (note the first letter of each suggestion and what it spells out):

C rochet something for charity, e.g., afghan squares for Warm Up America!, afghans for Project Linus, caps for Caps for Kids, etc. There are many more charities that appreciate donations of crocheted items.

R esearch the crochet books and videos available at your local library. Make some recommendations to the librarian on additions to the collection. Donate a copy of your favorite reference book to your local library.

O rganize your yarn/thread stash. Try organizing your fiber by color, so that the next time you are looking for a particular shade of red, it will be much easier to find.

C atalog your pattern collection. In the process, you will be sure to discover some treasures and be inspired to start new projects.

H ave you always wanted to learn a new technique? If you have wanted to try Tunisian or filet crochet or broomstick lace, National Crochet Week is the perfect time to stretch your crochet wings.

E xperiment with a new fiber. Visit your local yarn shop and treat yourself to a specialty yarn to see what wonderful results you can achieve.

T each someone to crochet...a friend, family member, co-worker. Perhaps offer to give a demonstration at a local craft/yarn store, school or nursing home.

And back then, websites such as http://www.bluemountain.com/display.pd?prodnum=3027835&path=76749 offered free e-greeting cards.

In 2005 the week long celebration was changed to last the entire month of March, thus becoming National Crochet Month

Crochet History in Connecticut

If you are a fiber-lovin' resident of Connecticut, or just visiting, here are museums, parks, and history worth looking into:

• Putnam Park, located in Redding, CT. This is the oldest state park in Connecticut, former winter encampment of 1778 for General Putnam's Continental soldiers during the Revolutionary War. On Exhibit are many fiber related artifacts, including a Spinning Jenny used to speed up the process of making thread.
  
• Susan Bates, located in Chester, CT. The former home of the makers of crochet hooks, knitting needles and other sewing items. Prior to the products being named "Susan Bates" they had the name "Chester." This site was closed due to environment contamination. The local Chester Historical Society may have items on display.
  
• Waterbury Button Museum, located inside the Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury, CT. This museum has over 10,000 buttons on exhibit, including buttons worn by George Washington.
  
• The Woolen Manufactory, formerly located in Hartford, CT from 1788 - 1794. This was the first mill to use power, and produced the material that made George Washington's suit for his Inauguration as The United States First President. The Museum of Connecticut includes exhibits of Freedom Quilts.
  
• The Danbury Museum, located in Danbury, Ct. "Mad Hatter" is noted in Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. The term "Mad Hatter" is used to described the uncontrolable shaking caused by mercury poisioning; mercury was used to help in the felting process to make hats. Danbury was once the hat center of the world in the 19th & 20th centuries, having many residents exposed. To this day, there are still mercury traces in the banks of local creeks. (Rose Wilder Lane, daughter of Laura Ingalls Wilder, has of yet to be listed as one of their famous Danburians.) Open most Saturdays; call for hours.

Edit: The HHCC would like to thank member Dee Stanziano for bringing to the Danbury Museum's attention the need to have Rose Wilder Lane added as a Famous Danburian.