HHCC'ers to Demo @ The Big E

The HHCC is proud to announce their return, for the 7th straight year, to the Eastern States Exposition.

The Eastern States Exposition is the ninth largest state fair held in West Springfield, MA. It is commonly known as The Big E.

HHCC members can be found at the Fair, on Wednesday, September 23rd, known as Connecticut Day. Look for them in the New England State building (or just ask where the Cream Puff building is).

HHCC members will be demonstrating crochet during the day.

Additional information about the fair can be found here: http://www.thebige.com/.

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If you are an HHCC member and need a ticket to the Fair for September 23rd, please contact Dee. Free tickets are a 1st come, 1st serve basis.

September Meeting: Double the Pleasure

The HHCC's September meeting this past weekend was hosted by HHCC member Margaret Hubert. Margaret graciously opened her home to Club members, offered lunch, and instructions on how to crochet double-sided fabric, based upon her latest book (being released on January 1, 2010), "The Complete Photo Guide to Crochet: Basics, Patterns, Projects for All Methods of Crochet."

There was also a drawing for a variety of goodies, from delicious yarns to Margaret's out of print/hard to find, freeform book, Fun with Free-Form Crochet; everyone won a prize.

In addition to all the fun Margaret provided, the Club also celebrated another HHCC Founder's 80th Birthday: Hilda Nichols. Hilda is very involved in crocheting for charity, both for the HHCC's charity drives, and for her local senior center. Happy Birthday Hilda!

The HHCC returns to it's normal meeting location, The Danbury Hospital next month. Members are encouraged to bring yarn & hooks to help make hats and scarves to be donated to our local Salvation Army in early December.

The HHCC would like to sincerely thank Margaret for hosting such a wonderful meeting! She's the "Hostess with the Mostess"

Notice: September Meeting LOCATION Change

The HHCC's September 13th meeting will be an "away" meeting, hosted by a HHCC member who will also be providing lunch.

Attendees are encouraged to bring 2 balls of yarn to play with, of complimenting or contrasting color, equal in weight of 3 or 4 based upon the guidelines from www.yarnstandards.com, along with the appropriate crochet hook size for the yarn. The technique of double sided crochet will be demonstrated.

For those who would like to attend as guests of the HHCC, please contact the HHCC for driving directions PRIOR to the meeting date.

The HHCC's October meeting will return to being held at the Danbury Hospital.

Caron Connections Highlights HHCC'er

In the latest edition of Caron Connection enews, HHCC'er and budding designer Nancy Smith is highlighted for her newest crochet design, "Aqua Blue," featuring crocheted cables on a dazzling scarf.

You can read Caron's newsletter here, or watch the fashion show of the Aqua Blue Scarf crocheted with Naturally Caron's Spa yarn, here. Want to give the pattern a try? It's Free, and can be obtained here.

Want to learn more about Nancy's yarn world? Visit her blog at http://www.nlsstitches.com/

Congratulations Nancy!

Mother-Daughter Duo Sweep Blue

Casey Stanziano, one of two children who enjoys being a member of the HHCC, recently won 3 Blue Ribbons in the Junior Division at the Bridgewater Fair. She entered a gold hat made of Jelly Yarn, and a purple backpack; both designed for her American Girl Doll, Nikki. She also entered a glittery black tie she designed for her Dad to wear at the recent CGOA ChainLink Conference that was held in Buffalo, NY. Casey is 12 and wrote about the fair in her blog here.

Casey's Mom, and an HHCC Founder, Dee Stanziano, recently won 5 Blue Ribbons and 2 Trophies for her crochet at the same fair. She entered a red cotton hat with bundles of bullion stitches for the trim; a sequined bag crocheted out of pink thread; and a pink beaded necklace. She won the Trophies for her grey and black sweater, and for her aqua wrap.

Congratulations!

Thank You Grafton Fibers!

Today, at the montly meeting, members of the HHCC enjoyed Guests Linda and Tom Diak of http://www.graftonfibers.com/.

Linda handed out supplies of foam blocks, felting needles, beautiful roving, and steel crochet hooks, then instructed HHCC members how to make her famous felted handles for steel crochet hooks. Meanwhile Tom was busy fielding questions and selling their beautiful hand-turned crochet hooks, knitting needles and roving. The HHCC was very delighted to have Linda and Tom visit with us -- and for our new "toys."

The HHCC would like to sincerely thank Linda and Tom for hiking down to Danbury from Vermont to spend the day with us!



Edited to add: For more pictures & information about this meeting, please see HHCC member, Margaret Hubert's blog at: http://margaretshooksandneedles.blogspot.com/2009/09/happily-hooked-on-crochet-chapter.html

HHCC'ers Return from ChainLink

Many HHCC'ers ventured north to Buffalo, New York, last week to attend the Crochet Guild of America's National Conference. The CGOA was founded in 1994 and this year marked it's 15 Anniversary!

HHCC members who attended: Casey, Dee, Diane, Doris, Elaine, Grace, Irene, Jen, Kathy, Margaret, Nancy, Priscilla and Rosalie. Thus far, please visit Casey's, Dee's, Doris', Margaret's, and Nancy's blogs for details and photos of the event.