It's National Crochet Month!

Well, ok, I'm off by two days, but Ellen Gormley and Shelby Allaho have done a great job of kicking things off, and today is my special blog post in celebration (keep reading, there's a discount code in this for you, and if you missed it, here is my Owl Scarf pattern from yesterday's post):

And wait til you see what Amy O'Neill Houck and Akua Lezli Hope have to offer you tomorrow!

First, many thanks to the Crochet Guild of America (CGOA) and Amy Shelton and Donna Hulka of Crochetville for herding us cats and getting this blog tour organized.  All of the designers, including me, participating in this blog tour are professional or associate professional members of the CGOA.  We are so committed to the organization's mission of advancing the art of crochet and continuing crochet skills for generations to come, so I hope you will visit the organization's site to see all of the wonderful resources available and subscribe to Crochet! magazine.  Amy is our current President extraordinaire, and Crochetville is her beautiful contribution to the world of crochet, so please check out her wonderful resources as well.

All designers participating in the tour are Professional or Associate Professional members of the Crochet Guild of America (CGOA). CGOA offers two national conferences each year with an extensive list of crochet classes, an annual Design Competition, and a Master of Advanced Crochet Stitches and Techniques program. Hundreds of local chapters around the country provide crocheters additional opportunities to learn about crochet and advance their skills. Other member benefits include a subscription to Crochet! magazine, a private email discussion group for members, discounts to online retailers, and classes at our Chain Link conferences. Please consider joining the organization and help us in our mission to advance the art of crochet and continue crochet skills into the next generation.

- See more at: http://crochetville.com/national-crochet-month-a-tour-through-crochet-country-begins/#sthash.GpUNgHCV.dpuf

All designers participating in the tour are Professional or Associate Professional members of the Crochet Guild of America (CGOA). CGOA offers two national conferences each year with an extensive list of crochet classes, an annual Design Competition, and a Master of Advanced Crochet Stitches and Techniques program. Hundreds of local chapters around the country provide crocheters additional opportunities to learn about crochet and advance their skills. Other member benefits include a subscription to Crochet! magazine, a private email discussion group for members, discounts to online retailers, and classes at our Chain Link conferences. Please consider joining the organization and help us in our mission to advance the art of crochet and continue crochet skills into the next generation.

- See more at: http://crochetville.com/national-crochet-month-a-tour-through-crochet-country-begins/#sthash.GpUNgHCV.dpuf

All designers participating in the tour are Professional or Associate Professional members of the Crochet Guild of America (CGOA). CGOA offers two national conferences each year with an extensive list of crochet classes, an annual Design Competition, and a Master of Advanced Crochet Stitches and Techniques program. Hundreds of local chapters around the country provide crocheters additional opportunities to learn about crochet and advance their skills. Other member benefits include a subscription to Crochet! magazine, a private email discussion group for members, discounts to online retailers, and classes at our Chain Link conferences. Please consider joining the organization and help us in our mission to advance the art of crochet and continue crochet skills into the next generation - See more at: http://crochetville.com/national-crochet-month-a-tour-through-crochet-country-begins/#sthash.GpUNgHCV.dpuf

A complete list of stops along the blog tour is available here, and I really hope everyone will indulge themselves in lots of crochet this month!

And while you are crocheting away, I hope you'll take a little time to visit Project Night Night and see what you can do to help such a worthwhile endeavor.  Their goal is to provide every homeless child with a Night Night Package, so that when he or she leaves the shelter, they will have an age appropriate book for reading and family bonding, a cuddly security blanket, and a soon-to-be cherished stuffed animal. I always say that crocheters (and knitters too) are some of the most open-hearted and generous people, so please send good thoughts (and money and projects) to this special charity.  You especially can help Project Night Night by making and sending in a new crocheted blanket (50” x 60” or smaller) and/or making a financial donation. On the site, there is a list of all of the shelters the organization serves, so if you prefer, you could find one in your community or hometown to support. Be sure to visit the official blog tour site to add your contribution to the total!

Thank you for participating with me in CGOA's National Crochet Month's blog tour!  Please catch up on my six, five, four, three, two, and one Countdown posts and sign up in the little box in the left column for my blog posts by email and to be added to my newsletter subscription list!  

And enjoy 20% off all patterns in my Ravelry store for the entire month of March -- just use coupon code NatCro2013.  Happy Crocheting!