CGOA 2016 Design Competition Winners

As you may already know, I had the honor of being co chair of the CGOA 2016 Design Competition, along with Jessie Rayot of Jessie at Home.

We received 92 entries.  All 92 entries were photographed, labeled and transported to Charleston NC for the conference where they were judged and then displayed for the entire Marketplace to enjoy.

Our judges this year were Margaret Hubert, Mary Beth Temple and Nancy Smith.  A HUGE thank you to all three of these amazing women for making these difficult choices, I don’t know how they did it.

Every design was amazing this year, our judges had a hard time choosing.

There were 10 judged categories this year plus a bonus category

Fashion: garments (not accessories), including sweaters, tops, jackets, vests, skirts and dresses.  Sponsored by Boye

Accessories: including wraps, scarves, cowls, socks, mittens, hats, bags, belts and jewelry.  Sponsored by WEBS

Home Décor and Afghans: items primarily for the home, including afghans and throws, baby blankets.  Sponsored by  CARON by Yarnspirations

Thread Crochet: anything made in crochet thread or fine/lace weight yarn (CYC category #0/Lace); this category may overlap other categories, and includes doilies, garments, baby clothes, accessories.  Sponsored by Clover

Artistic Expression: items more artistic in nature, including free-form and mixed media pieces, wall hangings, wearable art.  Sponsored by Ravelry

Young Designer: anything designed with yarn and/or crochet thread by members 25 years old and younger. Designer may turn 26 in the year of the competition. As long as sometime during the year 2015 he or she was 25.  Sponsored by Marian G Wilburn Foundation for Fiber Arts

First Time Entrant/Non-Professional: anything designed with yarn and/or crochet thread by someone who has never entered the design competition before and is not a crochet professional. Non-professionals have not had any of their crochet designs published in print or PDF format.  Sponsored by Susan Bates

Bonus Category – Pineapples: This year’s conference theme is pineapples! If your entry contains pineapples there will be a box you can check on the entry form to indicate this so your entry can also be judged in this category as well.  Sponsored by Creative Yarn Source

Technical Merit:  Each design is judged based on overall difficulty and execution of stitches.  Judging also includes how the stitches are used in the overall design.  Sponsored by Mary Maxim

Grand Prize:  This category includes the judges pick on best overall design.  All judging criteria from other categories is taken into consideration.  Award is $1000.  Generously sponsored by Red Heart. 

Additionally we have a People’s Choice Category:  Every member who attends the conference is encouraged to vote for their favorite design. Sponsored by Moogly.

 

 

We couldn’t have had this amazing competition without our sponsors.  A HUGE thank you to these amazing companies for supporting out designers and our organization.  

Thank you to Karen McKenna for coordinating the sponsors for this years competition.

And now for the winners!
drum roll please……

 

Grand Prize
$1000 Prize Sponsored by Red Heart

Kathryn White with the Baroque Jacket.  This lovely design took Kathryn over 9 1/2 months to create.  It features Irish Lace.  Congratulations to Kathryn on her accomplishment.  This jacket was even more stunning in person.

Afghans and Home Decor

First Place
$300 sponsored by Yarnspirations/Caron

Second Place
$200 sponsored by Yarnspirations/Caron

Third Place
$100 sponsored by Yarnspirations/Caron

 

Accessories

First Place
$300 sponsored by WEBS

Second Place
$200 sponsored by WEBS

Third Place
$100 sponsored by WEBS

 

 

Young Designer

First Place
$300 sponsored by Marian G Wilburn Foundation for Fiber Arts

First Place in Young Designers in the CGOA 2016 Design Competition is Scales, designed by Grace Rosburg.

Second Place
$200 sponsored by Marian G Wilburn Foundation for Fiber Arts

 

Artistic Expression

First Place
$300 sponsored by Ravelry

Second Place
$200 sponsored by Ravelry

Third Place
$100 sponsored by Ravelry

 

Fashion

First Place
$300 sponsored by Boye

Second Place
$200 Sponsored by Boye

Third Place
$100 Sponsored by Boye

Thread

First Place
$300 sponsored by Clover

Second Place
$200 sponsored by Clover

Third Place
$100 sponsored by Clover

 

First Time Entrant

First Place
$300 sponsored by Susan Bates

Second Place
$200 sponsored by Susan Bates

Third Place
$100 sponsored by Susan Bates

 

Special Pineapple Theme

$100 sponsored by Creative Yarn Source

Technical Merit

$100 Sponsored by Mary Maxim

Also Sunday’s Best Purse by Joyce Geisler, see the Thread Category

People’s Choice

$100 Sponsored by Moogly

Also the Grand Prize winner, Baroque Jacket by Kathyrn White, see Grand Prize above

 

We owe a special gratitude to our entire board for keeping our wonderful organization together. As well as all of our fabulous members who participate in the design competition and conference.

The CGOA board consists of Susan Sullivan President, Karen McKenna Secretary, Shari White Treasurer, Bobbie Matela VP, Delma Myers, Linda Dean and Marcy Smith.