CrochetWithDee.com

I held my first crochet hook at the tender age of seven.  It took me until I was eleven to understand the rules and regulations of crochet because finding other people who crocheted proved to be difficult.  The first crocheted printed pattern I ever purchased was for a Paddington Bear, which came as a kit. I made for my mother; I was 21.

I began teaching crochet upon the insightfulness of my best friend, Patti; she always seems to know what is good for me!  The year was 2000.

Indeed, 2001 would be a very busy year:  I was asked to be the Crochet Guild of America's "Volunteer Email Correspondent," a position I enjoyed until early 2008.  And I helped found The Happily Hooked on Crocheting Club, the first CGOA Chapter in Connecticut, that meets in Danbury, CT.

The following year I attended the Craft Yarn Council's "Certification Course" at FIT in New York City, completing the second level to become a Certified Crochet Teacher. 

Through the encouragement of my husband, I then entered my crochet work into a local competition for the very first time.  I entered a baby afghan I designed that took over 100 hours to crochet.  It won a Blue Ribbon, and took the trophy for Best in Show.  Before I knew it my telephone was ringing; it was a publisher.  The pattern for my afghan has an 8-page spread in the book, Blue Ribbon Afghans from America's State Fairs.

Since that time, I have won more Ribbons at various fairs, had more of my patterns published (including cameo appearances in some books); demonstrated various crochet techniques at the NYC "Knit Out & Crochet Too" events; demonstrated crochet at the Eastern States Exposition, and at the CT Sheep & Wool Fair; became a Professional Member of the the CGOA; and in 2008 became a National Crochet Teacher while teaching at the Knit and Crochet Show in NH. 

What lies ahead is up to my crochet hook and yarn ...