It isn’t worn by many models in glamor magazines or Hollywood stars on television. But a group of women believes it’s about time for crocheted styles to move from their sewing baskets to the fashion runways.
“Crocheting is a closet skill,” said Marge Scensny of Schaumburg. “But it’s modern and very much on the cutting edge.”
Crocheted fashions are in, and they aren’t just those hand-sewn creations made by your grandmother. The Crochet Guild of America is trying to break down stereotypes with an annual fashion show designed to spotlight the trendy side of its trade.
More than 100 people watched this year’s show, which helped wrap up the guild’s fourth annual Chain Link Conference, held last weekend at the Schaumburg Marriott.
“I thought crocheting was for older people, and I didn’t think there could actually be a show with crocheted things,” said Kathryn Coughlin, 16, of Arlington Heights.
Coughlin, a student at Prospect High School in Mt. Prospect, was among the 10 high school models who put on 50 different handcrafted and crocheted fashions from sleek sequined dresses to heavy-duty winter sweaters.
“It’s a renaissance,” said Lily Chin, a fashion designer from New York who has been crocheting for the last 25 years. “I can’t be happier that we have high fashion. People are slowly changing their view of crocheting, and we’re fighting every step of the way.”
Chin made a splash in the fashion world with her crocheted gold and silver lame bikini that was modeled in this year’s Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. One of the students modeled the bikini in the show, which also featured seven other Chin designs. Other garments were on loan from guild members and yarn companies.
“Crochet can be a modern thing,” said Honey Leen, 17, of Rolling Meadows, a student at Fremd High School in Palatine. Leen’s favorite fashion in the show wardrobe was a finely knit black sweater that she wore over a bright red dress.
“We want to educate people about all (that) crochet can be and let the people who crochet showcase their designs,” said Gwen Blakley Kinsler of Rolling Meadows, who founded the Crochet Guild of America four years ago. “It’s fun because we all love it so much, and by seeing the fashions, we get inspired to do something new.”
The four-day conference included workshops, a juried exhibit and a display of hats.
“There’s a lot of camaraderie and sharing of crochet ideas,” Scensny said. “It’s a learning experience.”
