TNNA Fashion Show - My "Little Black Dress" on the Runway (San Diego, Ca)

My daughter, Jamie, wearing the "Little Black Dress" that's on the front cover of Crochet That Fits

The YouTube video I'm posting is from the 2009 TNNA Fashion show in San Diego, California. My publisher (F+W) asked me to come there to do some book signings, and of course I was thrilled. But what was even more thrilling is that they wanted to feature my "Little Black Dress" from Crochet That Fits in the fashion show! I can't tell you how exciting this was for me. It was a time in my life that I needed a jump start to get back into designing, and of course I took advantage of this opportunity.

Back of Dress

Here's the LINK to the video. (or you can scroll down and see the You Tube video at the bottom of this post) If you put your curser on the little round spot that moves along to show how much of the video has played, numbers will show up. If you don't have time to watch the whole video, my dress comes out at about # 447. (it's after the model wearing the Fedora hat and the felted shawl)

My dress got the biggest applause of the show! I guess the knitters in the audience didn't know crochet could look like that. (not stiff and boxy) Hope you enjoy watching it!

The amazing thing about this fitted and flattering dress is that there are absolutely NO increases or decreases in the whole pattern, but the dress fits like a glove! Since the rows are vertical and worked side to side, you can add or delete rows, if the size you are following does not fit exactly the way you want it to.

This way, you can get a perfect custom fit.  The stitches are worked in the back loop only (blo), making the dress not as thick and bulky as crochet can sometimes be. The pattern calls for a DK, # 3. medium worsted weight yarn, and the finished garment is lightweight, soft and drapable.

The dress is shaped without using increases or decreases, because of a method I came up with called  the "Graduated Stitch Method". You work short and tall stitches on the same row to get the shaping. Don't let this intimidate you if you are a beginning crocheter. The skill level is actually labeled Advanced Beginner. It's very easy and all you have to do is know sc, hdc, dc, and trc. Watch the video now. (below) You can see the dress in the background here before the video starts.Once it starts, don't forget that the dress comes out when the video is about half way finished. The fashion show was much longer than this video. This shows only groups 5 - 8, but there were 90 garments shown in all!

Fashion Show Photos

Designs of Mary Jane Hall - November 2007

These are mostly designs from Positively Crochet and designs that were published in other books or magazines. I do not have photos of all the designs that were modeled in the fashion shown. I do have a slideshow and a video, and will be posting those later. The most popular design in Positively Crochet, the "Easy Shrug", is not in these photos. I will be posting photos from my books soon so please check back. These fashion show photos do not do justice to the designs.
The designs in Crochet That Fits were not in this fashion show, but I plan to have another show later this year.

Jamie, Jade, Chloe and Anca  in the Soft Capelets

  

Aminta (right) 
and 
____?

with the 
Patchwork Purse 
and 
Oversized Hat

Alyssa 
and 
Victoria    

wearing 
the 

 Tangerine 
Top

 Anca, 
 Chloe, 
Jamie 
and 
Sophia
wearing their 
Snowball 
and 
Snowflakes
Scarf

Renae
and 
 Victoria

 wearing the 
Chain of Flowers 
scarf and 
Spiral Scarf

Sharon 
wearing the 
Cloverleaf 
Scarf 
and 
Barb

wearing the

Ribbon 
Scarf

Rachel, 
Kierston 

and 
Karol
wearing the 
Pink Filligree 
Capelet 
in 
Crochet 
In Style

Sophia 
 in the 

Toddler Outfit
and 
Jade
wearing the 
Fun Flowers 
Scarf 
and 
Ear Muff Set

Minta 
and 
Tiffany 
wearing 
the 
Tie Front 
Sweater

 Abigail 
wearing the 

Scarf / Hat 
and little 
Chloe 
carrying 
the Little Girl's 
Purse with the
Barrette 
in her hair

(Both published 
in the Crochet 
A Day Calender)

Jamie 
and 
Anca 
wearing the 
Ivory Shells 
Sweater

Renae, 
Tiffany 
and Allie
in the
News Boy Caps 
(all 3 different 
patterns and i
n different 
publications) 

Rachel 
wearing 
the 
Scallop Shells 
Capelet 
and 
 Skull Cap 
published in 
Crochet 
Young 
 and Trendy

Brittany

wearing the 
Skirt 
Overlay

Renae 
with the
Barrel Bag 
(published in 
 Crochet Today! 
magazine, in 
different colors 
and a 
Hounds Tooth 
Pattern) 
and 
Hat to match

Penny 
and 
Maclana
wearing 
the 
Circular 
Shrug

 
Jasmine 
in the 
Sari Silk 
Belt

 
Rachel 
and 
Jasmine 
 wearing the 
Popcorn Scarf 
and 
Popcorn Belt

 
Allie 
wearing the 
All Curls Scarf 
published in 
Crochet Young 
and Trendy

 Penny 
with the 
Brown Felted 
Tote Bag / Purse
and 
Coffee Lover's 
Scarf

   

Kierston 
in the 
Bolero Jacket 
and Jamie in the
Wine Shrug 
(both published
in the book 
Top It Off)

 
Jamie 
modeling the 
Cloverleaf Top
and 
Long 
Beaded 
Necklace

Anca
and 
Brittany 
wearing the
Airy Vest

Jade 
and 
Minta 
modeling 
the 
Fishnet 
Sweater

 Maclana and 
Sarah
modeling 
the 
Long Felted 
Scarf
(before 
and after)

Karol 
with the 
Sari Silk 
Bolero 
 and 
Purse

Maclana
and 
Anca
modeling 
the
Lacy Tunic

Penny 

wearing 
the 
Granny Squares 
Braided Cap 
and the 
Ruffled 
Wrist Warmers
(the braids 
 attached
to the cap 
can be
thrown around
the neck 
to wear 
as a scarf)

Rachel 
with the 
Leapin' 
Lizzard Scarf
published 
in the book 
"Big Hooks
Crochet"

Abigail
with the 
Dangling 
Flowers Scarf
(not yet 
published 
- will be
on this blog
as a 
free pattern 
soon)

Feminine Lace Belt
from the Book
"Belts from the Hip"
(several designers
went in together
to do
this book)
The pattern
will be available
for sale soon
on this blog

Karol
wearing the
Pink
Lacy Capelet 
published in
Hooked On Crochet
and
Sharon
in the
  Asymmetrical
Fishnet Poncho
published in
"Crochet In Style"

Lover's Knot

Poncho

from

"Crochet

Young 

and 

Trendy"

Alyssa

in the

Ruffled 

 Shrug

My girls 

wearing the 

Soft Capelets

Sophia 

is in the photo

this time. 

She cried 

and had to

leave the stage 

before

Fashion Shows Featuring my Designs

In November of 2007, I held my very first fashion show and it was one of the most exciting events in my designing career! The Greene County library ordered 7 copies of Positively Crochet! for their various libraries in the county, and Karl Colon (GCPL Director) asked me if I would hold an event there, advertising my books. Of course I was thrilled and I quickly had the idea of doing a fashion show. I knew I had plenty of willing models, ages 5 - 50, who had been in my crochet classes. Some are also hired by me to test my crochet designs before publication. Some of my contract crocheters participated also.

This was such a fun event! We had lots of door prizes, and refreshments. Several of the stores in town, such as Michael's Arts and Crafts, Busy Beaver Arts and Crafts,  JoAnn Fabrics, and Fiberworks were so kind and willing to donate yarn, books or notions for the prizes we gave away.  I also did book signings. It was wonderful to see all the people from the community come out to support me. There was standing room only in a room that holds a little over 100 people. The setting was perfect with a stage and plenty of room to mingle. People have been asking me when I'm going to have my next fashion show. I have planned to do that ever since Crochet That Fits (voted "Best Crochet Pattern Book of 2008") was released, but I've had to put those plans on hold, due to some circumstances in my life. I'm not giving up on the idea though, and will try to do the show later this year.

See photos and media coverage below of the event. I will be adding photos of the fashion show over the next few days and weeks, as well as a slide show of the event that you can view. Photos of the TNNA fashion show (San Diego, Ca) my "Little Black Dress" was in will come later, so keep coming back!

8 1/2" x 11" Flier 
for the event