SHANNONDALE CRAFT CAMP

WOW! I ran across this ‘camp’ last week when I attended the 2008 Missouri Fiber Retreat. Crocheters are in the minority at the Fiber Retreat, but there are lots of interesting arts and crafts represented, including knitting, weaving, spinning, fingerweaving, tatting, and more. There are lots of folks who raise llama, goat, alpaca, and other yarn on the hoof and they sell their regionally grown wares. Hard to resist.

Shannondale is a small town south of Salem, Missouri off Interstate 44:

Like I said – a small town.

The Shannondale Craft Camp is held in a small town south of Salem, Missouri just about in the middle of nowhere. However, there are 65 different intensive classes offered over the period of April 24-27, 2008. These classes include crochet with wire and plenty of other fiber related goodies. Check them out at http://www.shannondalecraftcamp.com/index.php

I learned about the Shannondale Craft Camp from my fingerweaving teacher. If she is any example of the level of instructors at the Craft Camp, the classes will be well worth the money. They haven’t posted any pictures of crochet – but have plenty of other handcrafts on the gallery on their website.

Should you be so inclined, you can register for one or more classes from their extensive list and book a room on site. Go to their site to browse and register:

www.shannondalecraftcamp.com or call Barbara at 573.435.6455.

There are different price levels, but they typically offer some combination of sleeping and eating arrangements included in the tuition.

I’m sure there are other regional craft camps, fiber festivals, and handcraft events. I’ll post more as I find them.

There is something especially charming about a vintage baby dress pattern, and this Crocheted Cutie Dress #3112 has all the details that make older crochet designs so appealing.

The dress features a neatly shaped bodice, short sleeves, contrast stripes and a full lace skirt with a scalloped finish. It has that classic heirloom look without feeling overly formal, which makes it suitable for birthdays, family photos, baby showers or simply as a special handmade outfit.

One of the nicest things about this design is the balance between the structured upper section and the much softer, more decorative skirt. The bodice is worked in a simple repeating texture, while the skirt opens into a detailed lace pattern that gives the dress plenty of movement and fullness. The white trim around the neckline, sleeves and hem also helps define the shape beautifully.

The pattern includes instructions for sizes 1 and 2, with the second size shown in parentheses throughout. As with many vintage patterns, the sizing does not line up neatly with modern age labels, so it is important to check the gauge and finished proportions rather than relying on the size number alone.

This would be best suited to an intermediate crocheter, or a confident beginner who is comfortable reading traditional pattern instructions. The design uses chain stitches, single crochet, double crochet, treble crochet, colour changes, shaping, repeated lace sections and separate pieces that are sewn together during finishing.

The sleeves and collar are made separately and attached to the completed bodice. The back is finished with three buttons, giving the dress a practical opening while keeping the front clean and decorative.

The original version uses pink and white mercerized crochet cotton, but the design works beautifully in more modern combinations too. Sage and cream give it a soft botanical feel, lemon and white make it fresh and summery, while orange and ivory create a much warmer retro look.

Because the pattern was originally written for vintage crochet cotton and a steel hook, I would strongly recommend making a gauge swatch before beginning. Modern threads and hook-sizing systems can vary, and the bodice needs to fit correctly before the lace skirt is added.

The professionally reformatted PDF is much easier to follow than an unedited scan. It keeps the original stitch counts and construction while improving spacing and readability. It also includes a modern mockup and the original vintage reference image, which is helpful when visualising the finished shape.

Overall, this is a lovely pattern for anyone who enjoys making vintage-inspired baby clothes. The lace skirt is the real highlight, but the striped bodice and matching collar give the finished dress a polished, complete look.

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