Earlier this year Vanna White, Lion Brand and Michael's hosted a knitting and crochet contest. Entries had to be made out of Vanna's Choice yarn. The winner was to receive a trip for two to meet Vanna White and be part of the Wheel Of Fortune audience.
I made my Winter Viking amigurumi out of Vanna's Choice yarn and entered him in the contest. Then I sat back and waited for my tickets to L.A. to arrive in the mail. They never came. In fact, I didn't even make the first cut. I felt like a loser, but instead of sulking in defeat I got busy and crocheted this vengeful, nasty piece: (in order to solve the puzzle you'll need an F, and to buy two vowels - an O and an A).
By the time I finished this project I wasn't sad or angry anymore. In fact it was ridiculously fun to crochet a little "Vanna" with her Wheel Of Fortune board. Vanna is basically a typical Karabouts girl doll but with some added curves, a big smile, and a sparkly dress.
The Wheel Of Fortune board was crocheted using a technique called "tapestry crochet." With tapestry crochet, you carry one or more colors of yarn, switching out the color depending on which color is needed. You also work every other row in the back of the stitches so that you have only the front of the stitches on the front side of your work. It's a really neat technique that produces a woven look. If you'd like to learn this technique, here's a great site with lots of tips.
By the way, I have nothing against Vanna White. She's done a ton to promote crochet and I use her Vanna's Choice yarn all of the time in my work. She was just an easy target for my vengeful crochet. Sorry Vanna!
And in case you're wondering who did win the Vanna's Choice contest, you can find the winning entries here.
Hahaha, too funny!
Actually, that's really interesting - I hadn't heard of flat tapestry crochet before (I thought it was only done in the round) so I had to visit the site to find out how to do the 'backwards' rows. Thanks for mentioning it!
Posted by: planetjune | October 13, 2009 at 06:59 PM
Hi June! Nice to hear from you. It took me a bit of practice to learn to do those "backwards" rows for flat tapestry crochet but it was totally worth the effort. Thanks for your feedback on the Vanna piece. Glad you like it. Take care.
Posted by: Kara | October 13, 2009 at 09:35 PM
I would vote your diabolical and hilarious Vanna&Board as the winner of any crochet contest, especially one hosted by Vanna herself! After all, you were just wishing her "Luck" right? ;) hehe
Thanks for the links to learning tapestry crochet!
Posted by: Howie Woo | October 19, 2009 at 07:13 PM
Thanks Howie!!! You are the KING of funny crochet so a good review from you means a lot to me. I just added a link to your site on my blog so others can see your wonderful creations. Take care. Kara
Posted by: Kara | October 21, 2009 at 03:57 PM
I CANNOT believe that you didn't make it into the winner's circle with your viking!!! He is so much more creative and better executed than most of the items in the Craft category. Hmmmph. No wonder you were wishing Vanna "luck" to quote Howie.
Vanna is wonderful. I love her big grin and sparkley dress. I will have to go look up tapestry crochet. I've never done it and I'm not even sure I've seen it before. Very cool!
Posted by: CraftyShanna | October 22, 2009 at 05:21 PM
Thanks Shanna. I love your Ganesh.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/25428243@N06/4030563559/
He is just brilliant!! And I also adore the little clay items your husband made to go with him. I can understand not wanting to give him up. Take care Shanna and thanks for your kind comments re: my Vanna piece.
Posted by: Kara | October 23, 2009 at 12:52 PM
Now this would probably win if the puzzle said, Buy Vanna's Choice Lion Brand yarn at Michael's! j/k Great job on all!
Posted by: Chele | October 25, 2009 at 07:59 PM
Ha. You're probably right Chele!
Posted by: Kara | October 25, 2009 at 09:34 PM
I love it!!!! Love it, love it, love it!
You are so very talented!!!!!
Fantastic - must forward the pics to my friends....
snogs,
H xxxx
Posted by: Heather | October 26, 2009 at 10:02 PM
Thanks Heather! Just got done doing yoga again (again very poorly!!!) and I was missing you and missing our outings together, yoga related and otherwise. Take good care!!
Posted by: Kara | October 26, 2009 at 10:31 PM
Great job, it's a winner for me. It's unique your craftsmanship is superb. Thanks for sharing about taperstry crochet, this is the first time I heard of it. Now, I'm excited to give it a try.
Posted by: Morning Artist | October 30, 2009 at 06:47 AM
Hey just happened across your blog from One Pretty Thing and I loove this piece! You know they're running that contest again right now (until Feb.1) and I think you should enter this one :o)
Posted by: Steph | January 06, 2010 at 06:04 AM
Thanks Morning Artist and thanks Steph. I saw that they are running the contest again and for a minute I did consider submitting my Vanna - ha ha.
Posted by: Kara | January 06, 2010 at 09:27 AM
Oh my god! This is the most awesome and hilarious thing I've ever seen! I love it and I must say, you are uber-talented! xo This totally made my day!
Posted by: Dennise | January 14, 2010 at 01:18 PM
Dennise, your kind and enthusiastic comments about my Vanna totally made MY day!! Thanks so much!! Kara
Posted by: Kara | January 20, 2010 at 01:01 AM
omg HILLARIOUS
Posted by: ariel | August 13, 2010 at 03:08 PM
Thanks Ariel! ;-)
Posted by: Kara | August 13, 2010 at 04:18 PM