Woman will show off skills, sell scarves

Holiday preparations begin early for Evans resident Katie Gastelle.

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Gastelle, who crochets scarves and afghans for friends and family members for Christmas, said she usually gets started in July.

This year, she is crocheting 100 scarves to sell at a local nail salon and a boutique.

"This is the first time I'm selling them," Gastelle said.

She usually crochets scarves for her 14-year-old daughter, Courtney, to give to her female teachers.

"When I see my friends or somebody wearing this, I really enjoy it," Gastelle said.

Without any interruptions, she said she can crochet four or five scarves in an hour.

Gastelle also is working on several afghans for family members. She has finished two, and she has three more to complete.

She added another skill to her crafting abilities last year when a former neighbor taught her to make "light balls" out of clear plastic cups and strands of Christmas lights.

"A gentleman in the neighborhood was doing them and he had them hanging on his front porch," she said.

She said she can make two light balls in 30 minutes, and she plans to give two of the outdoor decorations to her neighbors.

Gastelle will demonstrate her crochet skills and sell her scarves at CT Nails, 3328 Washington Road in Evans, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Dec. 22.

She also teaches crochet classes to groups and to individuals.

"I wish there were more people doing handmade gifts," she said.