Bonus!

Today I have two FOs. The first was actually finished on Saturday and the second was begun and completed since then.

MIL Socks

Started: December 8, 2006
Completed: December 16, 2006

Yarn: Regia 6-ply Jacquard Color,75 % wool/25% polyamide, colour 5174, indigo-ish blues and a bit of grey.
Needles: 2.25 mm Boye aluminum dpns

Pattern: my Standard Socks with Estonian scalloped cuffs from a mitten pattern by Nancy Bush in Piecework (Jul/Aug 2006). Sock was worked on 60 sts, 6.5in to heel flap, 6.25in to toe decreases.

Cuff: CO 60 sts using long-tail cast-on. Purl one round, knit one round. Begin lace: round 1 – [SSK, k1, k1tbl, yo, k1, yo, k1tbl, k1, k2tog, p1] repeat. Round 2 – [k9, p1] repeat. Continue alternating rounds 1 and 2 twelve times (or desired cuff length). This naturally forms a scalloped edge.

Comments: As I’ve mentioned before, I’m a little disappointed at how the cuff pattern looks in the faux fairisle yarn. I will be trying this one again on something a little less contrast-y. This is the first pair I’ve made for my mother-in-law and they are a little thicker than my usual socks, being 6-ply instead of 4, so I hope they work out ok for her. She can always wear them for bed socks!

Next up we have storage for my crochet hooks.

Crochet Hook Roll

Begun: December 16, 2006
Completed: December 18, 2006

Yarn: Main colour – 2 strands of Condon’s 2-ply fine, hand-dyed forest green over grey (leftovers from Marigold & Feverfew blanket). Contrast colour – Navajo 3-ply DK-weight, handspun from dye-painted roving over dark grey. First spinning from Tori (new Victoria spinning wheel).
Hooks: MC – 7mm Aero. CC – 4.25mm T-Made in padauk wood.
Button: 7/8” vintage brass button

Size: Main piece, before felting – 10 inches wide by 24 inches long. After felting – 8.5 inches wide by 22.5 inches long. Cluster section – 2.25 inches wide by 22.5 inches long.

Pattern: Adaptation of “Kluster” from Berroco. Mine is much larger and the gauge is different.

Body:
Using MC and larger hook, ch 27, dc in 3rd ch from hook, dc across. 25 st. ch 2, turn. Continue in dc until piece is long enough. Full in washing machine.

Cluster section:
Using CC and smaller hook, ch 10, dc in 3rd ch from hook, dc in next dc, sk 2 ch, 5 dcs in next ch, sk 2 ch, dc in last 2 dcs. Set-up row completed. Ch 3, turn, dc 1 in second dc, 5 dcs in centre dc of 5-cluster, dc in last 2 dcs. Repeat this row for length. Last row, work as usual but after 3rd dc in cluster, ch 6, 3 dc in same st, dc in last 2 dcs, end off.

Finishing:
Using needle and thread, stitch cluster section down centre of fulled body, leaving ch loop hanging out at the end. Insert hooks, roll up and sew button on underneath ch loop. Button up.

Comments: This thing is big enough to hold even my biggest wooden hook! And there’s still room for a few more. Keeps them all in order, separated, padded and accessible. Perfect! Now I should make one for my sock needles. It should be knitted instead of crocheted though, huh? Berroco has this pattern “Kable” for straight knitting needles. Shouldn’t be too hard to adapt it to a long narrow roll.

Good news! One of my “twin” cottage spinning wheels just went to a new home! My friend Nadia, who was one of the students in my last spinning class, has purchased Frances leaving me with Lillian. There was no reason to have two identical wheels, especially now that Tori has moved in. How many spinning wheels does one really need anyway? Never mind — don’t answer that question! The money will defray only a little of Tori’s cost (actually not much more than the taxes!) but every little bit helps. Thanks and happy spinning, Nadia!