The mile 18 feet of garland is finally complete. My mom has a lovely tree done entirely in crochet. For the past several years, she’s gotten by with two strands of garland. This year, I confidently asked her whether she’d like yet another strand of garland, or a pair of lovely, hand-knit socks. Yes, I was hoping that she’d pick the socks. Ah, well.

Did I mention that although she’s sworn for years that she can’t manipulate the tiny thread to crochet this garland or the other thread ornaments, she crocheted a thread doily this year? I think I’ve been had.

Details:

Started:	Late Nov or early Dec 2007
Finished:	11 Jan 2008
Pattern:	Bead Garland by Lee Mathewson of hugg’ems collectables.
Yarn:	Size 10 bedspread cotton from the stash. I have no idea what brand.
Hook:	Size US-7 steel
Notes:	18 feet is totally longer than you think it is. Stop asking Mom if she’d like more. In the future, don’t stick a size 4 and a size 7 hook in the same project bag. Who knows if you switched ‘em out midstream.

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For anyone curious about Rogue, I’m back to 1 skein in.

You put your three skeins in…

You take your three skeins out…

You put your hands in your hair,
and you pull it all about!

I’m still not sure whether the gauge swatches outright lied, or whether my considerable difference between swatch and sweater is due to my needle change. I swatched on ancient metal size US 6 straights. They showed as a US 6 on my old needle sizer, and a size 7 on my Knit Picks sizer. Is this the difference between Knit Picks being metric and my old needles being a non-metric size? Who knows. It was close enough that I used the Knit Picks size 6… and now I’m paying the price. Happily, I bought a 7 at the same time I bought the 6, so at least I have the next size up. I’m off approximately 1/2 stitch and 1/2 row per inch. Ah, well. Time for some hot tea.