A New Pattern

Not too much going on right now - I'm taking a couple of summer classes, which are not completely overwhelming, and I'm finally finding some time to do a little knitting a spinning again. Which is what led me to this new pattern, because it has been hot and awful already this spring (it won't even be summer for another week and a half!), and the wool roving was sticking to me and making me miserable. So I made myself a wrist distaff. I've been wanting one anyway, and I had looked at a couple of patterns on the web for beaded ones, but they always seemed so heavy and overly busy, so I just took the tail end of a ball of kitchen cotton and a crochet hook and made one that seemed practical to me.

Then I made another, to make sure I remembered what I did and could be consistent with it. I could, so I wrote it all down and then made one more following my written directions, and it looked just like the first two (but a different color). So, I now present to you the Mayday wrist distaff (yes, that's "Mayday" from "M'aidez" - French for "Help me." Did you know that was where the word came from?). I'm working on getting a PDF of the pattern typed up and posted to my Ravelry designer page, but that will have to wait until I have a couple more pictures.


Mayday Wrist Distaff

Materials:

• Approximately 24 yards worsted-weight cotton yarn (I used Lily's "Sugar 'n Cream")
• US G/4.25 mm crochet hook (yes, it's a little small for this yarn, but you want your gauge tight, or the distaff will be too floppy)
• Scissors
• Yarn needle

Abbreviations:

• ch - chain
• sc - single crochet
• sl st - slip stitch
• dec - decrease
• rnd(s) - round(s)
• yo - yarn over

Wrist Strap:

Chain 5, turn.

Foundation Row: Sc in second ch from hook, sc across row, ch 1, turn (4 sc).

Row 2: Sc in each sc across, ch 1, turn (4 sc).

Repeat Row 2 until wrist strap is long enough to make a loop that slips comfortably over your hand (approx. 9 3/4 ")

When wrist strap is the right length, fold it in half, keeping the foundation chain to the back of the work, and keeping your working loop to the right. Insert your hook through the top of the 1st sc, then through the 1st st of the foundation chain.

Here is a picture to make this clear:

Draw up a loop and complete the 1st sc. Repeat this across the row, making a closed loop of the wrist strap. Ch 1, turn.

Next Row: Sc across row, ch 1, turn.

Spindle:

Increase Row: 2 sc in each sc across the row (8 sc). Do not turn. At this point, you will begin working in the round. The spindle and button are worked in a spiral.

Closure Rnd: Sc in the sc farthest from the hook, then sc in each sc across the rnd (8 sc).

Rnd 2: Sc around (8 sc).

Rnd 3-5: Repeat Rnd 2.

Rnd 6: (Dec rnd) Work dec by inserting hook into 1st sc and drawing up a loop, then insert hook into 2nd sc and draw up a loop (3 loops are on the hook), yo and draw loop through all 3 loops. Sc in next 2 sc, work dec, sc in next 2 sc (6 sc).

Rnd 7: Sc around (6 sc).

Rnd 8: (Inc rnd) *2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 2 sc; repeat from * once more (8 sc).

Repeat rnds 2-8 once more, then rnds 2-7 once (ending with 6 sc).

Button:

Rnd 1: 2 sc in each sc around (12 sc).

Rnd 2: *2 sc in 1st sc, 1 sc in next sc; repeat from * around (18 sc).

Rnd 3: *2 sc in 1st sc, 1 sc in next 2 sc; repeat from * around (24 sc).

Rnd 4: *2 sc in 1st sc, 1 sc in next 3 sc; repeat from * around (30 sc).

Sl st in next 2 sc, cut yarn and finish off. Weave in ends.

So that's it - Happy Spinning!