small things

I have a couple of small things to share today. They are very useful and are my current favorite 'tools'.

This cute little double-ended crochet hook is from Knit Picks.
I love that I can attach it to my sock-on-the-go knitting bag for stitch dropping emergencies. I kept losing regular crochet hooks and don't have to worry about this one going astray.

The second tool is a wrist distaff for the other bag in my purse, the spindle bag. While I was at the hospital with Dan, I was forever jumping up and down to make room for the nurses or when visitors came. I usually wrap my fiber around my wrist but it didn't work very well to keep pulling it off and putting it on particularly while I was wearing my watch on the same wrist.
I had seen an article about distaffs in an old Spin Off magazine and thought this idea looked like it would work well so I pulled out some Elann Esprit yarn remnants from the stash. The stretchy cotton blend is practical and comfortable for this use. I just knitted a regular ribbed cuff in blue then picked up stitches at the edge of one rib and knitted a faux rib (K one row, P one row, K one row, repeat these 3 rows) with the rose yarn. Once it was long enough I sewed the other end to the cuff as the fiber compartment. Here it is in use:
Now if my spinning is interrupted, I just pull off the cuff and don't disturb my fiber supply at all.

Besides the Trekking Maxima sock knitting, I've done a little dyeing and a little spinning.

The dyeing is for a gift so I won't divulge what the plans are just yet. It's SW merino and I was aiming for Barbie pink. I think I got pretty close.

And the spinning is a 3 ply sock yarn using a blend of Corriedale and bison. It's the first time I've spun yarn with a tight twist from fiber that I scoured and prepared myself. It certainly doesn't feel like commercial sock yarn. It has some spring in it even with the tight twist. I think I will dye it. It will be interesting to see how finishing it affects its hand.

Here are some leftover singles right off the wheel.