Little Pink Pineapple Pouch in crochet cotton thread 8 and 1.3mm crochet hook.
Thanks again to Bonnie, I’ve corrected and updated the pattern for the Little Pineapple Pouch, and have just completed a second pouch, this time in pink. Having completed this, I went back to making the Clones Knot, practising with the help of antique books, Maire Treanor’s video (taken by one of the students, Jeff, at an Irish Crochet workshop at Lacis), and the Irish Crochet Lover’s group in Ravelry.
Clones Knot in cotton 10 and .95mm hook.
Here, above, is what I have practiced so far using two methods – method from Lula Harvey’s Priscila book (the two knots on top) and Maire’s method (the two knots under) as shown on the video . I used cotton 10 and .95mm steel hook. I am still more used to Lula Harvey’s method but I am starting to get a hold of Maire’s method. In both cases, my main problem is getting the knots 100% snug so that a loop will not fall out. Sometimes they look really perfect, tight, even, and sometimes they look horrible. 
Thanks to Cheri for the advise about the hook, which always goes under the thread in Maire’s method. Switching from Lula’s method I always felt that the hook needed to alternate between going under and going over.
Clones Knots in coton 8 and 1.3mm hook.
Knots in blue (above photo) – Thanks to Maire’s reminder to use ch 2, sl st to the other side of the knot – “This makes the knot sit up and is a lot more effective.” Now my typical problem is a loop sometimes coming loose as you can see in the photo. This was made with cotton 8 and a 1.3mm steel hook, a knot with 10 overs. I will practice more and now try to make these knots in the context of an actual project.
Now, my work in hibernation, the hairpin lace collar which I was attempting to do in cotton thread instead of fingering weight yarn.
Work in hibernation.
The development of the work as written in my notes:
July 24, 2010: I am using burgundy color cotton thread size 8 on a 4” staple with steel hook size 1.3mm. I use sc, then dc stitches per loop.
- 84 loops on each side made. Removed lace from staple but didn’t fasten off, continued to make loop (ch with sc) for button, then just made ch tall as the loops.
- With sc and ch 8 connecting 4 loops twisted one at a time.
- Didn’t fasten off but just made 16 ch to reach middle of lace, sc there, then 16 ch to reach loops on other side of the strip. With sc and ch 6 connecting 4 loops twisted one at a time.
Strip with edging is 20” long. Very soft, too soft, in cotton thread 8. The pattern is more feasible in fingering weight yarn. Unless, perhaps, one is inclined to starch the thread.
I am modifying the pattern to make a new piece.
Some lessons learned:
- It is better NOT to link the link the middle of the lace with the loops with ch, the ch distorts the shape of the lace. Better to fasten off.
July 26: (photo above) I tried connecting the tips of lower loops with a crochet lace edging but it is not working out structurally. Cotton is just too soft and this will not hold up as a necklace or collar if worked this way. I will try to find another way.
Skullcap pattern in DK/light worsted yarn and 4.0mm hook.
Anyway, I am still inclined to continue with hairpin lace crochet (above photo) this time doing the Skullcap in Hairpin Lace crochet but this time using heavier weight yarn, DK/light worsted instead of fingering. I am following the pattern with some modification on the Edging so as to make a larger cap, a beret. This work in progress looks more promising. Thank goodness.
Also, the pattern writing is improving, very meticulous work which I am beginning to like more and more. Even just a few feedback from people who have used my patterns help tremendously – and I get very few feedback, perhaps most people who use my patterns figure out errors in the patterns by themselves, which is what I do with other patterns too. 
It’s late – the photos of the hairpin lace beret will be up tomorrow.
