Gansey Gusset-Heel Sock

At the November 2005 meetings, Katherine Misegades presented a lesson about Gansey knitting.

In her book, Knitting Ganseys, Beth Brown-Reinsel discusses the details that makes sweater construction identifiably Gansey — welts, plain area, definition welt, patterning, seam stitches, gusset.

This sock was designed for Guild members by Katherine as a small practice project for learning these techniques.

You may download a free, printable PDF file of the pattern by clicking here. If you are on a dial-up connection, click here for a smaller PDF file.

This pattern was revised 7/10/06 to include more detail for turning the heel.

 Community Service Projects

Download a printable PDF file of four community-service project patterns by clicking here.

 Patricia's Scarf

This pattern was designed by Katherine Misegades and presented during the program at the May 2007 Guild meetings.

Download a printable PDF file of Patricia's Scarf pattern by clicking here.

 Operation Helmetliner

Today, U.S. troops stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, and South Korea, as well as many parts of the United States, are exposed to winds and bitter cold during the winter months. Riding in open trucks and humvees, they often encounter sub-zero wind chills. The military head gear issued to our troops is made of synthetic material which is not as warm as wool. Just as in WWI and WWII, volunteers are needed to make these wool caps for our troops. The wool head covering which can be worn under the Kevlar helmet provides warmth to the head and neck but does not restrict vision.

According to Dr. Richard H. Garretson, M.D., Crossroads Community Hospital, Mt. Vernon, Illinois, approximately 30 percent of a person's body heat loss is through the head. It is important to keep the head warm, so the body temperature stays up. The brain controls everything else in the body, the ability to think and act as well as the ability for the body to maintain a particular temperature.

One way to increase the comfort level of our troops in cold climates is to provide knitted/crocheted wool caps, or "wooly pulleys" to them. "The cap is definitely warm. It has certainly been a help, or should I say warmth." said Corporal Juan M. Perez, Jr., who is stationed in Iraq.

The patterns are available at www.geocities.com/helmetliner. If you have any questions, please contact helmetliner@hotmail.com or P.O. Box 236, Auburn, IL 62615. Completed helmetliners may be sent to Helmetliner, P.O. Box 236, Auburn, IL 62615, where they will be sent directly to our troops.

Donations to help defray shipping costs may be made payable to Helmetliner and sent to the address above.