In the meantime, I've been playing around with knee length socks. I've never owned handknit knee socks and I had this 2-ply wool floating around for ages so I'm giving it a go. One down, one to go. That one sock took me a week! The pattern is the Latvian sock from Nancy Bush's Folk Socks.
I finished the Hemlock Ring! It's not that large, only 45" in diameter, but will be perfect for my new granddaughter.