I’m happy to report that my block is gone, like far far away. All three of the designs which give me trouble are now drawn, charted or even on my needles. Sometimes you have to think a bit out of the box to be able to find your mojo back. Talking with friends and browsing a lot of colourwork books did the trick for me this time. Especially one * lent to me by a friend (thank you! 😘). It’s a gem! With hundred of colourwork mitten patterns, it opened a new perspective on pattern placement and how elements can play together.
Unfortunately (for you), I’ll not publish pictures of them right now. You’ll have to be a bit more patient before seeing them popping here on the blog. But, not for long, I promise! I plan to release one of them, the leftover sock pattern, as an MKAL in one month. That’s quite a short timeline as it still has to go through all the writing, editing and testing phases but I like challenges.
The other ones will have to wait a bit until at least this one is off my needles to be able to jump on it. I’m trying to only have two projects on my needles at a time: one simple carry-along-everywhere project (currently a shawl) and one more complex-I-need-to-be-at-home. These socks are definitively in the second category! Two yarn cakes, one chart, one ruler and tiny needles are not that great to knit in public transportation!
Kind of?
So what about the “kind of” statement? I have a left wrist tendinitis. BUT the doctor allow me to knit (and type) until I start to feel some discomfort, luckily enough I’m not banned from knitting! That’s a pretty good news because knitting is my job but it’s mostly my way to stay sane and relaxed.
I’m really bad at following good habits in term of good positioning and hand stretching. But I guess I’ll have to! If you want to avoid my mistakes, here is a quick list of things I was told to pay attention to (and you should too!):
- Seating comfortably but maintaining a good position. No more collapsing in the sofa, try to stay seated properly, with your back upright and lower your shoulders.
- To relieve your shoulders, try to use circular needles instead of long straight ones. All the weight will then be in your lap and not at the end of the needles. I did it years ago and never regretted it!
- Doing some stretching! To be honest, I always forgot to do it. But I’ll try to get better as it can prevent more wrist troubles! Here are two videos which show how to stretch your neck and shoulders or your wrists, hands and fingers.
- Prefer multiple short knitting sessions to 6-hours marathons. This one will be the hardest for me to apply I think!
- Treating yourself with some massages and hot baths. That’s actually one of my doctor “prescription” to relieve both my shoulders and neck. Pretty awesome, am I right?
- And obviously, if you’re feeling any kind of pain, don’t wait before going to your doctor!
And most of all, enjoy knitting!
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