I'll just put these in order. :)
1. I've been on a knitting spree lately....and kinda got a callus on one of my fingers (I use it to push the needle, so it kept getting poked with the sharp end). Anyone have a way of preventing this? Aside from getting a new method of knitting?
2. I've forced myself on a hiatus from knitting, since after my sweater and two hats...my right wrist is now very sore. Aside from adding advil to my diet and icing, any suggestions on what I can do to make it better?
3. An actual pattern question! I'm going to be working on a hat for my mom (when my college papers are done), and just to be prepared....can anyone help me figure out what these instructions mean in simpler terms?
"With dpn pick up 150 sts from cast on edge.
Fold with purl sides together, Knit 1st from circular needle together with 1 st from dpn, repeat to end of round. (You are making the hem on the roll up brim) The moose pattern will be on the inside until you roll up the brim."
Here's the pattern, if it'll help: knitting.about.com/gi/dynam...fsite.htm
Thanks! Time to rush to school.
1. I've been on a knitting spree lately....and kinda got a callus on one of my fingers (I use it to push the needle, so it kept getting poked with the sharp end). Anyone have a way of preventing this? Aside from getting a new method of knitting?
2. I've forced myself on a hiatus from knitting, since after my sweater and two hats...my right wrist is now very sore. Aside from adding advil to my diet and icing, any suggestions on what I can do to make it better?
3. An actual pattern question! I'm going to be working on a hat for my mom (when my college papers are done), and just to be prepared....can anyone help me figure out what these instructions mean in simpler terms?
"With dpn pick up 150 sts from cast on edge.
Fold with purl sides together, Knit 1st from circular needle together with 1 st from dpn, repeat to end of round. (You are making the hem on the roll up brim) The moose pattern will be on the inside until you roll up the brim."
Here's the pattern, if it'll help: knitting.about.com/gi/dynam...fsite.htm
Thanks! Time to rush to school.
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Re: A few questions
Wed, November 1, 2006 - 9:59 AMHey, Thanks for you answer about W&T. The only thing I can think of is that you should use the ball of your finger and push the YARN, not the needle. In other words push the yarn on the needle down and away from the tip by just placing your index finger in the top and sliding along.
Hope that's helpful
Karen
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Re: A few questions
Wed, November 1, 2006 - 1:19 PMI had to think about #2. Go to knittinghelp.com and look at the continental style of knitting. That's the style I use it uses less hand movements and you knit much faster. You don't move your hands as much so they don't get so tired. Other than that, just take a few breaks. -
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Re: A few questions
Wed, November 1, 2006 - 3:19 PMSadly, I think I'm kinda set in my ways with the "throwing yarn" method of the English style, and the only time I pushed the needle was.....let me see if I can explain it. I'd go in for a knit, toss the yarn, and when I went back to the front is when I'd give the needle a little push with my finger. If I can't break myself of that habit, maybe I'll just put a bandaid on my finger while I work. :) -
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Re: A few questions
Wed, November 1, 2006 - 4:26 PMIt's okay to be a thrower. I find continental to be less of a strain. I still can't figure out why you push the needle tip, Ouch.
By the way I just followed the instructions for W&T and it worked. My problem was I was trying to visualize it while doing it and I couldn't get it in my mind. I've done this years ago and started knitting again. I forgot just how easy it is. -
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Re: A few questions
Wed, November 1, 2006 - 5:18 PMGuess it's just a quirk of mine. :) And yeah, the instructions for W&T threw me for a loop the first time I saw it, too. I called my sis-in-law and told her that she had to help me figure it out. She's typically my go-to-gal for pattern confusions, since she's made soooo much more than I have.
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Re: A few questions
Thu, November 2, 2006 - 3:43 PMi tend to knit using the english method (throwing the yarn) and push the needle point like you
i've tried the continental method, but have a really hard time purling, so i only do that if i have a row where it's not complicated and it's all knits.
1. some (actually one really) suggestions that worked for me. don't knit so tightly, loosen up. i found that once i loosened up, the pushing of the needle was barely noticeable.
2. take breaks. i know it's counterintuitive, but taking breaks really allows my body to "reset" and i'm not sore. i break up my knitting time with other things like playing my video games, chatting online with friends or even just to hit the fast forward key on my tivo remote (since i'm usually watching tv as i knit)
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Re: A few questions
Fri, November 3, 2006 - 9:57 AMI push the needle point, too. I've been thinking of getting a thimble. -
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Re: A few questions
Fri, November 3, 2006 - 10:10 AMOoohhh....that's a good idea.
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Re: A few questions
Fri, November 3, 2006 - 1:31 PMThe soreness:
I do some stretching that seems to make my wrists & hands feel better, I think they're the same ones they tell you to do for tendonitis and carpel tunnel. Extend one arm out, palm down, and use your other hand to pull your fingers up and then toward your body. Hold it for a few breaths. Then extend your arm out again and bend your hand down (without the help of your other hand this time).
This, tiger balm patches, and hand/arm massages keep me knitting a little longer. Of course, the hiatus, ice, and NSAIDs are the healthiest option. But then your not knitting.
Hope this helps :)
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Re: A few questions
Thu, December 21, 2006 - 11:16 PMAs a dancer I'm used to dealing with calluses. Normally, these are good things which prevent hard-working areas of the body from getting too sore. If you're not happy with it, I agree with the others that a change in method will work, but also, keeping the area moisturized will help to get rid of it. Buff it with a bit of a loofah to take off the roughness, and just keep it soft and moisturized. Without repeated movements, the callus will go away on its own.
IF you can't change things, and you still want to knit, why not try one of those gel finger things that secretaries use when working with papers. Also, a bandaid will help protect that sore digit from getting callused.
GOOD LUCK! -
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Re: A few questions
Fri, December 22, 2006 - 10:17 AMLots of great feedback about questions 1 and 2, so I'll answer 3 :)
This is for a turned hem, where you'll knit twice as long as the bottom band is, slide double-points (or another circular if you have it, smaller gauge is fine) through loops in your cast-on edge (you should be getting the same number of loops as the stitches you have, and then fold the band in half so the needle holding your cast-on edge is sitting right behind your working needle... and then you'll knit 2 together, using one stitch from your working needle and one stitch from your cast on edge.
I realize that I'm just saying it longer than what they say.. but maybe it helped make it a bit clearer? Let me know if there's a particular chunk you don't understand.
I do this all the time, and it makes a really neat and tidy edging for hats! Good luck :)
X.
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