Author: Jen Luker

Knitter’s Elbow

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My Astoria isn’t going to be finished. I’ve got half a sleeve and a collar to go, and only a couple days until the Strung Along Retreat. Most days, this would hardly be a blip in the radar, but I did the unthinkable. I ignored all common sense and knit until I destroyed myself. I was so desperate to finish the sweater that I now have to spend a knitting retreat without any knitting at all.

I’m devastated.

I’ve gotten knitter’s elbow before. It’s almost always after a sweater, come to think of it, and I’ve knit two this fall. That race to the finish has me pushing through when I should be enjoying the process. Just one more repeat. Just one more piece! It’s truly not worth it, ladies and gents. It’s just not.

In the spirit of education, I’ve found a few resources to help treat knitter’s (tennis) elbow, and, hopefully, prevent it in the first place.

I found a list of the Top 10 Most Effective Exercises for Tennis Elbow of All Time. You’ll find all the usual suspects including the Eccentric Exercise and the Forearm Extensor Stretch. A lot of these act to strengthen and lengthen the muscles we use everyday for our favorite pastime. Strength is prevention, they say.

Take a break every 30 – 45 minutes, and a LONG break after 2 hours. I read somewhere ages ago that however long you knit, that long break should be twice as long. For those short breaks, be sure to stretch and run through an exercise or two.

So it’s too late. What do you do now?

Ice packs can be helpful for reducing pain, and heat is useful for flooding the area with blood to help it heal. Guidelines say if you’re not feeling better after the first two weeks, it’s time to see a doctor.

Wish me luck!

Regular Guy Toe Up Socks

My husband has wide feet with wide toes, so I used the same modified toe for Steelhead, and a smaller needle.

Judy’s magic cast-on using magic loop.
CO 16 sts per needle.
Increase to 68 sts as pattern designates.
Work 7 rounds even.
Switch colors, k1 round. Start pattern with round 1.

As there are now 4 more stitches than the pattern calls for, I worked the k2, p2 rib across the top beginning and ending with the k2, then worked stockinette across the bottom. This means the ribbing pattern doesn’t start at the sides of his feet, but more towards the top. this is important when his shoes press so strongly against the sides of his feet to begin with.

I worked the heel as written which is 2 more rows than called for because of the stitch increase.

I also added two stitches on each side of the leg in the MC after finishing the heel, then p2tog/ssp the following round. This removed any holes that may have occurred on each side of the heel.

I ended up working 76 rows of ribbing on the leg.

The magic of notions

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You know how hard of a time I have with accessorizing an outfit. I feel like buttons are accessorizing a sweater. It either adds that magical finishing touch that brings it all together, or it’s cheapens it by slapping on some $0.05 plastic buttons you dug out of the bottom of some discount bin.

I’ve been knitting the Anders http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/anders sweater for a new baby. The perfect mauve and brown yarn intermingling with the natural makes me think of the first snow falling on Autumn trees, the silent splendor and the untouched purity of the moment. It’s everything I love about the transition from Autumn to Winter.

AndersNoButtons

Well I did it. I found the perfect buttons. The linchpin detail that ties it all together.

Tiny Snowflake Button Handmade Wood Button by WoodenHeartButtons

They are WOOD and SNOWFLAKES which is basically the whole concept behind this sweater. Snow falling on autumn trees.

Wood buttons are super light, so they won’t pull on baby’s neck. They are shabby chic, so if they get a little scratched or rubbed, perhaps while being washed or chewed on, it won’t degrade them at all. I also love that the white isn’t a true white. It’s a slight cream. That’ll contrast with the red on top, and match the natural white on the bottom.

I love that they are round so there aren’t any pointy edges for you, or baby, to deal with.
And they are 3/4″ so they are small enough to fit through the holes, and big enough to not slip out.

To top it all off, they are also handmade. This whole sweater has that handmade touch. I love that.