Friday, June 11, 2010

Numb

Back in April I grew weary of all the gift knitting and needed something for me. The PhotoMan was out of town, and I devoted the down time to knitting this as quickly as I could. I wanted to get some wearing time before the weather turned too warm.

Turk Almonds

But knitting with this yarn (Classic Elite Soft Linen) made my hands feel strange. After about 30 minutes I felt like I needed hand cream and the texture would skeeve me out a bit.

Still, I like the way this scarf turned out - the pattern is Butternut Scarf by Anne Hanson. I used up all 3 skeins in the making, so yay for more stash burning.

Turk Almonds4

I actually think this project may have caused some nerve damage, because it's been hard to knit ever since. I have a strange numbness in my palms and fingers, things are tingly and heavy. It became apparent that the culmination of constant knitting for four solid years has affected my hands.

And so, I've forced myself to simply stop. I haven't knit in nearly two weeks. And I am barely spinning right now - just a bit on the spindle and a few minutes a day on the wheel. For me, a huge break in the routine. It's a bit maddening, and although it makes me feel a bit lost, it is forcing me to find new ways to fill my time.

Turk Almonds5

The good news is it appears to be helping, because the numbness is easing up a bit. A forced moratorium isn't a bad thing. It may mean less frequent visits to this blog, too. And less time on the computer in general.

I'm going to take the summer to reflect on all of it.

16 comments:

Oiyi said...

It's gorgeous! I am glad you are taking a break. We knitters and spinners need to protect our hands.

knottygnome said...

yikes! that's happened to me before. and yeah you really do need to stop for awhile. i nearly went crazy but it's for the best.

pretty scarf though.

Rose said...

Wow, that's a gorgeous scarf; hope your hand(s) feel better soon. Taking a break is probably the way to go. I know too much cotton knitting (my summer staple) can make my hands hurt so I stop and start a lot. Maybe I'll try some lace this summer for a change.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful scarf! Taking a much needed break may be just what the doctor ordered. Maybe you'll find yet another hobby, er, way of life, that you like in addition to knitting.

barefootrooster said...

oh, lisa. yes, take care of yourself. it is the most important thing. and in the meantime, be good to yourself, and enjoy the sunshine.

Cookie said...

Beautiful scarf!

I'm so sorry about your hands. I hope the time off does the trick. I'm sure you can find plenty to do with a summer off from knitting. Just check in once in a while so we don't worry too much, okay?

xo

Susie said...

The scarf is gorgeous! I wonder if you could talk to a physical therapist about exercises to make your hands feel better. I can't imagine two weeks without knitting. Hope it's better soon!

Mary said...

Fabulous scarf!

I find myself needing to take breaks from knitting because of sore fingers. That's when I step up my reading.

Bethany said...

Beautiful scarf! But I'm sorry to hear about the pain! I second Susie's suggestion of some physical therapy. A therapist my be able to help you avoid this in the future, too. Hope you heal quickly and find something fascinating to occupy yourself. Keep us posted.

Anonymous said...

Oh no! Numbness is not good. I'm sending you healing vibes. Perhaps spending some time with a good book or two will keep your mind occupied but give your fingers a rest?

At Home Mommy Knits said...

Your scarf turned out gorgeous. So sorry about your hands. At least it's summer now and there are plenty of other things to do. Hope you get better soon.

Knitting Out Loud said...

Wow, I hope you continue to feel better! Good idea to stop for awhile.
Gorgeous scarf!!!

Anonymous said...

Sorry to hear about your hands! Mine do that from time to time and it's really frustrating! Hope you heal quickly.

The scarf is beautiful and that colour is perfect on you!

t does wool said...

take a break...see the Doctor ;)...
beautiful scarf!

The A.D.D. Knitter said...

Ummm hello GORGEOUS! I love this scarf and you are too cute:)

AnaVar said...

Nice work! I love the color! I just found your blog, and reading older posts.. I love your work! I'm making first steps learning how to sew and knit and your blog is full of information I need! Have to go through briefly!