Aching Hands
It doesn't happen to me very often, but every now and then when I do a killer amount of knitting I get aching hands. Actually, all of my muscles have been aching, which is probably the rain, the coming Autumn, the work on the house - just life and getting older - but the piece I'm knitting right now is a large chunk o'knitting, and for several reasons I prefer to knit this one on straights.When it's finished it will be a dress with large intarsia roses across it - a knit dress, light worsted weight yarn on size 6 needles (generally my favorite yarn weight and needle size) but it's 200 sts across (it will have a side seam) and every two or three rows I need to stop and rest my hands. I'd rather not work on circs because I can't find any with a needle long enough to allow me to get a good speed going, and this is due next week. So I knit on straights and rest my hands every bit. I also find that I've been putting off this knitting - working on charts, editing, watching a movie - when the most intelligent thing would be to work on the dress and when I take my necessary breaks, then pick up the chart, manuscript or return to the movie.
Ah, life is filled with choices.
Note: Just so's you knows, when I knit I rest my right arm on a bolster, so after I get 7 or 8 inches finished, the fabric rests on the bolster, too, so I don't have a lot of weight hanging off of the needles. Never fear! The pain is mostly from just WORKING so many sts in a row, and the fact that I'm working sort of fast is also cause for some finger angst. Fear not, I won't overdo it - these hands are my life!
It's been rainy here for a few days - Max is reading a lot (to the cat) and loving it. School is good.
9 Comments:
The project looks gorgeous! I hear you regarding the aching. I actually had to alternate knitting needle sizes, switch the type of needle I was using and take lots of breaks in order to cope sometimes...and I just don't do the number of designs you do. The best solution for me was a combination of stretching and a good relationship with a competent massage therapist! I don't go often, but it really helps.
I love the photo of Max reading and I've been thinking about the Combination Purling video since I saw it yesterday. It is great! I can't see your hands though, it all moves too fast. How does one slow the movie down?
Wow that is my next challenge to learn to knit intarsia! The right tool is really important, for me sometimes I have to try two or three different needles the same size but different brands somehow makes a difference between fighting the yarn or smooth sailing.
For the aches, motrin.
I wince at the thought of knitting a 200 stitch row on straights! So non-ergonomic! All that weight hanging off the side of your hands! Oh!
Can you pile pillows on each side of your lap, to help carry some (most) of the weight of the work?
Re: Update, oh good! Wow, I was totally cringing at the thought of knitting something that huge on straights!
When I am doing so much knitting that my hands ache I find that wearin fingerless mitts help. The extra warmth is soothing.
Cate
Hi Anne
Please be sure to advise (when you can) where the pattern can be found!
Rose is one of my names and I obsess(sp) over anything with roses.
I'd love to try this as my first intarsia project.
TinaRose
I occasionally get sore hands - particularly on the really big needles which led to me giving up on bulky needs (just as well!).
And Max! There's nothing better than a little Stinky Cheese Man, a big comfy chair and somewhat attentive cat. I love that book.
Here comes blasphemy on the Heretic's blog... I knit with straights to *avoid* having the weight of the knitting hanging off the needles and weighing down my hands. If I knit with *circulars*, I get the hand aches and feel the weight. Sound wrong? It's because I use the style of knitting where one tucks the right needle under one's arm -- your body supports the weight instead of your hands.
Now, everyone has their own style, so of course personal mileages vary. Just wanted to point out, given the preceding comments, that one person's poison may be another's ambrosia. Vive la difference...
Love, love love it. I don't get aching hands - but aching brain at the moment with intarsia as I am following some one elses design -if it was my own I would fudge about rather than being anal about getting every row right. I think the dress will be gorgeous
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