2024, new life to my knitting

 My wrist pain has made it altogether impossible to enjoy knitting. And I've tried it all. NSAIDs (ibuprofen and two forms of topicals), wrist splints, etc. 

It's been two years since I've been able to knit. And it's been HARD. I've explored a lot of alternative crafts over the past few years. And while that's been fun and I've enjoyed them. It is not the same. I don't get the same dopamine rush, I don't get the same meditative, soothing, relaxing sensation.

But I found something, and it's even under $10!!!

I found a pair of fingerless gloves that have heating elements on the palms and back of the hands that is heated by a simple USB port. 

Affiliate link - USB Heated Gloves.

I've been wearing them while working (office work, so I'm on a keyboard all day), and in the evening. They've helped the pain ten-fold better than everything else I've tried.

Now, admittedly, I've been nervous about whether they'll work for my knitting or not. So far, I've spent about twenty minutes last weekend and twenty minutes yesterday - keeping my knitting time to a minimum intentionally. But my wrists don't hurt afterwards. I'm not sure if I'll ever knit as much as I used to... easily four to five hours every evening and most of my weekends. But I am definitely feeling more at ease with knitting again. 

I can't vouch for how long they'll last. I've worn mine non-stop since Christmas. For $10, I wouldn't be too terribly upset if I had to replace them occasionally.

I also bought a pair for my son who struggles with Raynauds. He's thrilled as well. He's even bought a separate battery pack for them so he can wear them away from the laptop. 

While the heating pads can be removed for washing, there's a velcro strip to hold them back in place that could be a little stronger; but the light velcro strip is reducing bulk so you don't really notice that while wearing the gloves. I just wouldn't take them out and replace them multiple times unless you really needed to. 

NOTE: No one has paid me to support these, though the link above is an affiliate one, so if you use the link and buy the gloves, I will get a small commission. 

Nothing, if not unpredictable

  Another wide gap between posts.

I really, really enjoyed the spur of creativity creating innovative baby hats.

I really, really enjoyed working on some charity blanket projects, which were really big and seemed to never end.

But, now my health has prevented me from knitting more than an hour or two a week. 

Still have the urge to create. Not a lot of talent, but I'm exploring other crafts.

Easter Wreath - made with mesh, pipe cleaners (or I should say chenille stems, as they are called now) a few odds and ends from the craft shop and an inexpensive, stuffed bunny.

Used a video tutorial from Dave's wreaths - #daveswreathsandthings #daveswreaths #howtomakeawreath

Mitered square scrap blanket

I've been having a bit of a go at making a twin-sized blankets with odds and ends of worsted weight yarn. Maybe around 60 yards per square.

Using size 7 needles (I knit pretty loosely, so you may find you want to go up a bit in size).

For the first square, I cast on 48 stitches with a stitch marker placed in the middle.

Each row after - I slipped the very first stitch with yarn in front, then I knit to the stitch marker, slipped it, did an SSK, and then knit to the end of the row. Repeated until I only had two stitches left - and just did a P2Tog (though I imagine an SSK or K2Tog woutld work as well, it's just with the yarn in front after turning for that last row, it was just easier to P2Tog.

Subsequent squares in the same row - or starting a new row - I would pick up & knit 24 stitches off of an existing square, and cast-on the 24 needed to start another square. Subsequent squares in an existing row, I could pick up and knit 48 stitches from two existing squares.

I'm weaving ends in as I go ... and if a scrap of left over yarn doesn't make the whole square - I'd switch, or add a stripe... and have some fun with it.

I did do a 4-color square once (probably won't do that one again, it was more weaving in than I enjoyed. 

I did it by casting on/picking up 12 stitches in color 1; 24 stitches in color 2; 12 stitches in color 3... made sure in each row to wrap the color I was working in around the next color and worked the decreases until there was no more color 2. Then switched all stitches in the next row to color 4. It was an experiment ... and it was ok. And it did let me use ever decreasing amounts of yarn - say 15 yards -ish each. But, yeah... I think I'd rather just crack open another skein of yarn vs trying to use such tiny left overs. 

As you can see, it's not finished quite yet... Plan is to do 20+ rows of 10 squares each. It goes fast than one would think, but it's still one of those things that can get tiring after a bit. So four squares here, two squares here... bit by bit, it's growing.

Edited to Add:

Finished January 2023. Hit a bit of a bump there where I was getting a little tired of the project. Mind the mess, we're human not automation robots keeping the house spotless.

Puppy Hat

ETA: Size 7 circular needles or double-points. Used scraps of Worsted Weight yarn.

Two sizes - preemie or newborn

CO 40 (48) sts (or any multiple of 8) with contrast color (I used blue)

Join in the round being careful not to twistKnit 3 rounds with K1, P1 ribbing with the first contrast color, cut yarn - leave enough of a tail to weave in endsKnit 1 rounds with just the Knit stitch with the second contrast color 

Knit 2 rounds with K1, P1 ribbing with the second contrast color, cut yarn - leave enough of a tail to weave in ends

Knit all stitches with main color for approx 4" (tweed turned out super cute)
Decrease round 1 - Knit 7 stitches, K2tog; repeat through end of round
Knit 1 round
Decrease round 2 - Knit 6, K2tog; repeat through end of round
Knit 1 round
Decrease round 3 - Knit 5, K2tog; repeat through end of round

Knit 1 round

Decrease round 4 - Knit 4, K2tog; repeat through end of round

Knit 1 round

Decrease round 5 - Knit 3, K2tog; repeat through end of round

Decrease round 6 - Knit 2, K2tog; repeat through end of round

Decrease round 7 - Knit 1, K2tog; repeat through end of round

Decrease round 8 - K2tog all stitches

Cut the yarn, leave enough to run through remaining stitches and tighten to close, weave in ends

Ears (make 2):

CO 8 with second contrast color

Row 1: K1, KFB, K4, KFB, K1 (10 sts)

Row 2: K10

Row 3: K1, KFB, K6, KFB, K1 (12 sts)

Row 4: K12

Row 5: K1, KFB, K8, KFB, K1 (14 sts)

Row 6: K14

Repeat row 6 for 2 1/2"

End Row 1: K1, K2tog, K8, K2tog, K1 (12 sts)

End Row 2: K12

End Row 3: K1, K2tog, K6, K2tog, K1 (10 sts)

End Row 4: K10

End Row 5: K1, K2tog, K4, K2tog, K1 (8 sts)

Bind off loosely, leaving enough of a tail to seam

.

Eye patch:

CO 3 with first contrast color

Row 1: K1, KFB, K1 (4 sts)

Row 2: P4

Row 3: K1, KFB, KFB, K1 (6 sts)

Row 4: P6

Row 5: K1, KFB, K2, KFB, K1 (8 sts)

Row 6: P8

Row 7: K1, KFB, K4, KFB, K1 (10 sts)

Row 8: P10

Row 9: K10

Row 10: P10

Repeat rows 9 & 10 for 1" ending on a Purl row

End Row 1: K1, K2tog, K4, SSK, K1 (8 sts)

End Row 2: P8

End Row 3: K1, K2tog, K2, SSK, K1 (6 sts)

End Row 4: P6

End Row 5: K1, K2tog, SSK, K1 (4 sts)

End Row 6: P4

End Row 7: K1, K2tog, K1 (3 sts)

Bind off loosely, leaving enough of a tail to seam 

Eyes (make two):

CO 3 with black

Row 1: K1, KFB, K1 (4 sts)

Row 2: P4

Row 3: K1, KFB, KFB, K1 (6 sts)

Row 4: P6

Row 5: K6

Row 6: P6

Row 7: K1, K2tog, SSK, K1 (4 sts)

Row 8: P4

Row 9: K1, K2tog, K1 (3 sts)

Bind off loosely, leaving enough of a tail to seam 

Nose:

CO 6 with black

Row 1: K1, KFB, K2, KFB, K1 (10 sts)

Row 2: P10

Row 3: K10

Row 4: P10

Row 5: K1, KFB, K4, KFB, K1 (12 sts)

Row 6: P12

Row 7: K12

Row 8: P12

Row 9: K1, KFB, K6, KFB, K1 (14 sts)

Row 10: P14

Row 11: K14

Row 12: P14

Bind off loosely, leaving enough of a tail to seam 

Place ears, eyes, eye patch and nose on the front of the hat until you like the placement. Ensure you seam items on VERY SECURELY with multiple rounds of stitches.

Mock Cable Scarf

Worked with Marble Chunky yarn

wyif = with yarn in front
psso = pass slipped stitch over
repeat directions between asterisks (*)

Repeat is of 5 stitches + 2
CO 37 stitches

Row 1 - slip first stitch wyif, move yarn to back *slip 1, knit 2, psso (over both knit stitches), purl 2* 7 times, knit 1  (30 stitches)
Row 2 - slip first stitch wyif, *knit 2, purl 1, yo, purl 1* 7 times, knit 1 (37 stitches)
Row 3 - slip first stitch wyif, *knit 3, purl 2* 7 times, knit 1
Row 4 - slip first stitch wyif, *knit 2, purl 3* 7 times, knit 1

Repeat these four rows for desired length ending with a Row 1; bind off loosely


Super fast, quick & easy - just the way I like it!

Snowmen

A semi-non-knitting project, for a change.

At the crafting store and a little bit of inspiration hit. Originally, I was going to put each of these inside of the clear plastic ornaments... and make them into mini-snowballs ... but the bottom bead is too big to fit. I might re-try again with smaller beads... but these turned out pretty adorable as they are, don't you think?

Here's a close up, they are about 2" x 3/4":

I could probably use a little practice with the glue gun, but eh, clear glue & white snowmen. I'm good with this as my first try.

Supplies needed:
3/4" bead
1/2" bead
1/4" bead
sparkly and/or white pipecleaners
1-2 yards of sparkly yarn
Glue gun

Optional:
Heart-shaped bead, or what-ever type of bead you'd like them to hold

Here are the steps I used to make these.

FWIW - Steps 1 & 2 can be skipped if you can find white beads (sadly, I couldn't)
1. I created a jig by putting nails through the bottom of the box - pointing inward into the box, then using wrap so that paint wouldn't stick to the box
2. Spray-paint the beads white (I used 3 coats)

3. hot glue the beads
a. ensure that the hole for the biggest bead is vertical, and the top hidden by the middle bead
b. ensure that the hole for the middle bead runs horizontal (arms will go through it
c. ensure that the hole for the top bead is vertical, and the bottom of it is hidden by the middle bead... and the top can be hidden by the hat

4. I folded each pipe cleaner twice (made them the length I wanted and the thickness to hold well into the middle bead) - and push them through the middle bead & shape them into the position you'd like

5. Hot glue the heart (or other bead you'd like them to hold) to one arm

6. I crocheted an itty-bitty scarf & tie it around the neck of the snowman
Scarf pattern:
a. Chain 20 sts
(no really, that's it - other than the cut yarn & weave through the ends bit)

7. I knit a tiny hat & hot glued it to his head
Hat pattern:
CO 10 stitches (leave a 4-6" tail)
Using double points, I joined in the round & knit two rows
K2tog 5 times
Using double points, I switched to I-cord knitting  & knit two rows.
Cut yarn 4-6" away, and run through all live stitches & pull tight
Take the yarn from the tail and weave it through the inside of a couple of stitches - heading towards the top of the hat....
Tie the ends of the two yarn ends to use them for helping hang it to the tree

8. Took a black & orange fine point sharpies and drew in the face & belly buttons

Free Pattern - Zebra hat

I used a 9" size 8 needle, but you could use a longer needle if you do magic loop, OR you can use double-point needles. I'd also recommend switching to double-point needles near the crown.

I also used a Clover Pom-pom maker  1-3/8" (35 mm) (though you can make your own pom-pom maker with cardboard... I just find the clover tool helps me make really full and fluffy pom-poms.

Sizes - preemie (medium preemie)

CO 36 (42) sts (or any multiple of 6) with black

Join in the round being careful not to twist
Knit 1 round with black
Purl 1 round with black
Knit 1 round with black
Purl 1 round with white
Knit 1 round with white
Purl 1 round with white

Stripes in body:
Knit 1 round with black
Knit 1 round with white
Repeat these last two rounds  until the hat is 3-3 1/2" tall

Decrease rounds

k4, k2tog repeat for the round

knit round

k3, k2tog repeat for the round

knit round

k2, k2tog repeat for the round

knit round

k1; k2tog repeat for the round

k2tog round

Break yarn and pull through all live stitches and pull tight

Ears (make 2)

CO 10 in black (leave a fairly long tail so you can seam the front of the ear & attach to hat)

(garter stitch)

Knit 5 rows

K1, KFB, K6, KFB, K1 (12 sts)

Knit 1 row

K1, KFB, K8, KFB, K1 (14 sts)

K6, K2tog, K6 (13 sts)

K6, K2tog, K5 (12 sts)

K5, k2tog, K5 (11 sts)

K4, slip 1, K2tog, pass slip stitch over, K4 (9 sts)

K3, slip 1, K2tog, pass slip stitch over, K3 (7 sts)

K2, slip 1, K2tog, pass slip stitch over, K2 (5 sts)

K2, K2tog, K1 (4 sts)

K1, K2tog, K1 (3 sts)

slip 1, K2tog, pass slip stitch over (1 st)

Cut yarn & pull through

Using the cast-on tail - fold the front of the ear together and seam up the front 5 rows together  - see photo

Then attach the ears securely to the top of the hat.

Hair

Make a black pom-pom and when trimming the ends, make each side a little flat.

Attach the 'hair' securely between the ears.

Weave in all ends