the blue blog archives: i don't knit, i glisten

My hand was doing great while I was in NYC - no soreness, no twinges - then I knit a bit of that sock on the bus, got home and used my computer, and it hurts even more now. Yikes! Back to the continental projects for me. And so I don't get bored (I am so not a one-project gal!), I offered to knit a sample sweater for the store. We've got new spring yarns in - it's kind of exciting to knit ahead to the next season - and I'll be making this little cropped cardigan from Louisa Harding's new Beachcomber Bay book in her new sparkly ribbon yarn called glisten.

It's my first time doing a stitch pattern beyond stockinette stitch or ribbing with my left hand. After working on the baby sweater in cotton, I feel like my gauge is fairly reliable when knitting continental. Now it's time to get used to working in pattern. Maybe someday, I can switch over entirely to knitting continental. Who knows, maybe I'll have to.

This ribbon yarn feels pretty nice. It's not scratchy like some ribbons can be. It's actually a silver thread core inside a ribbon. Every few centimeters there's an opening in the ribbon so the core thread is visible, making the little sparkles. Those little notches where the silver shows through are constantly catching on the needle though. Ugh. And the whole yarn twists and twists while I'm knitting with it which is totally crazy-making. I've got a rubber band wrapped around the ball, so I can let the ball hang from the needle and untwist every couple of rows. So overall, it's slow going what with knitting the pattern in continental, the notches catching on my needle, and the yarn needing to be untwisted all the time, but somehow I managed to make it through sleeve number one without breaking a sweat.

posted by alison at 9:55 am | in glisten

Comments

What sort of continental purling are you doing? I've been meaning to learn Norwegian purling, but since I haven't, I've been either throwing or purling twisted when I can untwist it via a knit stitch on the next row.

Posted by: Chris at March 15, 2006 10:28 AM

Lovely! And done under such adverse conditions - brava!

Posted by: Shelagh at March 15, 2006 10:33 AM

Nice job! I saw a good tip on Lily Chin's "Stitchcraft" show regarding working with ribbon yarn and how much it twists. (I've had that problem, too). What she suggested was putting a dowel through the center of the yarn (especially handy if it comes on one of those cardboard tube cores), and then hang the dowel with yarn on it inside a shoebox -- each end of the dowel is put in a hole cut in the side of the shoebox. Then the yarn rolls off the ball without twisting (supposedly). I've not tried this, so can't vouch if it really works.

What I ended up doing was just making sure I always pulled a very long length of slack yarn from the ball while I was knitting -- this seemed to space out the twists enough so that I could keep the ribbon flat while I knit it.

Hope that helps.

Posted by: Mary at March 15, 2006 10:44 AM

Ouch. I had tendonitis from knitting and my coworkers practically quick-marched me to a physiotherapist. It worked wonders. That and a two week rest. (I'm still amazed I didn't end up in psychotherapy after those two weeks.) Just sayin'. Continental knitting may be the change that is as good as a rest for you!

That sweater is so cute. Hmmmm... we have Louisa Harding at the LYS where I work... hmmmm...

Posted by: Steph VW at March 15, 2006 10:49 AM

I think its such a nice color! I can't wait to see it all finished. Sorry your hand is bothering you Alison.. at least you can knit continental too I guess! I would be totally screwwed :) Oh, and I dyed those mini-skeins for you over the weekend.. If you have a few more mini-skeins I can experiment with a few more colors since I don't think you will like one of them. The navy one is nice though :)

Posted by: Dani at March 15, 2006 11:13 AM

For whatever reason, I thought "glisten" somehow referred to the act of knitting and listening/talking to other people at the same time when I first read the title. Oops! :)

Posted by: Katherine Wu at March 15, 2006 11:31 AM

This must be the official shop sample knit this season. I'm working on a pink version for a friend's shop right now. I'm looking forward to seeing it in blue, too!

Posted by: Brynne at March 15, 2006 11:32 AM

Looks great - I like the pattern!

Posted by: Melanie at March 15, 2006 11:35 AM

Looks nice! I"m sorry you're having the RSI problem, but hopefully the continued continental knitting will give your right hand the break it needs to heal.

Posted by: Jess at March 15, 2006 11:54 AM

Continental knitting is good! Come over to the dark side... :P

Posted by: Colleen at March 15, 2006 1:49 PM

I knit continental and I DO seem to have less issues with the CTS but I still have some. Something that helps is wearing a wrist brace at night while sleeping. It stabilizes your wrists during sleeps and allows them to "rest" and feel better the next day. I sleep with mine on almost every night, whether they hurt or not. Keeps CTS at bay.

Posted by: knittingnurse at March 15, 2006 2:06 PM

eep!! Sorry the wrist still hurts! Have you thought about getting a wrist brace to wear at night to help alleviate the pressure being placed (I'm guessing) on the nerve? Your GP might be able to recommend one for you. I had to see mine when I was getting some ulnar nerve issues in my left hand from using small needles. It made a huge difference. That & stretches & ice.

Posted by: Caren at March 15, 2006 2:57 PM

Alison - I can't imagine knitting anyother way besides continental....it took me forever to learn to throw with my right hand so I could do stranded color work! Continental is so much faster - less movement. But my trouble is I do have to see what I'm doing (no dark train rides for me) - I do practice not looking while watching TV - but have never mastered it - and I've been knitting for over 20 years!!!
I think it's an old age thing!!

Posted by: julie at March 15, 2006 3:48 PM

alison, alison!! i saw harry and the potters yesterday!!! take a look at my post (see url).

Posted by: ruth at March 15, 2006 4:15 PM

It looks really great so far, especially in blue!

Posted by: allison at March 15, 2006 5:24 PM

I only knit continental and I've been having some arm aching issues the last two days. But I think it's compounded by the fact that I open 600-1600 envelopes a day at work and each one involves reaching out with my left arm to grab it and pull it open so my right hand can sort. I've decided on the next slow day I'm going to practice opening envelopes with my right hand and sorting with the left.

I guess if I had to take a knitting break I'd cross stitch instead. :p I hope your arm is feeling better soon!

Posted by: Lara at March 15, 2006 6:20 PM

She's very pretty! I also couldn't imagine knitting other than Continental. Used to throw, but I have some arthritis in my hands and needed something that involved less movement. Forced myself to learn Continental while making an afghan and haven't looked back since!

Posted by: Kathy at March 15, 2006 11:23 PM

LOL slow going yet you already have a sleeve.
You know I can't even imagine how to knit continenetal, I think that is something I will never get...my left hand is fairly "lame", but still i'll keep it :-)

Posted by: Orli at March 16, 2006 4:48 AM

You know, the biggest difference I found when it came to cramping? There's two. A split keyboard for the computer I use most (at work), and using my mouse left-handed, originally at home, and now at work as well.

Jane
~x~

Posted by: Jane in London at March 16, 2006 4:52 AM

I love the new Louisa Harding books! She's got some really gorgeous patterns.

Posted by: liz at March 16, 2006 9:45 AM

You really need to see an orthopedist. It'll suck not being able to knit for alittle while, but in the long run you'll be better off.

Feel better soon.

Posted by: stephanie at March 16, 2006 1:19 PM

I just saw Glisten for the first time at my LYS; my mom & I were oohing and ahhing over it. Looks beaded without being beaded...I'd love to see how it knits up!

Posted by: Denise at March 16, 2006 5:39 PM

I love my whirlpool tub! I get in, and put my hands, arms, wrists right next to the jet and work them out. Also my right shoulder, upper back. I have been knitting longer than you have been alive, I throw, and I've been lucky with RSIs, but try it if you can.

Posted by: TrevorKane at March 16, 2006 9:16 PM

Try getting a hold of s natural pain relieving gel called Sombra. I use it, and it helps speed up the healing process

Posted by: Karin at March 18, 2006 10:12 AM