A little update

Well, Hug is finished! Photos to come soon.

I've also made a start on these Lace Up Opera Gloves, using the same yarn as Hug, but I didn't bring enough with me to finish them.

Mr Bee's grandmother died last week, and his mum has given me her old knitting needles, which is very sweet. I may see whether his sister is interested in them, but I don't think she knits.

We are going away today, to stay in a converted cotton mill in the Peak District! I've brought Tempting with me - let's see whether I can actually get it finished or not!

@!*?#{&,£$"!

And breathe. And relax.

Not only have I just caught Mr Bee standing on my Hug (apparently it is very comfy on bare feet) (!), but I've just realised I've knitted 72 rows too many!!!!!!!!!!

SEVENTY-TWO!!!

This would be my fault for assuming that I knew the pattern off by heart. It's very frustrating that I'd not only have it finished by now, but I'd not have wasted so many hours of hand movement.

*Sigh*

Off to frog...

More stash and some whoooooooooorls

I was in Newcastle-upon-Tyne at the weekend. I was thrilled to see an Oxfam Superstore - in this version of Oxfam everything is a set, cheap, price. There used to be one in Manchester and it was great, but has sadly changed into an overpriced Oxfam Emporium. Sadly, the Oxfam Superstore in Newcastle was not great. I was hoping for lots of great jumpers to frog, but there were none! No knitwear at all. I began to worry that maybe now it is April the charity shops are putting their knitwear away for most of the year.

So today I went round the charity shops near me:


From the top:

• Navy bloke's jumper; thick gauge; 55% ramie, 45% cotton (I don't actually know what ramie is); £3. (I think this may well become my brewing idea - I had planned it to be 100% cotton and black, but that sort of jumper is thin on the grounds right now).
  
• White bloke's jumper; thin gauge; 100% cotton; £1.99. Hopefully might be suitable for using to dye with.
  
• Long-sleeved, roll neck, burgundy/ plum, size 14 top; very very fine gauge; 100% silk; £2.75. Maybe suitable for lace - I didn't realise how shiny silk was! There was a black top as well, from the same company. Once I'd left the shop I thought I could've got it and spun the two colours together, but it was an extra pound (£ not lb) with short sleeves and a regular round neck. I'll look out for something else.
  
• Black size 16 chunky cardie; chunky gauge; 70% acrylic and 30% wool but so snugly!; £4.50. Quite pricey but I need some black yarn ;) Plus it's got great giant press-studs and looks hardly worn.

Other than the Oxfam disappointment, Newcastle was fun. We went on a trip to Housesteads on Hadrian's Wall, and I took a photo of the spindle whorls they had in the museum.



They're tiny! Teeny teeny tiny. Kinda brought home just how thin the thread they would spin was - I'd fill one of those spindles in about 5 minutes ;)

Anyway. I've been knitting slowly - Hug is over half done now. I've done a little more on Tempting as well. At the moment I'm getting ready to go away for a little holiday and I need to decide what knitting to take. Maybe all my UFOs!

Diagnosis

I saw my new doctor yesterday, and she was very very nice. She said I had accurately diagnosed myself with RSI, that at the moment there was nothing much to worry about but if it got worse I could have physio. Of course it was no wonder: after resting my hand for two weeks I had no pain in my arm when I went to see her - typical!

I will of course continue to rest it, although I am now occasionally using my left hand to type with (like now). I've also done some spinning and more knitting - I keep my wrist as still as I can while knitting and appear to be getting away with it. Must not overdo it though!

Hug is almost half done though :) I need to unravel the next sleeve from the original cardie to carry on with it. Or perhaps I'll work a little more on Tempting...

(Yes. I am aware that I am being totally naughty and should still be resting. But but but but but, etc.)

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

('scuse crappy typing - i'm only using my right hand)

today i was a naughty bee and did some knitting :-0 BUT - it didn't hurt! why? because i sellotaped rulers to my left wrist to stop it bending ;) this method left me pain free (i found when i tried to just keep my wrist straight on tues that my hand cramped up) though i'm not counting my chickens. i only did about 8 rows, taking it slow, and only did it for half an hour. i'll try not to make a habit of it, but wanted to know whether it would work.

typing still hurts though, and i need to baby my right hand so it doesn't get stressed with suddenly having to work so much!