My Hands Hurt

For the last couple of weeks, my hands have been a problem. As have my wrists and sometimes right elbow. Naturally, this is not the first time I’ve had issues, and it probably won’t be the last. I’m doing everything I should to get better, but that means minimal reading and knitting. ​

What is a person to do when your go to activities are limited? Binge watching The West Wing is the answer, but not the whole story.

I have been chipping away at Good Omens, but books that sit open of their own accord have moved center stage. First up was The Complete Guide to Spinning Yarn by Brenda Gibson. I’ve read through this one before, so this was more a skim. It gives a solid overview the background, tools, fiber, and techniques of spinning. The rest of the book, and perhaps the most fun, are all the recipes for different kinds of yarn. You would be surprised how much variety there is. You can even spin with paper!

I’m currently making a closer study of The Spinner’s Book of Yarn Designs by Sarah Anderson. The first section is basics, but unlike my previous read, the focus is a bit different. Anderson takes a more practical approach. Instead of presenting tools she discusses how to use them with excellent step by step photos. How do you buy a fleece, wash, and process it for spinning? She covers it. Despite already having a good understanding of the basics, I’ve learned a few new things along the way. I’m looking forward to the second section.

You may have detected a theme. For those who don’t know, I’ve dabbled in spinning for a few years now. I started off with an online class and a drop spindle kit. About a year ago I bought Mabel, a used spinning wheel. Learning how to spin has been a joyous adventure. At one point, my goal was to spin every day, but I’ve been slacking. Thankfully, spinning isn’t a problem for my hands! I’m always amazed how quickly I can make progress in a short period of time. I’ll cover my spinning project another day. Hopefully, it won’t bore you too much.

The last viable activity is a neglected knitting project. My main project has been a dress. It’s lovely, but heavy. I’ve switched to a shawl I started quite a while ago called Mayella from Warm Days, Cool Knits by Corrina Ferguson. My version is in yellow and gray and will have a grey border. Once I complete the dress, the shawl will become my main project. I have five projects on the needles, which is far more than I can manage. We shall see if I can get a few more off the needles before starting anything.

What do you do when your favorite activities are off the board?