I’m bored

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Have you ever thought the day was wrong or that it feels like a different day? It’s felt like Sunday for the past seven days.

I “fixed” my tennis elbow issue just like *snap*that. How? Last Sunday I tripped, fell, and fractured my right humerus. I may have damaged the tendons and rotator cuff, too.

Mr. Aitch took me to the ER. X-rays showed a fracture. Went to an orthopedic surgeon, had an MRI, and am waiting to see the surgeon again next week to tell me how long I have to wear this fancy sling. Or if surgery is in my future.

I can’t knit. Can’t sew. Can’t cook, clean, sleep in bed, or do much of anything. I can’t drive either. Training Pepper is on hold. I can’t even get a glass of water by myself. Brushing my teeth is so difficult. I’m typing this left-handed and it’s slow going.

I’m trying to be a good patient but mostly I’m just trying. It’s so hard for me to not be doing something, anything with my hands. I have a long wishlist of books to read in my online library so I should be all set. Well, sorta.

Fortunately, Mr. Aitch has taken over everything to run the house and keep us nourished. He’s excellent with the grill but will soon need to go to the market. Please say a prayer for him. Or two.

1898 Hat with two color band

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I love the 1898 Hat by Kristine Byrnes. A commenter asked me how I knit the two-color headband section.

Necessity is the Mother of Invention as I had a limited amount of yarn for a hat so I adapted the pattern to my needs. I made a slight modification to the pattern by using two colors for the band.

***For a two color band:
Using provisional cast on, CO 12 stitches in Color A, 3 stitches in Color B, and 12 stitches in either Color A or B, leaving a 20 inch tail. (If you prefer to seam instead of graft the ends together, use your preferred cast on, but leave the same length tail.)
Set up row (WS): Color B Sl1, k11, pm, sl3 wyif, pm, Color A  k12*  Make sure to twist the two colors to avoid a hole. 
Start back of headband:
Row A (RS) = Color A Sl1, k to marker, sl m, Color B k3, sl m, Color A or B k to end.
Row B (all WS rows) = Color B Sl1, k to marker, sl m, sl3 wyif, sl m, Color B, sl m, Color A or B k to end.

Any questions regarding the original pattern should be directed to the designer, Kristine Byrnes. This modification is for a two-color headband.

But I don’t play tennis anymore

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My knitting has been sidelined for a while. The Curaçao Diamonds did number on my left arm. I really love those socks but the fingering weight cotton blend yarn and US #1 knitting needles were too much for those muscles especially since I hurried through the second one.

I looked up my symptoms and self-diagnosed tennis elbow. Rest and a combination of heat and ice are the only things that will help.

Once my arm feels better, my knitting queue will include seamless slippers (requested by my other sister-in-law), some baby hats (from super soft stash yarn), and a new sweater for Pepper. The slippers will likely be Frankensteined while using up odds and ends of worsted weight yarns. Pepper’s sweater will be from my yarn stash, too.

And speaking of Pepper, she is the star* of our training sessions! We’ve gone to two so far and she and I are learning how to communicate better. 

*Never mind that our sessions are one-on-one with the trainer!

Happy knitting!

Curaçau Diamonds

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My S-I-L received her socks. I like to include a little card with all the pertantent information.

I asked her for her honest opinion regarding color, size, length, fit, feel, and whatever else she opined about. Here is her response:

Happy feet!! The color is very pretty, bright & wonderfully rich, and I can tell already the socks will keep my feet toasty on cool days. 😃 They are warming my always cold feet quickly!  They stay in place perfectly when I put my shoes on, no bunching!!

Comfy they are, though not as comfy as the last 2 pairs you made me which are the most comfy ever. They feel a bit short and I worry my foot will wear out the toe quickly. I will wear them judiciously. If I had to choose between one or the other in terms of softness, I would choose the last pair.

These are wonderful and I thank you!!  💕 

I told her that she can block them while wet, stretch the foot area and then dry flat. I’m new to cotton blend yarns so tell me if that will work or not.

The last two pairs I gave her were a nylon/acrylic blend.