I started one of the Kauni sleeves a few days a go, but just can’t seem to get with it. Part of the slow-mo stems from the fact that I am having some pain in my right wrist — repetitive motion injury.Â
The other part of the lack of speed is that I’m not in love with where I started the colors on the sleeve. I did it on purpose to position most of the sleeve in my favorite color zone. However, I think the blue-green/purple is not as attractive as other combinations. I have decided to keep going to see how it evolves, but may start over at some point. Then again, does it matter? I know that Stephanie the Yarn Harlot has decided to make both her sleeves identical. I kind of like the way the sweater looks when they do not match, so I am not going to do that.
I knitted the garter stitch cuff back and forth and then joined it with a seam to knit the stockinette in the round. It was much easier that way.
Just a little shout out to Surly: what a fantastic job on the fair isle blanket.  I love the colors and the design — and she did an incredible job. And she did a very nice job showing the cutting and finishing of the steeks. I came up with the crocheted edge technique when I made my first fair isle years ago (Rambling Rose by A. St*rmore). I had seen the “x” method on several sweaters and was not pleased with the result.  I am not a crocheter but thought a crocheted “casing” for the cut edge would work well and have used it ever since.Â
I am hoping that if I bind my wrist I’ll be able to do some knitting. I need to knit every day or I go a little ::c::r::a::z::y:: ;)!
PS — Tamara asked about where to insert the crochet hook when using the crocheted edging that Sally described. I do not get real hung up on hitting every other stitch, but this is generally what I do:
And, Tamara, just take the plunge! Cutting is better than not cutting — if you don’t cut, you don’t finish! I love cutting my sweaters — but only the fair isles!!
PS2: I bought a wrist splint so I hope that helps.
PS3 to Carol: I do my own diagrams. I use PowerPoint to make the diagrams (sometimes with a photograph) and then save the slide as a jpeg. It allows me to add text and arrows etc. to a picture or create a diagram from scratch. “How much Shawl Have I Knitted?” is an example, as well as the bottom of the Modular Tote from the June 4th post. The jpeg picture does not always turn out as well as the original slide but the point gets across. I use PowerPoint a lot in my regular job and find it very versatile, though I’m sure there is drawing software out there that is better. For my limited needs, PowerPoint works well.
I told Susan NOT to knit today. It’s not worth it to push yourself to knit if your hands are bothering you. She probably won’t listen to me, though.
Comment by surly — August 1, 2007 @ 1:06 pm
Susan- You might hurt your hand- read a knitting book instead.
Considering that knitting can make your crazy- it’s scary that it’s what our sanity hinges on.
I kind of like the randomness of the different sleeves, but I do understand the need to have them
the same. My Kauni didn’t make it that far, so I applaud you.
Comment by Lorraine — August 1, 2007 @ 1:23 pm
A day or two of not knitting might be better than a longer period if you press on and strain your wrist even more.
Hey, how come we’ve never seen your Rambling Rose? There! That’s something for you to do! Dig out all the “old” projects & take pics of Lettie wearing them.
Comment by Marina — August 1, 2007 @ 1:43 pm
Rest that wrist!
Sally’s baby blanket is a masterpiece. Is it OK if I take an image just to admire?
Comment by Gale — August 1, 2007 @ 2:06 pm
I really like the colors of your cuff. I’m resisting arranging colors and am letting the yarn go where it wants. Last night I seamed the shoulders, so next step is the dreaded CUTTING… So I have a question for you: When you crochet the cut edge, do you crochet in each stitch, or 3 of every 4, or something else??
Comment by Tamara — August 1, 2007 @ 2:06 pm
Sending some TLC your way!
Comment by Michelle — August 1, 2007 @ 4:04 pm
Ha! If you don’t cut, you don’t finish! You are brave, my dear. You’re also too smart to ruin your “tools” – in this case your wrist. It may make you a little nuts (believe me, I so understand limitations), but put the knitting aside so that you that you can enjoy your art later on!
Comment by Karen B. — August 1, 2007 @ 7:32 pm
Personal Experience: the splint helps, though it can be a nuisance.
Comment by Lisa — August 1, 2007 @ 8:25 pm
Rest that wrist (as Gale said so wisely and succinctly). Splints can help, but they are best worn at night or when resting, and not when keyboarding (or knitting). That can cause you to strain different things.
Comment by AuntieAnn — August 1, 2007 @ 8:48 pm
Susan, good luck on the wrist thing.
Comment by Michele with 1 L — August 2, 2007 @ 8:50 am
I sure hope your wrist feels better fast, that’s the worst 🙁 You know I love just gazing over every stitch you girls do. I have a silly question on your schematic in today’s post where you show the steek line and stitches picked up. Where do you get pictires for your illustrations? Do you make those yourself?
Comment by Carol — August 2, 2007 @ 10:43 am
Thank you VERY much!! 🙂 Beautiful diagram. Tonight the cutting begins.
Comment by Tamara — August 2, 2007 @ 1:22 pm
Susan — how about a post or comment to let us know you’re OK today? Wishing you and yours the best —
Comment by AuntieAnn — August 2, 2007 @ 2:20 pm
Hi there,
I’m part of the Kauni KAL and have been enjoying your blog! I had to write when I saw that you have RSI, so do I because of my admin job, all day on the computer. A recent realization, after 10 years of having this problem, came from a new doctor I saw, he said that you cannot “power through” when you are having pain and numbness, it only makes things worse. The pain and numbness are a sign that you should stop whatever you are doing and rest. Well, would that someone had told me this 10 years ago!! LOL. Anyway, thought you would benefit from hearing this and if you would like to correspond offline about some of the treatments that worked and a support group please feel free. Meantime, knitting doesn’t hurt or aggrevate my symptions (yea!) so I’m enjoying my projects and am about to cast on the Kauni, you blog has been very helpful. Thanks!
Comment by Heather /SF — August 7, 2007 @ 10:08 pm
Hi Susan, I too am finding your Kauni illustrations very helpful. And I’m loving knitting the sweater. I too prefer your garter treatment to the ribbing — so I’ve added it to my sweater. Hope you don’t mind the homage… Thanks again for sharing.
Comment by Ann — August 15, 2007 @ 8:24 am