So, here I sit, late at night, knitting away. I'm dealing with back pain tonight and I managed to zone out on knitting and Sims when it suddenly occurred to me that I just put the thumb stitches for the glove I'm working on in the wrong place, not over the thumb gusset. I had already finished the thumb and cut the yarn.
So I ended up having to splice the yarn and remove the thumb stitches from the wrong place. I then started the thumb over the gusset like I should have to begin with. When I got to the area of the splice, I found that I didn't like the way the yarn was separating so I tried to make sure the fuzziness was on the inside. I dropped a stitch and it ran. I was beginning to get frustrated, but I worked the yarn back up with a crochet hook and it was going fine till one of my needles dropped out and now I had four more stitches that were loose and threatening to also run. Ack!!
I managed to save the thumb, but I felt it was a really good example of the difficulty of knitting with Fibro. Fibro fog and pain can really take your concentration away from your work and make some difficult saves. The good thing that I got out of all of this was that I was able to save the thumb and continue the glove. A couple years ago I would have had to chuck the glove and just start from fresh.
Now lets just hope the gloves are nice enough looking to sell or give away after all of that.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Saturday, November 12, 2011
knitting and crocheting while dealing with hand pain
There are a lot of things I've had to give up while dealing with fibromyalgia and neuropathy, but I refuse to give up my knitting! I figure I'll knit even if I have to hold the needles with my teeth.Ha! I just can't give up something that brings me as much joy as this craft and that allows me to be creative, make a little extra money, and give nice things to people that need them.
I'm definitely challenged right now. I don't have a car so I have to walk to the post office to mail out my knitted goods. As much as the knitting hurts, the walking is even harder for me. I make the trip at least once a week and I have to take time afterwords to recover. Sometimes it takes several days. I'm dealing with foot problems that are common for people with fibro (heel spurs and plantar fascilitis). I gave up driving when I realized that I kept dazing off in a fibro fog and I had a couple close calls. None of my doctors have taken the fibro fog issue seriously and they don't have a clue of anything I can take or do to make it better. So there went driving. Most other things I've been able to find ways to do them, just had to alter the way they were done. I also have to pace myself so I don't get too worn out or sore.
My mantra now seems to be to not give up and keep plowing along. If I give up and stop doing things, I sit and get depressed and the soreness and fog take over.
I'm definitely challenged right now. I don't have a car so I have to walk to the post office to mail out my knitted goods. As much as the knitting hurts, the walking is even harder for me. I make the trip at least once a week and I have to take time afterwords to recover. Sometimes it takes several days. I'm dealing with foot problems that are common for people with fibro (heel spurs and plantar fascilitis). I gave up driving when I realized that I kept dazing off in a fibro fog and I had a couple close calls. None of my doctors have taken the fibro fog issue seriously and they don't have a clue of anything I can take or do to make it better. So there went driving. Most other things I've been able to find ways to do them, just had to alter the way they were done. I also have to pace myself so I don't get too worn out or sore.
My mantra now seems to be to not give up and keep plowing along. If I give up and stop doing things, I sit and get depressed and the soreness and fog take over.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Eep! Its been that long?!
I've been an awful blogger. Hopefully there isn't a Blog Police Force or I'm busted! I have several projects that have come up, been knitted, sold, and moved past. I finally decided that I won't get rich by knitting.LOL I have been selling my knitting on e-bay and on another auction site called Listia. I sell my items usually on e-bay, but never for as much as I want. I'm lucky to meet the buy it now price when people bid on it and I have never had anyone actually "buy it now". Listia is just plain aggravating. I put my items up, they go for a fair amount of points, but when I try to use the points to purchase yarn, it never happens. I always get outbid. All I've managed to win were some buttons and a set of knitting needles that I really didn't need to begin with. Even letting people know that I'm using the auctions to finance a charity doesn't seem to matter.
Soooo, my next thing is to try Yardsellr, a site that pays cash (or paypal) for things you would normally sell on a yardsale. We'll see if I can get enough from my knitting there to help. In the mean time, I'm doing all this knitting and so far have donated nothing. It all goes to making money to get yarn to make money!?
I refuse to get frustrated. I will not stop. I have a facebook group that is just for my charity and I have a following finally! Maybe I can make something happen from this. Maybe I need to stop putting up auctions and start concentrating on making stuff to donate for a while. It will definitely make me feel more appreciated.LOL. This is what I'm working on right now:
These gloves are made from Caron Soft Yarn and I decided to put fingers in them. I'm pleased to say that what holes there are between the fingers are small enough to not be noticeable this time.
These are the gloves that I'm auctioning off right now. They are actually handwarmers, but a lot of people just call them fingerless gloves:
I knitting a bunch of other things and didn't keep the pictures.LOL A couple of Jayne Cobb hats and some socks and gloves. Lots of fun!
Well, I should stop blabbing ... oops blogging, and get some actual knitting done.
Soooo, my next thing is to try Yardsellr, a site that pays cash (or paypal) for things you would normally sell on a yardsale. We'll see if I can get enough from my knitting there to help. In the mean time, I'm doing all this knitting and so far have donated nothing. It all goes to making money to get yarn to make money!?
I refuse to get frustrated. I will not stop. I have a facebook group that is just for my charity and I have a following finally! Maybe I can make something happen from this. Maybe I need to stop putting up auctions and start concentrating on making stuff to donate for a while. It will definitely make me feel more appreciated.LOL. This is what I'm working on right now:
These gloves are made from Caron Soft Yarn and I decided to put fingers in them. I'm pleased to say that what holes there are between the fingers are small enough to not be noticeable this time.
These are the gloves that I'm auctioning off right now. They are actually handwarmers, but a lot of people just call them fingerless gloves:
I knitting a bunch of other things and didn't keep the pictures.LOL A couple of Jayne Cobb hats and some socks and gloves. Lots of fun!
Well, I should stop blabbing ... oops blogging, and get some actual knitting done.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Knifty Knitter and other subjects
Sorry for the long break in posting. *slaps herself for being so bad*
I recently started going to church again and one of the ladies there invited me to a group of crafters. It was wonderful, first, to get out and get involved in a group of like minded people and second to learn some new techniques and have new ideas presented to me. One of those ideas were the knitting looms called Knifty Knitters. I had a friend who used them years ago and I kind of did a stuck up sort of response where I encouraged her, but thought I would never use them myself. I guess it falls under the "never say never" category. My biggest reason for not buying them was because I thought they were pretty much just for knitting hats. I was wrong. Turns out there are a bunch of things they can be used for and there are also a lot of different types of stitches that can be made with them.
But I think the best reason for using them is this: Usually when my hands start hurting I have the choice of suffering with the pain or stopping my knitting. The looms give me another option and that is to stop one method that uses one set of muscles and movements and switch to another. Well...ok....I already was doing that by switching between knitting and crocheting, but this gives me yet another option. I learned to use them by borrowing my friend, Carol's, but then went to Walmart and bought my own set. The hats work up twice as fast and are pretty nice to look at. I look forward to trying some other things as well with it.
My other knitting news is that I entered a bunch of things into a service auction at the church and hopefully someone will like the things that I volunteered into the raffle so much that they will contact me for making them something.
I've been knitting like crazy lately. Here are a few of my latest items, though not all of them:
This is my usual hand warmer pattern that I revised a long time ago, but this time I used some scrap yarn to put a little color into them. I used Paton's Classic wool for these. The color is called Paprika
This is a sweater pattern I found online called "The 5 hour baby sweater" and can be found here: http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/kp3.html
I used some stash yarn I had. Its a soft worsted weight acrylic yarn.
I'm still working like crazy to sell some of my knitting, but now I'm also working on making some things for charity again and it feels good to do so.
I recently started going to church again and one of the ladies there invited me to a group of crafters. It was wonderful, first, to get out and get involved in a group of like minded people and second to learn some new techniques and have new ideas presented to me. One of those ideas were the knitting looms called Knifty Knitters. I had a friend who used them years ago and I kind of did a stuck up sort of response where I encouraged her, but thought I would never use them myself. I guess it falls under the "never say never" category. My biggest reason for not buying them was because I thought they were pretty much just for knitting hats. I was wrong. Turns out there are a bunch of things they can be used for and there are also a lot of different types of stitches that can be made with them.
But I think the best reason for using them is this: Usually when my hands start hurting I have the choice of suffering with the pain or stopping my knitting. The looms give me another option and that is to stop one method that uses one set of muscles and movements and switch to another. Well...ok....I already was doing that by switching between knitting and crocheting, but this gives me yet another option. I learned to use them by borrowing my friend, Carol's, but then went to Walmart and bought my own set. The hats work up twice as fast and are pretty nice to look at. I look forward to trying some other things as well with it.
My other knitting news is that I entered a bunch of things into a service auction at the church and hopefully someone will like the things that I volunteered into the raffle so much that they will contact me for making them something.
I've been knitting like crazy lately. Here are a few of my latest items, though not all of them:
This is my usual hand warmer pattern that I revised a long time ago, but this time I used some scrap yarn to put a little color into them. I used Paton's Classic wool for these. The color is called Paprika
This is a sweater pattern I found online called "The 5 hour baby sweater" and can be found here: http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/kp3.html
I used some stash yarn I had. Its a soft worsted weight acrylic yarn.
I'm still working like crazy to sell some of my knitting, but now I'm also working on making some things for charity again and it feels good to do so.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
More gloves
I just finished a pair of leg warmers. They were super simple with just a k2, p2 ribbing all the way up. I used a bulky weight violet yarn that had a black strand that ran through it. Very pretty. I don't have a picture yet, but will try to get one later.
My next project is a pair of black sparkly fingerless gloves. I'm using some Lion Brand Wool-Ease yarn and its pretty. I think they'll make up for some nice gloves. I just wish I had more of the yarn, I would make them to extend to the elbows.
I am really having a bad fibro flare up right now. I was swimming and extended my arm too far to catch a frizby and that little movement has caused me pain now for two weeks. The pain started in my neck and shoulders and seems to have moved to my upper arm. weird. Because I'm in pain, I'm fogging out and having a hard time staying awake.
My next project is a pair of black sparkly fingerless gloves. I'm using some Lion Brand Wool-Ease yarn and its pretty. I think they'll make up for some nice gloves. I just wish I had more of the yarn, I would make them to extend to the elbows.
I am really having a bad fibro flare up right now. I was swimming and extended my arm too far to catch a frizby and that little movement has caused me pain now for two weeks. The pain started in my neck and shoulders and seems to have moved to my upper arm. weird. Because I'm in pain, I'm fogging out and having a hard time staying awake.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Knitting for relieving stress
I've been doing a bit of research the last few days about stress and it's affects on our bodies. I am especially interested in how it increases pain. I deal with fibromyalgia and arthritis and I can definitely say that it is worse when I'm stressed out.
Here are a couple links I've found that make some good reading on the topic. http://ezinearticles.com/?Knitting-For-Stress-Relief-Therapy&id=2720851
http://www.knitvana.com/node/5
The other topic I want to discuss is pain while knitting and ways to relieve it. I knit not just for fun, but also to sell and help supplement my income. Because I knit so much, I find that there are times when I need to finish a project that a customer is waiting for and I just have to knit while my hands hurt.
One way I deal with it is making sure I take my pain meds according to the doctors orders and regularly. I have made a habit of only taking them when I'm actually in pain and I had to stop that and take them regularly so I could maintain them in my system before I actually need them. I hope that makes sense. LOL
The other things I do to help are: Use a tens unit (a little machine that gives electrical impulses that relax the muscles around the sore area). Use fingerless gloves. Use a heating pad/ice pack after I'm done knitting for the day, and yes, there are times when I just have to let the customer know that the item will take a little longer and give myself a couple days to recover.
If you have other options that you know of, I would love to hear them!
Peg
Here are a couple links I've found that make some good reading on the topic. http://ezinearticles.com/?Knitting-For-Stress-Relief-Therapy&id=2720851
http://www.knitvana.com/node/5
The other topic I want to discuss is pain while knitting and ways to relieve it. I knit not just for fun, but also to sell and help supplement my income. Because I knit so much, I find that there are times when I need to finish a project that a customer is waiting for and I just have to knit while my hands hurt.
One way I deal with it is making sure I take my pain meds according to the doctors orders and regularly. I have made a habit of only taking them when I'm actually in pain and I had to stop that and take them regularly so I could maintain them in my system before I actually need them. I hope that makes sense. LOL
The other things I do to help are: Use a tens unit (a little machine that gives electrical impulses that relax the muscles around the sore area). Use fingerless gloves. Use a heating pad/ice pack after I'm done knitting for the day, and yes, there are times when I just have to let the customer know that the item will take a little longer and give myself a couple days to recover.
If you have other options that you know of, I would love to hear them!
Peg
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Leg Warmers!
My hand pain the last couple days has been pretty bad. I'm slowly losing my ability to grip things and I have numbness in the tip of my thumb. Stupid neuropathy!
I started a pair of leg warmers today. I'm using large needles and a pretty bulky weight yarn that is violet with a black thread that is wound through it. They are turning out plush and soft. I'll take pictures of them when I get a little more made. The pattern is super easy, just a rectangle of k2,p2 ribs. When I get them done, I will just sew up the back. If they turn out nice, I may alter the pattern so they can be done on double points and not have the seam. I might also attempt some that have ribbing at the top and bottom and stockinette stitch in the center. Using larger needles and yarn seems to help ease some of the pain in my hands as well.
Well, back to knitting
Peg
I started a pair of leg warmers today. I'm using large needles and a pretty bulky weight yarn that is violet with a black thread that is wound through it. They are turning out plush and soft. I'll take pictures of them when I get a little more made. The pattern is super easy, just a rectangle of k2,p2 ribs. When I get them done, I will just sew up the back. If they turn out nice, I may alter the pattern so they can be done on double points and not have the seam. I might also attempt some that have ribbing at the top and bottom and stockinette stitch in the center. Using larger needles and yarn seems to help ease some of the pain in my hands as well.
Well, back to knitting
Peg
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Sore hands
The worse thing about fibromyalgia and any chronic pain issue is when it affects the things you love to do. Right now its about knitting with pain in my hands. If it were just a matter of being in pain when I'm doing something that is a hobby, it would be different, but I'm trying to supplement my income with my knitting and my sore hands are getting in my way to my goal. I really want to get this knitting business going and I'm trying to ignore the pain while taking a bunch of medication to ease it as much as I can. Yesterday I took the strong stuff and fell asleep while I was knitting. ugh!
I'm working diligently on a dog sweater. I finished one yesterday and started this one in the morning. It has a cable knit design on the collar that took me a while to figure out. The design wasn't difficult, but the pattern that I'm following in a book from the library had a mistake in it and I kept ending up with the design on the wrong side of the work. I figured it out, but it took me some time. I ended up having to delete a row completely to do it.
Well, back to knitting
Peg
I'm working diligently on a dog sweater. I finished one yesterday and started this one in the morning. It has a cable knit design on the collar that took me a while to figure out. The design wasn't difficult, but the pattern that I'm following in a book from the library had a mistake in it and I kept ending up with the design on the wrong side of the work. I figured it out, but it took me some time. I ended up having to delete a row completely to do it.
Well, back to knitting
Peg
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Knitting business?
I decided to try again to start a knitting business. This time, though, I plan to add teaching knitting as well as selling my actual finished items.
I got another order to make a Jayne Cobb hat and knitted furiously all day to get one made. Here's my finished hat:
I told Chelle that I should make one for her to wear to work to see if anyone will ask for one. She said sure, so I definitely will be making one for her soon.
I know that my hands are going to rebel to all the knitting, but I plan to keep on my medication for pain and hopefully will be able to knit fast enough to make a business a possibility. Not only do I have pain from fibro and arthritis in my hands but also neuropathy as well. I use a pain medication that is specifically for nerves.
Well...back to knitting! I plan to make a dog sweater next.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Me and technology = disaster
Sorry for not posting for so long. I haven't been good about keeping up my blog, but I have been doing a little knitting the last couple weeks. I'm working on a pair of gloves after finishing a pair of socks a while ago.
I'm not liking the way the fingers turned out, but they actually look better when worn. I'm working on the other glove now. I got the yarn from my Aunt Andrea and I love it! Its a brushed DK weight yarn and she gave me some in this icy blue color as well as a pretty lavender and black.
My fibro has been pretty under control lately. I am having regular flare ups, but they aren't as long or as painful as they were a year ago. I find that stress is a huge factor in rather I'm going to flare up or not. Swimming every evening is a great way for me to help keep my flare ups from being too much to handle. It also is helping me to increase my range of motion.
Our household is chaotic at times, but I love it. Having younger room mates helps to keep me active and busy. We enjoy playing Dungeons & Dragons together a couple nights a week and we invade the swimming pool in the evenings.
My title to my blog is because I was fighting with my camera yesterday, trying to get a picture of my gloves to download on this blog. First, I found that my camera doesn't have the cord I need to download pictures from it to the computer. I asked Steven about it and he said I had a chip in my camera that I could take out and insert in the computer tower to download the pictures. Well, the tower's slot that you put the chips into didn't light up or work. So then I got the great idea that I could load the picture onto my Nook from the chip, then transfer it to the web directly from the Nook. I couldn't figure out how to do that after trying for a while. I did manage to load the picture onto my computer from the Nook, however, so I then decided to download it to the blog. My internet decided to go down while I was downloading it! We had no internet yesterday from around 2:00pm and lasting the entire night. I was grateful to find it working this morning and was finally able to download the picture. Jeeze!!!!! Way too much hassle to get a picture up!
My next project...A Jayne Cobb hat! My friend, Bec, posted a note at her work place that I make and sell them and someone contacted her that they would like one! Yay!!
Finished gloves:
Monday, June 27, 2011
knitting and relaxing
After a crappy night's sleep last night, I'm determined to sleep good tonight. I went swimming and now I'm sitting at my computer and I'm knitting away. That combination should help. I keep having issues with leg cramps.
I haven't posted for a couple days. Bad me! I bought myself a Nook e-book reader and for the first time in a couple years I'm able to read! I have a lot of issues with blurry, tired eyes, but now I can adjust my font so I can read it easier and I've already busted through two books and a magazine.LOL Terry Brooks! My Fave!
I haven't posted for a couple days. Bad me! I bought myself a Nook e-book reader and for the first time in a couple years I'm able to read! I have a lot of issues with blurry, tired eyes, but now I can adjust my font so I can read it easier and I've already busted through two books and a magazine.LOL Terry Brooks! My Fave!
Friday, June 24, 2011
I bought a toy!
You would think I was talking about something wonderful for knitting, but instead I got a brand new Nookcolor e-reader today. Complete with my first downloaded knitting book on it.
It all started the day before yesterday when the SSI office called to do my yearly update appointment over the phone. After I hung up and started to knit, she called me back. It turned out that social security had underpaid me several months last fall. They were pretty sure that I was declaring that Randy was making less money than he was, so they let me know they would be investigating and would most likely have to take the money from my monthly checks. I was distressed, but figured we would just work through it. Well, instead, they found that we delcared more than we were supposed to. So that led to a rare moment in my life when I have money to decide what to do with.
I started by being the responsible one and decided we would use it for a car to replace the one that Chelle lost a couple months ago. But when she got home from work, she informed me that she rather liked things the way they were since she was losing weight by biking and walking and we have Steven's car here for doctor appointments. So we decided to replace cloths and get some things that we've been wanting, but couldn't afford.
At first I thought I would go for a laptop. Then I discovered that e-readers work like little computer laptops. You can access the web, download books and then read them with the size of font that is easiest on your eyes, and listen to music on them. I did some research and compared several different brands, finally choosing the Nook from Barnes & Nobel book store. It's lightweight, small and compact, and has a holder that can be used to stand it up for easy, hands free viewing.
I would tell you more, but I want to play now!
It all started the day before yesterday when the SSI office called to do my yearly update appointment over the phone. After I hung up and started to knit, she called me back. It turned out that social security had underpaid me several months last fall. They were pretty sure that I was declaring that Randy was making less money than he was, so they let me know they would be investigating and would most likely have to take the money from my monthly checks. I was distressed, but figured we would just work through it. Well, instead, they found that we delcared more than we were supposed to. So that led to a rare moment in my life when I have money to decide what to do with.
I started by being the responsible one and decided we would use it for a car to replace the one that Chelle lost a couple months ago. But when she got home from work, she informed me that she rather liked things the way they were since she was losing weight by biking and walking and we have Steven's car here for doctor appointments. So we decided to replace cloths and get some things that we've been wanting, but couldn't afford.
At first I thought I would go for a laptop. Then I discovered that e-readers work like little computer laptops. You can access the web, download books and then read them with the size of font that is easiest on your eyes, and listen to music on them. I did some research and compared several different brands, finally choosing the Nook from Barnes & Nobel book store. It's lightweight, small and compact, and has a holder that can be used to stand it up for easy, hands free viewing.
I would tell you more, but I want to play now!
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Trying to get back into shape
After going shopping last night with my daughter, Chelle, and one of my roommates, Steven, I came back, ate dinner, then went for a swim.
For me, the most important thing to keep sane while I fight fibro fog and other symptoms, is to keep active. I'm always looking for more energy by eating the right foods and by getting going, but I have to take it really easy. I get caught up in what I used to be able to do and not in the here and now. In the past, if I needed to lose weight, I would put myself on a rigid diet and start walking/running or using a gym to whittle off the pounds fast. Now its about eating smart, but not dieting and going at a slow and easy pace.
I think part of my problems with staying on board with a careful eating plan and exercise is that I have always done best with a rigid plan set before me on paper that shows me exactly what to eat, how much to eat, and lets me know exactly how much exercise I need and for how long. As soon as I go off the plan, I put the weight right back on and none of the food and exercise plan is continued on a permanent basis. I need something to do for life, not just while I drop a few pounds.
On top of that, I have to make sure I don't damage my already fibro wracked body by overdoing my exercise. This is what I know:
* first, I have to watch portion sizes while eating and cut back there
*second, I need to stick with exercise that won't jar joints or aggravate already sore muscles.
*third, I have to keep a food journal so I can see when I eat wrong and I need to actually do something about it instead of just writing it down.
*and fourth, I need to limit the time spent exercising so I don't hurt myself.
I know what I need to do, but can I stick with it? I refuse to get back into a plan where I have to measure and weigh my food and where I have to do exercises that are boring and easy to find excuses to not do. That's why I resist getting into weights and using the machines in our exercise room here at the apartments. I know that I will be bored to tears. I have no clue how to use the tv in the room, so I end up watching the pre-pre show to the next football/basketball/baseball game that someone else has playing and left on. I tried bringing my knitting, but knitting while moving is out of the question and if I use any equipment that works on the arms, the knitting is pretty much useless.
So here is my plan so far. I try to keep my portions down and pick healthy choices when I shop. I don't go back for seconds, even when its something I love and I know there won't be any seconds for lunch the next day. I walk every morning, but limit the distance so I don't aggravate my heel spurs. I go for a swim every other night, just after dark so the water will still be warm enough to not do damage to my muscles. Now the question remains; can I stick with it? We'll see.
For me, the most important thing to keep sane while I fight fibro fog and other symptoms, is to keep active. I'm always looking for more energy by eating the right foods and by getting going, but I have to take it really easy. I get caught up in what I used to be able to do and not in the here and now. In the past, if I needed to lose weight, I would put myself on a rigid diet and start walking/running or using a gym to whittle off the pounds fast. Now its about eating smart, but not dieting and going at a slow and easy pace.
I think part of my problems with staying on board with a careful eating plan and exercise is that I have always done best with a rigid plan set before me on paper that shows me exactly what to eat, how much to eat, and lets me know exactly how much exercise I need and for how long. As soon as I go off the plan, I put the weight right back on and none of the food and exercise plan is continued on a permanent basis. I need something to do for life, not just while I drop a few pounds.
On top of that, I have to make sure I don't damage my already fibro wracked body by overdoing my exercise. This is what I know:
* first, I have to watch portion sizes while eating and cut back there
*second, I need to stick with exercise that won't jar joints or aggravate already sore muscles.
*third, I have to keep a food journal so I can see when I eat wrong and I need to actually do something about it instead of just writing it down.
*and fourth, I need to limit the time spent exercising so I don't hurt myself.
I know what I need to do, but can I stick with it? I refuse to get back into a plan where I have to measure and weigh my food and where I have to do exercises that are boring and easy to find excuses to not do. That's why I resist getting into weights and using the machines in our exercise room here at the apartments. I know that I will be bored to tears. I have no clue how to use the tv in the room, so I end up watching the pre-pre show to the next football/basketball/baseball game that someone else has playing and left on. I tried bringing my knitting, but knitting while moving is out of the question and if I use any equipment that works on the arms, the knitting is pretty much useless.
So here is my plan so far. I try to keep my portions down and pick healthy choices when I shop. I don't go back for seconds, even when its something I love and I know there won't be any seconds for lunch the next day. I walk every morning, but limit the distance so I don't aggravate my heel spurs. I go for a swim every other night, just after dark so the water will still be warm enough to not do damage to my muscles. Now the question remains; can I stick with it? We'll see.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Socks!!
My current project. I'm using Caron soft worsted weight yarn and have added a little pink in the cuff. I haven't used color for quite a while and had some awkwardness while trying to handle both colors. I need to get more practice.LOL I hate that they are so Pastel!! I need to buy some yarn that has more character than Easter egg colors. Oh well, there should be someone out there that will appreciate them.
Here they are all finished and ready to sell:
My thoughts on relationships and fibromyalgia
I just thought I should devote some space towards my separation from my husband. My marriage hadn't been very strong before I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, but I believe that it had a huge impact on our relationship. I don't figure the actual diagnoses as when I first displayed symptoms, but several years previous to it. I believe that I started having fibro symptoms when I had my first back surgery. It felt as if I never actually healed and I also suffered from sleep apnea so It was around 3 years before my diagnoses.
That was also the time that I found myself feeling very resentful about housework and chores. The daily difficulty of trying to keep the house clean enough to be healthy for my son who was still young and at the same time, dealing with financial stress and the nagging voice in my head that told me I should just sweep the pain under a rug and go to work, made me really negative. When I look back, I realize that I was fighting a losing battle. At the same time, I lost any interest in sex and my self esteem took quite a beating. By the time I first separated and when I finally left for good, I had somewhere along the way gone from feeling like I was holding the world on my shoulders to the idea that I was useless and not helping my family by being alive. The last year of my marriage was spent in one room while he stayed in another and the only time we talked was when it was meal time. My stubborn side told me that I couldn't leave and throw 30 years of marriage away, but my heart told me that if I stayed I would end up sitting in my chair in front of my computer and I would die from not moving. I had lost interest in everything except computer games and didn't leave the apartment.
Luckily I was driven out of the apartment by the heat. We couldn't afford to pay our electric bill and I was so miserable from the heat that I asked my daughter if I could visit her and her room mates. That's what saved me. A week later, I was getting up, cooking, walking around, visiting things outside of her home and, yes, knitting again. I went back long enough to pack my things, say goodbye to my son and husband, and then moved.
I'm not saying that the last year has been easy. I've seen some pretty heavy mood swings and I've had a few health set-backs. But when I look back to last summer, I realize that I have progressed. I now share an apartment with my daughter and a couple of good friends, have a good doctor that is accessible, and I swim three times a week and walk daily. I love to cook, clean my little apartment, and, of course, knit. I still enjoy playing computer games, don't get me wrong, but it isn't all that I have now.
That was also the time that I found myself feeling very resentful about housework and chores. The daily difficulty of trying to keep the house clean enough to be healthy for my son who was still young and at the same time, dealing with financial stress and the nagging voice in my head that told me I should just sweep the pain under a rug and go to work, made me really negative. When I look back, I realize that I was fighting a losing battle. At the same time, I lost any interest in sex and my self esteem took quite a beating. By the time I first separated and when I finally left for good, I had somewhere along the way gone from feeling like I was holding the world on my shoulders to the idea that I was useless and not helping my family by being alive. The last year of my marriage was spent in one room while he stayed in another and the only time we talked was when it was meal time. My stubborn side told me that I couldn't leave and throw 30 years of marriage away, but my heart told me that if I stayed I would end up sitting in my chair in front of my computer and I would die from not moving. I had lost interest in everything except computer games and didn't leave the apartment.
Luckily I was driven out of the apartment by the heat. We couldn't afford to pay our electric bill and I was so miserable from the heat that I asked my daughter if I could visit her and her room mates. That's what saved me. A week later, I was getting up, cooking, walking around, visiting things outside of her home and, yes, knitting again. I went back long enough to pack my things, say goodbye to my son and husband, and then moved.
I'm not saying that the last year has been easy. I've seen some pretty heavy mood swings and I've had a few health set-backs. But when I look back to last summer, I realize that I have progressed. I now share an apartment with my daughter and a couple of good friends, have a good doctor that is accessible, and I swim three times a week and walk daily. I love to cook, clean my little apartment, and, of course, knit. I still enjoy playing computer games, don't get me wrong, but it isn't all that I have now.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Knitting as Therapy
Ok, this is a subject that is near and dear to me. I've heard it said many times, but I decided to do a Google search for it and see what came up. It was one of those moments where you find proof for something that you've known in your heart for a while.
What it means to me is that, if I start when I first start to "fog out," knitting can be helpful to keep me focused. If I wait too long before I start knitting, though, I have to pick out a pattern that I know reeeeallly well. Otherwise I'm not able to concentrate on the pattern well enough and mistakes happen. I've been known to put two heels in one sock before! LOL
I also have to watch out how much repetitive motion I do since I have neuropathy in my hands. Once my hands get to burning, I have to put my knitting aside and let them have a day off.
Where the knitting really comes in handy, though, is in my coping with depression. I have those moments, where the fibromyalgia flare is hanging in there for days, where I feel pretty useless to my family and friends because I am unable to do the things I deem important. That is where my knitting really helps me. I can at least do something that I feel pretty experienced in and that I can produce items that are appreciated by the other members of my family and my friends.
Here are some great articles that I found on the web that support my own findings:
http://www.knitonthenet.com/issue4/features/therapeuticknitting/
http://hubpages.com/hub/Knitting_as_Therapy
http://www.dailyiowan.com/2011/03/01/Metro/21712.html
What it means to me is that, if I start when I first start to "fog out," knitting can be helpful to keep me focused. If I wait too long before I start knitting, though, I have to pick out a pattern that I know reeeeallly well. Otherwise I'm not able to concentrate on the pattern well enough and mistakes happen. I've been known to put two heels in one sock before! LOL
I also have to watch out how much repetitive motion I do since I have neuropathy in my hands. Once my hands get to burning, I have to put my knitting aside and let them have a day off.
Where the knitting really comes in handy, though, is in my coping with depression. I have those moments, where the fibromyalgia flare is hanging in there for days, where I feel pretty useless to my family and friends because I am unable to do the things I deem important. That is where my knitting really helps me. I can at least do something that I feel pretty experienced in and that I can produce items that are appreciated by the other members of my family and my friends.
Here are some great articles that I found on the web that support my own findings:
http://www.knitonthenet.com/issue4/features/therapeuticknitting/
http://hubpages.com/hub/Knitting_as_Therapy
http://www.dailyiowan.com/2011/03/01/Metro/21712.html
Monday, June 20, 2011
Starting out
This is my first addition to my new blog so I need to introduce myself. I'm Peg. I live in a little apartment with my adult daughter and two friends in Henderson Nevada.
I'm 52 years old and have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia as well as osteoarthritis, diabetes, heel spurs and plantar fasciitis, neuropathy, and...well you get it. So you might get the idea that I sit around and moan and groan a lot. Not true. I actually consider myself pretty darned active for all that.
My hobbies include knitting, crocheting, sewing, cooking, gardening, swimming, and walking. I share my life with my family and friends and that includes my little dog, 2bits. I am separated from my husband, but still keep in contact with him.
My biggest love is knitting. I knit as a form of therapy as well as just to get my creative juices going. I have to really watch my money though, since I'm unable to work right now, but I have found some pretty darned imaginative ways to get yarn and keep up with my hobby. My biggest love as far as knitting is concerned is making socks. For some reason I get all proud of myself every time I make a sock and it turns out looking... sock like. Don't get me wrong, there have been some that didn't look quite there.LOL Fibro fog will do that to you.
I'll share some of my finished projects and also some works in progress (wip) as I blog.
I'm 52 years old and have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia as well as osteoarthritis, diabetes, heel spurs and plantar fasciitis, neuropathy, and...well you get it. So you might get the idea that I sit around and moan and groan a lot. Not true. I actually consider myself pretty darned active for all that.
My hobbies include knitting, crocheting, sewing, cooking, gardening, swimming, and walking. I share my life with my family and friends and that includes my little dog, 2bits. I am separated from my husband, but still keep in contact with him.
My biggest love is knitting. I knit as a form of therapy as well as just to get my creative juices going. I have to really watch my money though, since I'm unable to work right now, but I have found some pretty darned imaginative ways to get yarn and keep up with my hobby. My biggest love as far as knitting is concerned is making socks. For some reason I get all proud of myself every time I make a sock and it turns out looking... sock like. Don't get me wrong, there have been some that didn't look quite there.LOL Fibro fog will do that to you.
I'll share some of my finished projects and also some works in progress (wip) as I blog.
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