Knee surgery

[Catrin]

Thanks to all for hanging in with me this last month or so. Things are improving, though I still haven't quite mastered stairs - especially going downstairs...

So here is an image of the wrap I just completed blocking, it took a solid month of knitting to do it but I didn't have much else to do. I read in the morning and started knitting in the mid-afternoon. Yes, it IS that long - ~76 inches long and about 14 inches wide. I blocked it to be 17 inches wide but the tight stitches pulled it back a bit, I suspect that is why the designer stressed the need for "extreme" blocking and gave such huge dimensions to block it do. Hard to see the detail, so the second image provides a small snapshot of a couple of the pattern blocks. Not bad for only the second knitting project I've ever done, am quite surprised at how nice it turned out!

Sorry, the images don't seem to be clickable, so I've provided another link that will hopefully allow details to be seen if you desire to see more.


(detail link here)


(Full image detail link here - quality isn't as good as I would like)

[Pax]

That is really nice! I don't know what blocking entails but it does answer a question I've always had about knitting, how do you make things square again.

[Catrin]

That is really nice! I don't know what blocking entails but it does answer a question I've always had about knitting, how do you make things square again.

If it is wool, basically you soak it in water for 30 minutes or so, squeeze out as much water as you can (no wringing!!!!), and lay it flat until it dries. Depending on the article it may need to be pinned into the proper shape. THIS project required wires that were inserted through every little stitch on all four sides, then the WIRES pinned into place to assure the proper dimensions. Normally wires are only used for blocking lace, but also for other projects with straight edges that need aggressive blocking. It took me quite some time, given I can't get on the ground or crawl around on my knees yet

[rebeccaC]

Thanks to all for hanging in with me this last month or so.

isn't that called sisterhood

the wrap looks great and like a warm addition to winter days/nights at home!!!!!

i see a successful esty site for your selling beautiful knitting

[Catrin]

isn't that called sisterhood

the wrap looks great and like a warm addition to winter days/nights at home!!!!!

i see a successful esty site for your selling beautiful knitting

Yes it is, and that sisterhood is still while I'm still around even though I can't ride any longer!

I've looked at Etsy, and many of hand-knitted wool items I've seen there are asking prices that MIGHT cover the the cost wool (some of them not at all), never mind the many hours it can take to knit an object. My magic power is pretty cool (string and then waving 2 connected sticks around a lot to create lovely warm items), but it isn't quick - unless you are at home for a month recovering from knee surgery There are some nice knitted items on Etsy, and they all aren't at bargain basement prices.

[OakLeaf]

Wow, very nice!

[Catrin]

Wow, very nice!

Aw shucks, thanks What amazes me is this is only my second knitting project! It came out much better than I dreamed possible. Next I am taking on a cardigan, and am taking a class on that one.

The knee is improving, though walking is still challenging, and stairs and me haven't yet become friends. I live in a 2nd floor walkup that I can maneuver, but we had a serious problem yesterday when the evacuation alarm went off in my building. I work on the 19th floor...thankfully by the time I hemmed and hawed around they cancelled the alarm, it was not a drill. They've evacuation chairs for people like me, but we didn't have access to one. My director was quite unhappy when we realized this and has ordered one just for our office. May there be no more such events until I am bounding up and down the stairs again!

So while my knee is lagging (to me, they tell me I'm doing well), I successfully did some kettlebell deadlifts and clean/presses tonight with no pain! Cautiously, light weights but the movements were fine. And yes, I've permission :-)