Knitting is a dangerous activity. Sometimes, when I’m really excited about a project or am trying to finish something in a hurry, I hurt myself. I end up with excruciating pain in my neck and shoulder. My elbow begins to burn and my wrist goes numb. As reluctant as I may be about doing so, I know I need to put down my knitting for awhile—sometimes a couple of weeks when that happens. I need to give my body a chance to heal.

For some time, I thought I was one of the only people this happened to and blamed it on knitting too tightly, bad posture, the position of my keyboard at work (I still need to get this changed…it’s too high!), an unlucky alignment of stars, etc. It turns out that I am not alone and this happens to quite a few people. Apparently, Froggy was one. She used to be a vigorous thrower and experienced a lot of pain in her arm and shoulder. Since then, she has learned to knit continental style and says that it no longer hurts to knit. I’ve decided to follow her lead and began knitting my first project using the continental method—or, as my husband terms it, the “Princess Bride Style.” (During a couple of sword fights in the movie, the swordsmen surprised their opponents by switching hands mid-fight and declaring “I’m not left-handed!”)

It’s another Sophie bag from Magknits! It’s an easy pattern which allowed me to practice the continental knit stitch to my heart’s content. Best of all, all the irregularities will (hopefully) disappear during the felting process.

Now, I know this was supposed to be a practice piece and I wasn’t supposed to care about how it turned out…but I can’t help myself! Initially, I didn’t concern myself with the pooling colors, but now that I’ve had a chance to look at it with the idea that it might turn into something I like, I can’t make up my mind about whether I should rip it out and knit every couple of rows with yarn from different balls so it won’t pool, or if I should just leave well enough alone and felt the darned thing as it is. Perhaps the felting will make the pooling less obvious? Really, it’s not that much knitting, but it goes excruciatingly slowly when you’re knitting it with the opposite hand you’re accustomed to. Another factor to consider: I’ve been feeling a bit panicky about the number of items I have on the needles right now and wanted to finish something to make myself feel better. So, what do you think? Should I rip and reknit? Or just toss it in the wash?

First, a photo of me (and some of my knitting buddies) is published in a book where “bitch” is a key word in the title. Second, the Seattle Times published an action shot of some of the Purlygirls knitting. I’m the only one who is actively stuffing her face full of crostini and artichoke spread. Very low on the glamour factor, although I am wearing my Elfin!

I really need to have a talk with my agent

Have you ever felt like the knitting gods were out to get you? I’ve started to suspect that I’ve done something to offend them ever since I started knitting a sock for the Sock it to Me knit along. Perhaps they’re angry that I started yet another project? Only they can say for sure.

Here is the sequence of events which led me to believe I need to make some sort of sacrifice in the name of the gods Knit and Purl:

Day 1: Attempt to learn how to knit a sock on two circulars. Never before had much trouble with double-pointed needles, but wanted to try something new and was confident I could master it in no time flat. Extreme hubris. Failed to read instructions and used wrong needle as working needle. Ended up with all stitches on one contorted needle. Too stupid to realize what the problem was and what the easy solution would be (just slip half of the stitches to second needle). Frogged the sock.

Day 2: Decided to resort to the tried-and-true method of knitting on double-pointed needles. Two inches into it, I decided I wasn’t enjoying the stickiness of bamboo. Frogged sock.

Day 3: Back on two circulars. Everything was going just the way it should. I was a knitting master! (Once again, the hubris!) After knitting several inches, I tugged on the yarn and out from the center of my ball came this:

Spent hours detangling mess. At one point, I threw the snarled yarn at my husband and begged him to fix it. He worked at it diligently for one minute and then asked where the scissors were. I snatched it back. Spent several more hours detangling mess.

Day 4: Started over. Three and a half inches in, I decided to try on the sock (that’s the cool thing about using two circulars…you can slip on the sock in progress to check its fit –or at least you’re supposed to be able to.) Sock was way too tight–was cutting off my circulation. Glanced at pattern…was devastated to find a note suggesting that I use more stitches than I normally do since the stitch pattern makes the sock snugger than usual. Frogged sock.

Days 5 & 6: I’m afraid to say anything about the progress of the sock for fear of jinxing msyelf any further. I’ll let you be the judge:

Pattern: Making Waves from the Six Sock Knit Along
Yarn: Twinkletoes from Ebay retailer