Back to my roots

/ MR

No, not these roots that are white(ish) once again —

(and look ! – I’m showing you my shellacked nails, that actually needed to be filed right down so as to be same height as my fingers coz otherwise I couldn’t do anything !) but my … ahhh … occupational roots.

Which is to say, I think I remember starting up my blog again, however many years ago it was, with the intention of devoting it to crochet. Possibly knitting as well, back then; but I don’t do that any more on account of hand arthritis. Well, I MEAN ! – just look at those ancient hands … Sighh … But also grrrrrrrrrr ! owing to the fucking blood-thinners I am told I must take, which make all veins stick out like dogs’ balls. Stringer taught me that one: blame him. [grin]

ANYWAY … Here’s what I’m rabbiting on about:

I was seized suddenly with a desire to make a cardi from one cuff to the other. I know I’ve seen several of these designs on YouTube, but if you think I could find a single one for reference, you’re wrong.  So I had to work out the number for meself. Simple, eh ?

Nup. Far from. For a start, the cuff circumference has to be set by drawing an imaginary straight line up from the ‘edge’ of my somewhat gigantic hips as I see in the mirror, straight-on, which is because they are my widest point (scarcely surprisingly !) and the width of the front and back panels is reflected in that measurement. This means that the length of the sleeves is going to be measured from that same imaginary line to the cuff, not from the point of the shoulder. And you should try getting that point without anyone to hold the tape-measure !!!

Once that’s done there are all the other sums to be worked out, but they’re all just a matter of logic.

Here’s a better shot:

and you don’t need to have it explained why … but there’s my constant companion, the Boodster, shedding fur and being curious.

It looks unbalanced, but that’s one of the many failings of my detested phone, the Oppo somethingorother: not possible to get a shot wherein an object isn’t stretched in at least one dimension. I assure you(se) that both horizontal edges are … horizontal.

Having discovered a second yarn I LOVE working with – the first being Lion Brand Mandala Ombre – which is Fiddlesticks Superb 8 Prints (no idea what the solid colour yarns are like), the next one will be a jumper, with ribbing added afterwards. The challenge there will be the neck-hole, and how to make a roll-neck. Much studying of others’ patterns, I hope !

21 thoughts on “Back to my roots”

  1. I’ll just have to see it when it’s done because I didn’t understand about half of that.

    My hands look about the same as yours, but I was told it’s because the underlying body fat has disappeared. Wrong! It just turned into belly fat. Ugh.

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    • Of course, Colorado my lamb, that is partial truth – indeed there is a lessening of adipose tissue in our claws. But I do not wish to have you tell me your hands look just like mine, as I vastly prefer to blame the rivaroxaban.

      In one of my two favourite books series (audiobooks, in my case), The Thursday Murder Club, I shuddered when a lead character correctly identified another’s age by checking his hands. Now when introduced to someone I always thrust out a hand for shaking so that the person doesn’t get to take a long look.

      I see that my explanation re measuring difficulties is not ideal, as your brain is not yet stagnant. [grin] Well, good, in a kind of way; at least anyone can comprehend that it is indeed A Difficult Thing, ‘designing’ a cuff-to-cuff garment.

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      • Okay, I studied the photo again and I think I see how it’s going to come together. Doesn’t strike me as the easiest way to make a sweater, but I know less than nothing about knitting, crocheting, etc. I can sew on a button, but that’s about it.

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      • Sorry but I’m not on blood thinners and I have raised veins on my hands too. I don’t think you can blame medications for all ills. Sometimes they do keep us alive? Or, make our lives more comfortable. (That said it is well worth questioning and being sceptical.)

        Thrilled to see you crocheting again. BUT didn’t you mean “you’re right” in your intro? Or is my logical brain frazzled by too much tennis!

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        • Possibly, Sue; but I have yet to have it explained that there is PROOF that I need these damned things.

          No: I worded that badly. I had found several instances, but not saved the sites; and when I went to find ’em again, I could not.

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  2. I believe that if I were a normal size it would be easy. Because my hips wouldn’t be so wide as to require that imaginary line up to a point on the arms (held out), and the two rectangular panels, front and back, would measure from shoulder to shoulder. The sleeves could then be easily measured from shoulder to wrist.

    But with me that’s all a dream: imaginary measuring points have to be created, with extreme difficulty coz of there being no-one to help.

    My own choices shape life, eh, Colorado ? – like you chose (without realizing it) not to learn to knit or crochet. And yet we’re both content. 🙂

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  4. I am so impressed that you were able to calculate the dimensions and stitches needed for this project, M-R. I can get by with my knitting if I follow a pattern down to the detail (a simple one) but I cannot seem to calculate any changes. And I’m really bothered for you that your arthritis can sometimes interfere. I know so many people with hand pain. That is a tremendous loss, especially for someone who enjoys the creative arts, knitting and crocheting. I like what you’re doing here, and hope you can continue with little interference. Maybe Boodz might interfere, but not physical discomfort! 😉

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    • My very dear Deb – one never knows what paths will become visible. I took to the handcrafts after losing Chic, even though I’d practised them to some degree while he was with me; and my interest in the … ahh … adapting phase started much later, when I became dissatisfied with never making things that fitted me. Oh, so much wasted yarn !

      These days I rarely follow anyone’s pattern but try my own – mixed results. I can tell you that my beautiful cleaner, Luz, has benefited from my crochet to the tune of around a dozen jumpers and cardis !!! I do retain those that not only fit but (I think) suit me …

      I have just decided to try to find as many photos as possible of things I’ve made, so as to prove that it hasn’t all been making, raging and frogging … 🙂

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  5. Okay, where to start. Imagine a great sweater. I’m trying really hard, and I’m sure that as you work along your will make it happen, and the colors are sooo nice. Now for the hands. I’m so sorry for the pain of sad hands; I understand how hard it can be. Mine is mostly my wrists, but I have had some flares where the fingers and knuckles joined the party. At least mine do settle down and behave themselves for long periods of time. Now that I’ve said that, I’m laughing at the vein sorrow. My hands are kind of swollen lumps with sausages attached, and you totally have to you your imagination to see the veins. It was a circus getting an IV started using one of my hand veins when I had my last surgery. I guess we are all self-conscious about our hands; I tell myself to be grateful that they are still working most of the time. 🙂

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    • Now, look, Marilyn – you are not allowed to make me feel small and mean !!! It’s entirely true that my pathetic whinges are, like … PATHETIC !!! And I am ashamed for having taken up space making them. I shall now pretend I didn’t.

      The sweater is growing, not nearly as fast as it should. But as I know for a fact that it took just under 4 balls to reach the front opening, and I’m currently on the 6th (of 8), I am at least approaching where I decrease to make the other sleeve. (I’m listening to an audiobook that infuriates me because the protagonist is riven with self-doubt, and that is something I have quite enough of without needing to be listening to someone else’s !) When it’s finished, I will have made something from which I can take the workings right or wrong and use or adapt them. Or mebbe not, as this one seems to’ve taken muuuuuuch longer …

      I do like that sweater you’re thinking of, and I especially like it in comparison with all that colourwork she’s done – I’m not much of a one for colourwork. Probably because I don’t have the concentration. Sighhh …

      Doin’ alright, me love ??

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      • Oh, whinge away!! You are talking (so to speak) to someone who thinks going to the grocery store is an an overwhelming adventure that deserves a big, fat sticker on the calendar for doing it!! Look at you winging it with math and creating a gorgeous sweater!!

        I had to stop listening to psychological thrillers with protagonists who are women that have been victimized and betrayed by people who should have taken care of them, fate, their doctors, whatever. No. Who need nonsense like that? A little doubt is good for the soul, but not when you are designing your own sweater!!

        I’m still fussing about that sweater, but I wrote out a list of all the unfinished projects that I still have hanging out (only two right now!!) and the yarn that I bought for projects already (okay, that was too overwhelming to write up…) and I have settled down again. I think that I should get my taxes filed, and pay for the car registration before I buy more yarn.

        I am doing okay, but my joints have been acting up again and for some reason I am sleeping poorly; I think that it is the cold weather and the cats sleeping on the bed with me.

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        • And we’re SO aware of needing our sleep … that last point is of concern, and also strangely coincidental: I have been having vile nights because of Boodie, who’s started waking me up – quite deliberately – to change the food left in his bowl. We’re talking 2am, here. 😦 Just last night I had, for the very first time, to shut the bedroom door to keep him out, and it rendered me miserable.

          Arranging our lives around our beloved moggies takes an awful lot of effort, eh ?

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  6. I should send you a photo of my veiny hands, M-R, the ones I have had most of my life, blood thinners not included. 😉 The one thing my mother did not give me was her beautiful nails, that she never had to work hard at keeping, so mine are usually short all year around.

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    • Pfuh ! – they wouldn’t hold a candle to mine – ‘specially not the huge vein that crosses over the top of my left wrist, looking like it’s inviting a nurse to take a blood sample. No, I should say to insert a cannula !

      Sighhh …

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