What a Relief: I Actually Do Like Knitting After All

Any serious sock knitter who takes themselves seriously, in all seriousness, has at least one pair on the needles, another pair whose second sock is knit halfway, and at least one new skein in the queue to be cast on. Seriously.

I am one of those sock knitters.

I am also someone, who, up until today, and for a period of about a year, didn't really enjoy knitting.

I know this sounds nuts but it's true. I think a combination of things contributed to my ambivalence. First, after writing five books and designing literally hundreds of patterns over the past several years, knitting has become "work." And as it happens, I have been writing a sixth book over the past year. Then to pile on another factor: I have been suffering through a few knitting injuries that make the act of knitting painful.

My life hasn't been a ton of fun when it comes to the knitting thing.

This will change soon because I'm having surgery on my right hand on Monday.

This has been something that I have put off for quite a long time. I have carpal tunnel syndrome in both hands and cubital tunnel syndrome in both elbows and severe arthritis in my right thumb. I'm not telling you this because I want attention--sheesh, the last thing I enjoy reading in someone's blog is a litany of their health woes and complaints--instead, I mention this because I'm hoping that anyone reading this will stop and listen to their bodies if they are experiencing pain.

So, I will stop here--but there is one thing that happened today that I want to tell you about. Realizing that I probably won't be able to knit for some time (my doctor who is a highly regarded hand surgeon and handmade sweater aficionado assures me it'll be pretty quick), I had this terrible urge to finish ALL the socks I have on the needles. That means, the one pair on the needles, the other pair whose second sock is knit halfway, and to start on the skein that is in the queue. 

I finished that one pair that was on the needles, and today, as a plugged along on that second pair whose second sock is knit halfway, I had a pleasant sensation that I haven't felt in a really long time. I was enjoying knitting! It was honestly so nice to feel that feeling because I was afraid that it had gone away.

I'll let you know how the surgery goes. Be well, my friends.

BTW: That yarn in the picture. The green is from Arne and Carlos, the one on the needles is gosh-knows-what, and the red and green one is Opal Fresh and Juicy (which reminds me that I was given the unfortunate nickname of "hot and juicy" in high school due to a popular Wendy's Hamburger chain commercial. Ugh. I'm glad that it didn't stick).

Comments

[Lynn]

I had orthoscopic carpal tunnel surgery on my right (dominate) hand years ago now. I was off work one week and could write reasonably well when I returned to work. I could also type for limited periods.

Best part? The pain post surgery was nothing like the torture of the nerve pain and numbness before.

Best of luck! I wish you the same easy, speedy recovery I had.

[sprite]

Good luck with your surgery! We'll be rooting for you!

[Maryanne]

Very best of luck with the surgery. I'm sure you'll be back in shape soon.

And thank you for the laugh today. Nicknames...

[Jenny]

Good luck with surgery! I moved to Germany in January for 7 months. I couldn't pack much yarn and figured I would buy plenty here, so I only brought the essentials. As soon as I read your first sentence I realized that you had literally described the only yarn I brought: a sock in progress, another sock in progress whose mate was already knit, and a ball of sock yarn for next. Socks4ever! :)

[Judy Bushey]

Good luck with your surgery. I've really enjoyed all of your books and knitting your designs.

[Georg]

Mojo for fast healing and successful surgery!

I always have a sock in progress in the car, and one in progress in a bag to grab and go anywhere I think I may need to sit or just have something in my hands. And sometimes, I just leave a sock in progress in the living room. (There's always knitting in progress in the living room by the TV. It may not be a sock. Right now, it's a vest and a shawl, and a ball of yarn waiting for a pattern)

[Marjorie McLaren]

Best wishes for a successful surgery and speedy recovery! While not a sock knitter, I am a hat knitter (mostly chemo hats) and have to have at least one project on the needles, another ready in case I finish the first early, and a third in the wings!

[Marcy]

I, too, have had carpal tunnel surgery in my dominant hand. It took a while to recover but I have been knitting pain free in that hand for many years. I wish you the best and hope that all your aches can be dealt with.