Simply Playing Podcast - Episode 1 - Pleased to Meet Me

Introduction:

Hi!  This is Ann or simplyplaying on Ravelry and Instagram.  Welcome to my new knitting podcast called Simply Playing.  I'm so glad your could make it! 

Playing with Sticks and String (or current knitting projects):

Perfectly Plain Vest by Julie Gaddy from the book Guy Knits the best of Knitter's Magazine.
Using Valley Yarns Stockbridge in the Light Gray colorway.
Knitter's Pride Interchangeable Wood Needles in US 4/3.5 mm and US 6/4 mm.

Felted Tote Bag by Yvonne Eyer (not sure where this pattern is available as I received it as a class handout)
Using Cascade 220 worsted in Navy, Straw, Lemon and Natural colorways.
Clover US 13/9mm bamboo fixed 32 inch circulars.
Clover US 11/8mm bamboo 9 inch straight needles.

Show and Tell (or finished objects):

I mention The Knit Girllls podcast and upcoming Stash Dash.

Snapdragon Tam by Ysolda Teague
Using Madelinetosh Tosh DK in Candlewick colorway.
Chiaogoo US 4/3.5mm and US 6/4mm 16 inch circular needles.

Forgotten Toys (or languishing works in progress):

Toe Up socks using a 3 x 1 rib over 64 stitches.
Afterthought Heel Socks pattern by Laura Linneman.
Using TurtlePurl's Turtletoes in the OM colorway.
Chiaogoo US 1/2.25mm 16inch circular needles (2 circular sock method)
Boxy Bag project bag by ZigZag Stitches.

The Toy Box (or a visit into the stash):

Clara Yarn CVM/Romeldale 2.0 fingering weight 2 ply yarn.
In Aborio (cream) and Rye (oatmeal) colorways
About 425 yards/388 meters per 100 gram skein.

I hope to knit Joji Locatelli's Baby Garter Stitch Kimono, Norwegian Sweet Baby Cap by Gro and some as yet to be determined baby booties for my immediate neighbor who is having a baby in October of this year.

Ooo SHINY! (or yarn and pattern distractions)

First off WEBS anniversary sale.  Need I say more?  Yikes!

Liberty Blanket by Kay Gardiner and Ann Shayne from Mason Dixon Knitting Outside the Lines book.  It uses Berroco Ultra Alpaca worsted weight yarn which is in WEBS anniversary sale for such a good price.  I would have used the Indigo Mix (navy blue) and Winter White (cream) colorways.  Sigh.  Knitting a blanket in the summer - who am I kidding!

Qwist Mitts by Melanie Berg - vickyness' version of gloves!  Very dreamy.
I'd use Malabrigo Finito in the Anal colorway exclusive to Amazing Threads in Maplegrove MN which I actually have in stash.  (I don't know if "exclusive" means they are the only ones in Minnesota or in the US)

Bye! Bye!

I hope you enjoyed watching me work my way through my knitting past, present and future.  If there is anything you'd like to hear about let me know at annATsimplyplayingDOTnet.  Thanks so much for taking some time out of your day to spend with me.  I greatly appreciate it.  Bye! Bye!

Note:  Title Please to Meet Me is in reference to a Replacements album - an awesome Minnesota band from the 1980's.  Yes, I've just dated myself ;)  Give them a listen and rock out a little.

A Long Hiatus

Knitting myself a new felted purse.  Can you tell I have a navy blue crush?

Hello.  I am back from a long unexpected hiatus.  You see sometime back in February during the cold Minnesota winter I injured myself while shoveling snow.  At least I believe that's what started the bout of tendonitis I am currently experiencing in my forearms.  I was shoveling our driveway when my arms shouted "enough already!".  Figuring I probably overexerted myself I stopped shoveling,  but I didn't give much thought to my arms other then noting they would probably take a few days to recover.

Well, my arms didn't get any better.  I managed to deny anything was really wrong for weeks until both my arms got worse to the point where they hurt badly while I was knitting.  Again, still thinking this was simply a case of overuse I took a week off from knitting anything at all.  Doesn't sound hard right?  Well frankly, I was in tears by the end of the week and my arms still hurt.  All the advice I got both professional, internet and friendly was to not use my arms to give them time to heal.  And I tried again not knitting or doing anything non essential with the result being more tears and still aching arms.  

Since I have pretty serious depression I go to counseling regularly as part of my management program.  As this not knitting regime was affecting my mood so significantly it came up during session. I not only found out my counselor also has tendonitis in her forearms, but she has an active way of managing it with massage therapy.  She promptly gave me the name of her massage therapist who I rapidly made an appointment to go see.  

My visit was very beneficial.  The therapist agreed it was a pretty classic case of tendonitis and proceeded to give my arms a massage.  This was not a pleasant relaxing massage.  On the contrary, it was rather a painful experience.  But after a few days of feeling very sore I started feeling notably better to the point where I could knit again.  Not for very long at first, but with each subsequent visit to the masseuse my knitting is feeling better and better.  It has been such a relief I tell you.  I was starting to wonder there what the heck I was going to do with my time if I didn't knit.

I'm not back up to my regular knitting speed/endurance yet, but at least now I can feel the improvement happening.  Which has me back to doing some planning (Stash Dash anyone?) and now blogging as well.  I'll catch you all up on everything next post.  

Have a great week everyone!