And So the Epic Begins

I didn't quite make my self-imposed deadline of finishing the purple Mr. Greenjeans cardigan before May 1st, but I'm close. A cuff on one sleeve, the other whole sleeve, and the ribbed trim, and I'll be there. Ran into a little delay when I realized that the sleeves require double pointed needles (rather than circulars) and I don't have size sevens for the cuffs or trim. Off to the LYS.

 

This did not prevent me from starting my Epic Summer Knitting Project as planned.

No, it doesn't look like a skirt at the moment. But I'm so thrilled to be knitting something springy and pink that these long rows are going by pretty fast.

After a couple of weeks of pain, I am finally going to see a doctor again about my foot neuroma (basically, an irritated nerve). Back in 1997 or so, my foot got very sore from standing on my feet all day at work, and when I rubbed it enough, it would go numb. A visit to the orthopedist identified the neuroma, and I had some physical therapy in the form of iontophoresis (sadly, no weekly foot massages, which would have felt so much better!). It was fine for a while after that, but on and off through time it has been acting up again. I have managed to mollify it with magnets for the most part, but now, even they are not working as much as they used to. It's been difficult to keep to a regular bike riding schedule and I am frustrated losing time by staying off my feet.

I have a pretty good sized fear of injections, and I've heard cortisone injections are not the most pleasant, which is why I have been putting this off. But I survived a tetanus shot last summer and so I'm wondering if the cortisone would be much worse? Personally I'm hoping for sclerotherapy, to just shrink the nerve altogether and get rid of it, but we'll have to see what the doctor says. I just want to get this over with and get on with my bike riding!

I found a couple of interesting sites to share with you. First, Queen Anne's Lace Knitting. I'm not sure what the designer means by "aristocratic" knitting and crochet, but the idea of patterns inspired by poetry is cool, to me anyway. Second, I do not sew (or cook, really...), but a number of my blog friends do, and when I saw this site, it reminded me of the Amy Butler-type of designs and fabrics they like to use. So if you like these hobbies, you may want to take a look. I do not know anything about these companies nor have I purchased anything from them, they just reminded me of things that knit blogging friends like.

As to books, I haven't done lots of reading lately since I've been trying extra hard to finish my sweater, and I'm reading the new May magazines -- I love some of the fashion and home decorating ones, and summer knitting magazines are out now too. Lots of knitters dislike the spring/summer issues but I find them most inspiring, with the lighter colors and patterns and all those pretty shawls. The beaches and exotic locales for background scenery are not to be missed either! When I do make time to read, I'm going over some of the sections in Too Perfect. And, I just received Moon Spinners, the next Seaside Knitters mystery!

Comments

[sprite]

I'm guessing your circular needle isn't long enough to Magic Loop the sleeve?

I hope your foot feels better soon. Foot pain is absolutely the worst!

[Sarah]

You are getting close to finished with that sweater! It's going to be so nice. Have you tried it on as you knit? I hope your foot feels better soon!

[Erin]

Oh fun! You are knitting a skirt! I was just thinking that would be a nice summer knit too...yours is going to be gorgeous!

[2paw]

Your poor foot, hope there is a painfree solution soon. I love that skirt!! Can't wait to see its progress!! I have just read all Barry Maitland's books, they are police crime books. Now I ahve caught up in time, I have to wait while he writes a new one!!!

[Emily]

Thank you so much for the book recc on my blog. I will check it out! Your knitting is beautiful. I am also so close to finishing a sweater...but it feels far away! And that skirt is gorgeous...I think my mom started knitting it for me years ago but didnt finish it...I inherited part of that from her :)

[Deborah]

I have neuroma, too. I did a couple injections, but don't recommend them. Even when they work, they are only a temporary fix.

A sports medicine doctor found the answer for me: custom-made orthotics! I can bike as much as I want; walk for an hour without taking break; and run once a week.

And this was no ordinary set of orthotics. They cost about $2,000 --totally worth it!

[keri]

What a beautiful summer project - it looks so light and airy and stylish too!

Hope your foot feels better - trigger point therapy (through a self-help book) has really helped me with that sort of pain.

[Jodi]

That skirt is going to be very cute! Your poor foot, indeed...

BTW, I'm very curious about the Moon Spinners book. Remember the old Mary Stewart book, The Moonspinners?

http://www.amazon.com/Moonspinners-Mary-Stewart/dp/0060502959

Is this homage? Or unrelated?

[Sydney]

Your skirt looks like a skirt, just an extremely short skirt. LOL!

I hope you find a solution to your foot pain soon.

[Kristen]

Mr. Greenjeans is looking nice.

I've had cortisone injections when my heel spurs were especially painful, and they helped a lot. Fortunately I don't have much fear of needles; just breathe and think pleasant thoughts!
I also have custom orthotics, which only cost around $300 ("only" compared with Deborah's $2000!). The orthotics along with physical therapy helped my heels get back to normal.

[Sheepish Annie]

I really like Mr. Greenjeans! If I didn't live under such a sweater curse, I'd try one. But I do so it's probably for the best that Ieave it to the experts such as yourself.

Good luck on the foot issues. There is nothing worse than when the feet hurt.

[Beth]

I hope your foot feels better very soon!

[Chris]

I had a cortisone shot in an itchy scar some years ago, and it wasn't that bad!

[Melissa T.]

Mr Greenjeans looks like it's gonna be beautiful when finished. Love the color!

So excited to see how your skirt works out. It's a lovely pattern!

[Leah]

Can't wait to see Mr. Greenjeans completed!

Do you know the technique you can use to knit a sleeve down using 2 circular needles instead of 4 double-pointed ones? For me, it's faster, and then you don't have to buy the double-pointed ones unless you want to....