Hand Surgery

I have been having problems with a trigger finger since the summer.  It has progressively gotten worse and worse over time - beginning with a bit of an ache in my hand to full on triggering in my finger (left hand pinkie finger).  I have had this trouble with my left thumb in the past and ended up having trigger release surgery for that.  My pinkie was following the same path...  First the aching, then conservative attempts to fix it - wearing a brace and taking ibuprofen,,,  That did not work.  So off to see an orthopedic specialist.  I got the referral on November 13th and have my consult on Monday November 17th.  Chatting with him we decided to forgo the cortisone shot (tried it on my thumb three years ago and it did not give me any long term relief) and go straight to surgery.  Surgery was scheduled for Friday November 21st!!  Holy smokes that was fast!!

Surgery went well.  I had it done with a local anesthetic with no sedation.  When I had my thumb done it was with a local and sedation - if I ever need a third finger done I want sedation again!!  This did not hurt but I did not enjoy the sensation of being wide awake during the procedure.  The procedure itself took only 30 minutes or so - including time for my hand to freeze up.  We arrived at the surgical center at 7:15am, surgery was scheduled for 8am and we were out eating breakfast before 10am.  Quite a quick procedure.

The pain is not too bad.  On Friday I was eating pain pills every four hours.  On Saturday I was taking ibuprofen every four hours and the heavy duty pain meds at bedtime.  Since then I have been taking less and less pain medication.  Typing is tricky!  I am able to use one or two fingers on my left hand to type.  I am still wearing the big wrap on my hand - it is not needed but I feel better having the extra protection on my hand to cushion against any bumps.  My finger is still a bit numb and tingly but the nurse at the surgical center tells me this is normal and that it will fade away as my finger heals up.  It is less numb than it was but still feels weird.  No knitting yet - I can't figure out how to hold the needles with the wrapping on my hand and I suspect it would be uncomfortable just yet.  I have been sewing together crochet squares that have been around for a long time!!

Here are some pictures:

November 21st - Day 1  This is the bandaging I was sent home in

November 23rd Sunday morning Day 3 - Bandaging is off and this is what it looks like

Day 3 close up - lots of bruising starting!!

November 25th Tuesday Day 5 - still looking bruised and sore

Day 5 - close up is looking nicer now but the bruising is darker and there is some swelling!!

NaBloPoMo Late start...

I am a bit late to the party and decided to join NaBloPoMo - National Blog Posting Month - where the goal is to write a blog post each and every day in the month of November - I missed the first four days...

Now - what to write each day for the month??  Lots of days to fill!

My current WIP list:

1) I have a secret design knit and need to write up the pattern and get it sent off.
2) Another secret knit pattern is about half knit and still needs to be written out (I may not keep this one secret though)
3) Scrap afghan - Knitted Patchwork Recipe - I am using up a bunch of my sock yarn scraps for this blanket.  So far I have only 22 little squares done.  It is a long way from completion!!

4) Double Flake Squirrel Socks - Tour de Sock 2014 - Stage 6 socks.  This is my last pair of socks to complete from TdS 2014.  I am getting closer to completing the first sock!  I have not done much on this one is a while now...

5) Advent Calendar Scarf I started this back in May 2013...  It is time to decide if I will ever finish it or if I should frog it.  I need to honestly consider if I will really ever get back to it!

So there we are!  I wonder where I will be on these WIPs by the end of November??

To check out more NaBloPoMo posts check here and here

A Year of Projects - September 15th 2014

I have been keeping busy but not updating my blog...

1) I finished my secret design and have it submitted.  I hope to hear good news back from this but it will be a long time away...

2) I entered Sock Sniper and got my socks completed and sent off to my target.  I still have not received a pair of for myself (yet).

3) I have been working on my Tour-de-Sock Stage 5 socks (Arch-Nemesis) lately.  I am now happily knitting down the feet.

Progress Summary:
Sock Madness 8:
1. Chill Thrill (round 6 socks)
2. Alexandrina (round 7 socks)
Tour de Sock:
1. Dazzle Them From Behind (Stage 4)  DONE!!  Finished July 18th 2014 Link to finished project page
2. Arch-Nemesis (Stage 5) Started July 18th 2014 (Lots of progress begin made recently!)
3. Double Flake Squirrel Socks (Stage 6) Started July 21th 2014 (no progress this past week)
Other WIPs to finish:
1. Advent Calendar scarf
2. Crochet scrap afghan 
3. Sock Scrap afghan Started July 24th 2014 (no progress this past week)
Designs:
1) Secret design begun July 30th 2014.  DONE!!  Finished and submitted September 1st 2014
2) Blue Ice Cowl DONE!!  Finished August 7th 2014
3) Circle Illusion Cowl DONE!!  Finished August 9th 2014
4) Chain Link Fence Cowl DONE!!  Finished August 11th 2014
5) Easy Like Sunday Morning Cowl DONE!!  Finished August 15th 2014
6) Sailing Away Cowl  DONE!!  Finished August 30th 2014

My Ravelry projects page for YOP4 is here with a full list of wips and completed projects.

To check out other blogs taking part in YOP4 or to join head on over to the Ravelry group over here.

A Year of Projects - August 17th 2014

Woo Hoo! I am updating my blog on Sunday!!  This week has been a productive designing week!

1) I finished my cable cowl - Chain Link Fence Cowl - the cowl is complete, pattern is written, pictures are taken, and the pattern is up in my Rav store.

2) I finished another cowl!  Easy Like Sunday Morning Cowl - the cowl is complete, pattern is written, pictures are taken, and the pattern is up in my Rav store.  I love this cowl!!

3) And a crochet design!  Sailing Away Cowl - the cowl is complete, pattern is written, pictures are taken, and the pattern is up for testing over here.

I have also been mulling over my secret design and I am starting to think it will be coming out too small.  I may have to rethink this one!!  In the meantime, I have cast on for another secret design to replace the earlier one.  Once I decide for sure what I will do with the early design I will let you know :)

Progress Summary:
Sock Madness 8:
1. Chill Thrill (round 6 socks)
2. Alexandrina (round 7 socks)
Tour de Sock:
1. Dazzle Them From Behind (Stage 4)  DONE!!  Finished July 18th 2014 Link to finished project page
2. Arch-Nemesis (Stage 5) Started July 18th 2014 (no progress this past week)
3. Double Flake Squirrel Socks (Stage 6) Started July 21th 2014 (no progress this past week)
Other WIPs to finish:
1. Advent Calendar scarf
2. Crochet scrap afghan 
3. Sock Scrap afghan Started July 24th 2014 (no progress this past week)
Designs:
1) Secret design begun July 30th 2014.  I have the two cuffs complete (one in size small and one in size large).  I can't post pictures here as it is being submitted somewhere and secrecy is important.
2) Blue Ice Cowl DONE!!  Finished August 7th 2014
3) Circle Illusion Cowl DONE!!  Finished August 9th 2014
4) Chain Link Fence Cowl DONE!!  Finished August 11th 2014
5) Easy Like Sunday Morning Cowl DONE!!  Finished August 15th 2014
6) Sailing Away Cowl - new design in testing

My Ravelry projects page for YOP4 is here with a full list of wips and completed projects.

To check out other blogs taking part in YOP4 or to join head on over to the Ravelry group over here.

A Year of Projects - August 12th 2014

This week I am late again...  This is becoming a trend, but then again Sunday is a busy day in our household.  At least I am continuing with weekly updates :)

This past week was all about designing!  I had two near complete designs that I finished up and posted for sale on Ravelry.

1) First I finished writing up my Blue Ice Cowl design and got some nice pictures taken.  This cowl includes cables, lace and beads!

2) Second I finally wrote up my Circle Illusion Cowl pattern.  I had this sample completed many months ago (like in February!) and finally got some decent pictures and wrote it up.

3) I finished knitting my Chain Link Fence Cowl last night.  I had started this a few months ago and got back at it.  I need to block it, take some pictures (it's rainy today so that might not happen today), and write up the pattern.  I hope to have it up in my Rav shop before the week is over.

4) And I started another knit cowl - Easy Like Sunday Morning Cowl (anyone beginning to think I may have a problem with starting new things without finishing other things first??!)  Anyway, this one is about half done.


I have not touched any of my other items on my list this past week.  I really need to get back to the secret design pattern - I need to have it done by September 1st!  But I also have an idea (or two or five) for some crochet cowls...)

Progress Summary:
Sock Madness 8:
1. Chill Thrill (round 6 socks)
2. Alexandrina (round 7 socks)
Tour de Sock:
1. Dazzle Them From Behind (Stage 4)  DONE!!  Finished July 18th 2014 Link to finished project page
2. Arch-Nemesis (Stage 5) Started July 18th 2014 (no progress this past week)
3. Double Flake Squirrel Socks (Stage 6) Started July 21th 2014 (no progress this past week)
Other WIPs to finish:
1. Advent Calendar scarf
2. Crochet scrap afghan 
3. Sock Scrap afghan Started July 24th 2014 (no progress this past week)
Designs:
1) Secret design begun July 30th 2014.  I have the two cuffs complete (one in size small and one in size large).  I can't post pictures here as it is being submitted somewhere and secrecy is important.
2) Blue Ice Cowl DONE!!  Finished August 7th 2014
3) Circle Illusion Cowl DONE!!  Finished August 9th 2014
4) Chain Link Fence Cowl The knitting was finished August 11th but I still need to block, take pictures of, write the pattern out, and post this to my Rav shop.
5) Easy Like Sunday Morning Cowl - about half done

My Ravelry projects page for YOP4 is here with a full list of wips and completed projects.

To check out other blogs taking part in YOP4 or to join head on over to the Ravelry group over here.

A Year of Projects - August 4th 2014

I missed posting yesterday as I was away camping, but I am only a day late so that is not too bad!

This past week I made the most progress on my double knit socks (Tour de Sock Stage 6).  I am happy to have made some serious progress on this one!!  Before this past week I had only a couple rounds past the toe design complete and now I am starting the leg design!  I hope to have one sock of this pair complete in the next day or two.

Before

After

I also did a few rounds on my Tour de Sock Stage 5 socks - not really much noticeable but a little progress!

Before

After

And I added a few more squares to my sock-ghan.  I also have several ends to tuck in here!!

Before

After

And I started on a sock design.  I am going to be submitting it somewhere so I am required to keep it a secret until I find out it's fate.  If rejected I will post and if accepted, I will post when it is OK to do so.  For now, I can tell you that I have done the cuff on each sock - one size small and one size large.

This upcoming week I hope to finish my first Stage 6 sock, I hope to do some more work on my sock design, and I also have two cowl designs to finish writing up.  One has had the testing completed, but needs some editing before I self-publish it.  The second is knit, but needs the pattern written up.  I am undecided if I will have it tested or if I will just publish it.

Progress Summary:
Sock Madness 8:
1. Chill Thrill (round 6 socks)
2. Alexandrina (round 7 socks)
Tour de Sock:
1. Dazzle Them From Behind (Stage 4)  DONE!!  Finished July 18th 2014 Link to finished project page
2. Arch-Nemesis (Stage 5) Started July 18th 2014 (some progress this past week)
3. Double Flake Squirrel Socks (Stage 6) Started July 21th 2014 (significant progress this past week)
Other WIPs to finish:
1. Advent Calendar scarf
2. Crochet scrap afghan 
3. Sock Scrap afghan Started July 24th 2014 (up to 22 squares done now)
Designs:
1) Secret design begun July 30th 2014.  I have the two cuffs complete (one in size small and one in size large).  I can't post pictures here as it is being submitted somewhere and secrecy is important.

My Ravelry projects page for YOP4 is here with a full list of wips and completed projects.

To check out other blogs taking part in YOP4 or to join head on over to the Ravelry group over here.

A Year of Projects - July 27th 2014

This past week I was able to cast on my Stage Six socks.  They are toe up and double knit and are taking me forever to finish!!  Who am I kidding - I am am making very slow progress with these!!  I find DK to be very slow and tough on my hands.  I also find it difficult to get my tension nice and even...  This is all I managed to get done this week (not likely I will finish before the deadline of July 31st...):

I also think I may be suffering from sock knitting burnout.  I have knit a lot in the past several months and all of it has been in speed/time limit conditions.  I am thinking I am ready for a break!  SO I started my sock scrap yarn afghan!!  I am thinking I may be addicted to making these little mitered squares!!  I am also not doing this in any planned design.  I will randomly choose each color as I am ready to add a new square.  The only condition I will place is that I do not want to have two colors that are too close in color to be side-by-side.  Otherwise the more random the better!!

So far it measures about 11.5 inches on each long side.  I have also tucked in all the tails except for those showing.  I will need to do the tails on a regular, frequent basis so it is not too overwhelming later!  Here is where I go to in the past few days:

Over the next week I am hoping to continue to work on the scrapghan, get a bit more done on my Stage Six socks, and maybe start assembling the crochet squares.

Progress Summary:
Sock Madness 8:
1. Chill Thrill (round 6 socks)
2. Alexandrina (round 7 socks)
Tour de Sock
1. Dazzle Them From Behind (Stage 4)  DONE!!  Finished July 18th 2014 Link to finished project page
2. Arch-Nemesis (Stage 5) Started July 18th 2014
3. Double Flake Squirrel Socks (Stage 6) Started July 21th 2014
Other WIPs to finish:
1. Advent Calendar scarf
2. Crochet scrap afghan 
3. Sock Scrap afghan Started July 24th 2014
Designs:
Coming soon :)

My Ravelry projects page for YOP4 is here with a full list of wips and completed projects.

To check out other blogs taking part in YOP4 or to join head on over to the Ravelry group over here.

A Year of Projects - July 6th 2014

Here are a few pictures of where I am at this week.

Tour de Sock
1. Dazzle Them From Behind (Stage 4) - I have the legs on both complete now and am ready to go on to the heels.  I am making good progress here!  In order to qualify for competition points I need to have it done by July 19th - I think I am on track to make it on time.

Other WIPs to finish:
1. Advent Calendar scarf (6 out of 24 lace repeats complete) I have made zero progress on this in the past year and need to decide if I will finish it or frog it...

2. Crochet scrap afghan (77 little squares complete plus 9 partially done squares)  This also had no progress since last year...  I really need to either start making some more squares, or start sewing the squares together and call it done.  I think this might make for a couple small baby afghans.

3. I want to start a scrap afghan with all my left-over sock yarn - This is the one I want to make!  Here are a bunch of the little balls of leftovers I have ready to go.  I just need to start going with this one!!

This basically sets up my beginning status on my projects!  I hope to keep on track updating this on a regular basis.

A Year of Projects - July 21st 2014

Update number one!!  I managed to make some progress on my Tour de Sock socks while I was away on vacation.  I did not finish my Stage 4 socks quickly enough to qualify for points, but I did get them finished!  I also managed to cast on my Stage 5 socks the day before the deadline but I got nowhere close to finishing them!  I am making good progress though.  The final stage (Stage 6) pattern was released on Saturday and I am ready to cast on today.  I hope to have them completed before the deadline of July 30th.  Time will tell!

My Tour de Sock Stage 4 socks are all done!!  This was a fun pattern and I enjoyed the knit!  It has beads into the pattern along the back of the leg, but my color choice was maybe not the best.  The beads are a fairly close match to the yarn color and do not show up too well...  Oh well :)

Tour de Sock Stage 4 complete!!

I also started my Tour de Sock Stage 5 socks!  I managed to get a decent amount done, but will put them aside so I can get moving on Stage 6.  I'll come back to these in a couple weeks.

My progress to date on Tour de Sock Stage 5.

And Tour de Sock Stage 6 began on Saturday.  It is toe-up double knit and I was suffering from jet lag so I plan to cast on later today!

This is my start for Tour de Sock Stage 6

I hope to have a fair bit of work done on my Stage 6 socks by next week!!

Progress Summary:
Sock Madness 8:
1. Chill Thrill (round 6 socks)
2. Alexandrina (round 7 socks)
Tour de Sock
1. Dazzle Them From Behind (Stage 4)  DONE!!  Finished July 18th 2014 Link to finished project page
2. Arch-Nemesis (Stage 5)
3. Double Flake Squirrel Socks (Stage 6)
Other WIPs to finish:
1. Advent Calendar scarf
2. Crochet scrap afghan 
3. I want to start a scrap afghan with all my left-over sock yarn - This is the one I want to make!
Designs:
Coming soon :)

A Year of Projects - Take 4

I have decided to join the Fourth Year of Projects blogging adventure.  I joined up in the First Year and managed to get a few projects done.  I again joined the Third Year and suspect I accomplished even less.  I am convinced that I overestimated my ability to finish up all the projects I chose!  This year I plan to finish up a few challenges that I started recently - I joined up Sock Madness 8 and Tour de Sock.  I finished five rounds of Sock Madness and three round of the Tour so far.  The fourth round of the Tour is ongoing right now as I post this. I plan to now finish up all that I did not complete and that which is yet to come on the Tour.  I also have a couple other WIPs that I will work towards completion!

So, without further ado, here is my list:

Sock Madness 8:
1. Chill Thrill (round 6 socks)
2. Alexandrina (round 7 socks)

Tour de Sock
1. Dazzle Them From Behind (Stage 4)
2. Yet to be released (Stage 5)
3. Yet to be released (Stage 6)

Other WIPs to finish:
1. Advent Calendar scarf (7 out of 24 lace repeats complete) I have made zero progress on this in the past year and need to decide if I will finish it or frog it...
2. Crochet scrap afghan (14 little squares complete)  This also had no progress since last year...  Or maybe I made a few more squares - I'll have to dig it out and see!
3. I want to start a scrap afghan with all my left-over sock yarn - This is the one I want to make!

And one final thing is that I want to continue working on designs.  I have designed several patterns over the past year or so and have many more ideas that need to be put on paper!!