thehookandspindle

[thehookandspindle]

Wrist Woes: What I'm Working On #2

This post was originally created 1-10-22.

Hello! This has been a tough week for me as the pain in my dominant wrist has worsened. It has made working on anything very difficult as I haven't been able to crochet for more than a few minutes at a time without pain. I haven't completed a single square on January's blanket, and I haven't been able to complete much else either. Spinning, too, has been painful, so I've been in fiber purgatory for the last few days.

Early in the week, I was able to make a pair of slippers (see below) but I haven't finished any other projects. I've started making a hat for a friend's birthday–my first adventure in crocheting cables!–but the chances of me completing it before her birthday are slim. However, my wrist has been slowly improving with rest over the last few days. I've been wearing a wrist brace, and I've ordered a Furls Streamline hook which just arrived today. Hopefully I'll be back in blanket business soon!

Slippers! I used the Twinkle Toes Cozy Slippers pattern from Happily Hooked Magazine #94. The yarn is a mystery skein from my grandmother's stash; probably Lion Brand Homespun.

Unfortunately, this wrist pain has thrown off my blanket-making schedule. I need to make 27 more squares with 21 more days to make them, and given how long it has taken me to even slightly recover, I may not complete all of them in time. Thus, I have adjusted my plan. I am going to aim to complete January's blanket by mid-February. I will use the rest of February to complete a blanket I started in the fall and push the pattern I was planning on using for February to March. As unfortunate as this pain has been, I'm glad I'm able to work the completion of that blanket in somewhere.

Hat! Made following a Yarnspirations pattern linked below and Hobbii Fluffy Day yarn in Sage.

I wish I had more to share this week! Hopefully my wrist will continue to improve with the help of my new hook and I'll be able to get back on track for next week. Thanks for reading!

Patterns used in projects mentioned here:

Slippers: Twinkle Toes Cozy Slippers from Happily Hooked Magazine issue #94. If you aren't subscribed to Happily Hooked, you can purchase the issue on Ravelry here.

Hat: Yarnspirations Caron Cable Twist Hat. Pattern is free here.

[thehookandspindle]

Welcome! What I'm Working On #1

This post was originally created 1-2-22.

Hello there, and welcome to the Hook and Spindle! My name is Beatrice. I am a student of ancient languages, a cat lover, and an avid fiber artist. I primarily crochet and spin on a drop spindle, though I occasionally knit as well. I am starting this blog primarily because I want to track a goal I have set for 2022–I want to crochet a blanket every month this year. I’ll be posting weekly progress updates for each blanket, and maybe I will end up posting other content as well. I’m excited to see where this goes!

So, why have I set this goal for myself in the first place? I have a couple reasons. The first is simple: I like to crochet! I want to make more room in my intense student schedule to do what I love and to create. Setting a concrete goal like this at the beginning of the year will allow me to spend more time crocheting without the guilt that comes from the constant sense that I “should” be doing something else. I hope that the feeling of productivity from fulfilling a goal will help me to allow myself to enjoy my free time.

Secondly, I want this project to give me a sense of purpose. I have struggled with depression for many years and it often leaves me feeling purposeless, useless, and extraneous. Having something to work towards will likely mitigate these feelings. Additionally, I don’t plan on keeping every blanket I make. I’m not sure what I will do with them, but whether I gift them to friends and family or donate them, I hope that the opportunity to give back to the people and communities that support me will leave me feeling fulfilled. Plus, writing about the project as I work will let me stretch my writing muscles in a non-academic setting!

I have chosen to make blankets for several reasons:

Blankets are useful and always needed

They are large enough projects that they present a true challenge

They make for easier gifts than most clothing items (no sizing issues!)

They are meant to be used, loved, and passed down.

With introductions out of the way, let me show you January’s blanket! I admit, I have cheated a bit and started this one in December. I’m not following a specific pattern for this one. I am crocheting 8.5in squares, using the linen stitch and working from the center out. I’m alternating skeins each round, which has left me with this fascinating stripey pattern. The yarn I’m using is the good ol’ Red Heart Super Saver in the colorway Fruity Stripe. I am aiming for 36 or 42 squares, which will leave me with a throw blanket measuring ~4’ x 4’ or 4’ x 5’. I currently have nine squares.

Thus far, I have managed to stay motivated. I am super excited about this project and my head is brimming with ideas. I have found so many great blanket patterns on Reddit and in magazines, and I can’t wait to get working on them. I also have some ideas for designing a blanket pattern–stay tuned!

The main factor that’s hindering my progress is wrist pain. If I want to be able to see this project through without my hand falling off, I might have to get a wrist brace and/or a more ergonomic hook. I am currently using a Clover Amour hook and a Clover Soft Touch hook–whichever one I grab first is the one I end up using. Both are a whole lot better than a straight aluminum hook, but they still aren’t great. I might have to bite the bullet and get a more expensive hook.

That’s all I have for now! Thanks for reading and stay tuned for next week’s update!