Stretching for Stitchers

It’s really kind of problematic that knitting is my job, because I have a whole lot of repetitive strain issues. My body puts up a big fight when I knit for too long, with everything from sore wrists to numbness all the way down my arm being my reward for a day of working too hard.

I know all the things that I need to do: take more breaks, use circular needles, alternate between English and continental style on different projects to give my right arm some rest. But I don’t always do those things.

This collection of tips and stretches for knitters is a great reminder that we all need to be gentler to our bodies (particularly with holiday knitting coming up, or, in my case, a big knitting deadline of a different sort). They come from Ann McCauley, author of Together or Separate, a book all about the new twinset.

I need wrist and arm stretches most of all and this wrist stretch is not one I’ve seen before, so I’ll be trying it out for sure.

Do you do any stretching or other things to keep your body in good form for knitting? Spill it!

[Photo by Martingale & Co.]

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Have Fun Stretching Your Skills with a Brioche Hat

I’ve shared a lot of Christmas stocking knitting patterns over the years (see posts 1, 2, 3 for example) but what if you want to knit a stocking for a non-human member of your family. If you’re looking for Christmas stocking knitting patterns for your cats or dogs, this is the post for you.

These large paw print stockings are perfect for either dogs or cats, so they’re great to knit if you have both. They are worked in the round using DK weight yarn, and the stocking measures about 17 inches/43 cm from the top to the heel. You can get the pattern from nicolaluke.

The K4 Project has a super cute Kitty Christmas stocking pattern, which is worked in worsted weight yarn. They also have a dog version, or you can buy both and get a discount if you have both dogs and cats to knit for. Both projects have two patterns, showing how to work the stockings flat or in the round.

Put your dog into a Christmas scene with this stocking pattern from ifanhourChild. It shows a dog in a dog house in the snow, and has room for the dog’s name at the top. It’s worked flat using worsted weight yarn and the pattern includes charts for many small and medium dog breeds (there’s a separate listing for bigger dogs) so you can stitch a dog that looks like yours.

Annie’s Woolens has both dog and cat stocking knitting patterns that are worked in worsted weight yarn in the round. You can change up the colors to suit your pet if you want, and they come with an alphabet chart for personalization. Or you can stick with holiday colors and buy a kit to make the dog or cat stocking.

Waiting for Santa Paws is a pattern from Kate Agner on Ravelry that would be cute for a dog or a cat. It looks like a leg with a paw print on the bottom part of the foot and more paw prints running around the top of the leg. This is a great option if you don’t want to mess with a heel turn because it doesn’t have a heel, because dogs and cats don’t have heels so why would their stockings?

Book Review – 20 to Knit: Tiny Christmas Toys to Knit

Book Review – Knit Christmas Stockings

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