Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Knitting recession

There has been a serious slowdown in my knitting production recently. The lackluster output has sometimes fallen to no knitting at all, for several days running. These indicators suggest that further output may be even lower.

Much of the slowdown can be attributed to an ailing elbow. There has been some improvement due to an injection of a few ibuprofen per day as well as giving it a rest. There is also a glut on the market right now. Too many projects and not enough time.

So what we need is a stimulus program. I am doing my best to stay away from acquiring more inventory until I've used up some of the excess. And I've been doing a lot of research by looking through some of my older pattern books. And making sure I spend as much time as I can with people who are full of enthusiasm and ideas and who are motivating me to keep going.

Anyway, this analogy is sort of falling apart. I need to go rip some rows on my latest scarf. Three rows of 285 stitches each. This will be the second time I've had to do this. Not the same rows as before but still it's hours and hours of tinking since the yarn I'm using doesn't perform well if you just take it off the needles and frog.

The brush fire that's been raging in the hills near where I live has affected a few of my friends. I had one student yesterday who came in just to get away from the smoke and noise. She wasn't sure if she would be able to get back into her house since the fires had burned right up to her back yard. She hadn't had much sleep for the last three nights due to the threat of immediate evacuation. She was so tired she just wanted to put her head down and sleep. Other people who came to visit reported masses of ash and soot falling all over their houses and cars. Down here where I live we're mostly just smelling the smoke and putting up with allergies and burning eyes. It's like the old heavy smog days we used to have back in the 60s and 70s. I've skipped walking a couple of times to avoid some of the worst of it.

On the brighter side of the news though, my young friend H (of L&H fame) has been accepted/honored with membership in the Constitution Team at her high school. And I just heard yesterday that she's also going to be one of the Senior Men and Women. I don't know much about these honors but I'm assured by her very proud mom that they are significant. And I'm very pleased and proud too.

I'm off to spend the day with Thom and Mendy, knitting and lunching. Part of my stimulus program.

4 comments:

Janice Rosema said...

H-m-m-m, as part of your stimulus program, maybe the IRS will send you a gift certificate for yarn of your choice and physical therapy for the elbow (Margaritas, maybe?) Now, that's a package a knitter could live with!

Feel better!

Bess said...

Oh, I'm glad to hear your elbo feels a little better. Hugs hugs hugs

Anonymous said...

Feel better, you.

R.

lexa said...

My knitting has been suffering lately due to nice weather and lots of outside time doing yard stuff and playing with the kids. I always slack off somewhat in the summer. I don't totally stop, but there's so much more to do than in the winter months.