Maker Fitness
Being "knitting fit" for the rest of my life!
INSIDE: crafting longevity, on a mission, new skills unlocked, stunning hand-dyed yarn, socks galore + a gentle giant.
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Last week, I found it so interesting to hear about your longest crafting stints.
When our hands and wrists have had enough, they let us know! Which got me thinking. What am I doing to ensure my body is ‘knitting fit’?
I’ve written about how I’m trying to practice mindfulness during crafting, but I realized I don’t do exercises for my hands, wrists, forearms and shoulders.
This year, I returned to a daily back strengthening workout.
I’ve seen recent photos of myself and saw my slouching posture, one I’ve had since I was 12 years old, my mother tells me. It coincided with my self consciousness of beginning puberty.
At nearly 52, my muscles are used to that position and unless someone tells me I’m slouching, I’m not aware. There are many stories I tell myself about my slouch.
I look exhausted, like I’m carrying a weight on my shoulders.
I’m hopeless, I don’t even realize I’m slouching.
I’m not good enough and my posture shows it.
Writing this down makes me uncomfortable! So many stories that don’t serve me!
I decided to do something about it. I’ve attempted many things in the past, like The Alexander Technique. The interactive teaching method, in the book Reach Your Dreams by Donald L. Weed, is defined as:
“the study of thinking in relation to movement.”
I met a wonderful woman from Germany living in La Herradura, Spain when my family was part of the worldschooling community there.
Stephanie ran group sessions and also saw me privately. She observed me and my daily actions: how I walked, stood, sat, knitted, and held a knife to chop.
She pointed out I held my knitting off to the left, not in the center! I hadn’t been aware I did that!
I learned from her I needed to be aware in my mind before I began knitting. Then to position my hands in the center of my body, and only then, begin knitting. For years now, I’ve been knitting like this and my body is aligned.
My slouch wasn’t remedied because my “stories” were deeply ingrained, and I didn’t keep practicing what I learned.
I've found my copy of Reach Your Dreams and I'm re-reading it to further cement the ideas of how I think determines how I move.
I’ve researched exercises I can incorporate into my day to help me keep “knitting fit” I found an excellent article by Jeanette of New Wave Knitting.
Jeanette talks about her Repetitive Motion Injury and how she’s incorporated the exercises she shows in short little videos into her routine. There’s a great selection of exercises to put into practice. I like the ‘wrist flexors’ one.
Creating stretching and strengthening habits is all up to me. I’m doing this for my present and future self. I want to knit well into my old age!
And another question for you: What’s your favorite exercise for when you craft?
As recommended in the Flow pattern, I practiced the Wrap & Turn Short Rows with unconcealed wraps. The most invisible option in reverse stockinette, according to the designer Anne from Trin-Annelie.
I completed the short rows on my project, and they’ve turned out fine.
The other technique I practiced on a swatch was the Left Lifted Purl Increase. How nifty!
It was easier than I thought it’d be and it’s less visible than others I’ve done.
The next step is separating the body and the sleeves.
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In 2020, when I was living in Bulli (‘bull-eye’), a beautiful part of New South Wales, I found an indie yarn dyer, Kylie from Fiber Lily.
I’d bought her yarn for my Pomatomus Socks.
Later, in 2021, living in another part of New South Wales, Iluka (Eye-Lou-Ka), I ordered her yarn from for my Mum’s birthday present.
I knew Mum had loved the socks I’d knitted her and I thought another pair of bed socks would be just the thing.
The Mermaid Avenue Socks by Summer Lee Knits caught my eye and I chose colors of peach and variegated yarn in turquoise, pinks and yellows.
Oh No… Feeling Froggy!
Alleviate frogging rage with a cute frog in my youngest’s latest design.
Mystery Quote Of The Week
“If more people knitted and crocheted, the world would see fewer wars and a whole lot less road rage.”
Which designer and author said this? Comment or press reply! No cheating!
(You’ll find out if you were correct next week.)
Last week’s mystery quote author was… Rudolph Steiner!
Comment below if you got it right.
Crafting Trivia Question Of The Week
Which Agatha Christie character is always knitting?
What’s the answer? Leave a comment or press reply! No cheating! 😊
(You’ll find out if you were correct next week.)
Last week’s answer to: what place is known for its intricate wedding ring shawls?
Shetland! Did you get it right? Leave a comment if you did!
Thank you to the knitters who generously provide video tutorials. Having visual instructions I can slow down if required is super helpful!
I give thanks to the online teachers I’ve learned from this week: Susan Bryan, Ysolda Teague and Norman Schwarze.
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There’s a huge gum tree with a girth equivalent to 6 people's outstretched arms, which I now hug when I walk by the river.
Hugging a tree renews my energy. I feel the tree’s strength and power; I breathe in deeply and smell the sweet, heady eucalyptus scent, particularly after it rains.
May you take a moment to observe nature’s beauty and feel all the better for it!
I hope you enjoyed this week’s Fiber Friday. If there’s someone else who might enjoy it, please share it with them on your favorite platform: social media, emails, chat groups… And as a thank you, you’ll get rewarded!
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Until next week,
P.S. Isn’t this a lovely rose?
P.P.S Thanks for reading!
What a lovely newsletter and a great reminder about knitting health, Jodie! I try to consciously adjust my posture, drink water etc and not keep on knitting until my body starts complaining. I try to, not always easy to remember. My favorite one to do during crafting is to push with open downturned palms against the table.
Jodie so good of you to remind us about how to stay nimble and able to do our crafts. I had a little luck with being mindful of my posture as a child because I rode horses and posture is important in the saddle! And you see those who do not have good posture and it reminds you to sit up straight and hold your chin level while pulling your shoulders down and back. This pulling the shoulders down was always a bit counter intuitive for me. But in fact, I still use it while knitting for long periods to ease any tension in my shoulders. Dance classes are also a good way to develop good posture at any age. Again, you see other who do or do not have good posture and there are often mirrors that reflect how you are doing. You become aware of how you walk and step and that is all part of getting yourself in alignment. I like the image of my head being suspended from a gold chain above me as a way to stretch the spine and neck. Handwashing dishes, or sweaters can be wonderfully relax for my hands when I have used them heavily for any task. I believe some people find kneading bread to also be good for their hands. Must admit I would have to do more of that regularly to regain the strength to really enjoy it. Good info on the practicing of short rows and all! May your knitting go well today!