Broken Wrist Knitting!

I just completed my first knitting project since I broke my wrist on 11/30/2012 and had surgery to install plate on 12/7/2013. I follow The Buffalo Wool Company on Facebook. A month or so before my Fateful Fall, Buffalo Wool Company posted a picture on FB of a skein of their hand-dyed “Tracks” in a color they call Black Bunny 2, a wonderful mix of shades of blue, aqua, and lime. Tracks is comprised of mostly superfine superwash merino, with a little bison for warmth and strength. This yarn is soft!!

I ordered a hank of the yarn, 400 yards. It was placed in my mental knit queue to follow the ruffle scarves I was knitting for my grandchildren’s Montessori teachers’ Christmas gifts. And then I fell and wondered if I’d ever knit or play piano again.

In January, during my two-month stint of sitting on the couch all day every day, I received my weekly email from nearby Wolf Creek Yarns. They posted a photo of the Madelinetosh Honey Cowl, and I thought it might be the perfect pattern for my hank of Tracks.

In early February I cast on the cowl. I tried for several days—my wrist still in a brace—and could only knit 50 or so stitches before the pain would be too great to continue. I would try again every few days, but could never get much more than 50-100 stitches completed before I had to quit. Then in mid February I graduated from the brace and began physical therapy. Well, guess what — my doctor considers knitting to be good therapy for strengthening a broken wrist. Yea!

I knitted five or so rows every night while watching television. Last week I made a big push to get this thing done so I could move on to other projects. Over the weekend, I finished my new cowl. It perfectly complements the cashmere sweater given to me for Christmas by DBF.

This cowl will be to me—forever—a symbol of progress and accomplishment.


Why “Honey” Cowl? The pattern is knit one row; [purl 1, slip1 wyif] for one row, knit one row, [slip1 wyif, purl 1] for one row. The slipped stitches give you a pattern that looks like honeycomb. Love it!

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About Jan

Musician and geek and Juris Doctor; lover of fine art and fine craft; mother and grandmother and significant other and friend. Passionate about sewing.

6 Responses to Broken Wrist Knitting!

  1. Abigail says:

    Love it and the colors too! Looks like that therapy is working! Great job!!! Perfect complimentary colors for you…ox

  2. admin says:

    Thanks, Abi. Wish you could see it in person. 🙂

  3. ellen says:

    Thanks for your inspiration. Three days ago, I had surgery for my wrist fracture/displacement on my non-dominant arm. I have been telling myself all day, as I try to knit with some pain, that it is good rehab for me, so long as I understand not to truly push it. Great to know that you charged on so well. As a beginning knitter, I’m eager to create and play again. Your cowl has such great colors; the Honey Cowl is on my to-do list as well. Take care :).

    • Jan says:

      Ellen,

      So sorry to hear about your troubles. In November it will be four years since my fall. I occasionally have an ache in my wrist, but I have played lots and lots and lots of notes on the piano since that fateful day. Were it not for my brilliant ortho, I’m certain I wouldn’t be able to say that. So hang in there and do your PT as soon as they send you. I hope you’ll be good as new.

      Wishing you the best,
      Jan

  4. Katherine Matthews says:

    Good for you! I’m 4 days post surgery and I can’t not knit! Not making the progress I want but taking it slow and steady! Good to it’s considered good OT! I will keep it up!

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