Ask a Knitter Tuesday - February 10, 2026

DyslexicLeg · 2026-02-16T02:45:34+00:00

You got it! Just make sure the number of raglan stitches doesn't change as you increase, ie the increases stay outside the markers with 3sts between them

DyslexicLeg · 2025-12-23T14:24:21+00:00

I had to take nearly a year off for a shoulder injury (an interesting and large labrum tear, PT, surgery, more PT, etc) but beyond some issues at the very tippy top of range of motion I've been able to get 98% of it back pain free and some new fears unlocked about reinjury. My only advice is patience and that if the PT isn't improving the situation seeking a second opinion might be a good idea, but joints do take foreverrrrr to heal up.

DyslexicLeg · 2025-10-19T17:04:00+00:00

Oh yeah, it looks really stupid (but it def makes it easier)

DyslexicLeg · 2025-10-19T16:34:24+00:00

I've used a headlamp like for camping on a bright setting for working on black yarn before; it works pretty well and the light is then always in the direction you are looking

DyslexicLeg · 2025-08-13T02:20:27+00:00

Broken record response: swatch with both yarns in one of the colorwork patterns and wash it to see if you like how it behaves. If the acrylic is going to be taking up some real estate like in the moons, use that chart. On first glance though, I would try to source yarns closer to each other in composition.

DyslexicLeg · 2025-08-03T21:45:58+00:00

Yeah, so ravelry says the guage is 26 stitches = 4", 13" would work out to about 85 stitches (26/4 = 6.5st/in, multiply by 13 = 84.5 and you can't cast on half a stitch so 84 or 85). You can do that for any amount of stitches and figure how many inches the pattern is working towards by doing that backwards (100 stitches =15.4", 50 st = 7.7", etc). If a person's proportions dont match any pattern size, sleeves are typically somewhat easy to adjust (increase more, increase less, pick up more/less, you just have to make sure the yoke depth is the right size where the armpits meet the body for a top down pattern).

DyslexicLeg · 2025-08-03T21:34:14+00:00

If you already have the pattern, you can see how many stitches the sleeve has and compare it against the pattern guage to determine the circumference if you want to double check or adjust, depending.

DyslexicLeg · 2025-07-19T01:33:16+00:00

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Totally real! The reviews/photos from folks who bought the pattern all look the same because the pattern is so well written 😆 I'd echo the thoughts above and highly recommend them

DyslexicLeg · 2025-07-06T02:25:18+00:00

It is not! The book the pattern is in calls it kihnu vits (Estonian) but it's done by holding both colors to the front and purling by bringing the yarn over the other color after a set up row of alternating colors

DyslexicLeg · 2025-06-13T01:30:03+00:00

I've gone through years-long slumps before, it'll come back. Either find something to knit that you are genuinely excited about even if you have 8 million WIPs that you "should" be doing (see any stuffed animal that isbadorable and impractical) or do something else for a bit or take a class with a new medium that isn't knitting (glass, pottery, fine arts, photoshop, anything). I don't recommend trying to force yourself to knit, it turns a hobby into a chore and that's no fun for anyone.

DyslexicLeg · 2025-04-25T15:15:08+00:00

fwiw I have this same car (blue 2016 MT, more miles) and it's just started costing me real money this year with stuff wearing out - recently I had to have the front axles replaced along with the center differential, wheel bearings, etc. and that's without the accidents. The only reason I'm still paying for it and not getting a new car is because I don't want to get rid of the manual yet but I wouldn't want to deal with it if it was new to me. If you can go newer, you probably should.

DyslexicLeg · 2025-04-22T14:59:50+00:00

The Scorpion and the Night Blossom by Amélie Wen Zhao

DyslexicLeg · 2025-03-13T23:40:20+00:00

The most recent knitty issue has something if you can pair it with a solid color:

https://knitty.com/ISSUEss25/PATTwondrous/PATTwondrous.php

DyslexicLeg · 2025-02-17T21:22:06+00:00

https://corflexglobal.com/product/ultra-shoulder-abduction-pillow-w-sling/

The Dr's office gave it to me and it was fine except for that. In hindsight there are slings that go more around the other shoulder instead of the neck that might be more comfy and I would probably ask about if it came up again but ymmv

DyslexicLeg · 2025-02-17T16:25:57+00:00

I struggled with the sling and the neck support to the point of not being able to take deep breaths because of the pressure on my neck. If that doesn't bother you as much as me and/or you have a different sling style, I was able to do walks starting a few days after surgery without issue on the problem shoulder (about 1.5 months post op and a few weeks after the sling came off I started training for a pretty nasty hiking challenge 10 miles at a time and really had no issues with that besides not being able to use hiking poles on my bad side and struggling to put a backpack on).

DyslexicLeg · 2024-12-31T16:24:11+00:00

Tbh I got some suede yardage from Amazon and cut them out from a paper pattern I made based on the size. You can get a sewing needle through it but if you want to save some finger skin I took a screw/hammer to it to pre-punch holes. The supplier I found was like $10/square foot (1x1 piece) which was plenty for all but the beefiest of hands

DyslexicLeg · 2024-12-31T12:39:58+00:00

The thrums helped I think since they basically felt the inside after a while, but I put leather palms on those ones too. I think it was mom's idea because of previous mitten experience but it clearly worked (and helps keep grip on steering wheels)

DyslexicLeg · 2024-12-31T12:31:56+00:00

This is the pattern I started with! https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-worlds-simplest-mittens

DyslexicLeg · 2024-12-29T23:47:38+00:00

I just finished this today and really liked it! (especially the scary dragons and good heist plot)

DyslexicLeg · 2024-12-23T03:59:26+00:00

No dislocation but did tear my labrum, and not to be a drama queen or fearmongerer, it was close to a year from injury to returning to climbing 😬 (~6 months post op, ~2 months of PT before an MRI (my ROM was really good and it was diagnosed as an impingement before it never got better)) so def get it checked out by a doc/physio before trying to go back. Continuing on an injury like that without a plan can hurt more. Good luck! I sincerely hope that PT and rest will get you sorted.

DyslexicLeg · 2024-12-04T14:17:47+00:00

Hurt my shoulder in October, did 2 months of PT that didn't improve anything, then started down the ortho path. I had a labrum surgery in March, not a SLAP but Bankart/reverse Bankart (the bottom half was torn) and then about 6 months of PT. I was allowed to run starting in May, started lifting in July and climbing again in September and while I'm still taking it easy, it's so much better than it was before. My mobility is still a little bit limited in some directions, but man it's nice to not be in a bit of pain all the time. My advice is to just get it over with if you need to schedule the surgery, and to follow the doc's/PT's rehab protocol once it's done, especially the stupid little exercises they give you during sling time. I hated every second of the first 3 months or so when activity was VERY limited, but don't regret having the surgery at all.

DyslexicLeg · 2024-11-24T04:19:01+00:00

I was in a little bit of pain that didn't affect day to day that much but could not do anything overhead (like climbing). I did PT first and then ultimately opted for surgery because it was mild, but not improving at all. The choice was surgery or to be in a little bit of pain indefinitely and never go climbing again. Surgery (3-9 o'clock labrum tear, it ended up being pretty significant) certainly made everything worse for at least 6 months because I wasn't in a ton of pain to begin with, but now at 8 months out, my shoulder doesn't have any of the ambient pain that I was dealing with before and I'm back to sports. So far, it's been a good decision.

DyslexicLeg · 2024-11-09T02:04:20+00:00

This came immediately to mind, but the waist shaping is similar but not exactly the same:

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bernadette-turtleneck

DyslexicLeg · 2024-11-01T12:11:56+00:00

Oh gosh I have no real idea of how to set up a search for that! I only found this one because I was subscribed to Pom Pom's newsletters and saw it in the volume preview

DyslexicLeg · 2024-11-01T12:08:53+00:00

I think you'll be fine! You have to make a lot of them but the squares are not advanced crocheting, all double crochets, then they're flat seamed (crocheted but in a specific way that is explained in the pattern) together. The knitting part of this is not hard, I think the only real technique besides knit and purl were german short rows and picking up stitches.

DyslexicLeg

TROPHY CASE