too much bamboo

Q: What happens when a knitter, who deigned to call her blog "Too Much Wool", starts knitting with non-wool yarns?

Answer #1:

Looks pretty, non? What this picture doesn't show is the pain in my hands.

Now, I may sound like I'm kvetching (well, I kind of am), but I do really like this project. I even like the yarn (Southwest Trading Co 100% Bamboo).

In my ever-widening quest to hunt down the UFOs and eliminate them [that was supposed to sound valiant, but somehow wound up sounding violent], I picked up the Lotus Blossom tank. Abandoned since last June, it seemed like an easy garment project to try to finish. That, and the fact that the weather had suddenly turned to summer here, the bamboo yarn seemed like the perfect keep-my-hands-from-sweating project.

And it is. I have to admit that by the time I was done with the lace, I was actually looking forward to the stockinette section - times do change, don't they?. K2tog, the dreaded double decrease with inelastic yarn - it all made stockinette look awfully desirable.

But my hands? Ouch. Before I get lectures on repetitive stress injuries and ergonomics, I know all about them. I've had to be careful with my hands for the last ten years, almost having blown them out with a combination of quilting and computer work. However, here it is, the first day of June, and I. want. a. tank. I also want a finished garment. Enough with the little things, they're fun and portable but I have enough GUFOs (Garment UFOs) to clothe a small town.

I'm verging on pulling out something wooly for a break, but in the meantime, I'm carefully monitoring my hands, and working on the bamboo. (And hoping that I didn't go overboard with lengthening the lace portion, but that's another matter.)

In the sock world - thanks to everyone who bought my Loksins sock pattern. Also, a very big thanks to Ms. Habetrot (check out the uber cool post she wrote on the Ladakh spindler), for her sidebar button magic for the sock.

Comments

[Marcy]

Red! And shiny. Purty. :D

[christie]

I am SO with you on the repetitive stress and the inelastic yarns and that want-it-finished feeling. Last winter I thought I might have to give up knitting altogether, after a mitten marathon and one and a half cotton baby bibs. The lesson I learned (aside from moderation, which is HARD) is that I can use not-wool, and I can use metal needles, but combining the two is asking for trouble.

Pretty, pretty knitting -- I like that Lotus Blossom, I just haven't gotten to it yet. :)

[Beth S.]

I hear you on the hand pain. Right now I'm trying to teach myself not to hold my spinning fiber in a death-grip. And not to do that "hook" thing with my fiber hand when I'm spindling.

So I went to the Icelandic-English dictionary you link to in your sidebar and had a giggle over "loksins". I had figured it must be Icelandic for "sock", but I was wrong! ;-)

[colleen]

Bamboo is a great summer yarn. Feels so soft.

[Brenda]

Very pretty! Very cool and comfortable for summer.

[Susan P]

Love the tank! Beautiful lace work.

Be careful with your hands, but don't let it keep you from knitting. I managed to knit myself through two splints (Dr. asked, "What are you doing to these things?") and two carpal tunnel operations. Happy to report I'm still knitting strong.

KNIT ON!

[Wanda]

The Lotus Blossom tank is looking good. I'm glad that you are taking it easy with that yarn. You should be done with it rather quickly, now that you're done with the lace portion of it. Most people that knitted that last summer, had to lengthen the lace section or increase the stockinette section. You may want to check the KAL for it. A quick google search will net you the url for it.

[Wanda]

p.s. I read Beth's comment and had to see what loksins meant and that cracked me up!

[Cordelia]

Looks very pretty, oui!

[Susan P]

Hey Cassie! Guess whose husband is taking her shopping tonight for a camera? WOOHOO!!!

You've inspired me. I have some Handmaiden Flaxen that I wasn't sure what to do with. So I have cast on for lotus. Will let you know how it goes. Maybe I'll even have pictures. Ya think?

[claudia]

I've got some hemp yarn that I'd like to use, but I have real hand concerns about that.

Wool is just the perfect fiber.

[Barb Outside Boston]

Loksins = giggle!
I found out the hard way that I have to really space out my quilting--it screws up my hands AND my elbows :-0

[Laurie]

That's so pretty. Thank goodness there are no sleeves.

[sunflowerfairy]

Don't give up! It's coming along beautiful.

(The lace looks a little long, but I think it will be fine. Can I also suggest adding about an inch to the area between the lace and binding off for the armpits? Otherwise, your bra might show. Go ahead, ask me how I know. ;))

[Angie]

I was looking at that tank just this weekend, I, too, would add more length to the lace section, it is looking good. Love the color.