Splintarella

I was reminded last night that in the not-too-distant future I have a baby shower to attend. My initial plan for a baby gift was to make a Week of Kimonos from the Mason-Dixon Knitting Book. The kimonos are just as heartbreakingly cute as advertised, and they knit up quickly enough that I could easily see myself blowing through a small corner of my kitchen cotton stash making up a bunch in no time. Heck, I figured I'd probably even be able to make matching bibs to go along.

Then came the whole "knitter's finger" debacle, which quickly developed into "knitter's wrist," "knitter's elbow" and -- because I'm not one to do things halfway -- "knitter's shoulder." While I was perfectly willing to ignore doctor's orders to go cold-turkey on the knitting for six weeks, my tendons were not. Thus, for what is hopefully the time being, I've been forced to knit wearing splints.

Y'know, not for nothing but years ago, there were men, women and children who knitted all day, every day -- it was their livelihood, so not a moment was to be wasted -- and you never heard of any of them getting carpal tunnel. How dare my body rebel like this? Am I getting old? (OK, don't answer that last one.)

In any event, my knitting progress has understandably slowed down somewhat. The Week of Kimonos turned into a Long Weekend of Kimonos, which now looks like it might very well become a Personal Day of Kimono...or perhaps a Sick Day of Kimono would be more apropos...? The blue kimono in the photo is a bit over 2/3 finished, with only the right front panel left to do before seaming and finishing. At the rate I'm going, I should be putting the final touches on...hmmm, let's see...just about as we're pulling into the driveway for the party. That sounds about right.

So, for the love of handknits, please send some knitterly love and happy thoughts my way as I head for the home stretch, one slow, splinty, stinkin' stitch at a time.