This photo was taken several years ago, fortunately nothing like this is in our forecast, just high winds and below freezing temps. It’s a little after 7 pm and I just switched the heat pump over to emergency heat. It’s down to 37°. It was a nice day with sunny skies. Then the clouds moved it. Then the wind switched from the south to the north.
It will be in the low 20’s tonight and stay around freezing all day tomorrow. Fortunately, we have nowhere we have to be and plenty to keep us occupied indoors.
I decided it was time to replace some of my crocheted potholders. You can see the stains on this old pink one. I grabbed a cone of variegated blue cotton and got started. I’ve made dozens of these over the years and they’ve been laundered many times.
This is an easy pattern, can’t recall who showed me how to make these, but I’ve been making them for decades. I’m using a size F aluminum hook and worsted weight cotton. I crocheted my beginning chain of 40 stitches, then added another stitch and began my single chain stitches down the length of the chain, 40 stitches. Instead of turning to go back the other direction I started down the other side of the foundation chain with another 40 stitches. I’ll keep going in a circle making a pouch…
…until those folded back edges meet in the middle and then I’ll whip stitch the edges together to close my double-thick pot holder.
One of the ladies in an online knitting group mentioned that she knits hers. She knits a tube and then grafts both openings with Kitchener stitch. I’ve been wanting a larger, double-thick hot pad for the kitchen counter so I cast on 110 stitches with a provisional cast-on with a size 5 circular needle. I started with a 16″ needle but it’s more comfortable using a 24″ needle. I’ll get a photo tomorrow when I’m further along with it.
Another one of my online knitting buddies mentioned she is having problems with her joints due to too many carbs in her diet so she’s started a fast to get back where she needs to be. That got me thinking about my hands bothering me. And my neck. It’s just arthritis, but I may be dealing with inflammation from the food I’m eating as well as the winter weather and the changing barometric pressure that’s making it worse. I usually do a fast this time of the year so I need to call my naturopath in Lewisville and have him send me a kit. It helps every time I do the fast.
The key is to avoid fast food, dairy, sugar, and carbs. Meat is fine and plenty of veggies and fresh fruit. Smoothies are good, and green salads, roasted chicken and steamed veggies. I’m making myself hungry writing this! I can live without the bread and starchy stuff. It just takes an effort with meal prep and grocery shopping.
Brad is out of the shower and it’s my turn to get under some hot running water. My joints will thank me later…
Rural Texas Knitter 