Easy Hand Exercise for crocheters and knitters (OK everyone who owns a wool of yarn)

I get asked a lot about painful hands when crocheting and knitting, I am not an expert and would always recommend going to a doctor when in pain to see whats causing it, but I know there are lots of things you can do to help yourself
I do try to follow these suggestions as I have osteoarthritis but if something feels wrong to you stop, remember one of the main reasons for crocheters and knitters getting hand pain is over doing it, so
1. Pace yourself.
2. Sit correctly, putting a cushion in the lower back to give support if needed (OK you say pain in hands not back, but if you sit correctly it helps support your whole body i.e. hands connected to arms to shoulders to back)
3. Use a bamboo or wood hook/needle (I find wood better than bamboo, but very expensive so only buy the size needed for the project I am making), this may seem like an expensive but how many years will that hook/ needle last you and how many hours will you use it.
4.Take breaks and do a hand exercise every hour, get the blood flowing back to your fingers (there a quick exercise I do and have added below). Don't think just one more row.... there's always one more have a tea, coffee, water and stand up, even for 5 minutes.
5. Hand supports for arthritis, hand pain (like handeze support gloves) are good to use when crochet/ knitting but remember to take them off as they will weaken your hands if worn when when not needed.

Super Easy Hand exercise

Take a ball of yarn (can use the one you are working on) and squeeze tight for 10 seconds

Let go
Repeat 2 more times
Visit NezumiWorld Hand Exercise page for a count-along image

Flower Belt

I have been playing with the blue flowers pattern and made a belt (still need to find some nice buttons as fastenings) and I am working on a scarf I will add that photo of that when its finished, plus how to join the petals.

Blue Flowers

Springs coming and the flowers in our little garden are starting to bloom making me feel inspired to post another crochet flower pattern. :)

Blue Flower (or any colour you prefer)

Make into a brooch, add to a bag, shoes whatever takes your fancy :)
(look out for the wire crochet version of this coming to NezumiWorld soon)

Super chunky/ Bulky (USA)/ 16ply
I used Rowan Little Big Wool (very small amount used, left over from another project)

6.5mm (10 1/2 / K) hook

Abbreviations:
st – Stitch
sts – Stitches
dc (UK)/ sc (USA) – Double Crochet (UK)/ Single Crochet (USA)
ch – Chain
sl st - Slip Stitch

rnd - Round

Rnd 1: Ch 2, 6 dc (UK)/ 6 sc (USA) into 2nd ch from the hook (the 1st ch that was made), join with a sl st to top the 1st dc (UK)/ 1st sc (USA), 1 ch (you should now have 6 sts)

Rnd 2: [sl st into the back of the next dc (UK)/ sc (USA), 8 ch, sl st into the back of the same dc] repeat 6 times (you should have 6 petals)

Rnd 3: [sl st into the front loop of the dc (UK)/ sc (USA) you made the first petal in, 6 ch, sl st into the front of the same dc (UK)/ sc (USA)] repeat 6 times (you should now have 12 petals 2 rows of 6)

To finish pull thread through to back of the with your crochet hook flower. Use the ends to sew on a brooch of attach the flower to item of your choice.

Sushi Weekend

I love eating sushi, so last weekend I decided to give it a try to make my own, with my brothers help tasting everything. To be fair he did make the rice, I did the seasoning/ vinegaring and assembling part :)

Its much easier than I though, maybe not as pretty as the shop bought stuff (I will practice more) but I could put in all the ingredients I liked, yummy :)

Plus a few Christmas's ago my lovely knitting students gave me a present of some beautiful Japanese plates, its nice to get a chance to use them.

Rose Brooch

I have been making these brooches for many years in all colours, I based them on this little rose tree in my garden (the crocheted brooch and the real rose are about the same size).

This is the first time I have written the pattern out (its embeded in my brain) and as valentines is near, why not make yourself a rose brooch.

The pattern starts with a row of loops

Red Rose Brooch (or any colour rose brooch you prefer)

DK yarn/ Light worsted weight

3.75 mm (5 / F) hook
Brooch Back
Abbreviations:
st – Stitch
sts – Stitches
dc (UK)/ sc (USA) – Double Crochet (UK)/ Single Crochet (USA)
tr(UK)/ dc (USA) – Treble Crochet (UK)/ Double Crochet (USA)
ch – Chain

Row: 1
[Ch 10, 1 dc UK/(1 sc USA) into the 8th ch from the hook] X 7
(You should now have 7 loops)
[Ch 8, 1 dc UK/(1 sc USA) into the 6th ch from the hook] X 5
(You should now have 12 loops)
[Ch 6, 1 dc UK/(1 sc USA) into the 4th ch from the hook] X 4
(You should now have 16 loops)

Row 2
3 ch,
Into the 1st 4 ch loop
3 tr UK/ (3 dc USA) , 1 dc/ (1 sc USA) over the two ch in-between the loops
Into 2nd 4 ch loop
4 tr UK/ (4 dc USA), 1 dc/ (1 sc USA) over the two ch in-between the loops
Into the next 4 ch loop
4 tr UK/ (4 dc USA), 1 dc/ (1 sc USA) over the two ch in-between the loops
Into the next 4ch loop
4 tr UK/ (4 dc USA), 1 dc/ (1 sc USA) over the two ch in-between the loops

Into the next 6 ch loop
5 tr UK/ (5 dc USA), 1 dc/ (1 sc USA) over the two ch in-between the loops
Into the next 6 ch loop
6 tr UK/ (6 dc USA), 1 dc/ (1 sc USA) over the two ch in-between the loops
Into the next 6 ch loop6

7 tr UK/ (7 dc USA), 1 dc/ (1 sc USA) over the two ch in-between the loops
Into the next 6 ch loop
8 tr UK/ (8 dc USA), 1 dc/ (1 sc USA) over the two ch in-between the loops
Into the next 6 ch loop
11 tr UK/ (11 dc USA), 1 dc/ (1 sc USA) over the two ch in-between the loops

Into the next 8 ch loop
14 tr UK/ (14 dc USA), 1 dc/ (1 sc USA) over the two ch in-between the loops
Into the next 8 ch loop
13 tr UK/ (13 dc USA), 1 dc/ (1 sc USA) over the two ch in-between the loops
Into the next 8 ch loop
15 tr UK/ (15 dc USA), 1 dc/ (1 sc USA) over the two ch in-between the loops
Into the next 8 ch loop
13 tr UK/ (13 dc USA), 1 dc/ (1 sc USA) over the two ch in-between the loops
Into the next 8 ch loop
14 tr UK/ (14 dc USA), 1 dc/ (1 sc USA) over the two ch in-between the loops
Into the next 8 ch loop
15 tr UK/ (15 dc USA), 1 dc/ (1 sc USA) over the two ch in-between the loops
Into the next 8 ch loop
13 tr UK/ (13 dc USA), 1 dc/ (1 sc USA) over the two ch in-between the loops

You should have something that looks like this

Starting with the larger loops twist 4 loops as in the photo
Twist the next 4 on top so you can see the 4 below
continue until it looks like a rose

Sew into the back to hold all the layers together
Sew on a brooch back and wear

EEEKKK!! Snow

Last night about 10pm I noticed the snow settling, popping my head and camera out this morning at 7am its freezing and so much snow everywhere. i have to walk to work later as the buses and tubes are not running not to far 20 minutes but eeeeekkkk I hate the cold....... and not to fond of snow. I will bring my camera along and blog the results later (if i don't fall and break camera or me)

Out 'n' About in Portobello Market

I decided to take a walk through Portobello Market at the weekend, the market is about 15 minutes walk from where I live, but I have not been there for a few years (you forget what is right on your doorstep). I found my favourite stall, its been there for years. It has wonderful vintage buttons, lots of beautiful glass and metal and just what I needed for some new (new as in projects that just needed that something to finish them, like a button and have been living in a bag for ages) projects I have been working on. The picture does not do these button justice.

I also visited a stall and got some nice trimmings, its worth a visit to the market if you are in London. There's so much to see.