Knitting with brain fog?

[untonuggan]

Hello lovely dreamwidth knitters,

I'm having issues with knitting right now because of [health issue] that is causing both brain fog and finger stiffness. Both don't always happen at the same time, and on some happy days I am able to pick up that second sock on DPNs. However, recently I have found that this is a bit beyond my ability both mentally and physically.

I'm having trouble knitting with small needles, or with DPNs. (SO glad I already finished the lace weight scarf.) I also am having trouble concentrating on patterns, and cabling and/or charts are out when my brain is foggy. Thus the patterns that are "really exciting" when I'm doing well are Mount Everest Frustration when I'm having a flare-up.

My current project is a garter stitch scarf using chunky wool on US #11 needles. However, I would like to do something a *little* more interesting when I finish. I have a fairly ample stash to choose from due to some compulsive yarn buying, so I ask you...if you were having brain fog, what would you knit? (Easy on the hands is also a good thing.) Not knitting is driving me a little bonkers.

Thanks in advance,
lizcommotion

ETA: So here's the decision. I now have a project list! Yay!

1. A hat knit from a ball of scrap yarn tied together that I have been hoarding for about six months. It's a really simple hat pattern, but the yarn should make it *very* interesting. (I have cast on and finished the ribbing, and it looks ugly-awesome-beautiful. Pics will definitely follow later.)
2. A kid's blanket for Project Linus. I think I will basically make a giant Grandmother's Favorite Dishcloth, only it will be in acrylic instead of cotton and thus it will be a blanket. Also I'm going to do stripes because I have two colors of yarn. And this way I can stash bust the yarn from Michael's that I bought on impulse before finding out that my niece-to-be has blankets out the wazoo.
3. A shawl or kerchief of some sort. I haven't settled on a pattern yet, but this gives me time to pick one and figure out which size needles I want to use and all that goodness. I am leaning toward something ridiculously easy such as the Romney kerchief, but I haven't ruled out doing something in a drop stitch pattern. Because I like that those go fast. ^_^

Thanks again for all your help! I knew you wouldn't fail me!

Comments

[ambersweet]

The thing I'm doing at work (rife with interruptions, so it's got to be something I can pick up and put down at any time) are hexipuffs (for the beekeeper's quilt). The pattern calls for small needles and sockweight yarn, but since it's a blanket, I bet it would be easy to use worsted or even bulky weight yarn and bigger needles (also... faster. Hm.). It's knit using 2 DPNs (knit one needle, turn it around, knit the other needle, turn it around, knit the first needle, etc) and it's a very simple pattern, but not quite garter-stitch-scarf levels of simple. (Another bonus over the garter stitch scarf is that you finish each individual hexipuff quickly, so it feels like you're actually making progress on something.)

I also agree with troisroyaumes - dishcloths or washcloths make good simple projects, and you can jazz it up as you're feeling up to it and simplify it when you're not, even in the same project, because, you know, it's a dishcloth, and your dishes won't care. Six garter stitch ridges, six rows in linen stitch, six rows of ribbing, six more rows in linen stitch, six garter ridges, now it's symmetrical so it looks *deliberate!* Nobody can tell that I forgot what I was doing halfway through! XD

[untonuggan]

That quilt is definitely on my to-make list at some point, although I think first I've finally settled on a Project Linus blanket with some cheap Michael's yarn I haven't known what to do with. But oh my goodness, that quilt is gorgeous! So yes, it's perfect in every other way.

Sadly, dishcloth cotton and my hands are not getting along at the moment. Otherwise it would be a dishcloth factory here.