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

[troisroyaumes]

Something in linen stitch might be less boring while still sufficiently simple? On my low mental energy days, I work on a linen stitch dish towel in sportweight cotton.

[sedge]

I tend to use hats as my mindless knitting. I don't know if it would suit you,but it seemed worth suggesting.

[james]

Shawls, or something which has a one-row pattern repeat. I knit while watching football and hockey and I often lose my place. ;-) I have to do something where I can look down and read my knitting and see what I should be doing next. Hats and scarves are easy, but can get boring, but shawls can also be easy but they look really nice and pretty and feel more like I'm doing something interesting even if I'm not really.

Shawls also have the advantage of being able to use smaller weight yarn but bigger needles for 'holey' or fluffy shawls. So you can use whatever yarn you want and find something to suit.

You might also look into loom knitting, as being easier on your hands!

[lullabymoon]

I found the drop stitch shawl to be perfect for brain fog/finger problem days. Simple but interesting enough to keep me going. I'm pretty sure there are drop stitch scarf patterns out there as well.

[pensnest]

An alternate approach to stash-busting might be a Kaffe Fassett-style shawl, something that's knitted in plain stocking stitch but with a multitude of colours, possibly combined into a chunky or Aran equivalent and done on big needles. I like diamonds, myself, they can be nice and large and offer lots of time to change colours, and the colour change keeps things interesting.

[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

[visual_syntax]

There are plenty of moderately sized shawl patterns with regular increases that would be interesting enough but still predictable and easy to think through in a fog.

If I have trouble, I use markers and a row counter to help.

[beachlass]

I do kerchiefs, sometimes. Start with a few stitches cast on, and increases at edges and in the centre (4 increase st every other row). I've done shawls and neckerchiefs in noro, and head kerchiefs in sock wool. I prefer the diagonal rows over a knit-from-the=bottom triangular shawl.

Something like the Romney kerchief here: http://brooklyntweed.blogspot.com/

[pinesandmaples]

I'd be knitting a worsted-weight (or heavier) afghan, knit in pieces to be seamed later when you have the ability + all the pieces in one place. Having knit one blanket, I'm craving another one for myself.

[dhae_knight_1]

I'm knitting a potatochip scarf. Nice and easy. :-D Hope you feel better soon. *hugs*

[jettblack]

I find that bias knit things are juuuuust interesting enough to keep my brain working without being too technically difficult. Your mileage may vary, but it's making garter stitch bearable for me.

[jumpuphigh]

I usually knit a Grandmother's Dishcloth. I always have people who want dishcloths.

There is a scarf pattern I'll knit as well but that only works because I've done so many scarves with this pattern that my fingers remember it without my brain engaging. It took a long time before that happened.

[jackandahat]

This. I do ribbed or "simple pattern over a couple of stitches" hats, on a 40cm circular needle. That way I can put it down at any point without worrying about if I'm at the end of the row, and it's kind of hypnotically soothing.

[untonuggan]

I ended up picking up a hat last night actually. It is going to be an interesting hat, as it's made from a ball of yarn scraps all tied together. But this way if it gets messed up it doesn't matter either, because it's not like I'm using beautiful pretty yarn.

(by the way, it looks strangely ugly-awesome.)

[untonuggan]

Hm, this is an interesting idea although I am worried about my motivation in actually seaming things together.

However, I do have some yarn that could be used for a blanket for Project Linus, so that is a thought. Thanks!

[untonuggan]

Mmm, yes, I just finished one of those. Another is tempting...thanks for the good wishes!

[untonuggan]

Yes, that's why I can knit Grandmother's Favorite Dishcloth in garter but not a regular square one.

*plots* Perhaps a striped bias knit garter stitch baby blanket for Project Linus...easy as pie but just interesting enough.

Question: if you were using greens for a baby blanket (thus for a boy or gender-neutral) would you use yarn-overs, kfb, or make ones for the increases?

[untonuggan]

I had been thinking dishcloths but I'm having trouble with cotton right now. It does not like my fingers. However, I am concocting the following plot using a combination of suggestions: a striped bias knit garter stitch baby blanket for Project Linus...easy as pie but just interesting enough.

Question: if you were using greens for a baby blanket (thus for a boy or gender-neutral) would you use yarn-overs, kfb, or make ones for the increases?

(I was thinking of basically making a giant Grandmother's favorite dishcloth, only it would actually be a blanket)

[untonuggan]

Pretty! I have just the yarn to use for something like that, too. I may wait on the lace weight yarn til my hands are a little better as it stresses them somewhat to use it, but I think a shawl or kerchief has definitely been added to my list.

Thanks!

[untonuggan]

Thanks! I think I will wait on the shawl for the moment, but everyone has definitely convinced me that a shawl should be in the works soon.

[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.

[untonuggan]

Thanks for all the ideas! Shawl project definitely in the works, just not yet...have decided on a hat first, and then a Project Linus blanket.

[untonuggan]

Thanks for the link! That is indeed very pretty. I will link you back a very lovely drop stitch scarf pattern that I have been thinking of making another one of: I think it's called "sea foam stitch". So that is a good thing to be reminded of.

[untonuggan]

Hm, loom knitting is a possibility I had not thought of! I shall look into it indeed. Do you have any link recommendations off the top of your head? If not I shall just search myself.

Shawls are definitely to come soon. First I think I'll do a Project Linus blanket. But then a shawl...mwahahaha.

[untonuggan]

The cotton and my hands are not friends right now, but I had not thought of linen stitch. Thanks for that idea!

[jackandahat]

I'd like to see that when you get finished, it sounds interesting.

[jumpuphigh]

I'd use yarn-overs. I'd also increase the size of the border before the yarn-over by a few stitches to make it more appropriately sized for a blanket.

[untonuggan]

Oh, you will, don't worry. mwahahaha.

[untonuggan]

Good call. I had been wondering about that. Would you also change how many stitches were cast on in the beginning to accommodate that? I think the dishcloth cast on is four.

[jumpuphigh]

Good thought. You'd have to, wouldn't you? I'd cast on 2 more than whatever number you decide on for your border.

[untonuggan]

Excellent plan!

[jettblack]

I almost always M1, but a knit front and back would be good as well, for garter stitch. Unless yarn overs are easier on your hands, in which case, the holes likely won't be big enough to bother anyone.

[james]

I don't have recs for loom knitting - I've never done it, but know folks who have and say it's tons easier for hands with limited mobility.

[lullabymoon]

Oooh, that is very lovely! Just perfect for the yarn I have that has been sitting around looking unloved.

[untonuggan]

Once you get into the rhythm of it, it's super easy too. ^_^