My knitting career is ending before it even started!

stanncie · 01-02-2011, 02:25 PM

Hi all

I just started knitting about 5 days ago and i'm addicted to it. I managed to learn the knit stitch and purl stitch pretty good and it's no longer super tight like the first few days. I was so happy yesterday because i finally knitted a few rows without mistakes.

The problem is i've been having pain in the upper part of my right wrist from the 3rd day on. Yesterday it got pretty bad and i had to stop because it even got a bit swollen. My mom says it's because i'm tense and doing extra movements that are unnecessary.

I've been trying to learn the continental method because i'm pretty sure the throwing of the yarn with my right hand is what is causing it. it's pretty hard for me though. I think i should stop for a few days to let the swelling go down but that is making me so sad. Has anyone bee through this before??

Jan in CA · 01-02-2011, 07:31 PM

I agree with your mom. Knitting can be very relaxing, but it takes practice to get there.

Definitely let your hand/wrist rest for a few days, but when you start up again try different methods. If you find purling hard in continental you can try combined knitting. If you're using straight needles you might try circular needles. I find straights hurt my hands more so circs are all I use now. Make sure you take breaks and let your hands rest, too.

Ingrid · 01-02-2011, 09:06 PM

You're also building up muscles that you haven't used this way before. Give it a bit of a rest and then make sure you stretch and shake out your hands during long knitting sessions.

Breezed · 01-02-2011, 11:59 PM

I'm a fairly new knitter and the first couple weeks my hands were quite sore especially the very first week. I would take an Ibuprofen or Aleeve and only knit for short periods of time maybe 2-3 a day/night. Now, I have no soreness or pain unless I'm knitting a really small gauge or using dpns because I knit so tightly on them. Keep practicing, your muscles should adjust.

stanncie · 01-03-2011, 03:09 AM

thank you all for your replies. I knitted one row today and the pain came back so i've decided to stop for at least 2-3 days. I will also try the circular needles because i'm pretty sure my mom has some.

Woodi · 01-03-2011, 08:17 PM

I too get pains in my hands, wrists, sometimes even in the elbow...so I did learn a few different knitting methods, and I vary my movements. Sometimes I have to take a rest for a few days, or even a few weeks. It's still worth it - don't give up knitting, just take it easier.
Any repetitive movements can bring pain to many of us.

crazykntter83 · 01-03-2011, 11:01 PM

I would take a break for a few days, definitely. When you do start knitting again, I would take frequent breaks when you start to hurt. I have the same problems, my wrists get to hurting, or my fingers get sore. Just take a break and come post on here. Then after you're feeling a bit better, go back to knitting.

lgoddard · 01-03-2011, 11:13 PM

Definitely take it slow when you start out. I developed a trigger thumb when I started knitting and was so afraid it would not calm down. It did but I had to just take it easy for a while. If you just take more frequent breaks and also try to relax when knitting it shhould help. I would find I was tense in my shoulders and arms and that make them ache too. Hope it works out for you!

CRowland · 01-04-2011, 12:46 AM

I have been knitting for a while but recently started knitting a pair of socks and had quite a bit of pain with that, I think because I was more tense (knitting two socks at a time on two circular needles) and because the yarn was a much finer yarn than what I am used to.

it has settled though I'm also alternating with another project!

Daylilydayzed · 01-04-2011, 03:37 AM

Before you start knitting , take some pain relieving over the counter med so it will help relieve your pain as you knit.