19 patterns from past fall issues

JuliannB wrote

on Aug 14, 2008 12:03 PM

 Please give more information in descriptions.  As an Rh and Ostio arthritis knitter, I have become less adventurous and more selective in the patterns I purchse.  I have found that Top Down, Bottom up, In the Round, and Side to Side with minimal or no sewing work best for those of us whose hands no longer do what they once were capable of.  Please note this on patterns for sale and articles in Knitting Daily.  I am a member of a Lace Cottage and Guild and give lessons, tips, and tricks I have accumulated and encourage others to share what they have found works for them.  This has brought many needleworkers back into the fold who were told by Doctors to give up hand needlework.  When the cottage has "knitting help days" children, teens and "younger than us" show up and are woven into our "do more with less stress and motion" techniques. 

There are several patterns I would be interested trying in the collection posted today, but am unable to determine if the construction would fit methods I am currently capable of. 

Sincerely, Juli Bachman, Port Royal, Pennsylvania

PattiB wrote

on Oct 11, 2008 10:22 PM

This is a legitimate problem and I as a diabetic with neuropathies in both hands on, some days have a hard time just holding my knitting needles, and I am also a Registered Nurse.  So on two differant levels I don't understand why  a post as serious as the one above has gone unnoticed perhaps, just no reply, but regardless no response. 

There should be a way for those that have minimalistic use of their hands to be able to tell from the patterns whether they will be able to handle it.  There should be some way for the designer to explain the extent of the handwork involved, whether it would be therapeutic or be perhaps a bit too much for persons having difficulties to begin with. 

I think perhaps having a clearer understanding of what is expected physically for the patterns before sales could help persons in their decisions prior to buying.   Everyone is entitled to know what they are buying before they buy, and persons with some physical handicaps have every right to request certain information that may pertain to their handicaps, it can and will help their decisions about buying things.

This could also be a great help to those that buy for persons for therapeutic reasons, and for those buying for their loved ones that have the handicaps and they are trying to keep their activities of daily living as close to normal as possible even though they do have small handicaps to over come. 

I think by some kind of letter system they could figure out something, like the easy, experianced, and so on system they have for the patterns that could help the consumer.

By giving the consumer information beforehand it helps moreso .

Who wants to hold back experianced knitters out there because of small physical handicaps when an 'experiance knit' of a small and lesser 'thing' can cause less hardship on their hands, than some of the tedious easy larger things, we need to keep up their knitting skills without over taxing their hands, or takiing away their dignity.

Will anyone respond?  Can one respond that is on an authoratative level, and is able to  speak on this topic? 

I am thanking  you in advance,

PBailey,RN