One would have thought that carpal tunnel fatigue in my dominant (right) hand would have entirely prevented me from working (and probably should have), but it hasn’t. With stretches of time available during this season, I do feel a bit like the subject of AnnekeAnna’s The Last Knit, driven to keep my needles clicking. My solution: to research and learn new techniques, especially anything involving left-handed knitting or continental techniques.
(clicking on the video image will take you to a complete version if this one doesn’t play to its witty conclusion) (and now I’ve learned to create video links as well!).
I’ve acquired a taste for brioche knitting, and produced two berets using Nancy Marchant’s patterns: the Pecan Pie pattern in the most recent edition of Knitty, 
and Marchant’s Yin Yang Beret from her website. The first was made from some Noro Kureyon tucked away from a son’s first (unsuccessful) knitting project. Since we’re on a holiday gift moratorium this year, it will be a delightful not-for-Christmas gift for my SIL. Once I’d finished the braided bind-off edge (my alteration to Marchant’s Knitty pattern), I was hooked. I practically ran to Rosie’s to pick up some Silk Garden for the Yin Yang, completed in short order. 
Oddly enough, switching to continental knitting for these brioche projects made sense, since the sequence of stitches (yo, sl 1, brk) works is achieved efficiently in continental style. As with my reversible Hamsa pad, I especially enjoyed the braided effect of the bind-off on these berets. Now I’m dreaming of braided edges, cast-on or bound-off …
I’ve also made progress on a reversible hat with the techniques learned to make my Hamsa Hotpad, and have started athe first sleeve on my son’s Cobblestone Pullover. Even with this knitting, there’s been time to sort out old projects. The last (I hope) of the ancient UFO’s have made it to the knitting room, which is now tidy, organized, and ready to see many more reach the growing FO pile.
In spite of a commitment to finish older projects, these past few weeks I’ve been thinking ahead to Passover, planning to knit a seder plate for my Patterns for Peacebuilders project. The various elements of this non-functional knitting project (parsley, horseradish, egg, matzoh, lamb shank bone, and decorated plate) are already planned or in progress as well (the only limit to UFO’s is the number of needles one has!) . There’s also the Kippah KAL I’ve been trying to start in Ravelry’s Jewish Fiberaholics group; my recent experience with brioche knitting will find its way there – more about this soon.
