Chronic Pain & Crafting, Part 4: Crafting Tools as Adaptive Tools

Part of the appeal of knitting and crochet is the way you can take some sticks and string and like magic turn them in afghans, sweaters, dresses, cushions, or anything your heart desires and your mind can dream up. At its core, yarncrafts require very few tools other than yarn, a selection of needles or…

Chronic Pain and Crafting, Part 3: Exercises and Accessories

While I myself am not a physical therapist, the exercises below are often recommended for crafters to stretch tense muscles and increase strength and flexibility, releasing tension and discomfort and preventing future stress and pain. These should be considered gentle stretches; you should feel a pulling sensation, but not pain. If the movement is painful,…

Would this Kill Me in the 1800s: Cleft Palate

It's been a while since we had a good old fashioned WTKM. This time, we're exploring cleft palate. Cleft palate/lip occures when the tissue on the roof of the mouth doesn't fully form/develop, leaving a gap. We don't know why this happens, whether it's genetics, some kind of mutation, or if it's caused by environmental…

Is Knitting Contagious?

Well, not quite. But I have seen some discussion lately on Twitter about the potential of re-infecting oneself through your knitting. As someone who has been infected with practically everything (thanks, retail), has a weakened immune system, and has dealt with everything from parasites to viruses to bedbugs, here are some things I have learned…

Would this Kill Me in the 1800s: Rh Factor

You may remember an embarrassingly long time ago, I took a poll on Twitter to see what you guys wanted to be the subject of my next WtKM1800s post to be. The winner was Rh factor. I'm sorry it's taken so long for me to get to this point, but here we are at last.…

Thinking Ahead

The past few months have been difficult. I'm currently working with 2 different doctors to try to solve my personal energy crisis. Some days, I can do all the things. Some days, I sleep for 13 hours and spend my waking time wishing for a nap. Needless to say, this has had a drastic impact…