AUTUMN’S ALLURE SHOPPING, BEAUTY & DINING PAGE 26 theconnectionsnj.com NewJerseyJiffyLube.com Family Owned & Operated For Over 25 Years Hours: Monday-Friday 8am - 7pm • Saturday 8am - 5pm • Sunday 9am - 3pm ® BRIDGEWATER 1316 Route 22 East 908-231-9800 Located at Morgan Lane FRANKLIN 1503 Route 27 South 732-828-6116 Between Cozzens Lane and Bennetts Lane Adventure is waiting... Is your car ready to go? You don’t need an appointment for our fast, courteous service. Come by and visit, before it’s time to take that ride. $15.00 OFF Signature Service Oil Change Disclaimer: Not valid with any other offer for same service. Must present coupon at time of service. Valid at participating stores on jiffylubenewjersey.com. Jiffy Lube, Jiffy Lube design mark and Jiffy Lube Signature Service® are registered trademarks of Jiffy Lube International, Inc. © 2024 Jiffy Lube International, Inc. Code: CM15SSOC Expires: 12/31/24 CREATIVECORNER Healthy Knitting & Crochet By Carolyn Hanson linen. Cotton and arthritis don’t mix well. 4. Take Breaks & Stretch. Place a special stitch marker into your project and every time you reach that marker, flex your ankles, toes, neck, or legs. Spread your knitting activities throughout the day rather than 3 hours straight. (Ahem!) Stretch your hands in the opposite direction of your knitting position. 5. Raise the Pattern. Clip patterns to a binder cover and stand it vertically to avoid looking down. 6. Switch to Circular Needles. Straight needles put more strain on wrists as the project grows. Circular needles use a cable with short needles on each end placing most of the weight onto the cable reducing strain. 7. Pair Needle Type with Yarn. Slippery metal needles pair well with yarn that clings like wool or fuzzy yarn. Slippery yarns pair well with needles that grab like bamboo. Test your needle/yarn combo by sliding the live stitches back and forth across the needle. Gliding easily means less friction and less strain. 8. Pair Needle Tips with Yarn. Pointy needles are best for dense gauge projects with small stitches. Blunt needles are best for loosely plied yarn reducing yarn splitting. 9. Diversify Projects. Work on different projects with different gauges during your knitting week (e.g., alternate between cotton and wool projects.) 10. Add Movement. Stand and walk after 20 minutes. Try marching in place while knitting and chatting. Trifecta-steps, knitting, and socializing! Stay healthy and happy knitting! I never thought that knitting/crochet could be hazardous to my health. How could relaxing and knitting while watching Netflix cause such havoc to hands, arms, neck, and back, resulting in surgeries, deformities, and physical therapy (PT)? Cumulative repetitive movement is how. Unfortunately, knitting is not the only cause. Add typing, looking down at phone screens, sitting, and improper posture. The hours add up. In addition to speaking with my PT, I came across Carson Demers’ Knitting Comfortably - The Ergonomics of Hand Knitting. Carson is a PT and a knitter. His book provides insight into our body’s vulnerabilities and stresses caused by repetitive habits including the impact of poor posture, the ergonomics of our tools, and ultimately improvement through self-care. Cumulative Repetitive Movement or Cumulative Trauma Disorder is a repetitive strain injury over months or years (ahem!) of overuse. We think of knitting as a harmless activity. After all, we’re just sitting/lounging/slouching, legs crossed, head down, knitting in one position …for hours… without a break. Ouch! Here are a few of Carson’s suggestions for self-care: 1. Posture Matters. Sit up straight. Shoulders down and back. Chin back. Feet flat on the floor when sitting. Place a pillow behind your back if sitting in a deep seat. Put a book under your feet to reach the floor. 2. Raise your Arms. Using a pillow on your lap to raise your arms brings your knitting into view while reducing neck strain. Knitting without looking down is ideal. 3. Yarn Choices. Wool fibers have a natural spring called crimping which causes less tension to make a stitch, unlike cotton, or
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