As someone who always spells it wrong, I must tell you how much I appreciate “fuhshchias”

Also hummingbirds love my fuchsias.

Honestly, I always yank some yarn out of the ball before I knit some stitches so that there is no tension on the yarn at all, and then I manage all of the tension I want to add with my hand/fingers alone. But…I’m an English-style knitter. Though I also do that when using both hands for two-color stranded colorwork. So yeah, maybe don’t rely on it coming out of the skein or off of the ball smoothly; it’s yarn, it has a tendency to grip to itself and tangle.

Hopefully this comment helps because I have to admit, I’m not 100% sure what you mean. Either way, best of luck!

I have one of those too. Due to lack of space, my desk is next to the tv and couch, and she gets pretty demanding when she thinks it’s couch time but I’m working.

If you don’t love video, you might also look up Tech Knitting; I googled and it looks like she(?) actually has a couple of blogs with similar names. She gets really nitty gritty about stuff and makes things clear that might otherwise seem like magic made from sticks. I think it’s where I learned how to beautifully and invisibly weave ends into the backside of stockinette, among other things. (I actually don’t hate weaving in ends with that method!)

I’m a huge fan of Ravelry for finding patterns. Also, when I started actually using the stash function, it became a game changer. I don’t have a huge stash (I know some do) but I still wanted to work it down, so for the last couple of years, I’ve found patterns for and queued stuff for most of my stash and have slowly been making my way through it.

I use the KnitCompanion iPad app for tracking my progress on patterns, and I love it, but I also have the old non-subscription version. Not sure I would use it if I had to pay a subscription.

I know a lot of people only use free patterns, but I gotta say that paying for patterns has really upped the quality of my knitting. Not universally of course; sometimes people want you to pay for something you could easily figure out for yourself, which is rather lame. But well-written patterns are golden, and worth the extra few bucks. When there is something new in a pattern that I don’t know how to do, YouTube is an amazing resource and I’ve never not been able to find how to do something there.

That arm looks way too long for its body in this photo. Is your cat particularly long-legged?

Even walking barefoot seems like it would be painful!

Does a hammock work for a side sleeper? I am super uncomfortable sleeping on my back, but I’d love to try it if it would be feasible on my side.

Maybe I’m wrong but it feels like their most relaxed, trusting state. Only surpassed perhaps by being on their backs all stretched out. But yeah, seems like a very happy position.

Pretty gradient! It’s colors I’d never choose (I’m pretty cool-toned) but man they’re lovely. I swear that yarn porn is one of the best parts of this hobby.

Oh man, I can’t imagine. I’m so sorry! That must be so frustrating. I hope you see some progress soon!

Are you just recently past covid or do you have long covid? So sorry either way! I hope it improves soon. It’s lovely that you found an alternative!

Okay so I just gave mine away and want to offer a note of caution.

If you have any bit of chest at all, it may not be the best solution. This is not to assume you are a woman, but as a woman, I can tell you that my breasts got in the way and blocked the light. I found it pretty tough to get the light into a position where it actually shined on my work. I would characterize my size as fairly moderate—not small, but not huge either.

I mentioned it to a friend and she said, “Oh, I wouldn’t have that problem” (haha) so as soon as I found it in my unused stuff, it was passed on!

I currently have the KnitPicks nickel-plated ones, and they’re fine, but the wires definitely have memory. I’d like to upgrade to Chiaogoo, but I want the set and it’s a steep price tag when I already have something that’s fine.

I’ve been knitting for a long time (20 years), and I’m also an English style knitter slash thrower so I’m not a super fast knitter, and I hate using anything except metal anymore. Wood and bamboo are too sticky for me, even when they’re very smooth, and the tips wear down or start to snag eventually — or at least my cheap ones did. Not a fan of plastic either personally, and it feels like people who really get into the hobby stray away from them, but I don’t really know why. Like I can’t really articulate why I don’t like plastic; I just…don’t.

Man I only knit on metal needles anymore. Anything else is too sticky. I am hoping to upgrade my old KnitPicks nickel-plated interchangeable set to a set of Ciaogoos, but the upfront price is a bit of an ouch so I keep making due with the kinky cables.

Hey, that’s good data! There are always outliers, right? My 12yo meows the most and definitely sounds a bit like an old lady; I’m trying to remember if she always did. One of my 4yos has a super girly high-pitched voice. I struggle to imagine what she’ll sound like in 10 years.

I agree with Venite. There are often holes in places where multiple seams would meet in a sewn garment. I mostly knit sweaters and I pretty much always take some time tightening things up around the armpits, with very rare exception when it’s a particularly good pattern. Just is what it is! If it’s inside, it doesn’t even have to be neat because no one will see it, so just sew up what you need to tighten.

Not to dwell on the negative, but what are you unhappy about? They look totally fine, if perhaps a little chunky! Hopefully they’re comfy.

Tension is the hardest thing to learn, I think, and it just takes practice. My first-ever knitting was also super tight, and it made purling a nightmare. Seems like you’re getting the hang of it!

Your tension looks great!