In the past I have tried many different methods to protect the area. The most obvious, a bandage, was too clumsy and thick, interfering with my manipulation of the knitting needles. I tried a leather quilters' thimble and it was also too cumbersome. I then tried using fingercots but they dulled the sensation of my fingertip too much making it feel like I was knitting with gloves on.
I have finally found a near perfect solution.
A humble piece of masking tape. It works great! It protects my finger just enough to prevent the shock of a needle ramming into an open wound, but isn't bulky and also leaves enough sensation in the fingertip so that I can still feel what I am doing.
As you can see in the picture, eventually even the masking tape wears through but at $1 per roll I can afford a new inch or so of tape whenever that happens.
Hey, that's a great idea. I'm going to try that as I have the same problem. :-)
ReplyDeleteWishing you a speedy recovery from that injury. My battles are with 'splits' when the weather changes.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately Maggie, I would have to at least temporarily give up knitting to give it a chance to heal, and that makes the cure worse than the wound. Ha!
ReplyDeleteWell just kidding really. The masking tape really does protect the cut/hole enough that it will heal just fine. It also only happens when I work for extended periods of time with the smaller, pointer needles. Sock knitting is particularly hazardous. Right now I am working with fingering weight yarn with a difficult p3tog that wears on my finger quite quickly.
Be patient with the technique Jen. It takes a little fiddling to find the perfect way to put the tape on so that it doesn't bind and also doesn't fall off. I found that I prefered it when it was not wrapped all the way around the fingertip or over a joint. Burnishing the ends of the tape helped it to stay on better, and like masking tape on a wall, the longer it is on the better it seems to stick.
ReplyDeleteI use a product called "New Skin" whenever I get a cut or hole from pushing the needle. I found out about it when I was doing a lot of hand quilting and repeatedly jammed the point of a very sharp needle into the tip of my finger. You bush it on and it hardens into a protective layer; it also feels much like your skin (only harder) so it doesn't interfere with sensation or manipulation. You can get it anywhere - the grocery store, Target, drug stores, etc. I've been using the same bottle for a couple of years, so it goes a long way. It also lasts for quite a while on your finger and doesn't get all raggy like tape does.
ReplyDeleteJust thought I'd throw that out for you. :)
I used to have that same problem! I have learned to guide the needle on the side rather than on the point - helps decrease the ouchiness!
ReplyDeleteSock knitting can be hazardous. Especially some patterns. I have a Cookie A. pattern on the needles right now, all ribbed, and the knit stitches are knit through the back loop. Brutal!
ReplyDeleteI had thought about "New Skin" Pam, but never got around to giving it a try. It sounds like it would work really well. I never knew it actually got hard.
ReplyDeleteOne of the things I like about the tape though is that when I'm finished knitting I just rip the little scrap of tape off and I'm done with it. No big deal to get a fresh piece the next time I sit down with the tiny needles.