Friday, November 25, 2011

untold stories

Good morning everyone, and Happy Thanksgiving! I hope your day was wonderful and you are able to take some time to knit this weekend.

The fall festival season was very busy and I am hugely grateful to everyone who came out to help and most especially to buy my yarns. Your support means more than you can ever imagine. I love dyeing these beautiful yarns and I am just so happy that you like the colors and enjoy knitting with them. Thank you for putting up project pages on ravelry so others can see what Periwinkle Sheep yarns look like knitted up.
Thank you also for recommending my yarns to your local yarn shop, wherever you are. I have gotten some inquiries! Right after Rhinebeck I had to fill several orders.
On October 30th, as I was getting ready to take a couple of knitting classes at one of my LYSs, I threw my back out really badly. It turned out to be annular tears in 2 discs. I was on the road to recovery, well aware that this is a slow process. I thought I was being so good, but just this past Monday I hurt my back again and have been pretty useless ever since.
I am trying to come to grips with this situation, which truthfully could not have come at a worse time. I need to stock up my online shops, I need to fill orders for yarn shops, get color cards out etc. Meanwhile, I can’t even put socks on my own two feet.
My doctor tells me this back issue could take several more weeks to heal. Sitting and knitting is not really an option either, I can’t sit upright for more than it takes to eat a meal at this point. I am learning to knit socks while lying flat on my back. :)My family has been tremendously helpful in the day to day operations of the household, and I am thankful for that.
I am now trying to decide whether to declare a dyeing hiatus for the time being, or at least until after the New Year. I have great things planned for the new year - I am going to introduce a new yarn or two that I am very excited about.
Could I ask you to hang in there with me? I know it never looks good when a dyer just suddenly drops from the face of the earth after being such a presence at various festivals. If you could help spread the word for me that I am temporarily out of commission, that would help me a lot.
Of course I do still have stock here Periwinkle Sheep headquarters, i.e. my home, and I will put yarn up online as soon as possible.
But in order to be able to keep doing what I love doing so much, I need to take this back problem seriously and not lift dyepots too soon.
I know I have your support, and thank you for letting me put my situation out there. Have a great holiday weekend!

eta: this is an adapted version of a note I wrote on the Periwinkle Sheep forum on ravelry.

10 comments:

  1. Take time and heal well so that the problem does not become chronic. Everybody has too much holiday knitting and probably more than enough stash at present. Get well! You know I'm in a similar boat. We can commiserate from time to time.

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  2. Do take care of yourself, Karin - and don't try to rush the healing process! I have had back pain for longer than I like to think about, and I know how frustrating (and sometimes frightening) it can be. People can wait for pretty yarn :)

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  3. My siblings have back problems that have gone beyond fixable -- PLEASE let yours heal so you can get rid of that pain. I will enjoy the Periwinkle Sheep yarns currently residing here with me until you are past this. Hope the pain eases quickly.

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  4. What a wise decision, Karin, I know this has been difficult to come to, but I think you are doing the right thing. A proper break, where you are focused on healing, seems to be what you need right now. If there's anything I can do from here to help you with the website, don't hesitate to call on me, it would be a privilege to be able to help. I wish I lived closer. xx

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  5. Oh my Goodness Karin!!! If i can help you, please let me know. There must be something crazy in the air, because we have had a run of bad luck here too-my dog broke her ankle, Mom sprained her foot, and i pulled my muscles in my lower back. I'm pretty much healed up except after sitting i walk a bit like a duck until i work the kinks out! NOTHING like your situation. I am also a Reiki Master, so if you would like some healing energy work done on your back, i can do that for you too...Just let me know... Love to you, mare

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  6. I think it is wise to put a notice on your website and etsy. Unfortunately, sometimes people forget that it *ISN'T* all about their yarn order. I'll admit to dispensing with reality at times, when I've become fixated on a yarn. I also find, that knitters are generally sympathetic when people ask for time and space since many of us have real lives of our own (I won't say all, because some people's production defies my belief of what a person can accomplish and still eat and clothe themselves).
    I hope you are better soon, my dear. And I will endeavor to send as much business your way as I possibly can.

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  7. Wish I live closer so I can come over to help. Healing vibes to you!

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  8. Hi Karn, I'm saddened to know you are in pain, please focus on getting better.We'll all be sending you postive thoughts/energy!
    Jackie

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  9. Hi Karin, very sad about your injury. Take time, look after it and allow it it heal properly. You are a special lady. Be blessed with the healing you need.

    Elseline

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  10. Take good care of yourself, gently. I wish I could come over and help and at least play Laundry R Us!

    And I am very, very grateful for the beautiful yarns that showed up here today. The Sophisticate (light) Sock Dream I ordered and the laceweight Wink in Periwinkle that you surprised me with for my birthday are just so soft and so pretty. I knit a sparkly Kidsilk Night shawl for a friend going through chemo earlier this year and when she put it on, wow. I've secretly wanted a sparkly one too ever since but never bought any such yarn. And here... and I love the color, and the softness, and... How did you know?!

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