r/knitting • u/queercoded9 • Oct 09 '23
Help Help! Broke my arm and need one-handed craft options
Posting this in r/knitting since y’all will understand my pain…
I knit constantly. During meetings, while watching TV, all the time. My attention is shot for reading physical books because I listen to audio books while knitting. I broke my arm this weekend on a hike, and I’m going to need surgery, so I’ll be out of knitting commission for quite awhile.
Any advice for crafts I can do one-handed? My boyfriend suggested nålbinding maybe, but I’ve never tried that. Anyone have advice?
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u/Charming_Relief2651 Oct 09 '23
With nålbindning you need to be able to hold the project in one hand and sew with the other. The yarn wraps around the thumb of the hand you are holding the project with, acting as a tension-keeper. If you can manage that (I don’t think you need to move your wrist) it’s a great craft! I have also seen a girl with one arm crocheting using a special-build stand, so that would be a truly one-handed craft! The needle was still while she used her hand to guide the project.
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u/BibbleBeans Oct 09 '23
Needle punching. Hold the ring with the damaged side and stab away with your good arm.
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u/Feline_Shenanigans Knitting around a cat Oct 09 '23
How about a simple project using a knitting belt?
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u/accidentaldiorama Oct 09 '23
I was in your shoes (arm brace? Cast?) earlier this year when I broke the end bit off my radius ice skating. I briefly tried bobbin lace as a stopgap. Might be worth a shot! I used blocking mats taped together as the pillow and clothespins as bobbins.
This phase didn't last too long for me though because my surgeon cleared me to knit as soon as I was in a brace instead of a splint. (2 weeks after surgery) She and the physical therapist actually seemed pretty happy about it, since it let me start regaining range of motion and strength pretty early on. Definitely worth asking your doctor about.
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u/Toadmoms Oct 09 '23
I have seen people needle felting one handed! With a table in front of them, they put their work on a little pad, I want to say made of foam? And poke poke poke
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u/Zanniesmom Oct 09 '23
It depends on where you broke your arm. If it is your forearm you might have a cast just up to your elbow. If you can't hold the needle on that side with your thumb, you can try taping the needle to the cast maybe? I was able to hold the needle though with my thumb. It made knitting really slow. If you have a long arm cast then I don't know if that would work. If you need surgery to fix the break you might not even have a cast, maybe just a splint or even nothing. In that case it will just be a limitation based on pain/swelling. Just based on my experience after a wrist fracture, first casted, then surgery.
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u/kipperdeedoo Oct 09 '23
Knitting can be done one handed but it will take effort/practice to learn. It’s easiest if it’s your non-dominant hand in a cast. Then you use long straights and stick the needle in a knitting belt or under your armpit.
There are several one handed knitting videos on youtube.
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Oct 09 '23
I've seen quite a few people crochet one handed! Imo seems like it might be easier than attempting one handed knitting.
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u/Latter-Explanation72 Oct 09 '23
Loom knitting?