Anchorage Daily News

Finally, the long winter is over. You may have noticed that Two Sticks disappeared from the paper for several weeks. Toward the end of March, I became another casualty of this winter's icy streets when I took a spill in front of the mailbox, landing hard and injuring my right hand rather badly.

The worst injury was to the lower thumb joint, and I have been wearing a splint to immobilize it as much as possible. Since I am right-handed, almost everything became difficult. I had no idea how much the opposable thumb affects just about everything one does, especially, if you are creative.

My creative outlets encompass many things, but I spend the majority of my creative time each day knitting. Knitting is as natural to me as, well, breathing. My routine for watching TV requires that I knit. Perhaps my brain is wired so that I listen better, or if I keep my hands busy I don't fidget as much, and we won't even speak about snacking. I found just sitting on the sofa with the sole purpose of watching TV made me jumpy and nervous.

Well, let's face it, I am a knitting addict, and I was in withdrawal. What could be more evident? I have been knitting or doing some type of needlework for almost 48 years. In fact, I gear my TV watching to my knitting time, and I plan my knitting projects so that I always have at least one to do while watching TV. I reserve the more difficult ones and my design projects for audio moments rather than visual ones.

Perhaps the most irritating issues I had with this hiatus from my creative work had to do with finding ways to express myself without the use of my hand. Writing, typing, needlework and even cooking with the required dicing and chopping became too frustrating to attempt. When the orthopedic specialist announced that in addition to the injury I also have advanced osteoarthritis, it was too much.

I am aware that aging takes its toll on all of us and that sooner or later we find it isn't knocking at our door anymore but has managed to find its way into our homes and lives, never to take its cold hands off our shoulders again.

A cliche about knitters and crocheters is little old ladies sitting in rockers knitting or doing crochet and rocking away. Well, if arthritis is common in aging women -- and statistics tell us that women between 50 and 70 make up a large number of those who practice needlework -- then arthritis can't limit ones ability to do needlework completely.

I believe that my passion for the act of plying my needles and crochet hooks will lead me to discover new ways of doing what I love, but it is hard to imagine that I will ever wake up to a day when I no longer get to create with fiber.

With so many baby boomers reaching an age when things such as arthritis impact their lives, I just know that new types of tools and needlework aids will become available. It's wonderful to finally be able to write again and to knit.

With the return of nicer weather and sunshine, I am energized and ready to get back to work. Thank you for your patience and support during these past few weeks.

Catherine Hollingsworth, interior designer, artist and professional knitwear designer, has lived in Alaska for 18 years. She is interim president of the Alaska State Yarn Council and past president of Knitters of the North. To reach her, e-mail twosticks@adnmail.com.

KNITTERS OF THE NORTH GUILD regular open meeting; visitors welcome. 1 to 3 p.m. May 10, Pioneer School House, lower level, corner of Third and Eagle Street. Discussion will be on copyright issues. For more information, call Janice Chulick at 561-3933.

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