Health Issues Caused By Knitting and Crocheting and How to Fix Them.

We have probably heard and read enough about the health benefits of crocheting and knitting. It is indeed considered as one of the best therapies for treating anxiety, depression etc. Despite being Beneficial and fun at the same time, Crocheting and knitting can cause some health concerns that need to be looked into. No work comes easy and every time we work we put a part of ourselves into it. It is hence, important to be healthy enough to cherish the work we love a little while longer.

The health hazards caused by these two most loved hobbies include:

1.       Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

2.       Back Ache

3.       Neck Pain

4.       Strained eyes.

5.       Weight gain.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome:

Crocheting and knitting is basically the work of your hands and wrists. So they are going to be affected the most. If you are a regular crocheter or knitter you may have complained about pain, numbness, dull aching of fingers and wrists. It is caused by those regular hand movements and in some the condition persists and may cause carpal tunnel syndrome or repetitive strain injury. If you are in a crochet business, it is important for you to take care of your selves and those skillful hands so as to be in business.

What to do? 

Take regular breaks while crocheting or knitting. Put down those needle or hooks. Relax your hands and arms. There are many Stretching Exercises for Preventing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Hand Exercises for Crocheters. Click on these links to view them.

Neck Pain:

Working on some crocheted or knitted projects require you to look down or bend your neck for long periods of time. As a result a sore neck is developed. A stiff, painful and discomfort is not liked by anyone.

Back ache:

Another issue related to working as a crocheter or knitter is the back ache. Sitting for prolonged periods of time and in a bad posture can lead to a bad back pain. If not prevented and treated at the right time and properly, it can cause more serious issue to a persons health.

How to deal with neck and back pain?

1.       Practice a good posture.

2.       Make sure you are seated on a comfortable chair with a good back support.

3.       Make sure your knees are placed slightly higher than your hips. (your legs should be hanging off the chair) use a foot stool if necessary.

4.       Do not slouch while you sit.

5.       If you feel some stiffness in your bones, move around a bit. Stretch and relieve tension in your body.

6.       Roll your shoulders to loosen them.

7.       As a precaution or health measure, incorporate some light stretching exercises in your schedule.

8.       Make a point to move around and do something else after every hour or so.

Strain in Eyes:

Keeping your eyes focused on some point for a long time may tire them or may cause headache. A beautiful crochet product will definitely require a great deal of hard work and focus, but not at the cost of your eyes.

Make sure you use a good lighting in your craft room. Again, shift your focus in a while to something else.  Close your eyes for few seconds at intervals.

Weight Gain:

Crocheting and knitting are sedentary activities. You put your favorite music on, take a good place on a couch with a delicious snack by you side; an ideal way to work? Well, no! Sitting for a long time and no exercise will surely help build more fat under your skin, thus, leading to weight gain. The more energetic you are, the more better. Also moving your limbs will surely help in letting those creative juices flow.

If you can’t bring yourself to exercise, try to walk briskly for 20 to 30 minutes daily. Keep yourself hydrated and avoid the junk and unhealthy food.

I hope that this article about Health Issues Caused by Knitting and Crocheting and How to Fix Them was good enough to spread the awareness. Keep yourselves strong and healthy and enjoy a lifetime of crocheting and knitting. 

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Share it with your creative community.

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Reference: Petals to Picots

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Beginners Guide To Crochet a Fingerless Gloves. DIY Tutorial.

Hi guys, i'm sharing a basic fingerless gloves tutorial for my reader community. It is a beginners guide as so many people are new to crocheting I decided to post a simple tutorial first before moving on to some tricky ones.  You can watch a step by step tutorial on my youtube channel, don't forget to subscribe for the weekly fun craft tutorials.

Below you can find the written pattern for this gloves.

Enjoy.

Materials: 

1. Medium Yarn

2. 2mm aluminium crochet hook

Steps:

1. chain 35.

2. Round 1: Double crochet on the chain below. (33 stitches) Join the ends.

3. Round 2: Double crochet on each stitch.

4. Round 3. Change yarn color. Double crochet on each stitch.(33 stitches)

5. Round 4 - 5: Double crochet on each stitch.

6. Round 6: Double crochet on 29 stitches. leave 4 stitches. Make a chain 5. Join with other end.

7. Round 7 - 9: Double crochet on each stitch (34 stitches).

8. Round 10: Double crochet on each stitch. Decrease one. (33 stitches).

9. Round 11: Double crochet on each stitch. Decrease one. (32 stitches).

10. Round 12: Double crochet on each stitch. Decrease one. (31 stitches).

11. Round 13 - 15: Double crochet on each stitch. (31 stitches)

12. Round 16: Single crochet on each stitch. Secure firmly.

Decorate it as you wish.

The pattern is unisex, just don't decorate and use more manly colors.

Note: The number of stitches depend upon the size of yarn used and the size of hand. Increase or decrease the stitches accordingly. 

Happy crocheting.

P.S. Pin this post. 

7 Ways To Boost Your Immune System During Winter!

We are a week into chillai Kalan (the harsh winter period) and the weather is terribly cold. We’re are all coughing and sniffing and add the regular power cuts to the winter woes. No one would like to fall sick and have common cold at any cost. To avoid the horribly stuffy nose we need to boost our Immune system. So, instead of staying away from sick friends, boot your immune system and brace up the odds. We cannot entirely avoid it, but hey, we can follow some super easy routines and find how best we can keep away from it.

1.       Avoid Stress.

Enjoy life. Relax, laugh and avoid negativity. Stress and depression can weaken your immune system and make you susceptible to infections. We can’t control the factors that bring in stress in our lives but can control how we react to them! Let go of the things that are bothering you and pay attention to the ones that bring you joy. Take everything positively. This is easier said than done but with great motivation we achieve do anything.

2.       Eat balanced Diet.

Take care of what you eat and how healthy it is. You need vitamins and minerals to support your immune system. Focus on eating whole foods such as animal proteins( not to mention that to a Kashmiri, our meals are incomplete without them) legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds as well as fresh fruits and salads.

Avoid processed foods and foods with artificial sweeteners. Such foods suppress immune system.

3.       Take antioxidants.

Apart from taking balanced diet, take sufficient amount of vitamin C. Find out foods rich in vitamin C and include them in daily routine. Do not just cram them in when you have hand not any since few months. That will surely give you a bout of cold. This one must be planned ahead but even if you have not planned it, you got to take them.

You can find these vitamins in foods like Broccoli, Almond Nuts, and any Citrus foods.

4.       Get enough sleep.

Get 7 to 8 hours of sleep a day. Make sure you do not waste your precious time on social media and watching Netflix, a good amount of sleep is highly recommended for healthy body and mind. Again it doesn’t mean you sleep at odd times. Rest your biological clock (natural cycle). It can get hard first but you will get this routine in few days. Listening to your body is important.

5.       Move those limbs!

A regular exercise routine keeps the sickness away. Workout will keep the flu away and help your Immune system to get strong. It relaxes the body and mind.

I do not mean you to do heavy cardio and overdo it, just simple and easy exercises, that will let you move your body enough to keep it healthy. If you can do even that, than take a brisk walk for 20 to 30 minutes everyday!

6.       Soak up some sunlight.

Winter is no reason to stay indoors (wearing Pheran and hugging Kangri) instead, go out and soak up some sunshine. Sunlight is a great source of Vitamin D, it not only helps your immune system but also helps your nails and hair grow.

Try to go out few times a week into the sun and get a vitamin D recharge.

7.       Drink plenty of clean water.

Winter or not, staying hydrated is one of the best things you can do for your health. It helps in production of lymph which carried white blood cells throughout our body. And hence, fights bacteria and infection causing germs.

You can add some lemon to it and boost it a bit more.

You can also take Lassi (made from curd and water). It keeps your body hydrated too.

How do you avoid the dreaded common cold? Let us know in the comments section below… 

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I will see you in the nest post.

Bye!

2018 - How To Make Time For Yourself.

Guys 2017 is finally coming to an end. As for me, it doesn't matter, the days are all same, we all are same. It just instead of 7 we are going to use 8 now. We continue to struggle, to survive. Its just that time of the year when most of us make new resolutions, become positive (suddenly) about all the things that are weighing us down.  We make goals and plans for the year. We do follow some of them for some time of-course. And normally majority of us fail. But there is something that should not only be a new-Year's resolution (meant for later to be forgotten about) but a resolution for all our days. Beginning today. Why wait for January 1 at all.

Folks I'm talking about "YOU" , "YOURSELF"!

We may make many goals and give up on them but this is not the thing to be given up about. "YOU" is magical and spectacular. Putting "YOU" on top priority will make your all days amazing. Coming days make more time for yourself. This goal, this resolution is needed by us, by all of us.

I do not mean that this should be your only goal. You make all the hell of the goals again, set your plans and mess them up again. But do not mess with this one. Make this a priority. We must not forget ourselves in the process of surviving 2018.

So how can you make more time for yourself?

1. Meditate.

Put everything aside. Switch off that phone. (Probably put it inside the wardrobe and lock it, LOL) Find a li'l calm place at your home. Bring in the things that sooth your heart and mind. Pray if it is the time to pray. Remember your Lord. Meditate, craft, paint, do whatever that will heal you. Just breath.

No one's watching, you don't have to be act. Be YOU for YOU. Enjoy your own company.

2. Treat yourself.

Are you purchasing gifts for your loved ones quiet often? Buy yourself one too. Go out, you don't always need friends. Shop, eat, spend on yourself. Go to that thrifty saloon (help yourself). Go for a manicure. Just love yourself.

3. Read a Book.

Reading has a calming effect on our brain. For a moment you are out of the reality. It is very relaxing. There is just something about a cup of a coffee and a good book (not to mention the sound of the rain (if it is raining)). By the end of it you should enjoy it.

4. Enjoy the nature.

Look at the things around you. Look at the Gods creation. I never tire looking at the endless and vast sky. The perfect blue. Listen to the birds. Wake up early and feel the freshness in air. See how flowers are smiling at you. Look at the shapes of clouds. The sound of the rain, the depth of the snow, all cherish the heart. And if you are a Kashmiri, There is only beauty!

5. Exercise.

Yes! Positively! You read it right, Exercise! It is a natural anti-depressant. A life full of stress, why not pic some 20 minutes to wash that stress off of yourself. You don't deserve to be stressful. If you can, hit  gym. Go for swimming. Walk a mile. There are plenty of ways you can help your body and mind to stay healthy.

There are many ways to make a time for yourself. You just have to put a lil "ME TIME" in your schedule on a top priority. In 2018, make the difference, feel the difference.
Mention your thoughts in the comments. I would love to listen to all of them

If you found this article helpful, share it.
Bye.

How To Make Your Own Yarn Pom-Pom

Hi Guys, Salaam.

It's Thursday evening and after a full day at work after that I had to scrap through through all the house work. Now am I sitting in my studio wondering what must I post today and share with you all.

So, today I am sharing a little pom pom tutorial with ya'all. While I was making these li'l Yarn fluffs I realized how much yarn does 1 ball take and how difficult it is. I have tried my best to show you how I did it and have broken the step wise tutorial for my readers.

In this project the size and the type of yarn matters. The perfect pom-pom depends upon how many rounds of yarn you will wind and of course the size of the ball.

Tools needed:

 You will require some yarn, scissor and a typically anything for measurement. I use my scissor handle. It worked fine.
You can use a fork for small balls.
or toilet paper rolls for larger balls.

This is what you have to do:

1. wrap the yarn over fork, scissor handle in my case or toilet paper rolls.

2. If your size of ball is small make lesser wraps and if it larger than more the number of times you wrap the more better your pom pom will be.

3. Pull out and tie with a strand of yarn in the middle. Tie it firmly.

4. Trim the two ends and open them up.

5. Using your fingers spread out all the strands of yarn.

6. Give it a shape with the help of scissor.

7. Ta-Da! That done.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and this comes handy in your craft projects, decorations, or any other projects. Feel free to show us your pictures of colorful pom-poms.

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How to Cook Ghande Maaz (Onions and Meat) - Kashmiri style.

Today I'll take you to my kitchen and show you how we ksahmiris cook our Ghande Maaz. Ghande in kashmiri means Onion and Maaz is the word for meat. It is a regular homestyle dish and is cooked often. It is mainly served with rice - the staple food of Kashmir. (We can eat rice four times a day and as for Mutton is is as important as oxygen!). LOL. However, you can relish it with roti, naan, pulao etc.

Ghande Maaz has a rich spicy broth in which meat peices are cooked and it is very easy to prepare. 

Ingredients:

• 1 kg mutton, preferred with bone
• 2 TBS cooking oil, (preferably mustard oil)
• 2 tsp salt
• 2  onions, sliced 
• 1/2  tomatoes/tamatar, diced 
• 2/3 garlic/lahsun 
• 1 TBS ginger/adrak paste
• 1 TBS coriander/dhania, ground
• 2 tsp Kashmiri mirch 
• 1 tsp turmeric/haldi
• Few cardamoms(though you can omit them)
• 1 inch piece cassia bark/dalchini (not mandatory)

This is how we cook it:

1. In a pressure cooker, heat oil, Put the finely washed mutton in it along with salt, ginger garlic, onion and tomatoes.

2. You can cook without tomatoes but that wont be as tangy and spicy.

3. Fry till the meat begins to brown and all the water is dried up. This may take about 10 to 20 minutes depending upon the freshness of meat.

4. Add the rest of the spices and mix well. Let it fry for 5 to 7 minutes.

5. Add 3 cups of water or at least enough water to cover the entire mixture.

6. Let it cook for a while until it starts to boil.

7. Seal the pressure cooker and continue to cook till 4 – 5 whistles or until the desired tenderness is achieved.

Serve hot. Must have delicacy from Kashmir. Try it and share the reviews with me. Enjoy.

Don’t forget to pin it and share with your friends. 

How To Get Stuff Done?

Hi guys!

I hope you enjoy reading my blog posts as much a s I love posting them. The topic that I chose for today is "HOW TO GET STUFF DONE?" Well, it is the most coldest time of the year so many of you like me, prefer to stay indoors with "Pheran" and "Kangri". Moreover the days too are very short which means very little time to get all the things done. I have found that most of the days I am not able to complete with all the tasks that I have to do and makes me wonder all the time if it is me who is getting lazy or is it the time, that is running short. Basically it is both and add the intense below zero temperature to it.

However, I have listed some good key points that might help me and you to get through this winter and the stuff that needs to be done.

Read along.

1. Motivation

Why? Obviously!

The first and foremost step to get anything done is the right motivation. Find it! And it is present everywhere; internet, blogs, books, magazines, friends, family, anywhere, everywhere. 

Let the power of this motivation drive you with full energy to get your stuff done.

2. List-it

I know right! There is a huge bunch of things that need to be sorted out and you don't know how and where to start. Well, Grab a notebook or a diary and make a list of all the tasks that you have to do. Make lists of all the things and of all sorts that are feasible to you. Start with the task that has the highest priority. Mark the ones that you have done. Make sub-lists of the tasks that are composed of many sub tasks. For example: If one of the larger tasks you want to conquer is cleaning your room, make another list of specific tasks. This would include vacuuming, re-organizing your makeup, and getting rid of junk.

3. Do it

To get anything done, you got to do it. Come out of your warm and cozy cocoon and grab the tools that are required to get the stuff done. How else are you going to do it, it you are not doing it? Does that make sense? 

Okay, start with the smallest tasks that require the least amount of your time. This will make your list a lot little and will make you feel accomplished. Your motivation will also surge. Use this motivation to tackle the bigger tasks that require greater efforts.

4. Finish it off!

Once you have finished everything on the TO-DO list, check them all and share with your friends and family. That is you moment of accomplishment! 

Take your time, enjoy and make more lists. 

Well, work is a never ending thing. 

Was this article helpful? Share with us your ways of how to get stuff done. what do you do to keep yourself motivated? How do you feel when you are done with your Stuff?

Bye friends!

P.S. Don't forget to pin and share.