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And here's a picture of one of my projects...it's a shawl crocheted from a doily pattern. (use worsted weight or bigger yarn and a big crochet hook and doilies can be shawls and afghans.

Erin, that's gorgeous! Almost looks like tatted lace. You do beautiful work!

It doesn't bother me much when I crochet, because I don't have to bend my fingers so much. It's not really painful except at moments--such as when I'm practicing music or really using my hands. Otherwise, it's just the nuisance of them being stiff! It's not just morning stiffness--it stays with me all the time!

When my fingers do hurt, sometimes the pain resembles someone beating on your hands with a hammer!

It started just a few weeks ago, but in the last six months, my central nervous system problems have really worsened, so I'm not surprised--you kinda wonder every morning what you're going to wake up with--or without--don't you?

The past few weeks, I've noticed the Uhthoff's phenomenon is my eyes is getting extremely annoying. My right eye vision right now feels seriously bizzare. I can see fine, no blind spots, but if feels like not all the visual information is making it to my brain. It's only really really annoying if I'm trying to read.

It's not so annoying when I crochet because I've been teaching myself to crochet by feel ever since I first had optic neuritis. (actually longer than that, I've just never practiced it that much before)

If you want to make one of those shawls like the one I did (pineapple stitch is sooooo easy! It only looks difficult!) you can find the pattern at this link

http://www.angelfire.com/folk/celtwich/PineFan.html

The one I did in the picture is a worsted weight yarn (Red Heart Super Saver...cheap acrylic yarn) I used a Susan Bates hook, size K. It's such an easy pattern. I'd never be able to do it in thread (those teeny little hooks and skinny thread dont like me)

I want to do another one of those soon. I've made nearly 20 of them. I just want to use a fancier and thicker yarn than Red Heart. I may have to make a run for the really nice yarn store this week.