| How to Finger Knit Posted: 02 Oct 2016 05:00 PM PDT Finger knitting is a great, productive way to spend your free time when you need something fun to do. When you're finished, you'll have a beautiful rope of yarn that you can use for lots of different things, such as key ring ropes, hair decorations, a belt, or even bag handles. And it's so simple the whole family can join in! EditSetting Up the Weave - Hold the yarn between the thumb and index finger of your non-dominant hand, leaving a short length of extra yarn (the "tail) at the end. Keep your thumb pressed against the side of your index finger in order to keep the yarn in place. Turn your hand so that your palm faces you.
- Start the weave. With your palm facing you, take the "working end" of the yarn and weave it behind your index finger, over your middle finger, behind your ring finger, and over your pinky finger. During the weaving process, be sure to keep the tail tightly gripped between the side of your thumb and index finger.
- Loop around and continue weaving. Once you reach the end of your hand, loop the yarn around your pinky and continue the weave, this time in the alternate pattern. After it wraps around your pinky, the yarn will go over your ring finger, behind your middle finger, and over your index finger.
- Repeat this sequence. Wrap the yarn around your index finger and then repeat the original wrapping pattern: behind your index finger, over your middle finger, behind your ring finger, over and around your pinky finger, over your ring finger, behind your middle finger, over and around your index finger. Once finished, you should have two loops around each finger.
- Pull up the bottom loops. Starting with your index finger, take the bottom loop of yarn and pull it up, over (the top loop), and off of your finger. Once finished, the bottom loop should now be on the back of your index finger.
- Repeat with the next three fingers. Pull the bottom loop up, over, and off of your middle, ring, and pinky fingers. Once finished, you should have one loop on each finger.
- Reposition the yarn. Using your dominant (free) hand, press the yarn down so that the remaining loops are closer to the bottom of your fingers and do not risk falling off.
- Continue the weave. Grab the tail (which should be between your index and middle fingers) and wrap it over your middle finger, behind your ring finger, and over and around your pinky. Continue the other direction by wrapping it over your ring finger, behind your middle finger, and over and around your index finger. Once finished, you should once again have two loops on each finger.
- Repeat pulling up the bottom loops. As with before, start with the index finger and pull the bottom loop up, over (the top loop), and off your finger. Repeat this for the remaining three fingers until you end up with only one loop on each finger.
- Repeat repositioning of the yarn. Once again use your dominant (free) hand to slightly push the yarn down so that the remaining loops are closer to the bottom of your fingers, allowing additional room to continue the weave.
- Repeat these three actions (weaving, pulling up loops, repositioning) as long as desired. A nice, rope-like structure of yarn should form at the back of your hand, which will allow you to roughly gauge the length you've made. Don't be afraid to lightly tug on it to tighten it up as you go.
EditFinishing Off - Stop weaving. Once your rope is as long as you want it, stop with one loop on each finger, just after you've pulled over the bottom loops. Do not continue to weave.
- Finish your index finger. Take the remaining loop from your index finger and flip it up and over, onto your middle finger. Now, pull the bottom loop up from your middle finger and over to the back of your hand.
- Finish your middle finger. Take the remaining loop from your middle finger and flip it up and over, onto your ring finger. Again, pull the bottom loop up from your ring finger and over to the back of your hand.
- Finish your pinky. Take the remaining loop from your ring finger and flip it up and over, onto your pinky. Again, pull the bottom loop up from your pinky and over to the back of your hand. Once finished, you should have on loop on your pinky.
- Slip the loop off your pinky. Be careful to not let the loop close once it is off your finger.
- Cut the working end of the yarn a few inches away from the loop. Be sure to leave a few inches of extra yarn at the end.
- Pull this working end (now a new tail) through the loop. Tug it a few times to tighten the loop upon the new tail.
- Tighten the other end. Return to the original tail and also give it a tug to tighten off the other end. If desired, you can even tie a knot to finish off this end.
- Finished. If you want your yarn to make a circle (for a bracelet, headband, etc.), tie the two ends in a tight, square knot. If not, you're all done.
- It is much better to do this all in one sitting, or you might lose the rhythm and forget where you were. If you do take a break, slide a pencil through the loops where your fingers are to save your place.
- Try to wrap the yarn loosely around your fingers so it is easy to pull over.
- If you want to make a thinner, faster strand, simply do the above method using three fingers, two, or even just one finger. This article goes into more detail.
- Get creative! You can use your finger knitting to make just about anything.
- You can tighten the rope every few stitches by pulling on the end of the rope.
- Thick and soft yarn works best. Thin yarn creates big holes in the finished product because the "needles" you're working with - your fingers - are comparatively large.
- When you reach step 4 of the Knitting section, you don't have to weave the yarn over and under your fingers again. Just pull the yarn across your palm so it's hanging beside your pinky. Now, pull the loops over like you normally would. This method saves a bit of time and might make the knitting less confusing.
- If you pull on the yarn too tightly when it is on your fingers, it can cut off circulation. Remember to keep it loose.
- If you see loose loops in your rope, don't cut them. If the loop is close to your knuckles, just pull out the stitches back to the problem and redo that part.
- If you suffer from repetitive stress injury, remember to take frequent breaks.
EditThings You'll Need EditRelated wikiHows EditSources and Citations
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| How to Prevent Hamstring Injuries Posted: 02 Oct 2016 09:00 AM PDT People who sit for long periods of time during work or at home are likely to have tighter hamstrings, because the muscle is in a static, shortened position. Runners, soccer players and other athletes also injure their hamstrings regularly due to over training, dehydration, strength imbalances and inflexibility. Whether you are an athlete or you occasionally workout, tight hamstrings put you at risk for hamstring injury and back pain. Create a consistent hamstring stretching routine and adjust your workout to reduce the risk of hamstring pulls. EditIncreasingly Flexibility With Stretching - Learn some hamstring stretches. The two primary ways to prevent hamstring injury are by increasingly flexibility with stretching, and achieving a good balance across your muscle groups through training.[1] There are a number of effective hamstring stretches you can practice, including static and dynamic stretches.
- Perform static hamstring stretches. Static hamstring stretches can be effective in releasing tension and increasing flexibility. They are the easiest of the stretches to perform and are relatively more safe and less lightly to cause injury than dynamic stretches.[2] There are a number of basic static stretches to learn.
- To do a standing hamstring stretch simply stand facing a chair and lift one leg so the foot is on the chair seat. Then, with your chest and back straight, bend forward at the hips until you feel the stretch in your hamstring.
- For a seated hamstring stretch sit so the knee of your right leg is bent and the bottom of your right foot is pressed against the inside of the left thigh. Stretch out your left leg ahead of you flat on the ground, and slowly lean down toward your left foot.[3]
- Remember to switch legs after each stretch and repeat on the opposite side.
- Perform dynamic hamstring stretches. Dynamic stretching is slightly move intensive than static stretching, as you are adding some movement to the stretches. You should generally do your dynamic stretches after completing some static stretches.[4] Simple dynamic stretches include:
- A straight leg toe touch. To do this stand straight up, hold your arms out in front of you and swing one leg up towards your hands, and then back behind you. Do ten or fifteen swings on each side.[5]
- A one-leg bird stretch. Start with an upright posture, and then lift one leg straight behind you as you bend forward at the hips and try to touch your toes. Hold this position for a few seconds and then release it.[6]
- You should stop if you feel pain performing these stretches.
- Try yoga or pilates. One way to incorporate regular stretching routines into your week is by trying out some yoga or pilates. Look for a class near you and give it a try. Doing either of these activities will help you to increase strength and flexibility across all your muscle groups.[7]
- Stretch your hamstrings for the sake of your back. Carrying out hamstring stretches will not only improve the flexibility of your hamstrings, but it can lower the chances of back injury and pain. The hamstring muscle connects to your lower back and extreme inflexibility can cause back pain.[8]
- Even if you are not an athlete and do not feel as though you will injure your hamstring, failure to stretch this muscle can lead to chronic back pain and injury.
- Hamstring stretches can relieve lower back pain.[9]
EditAchieving Balance Across Your Muscles - Understand the importance of muscle balance. As well as increasingly flexibility, it's important to have a good balance of strength across your different muscle groups. This means not working really hard on your hamstring but ignoring the other muscles around them. These kinds of imbalance are a common cause hamstring trouble.[10]
- Stretch your quadriceps. The quadriceps are the muscles on the front of your thigh, and they oppose the hamstring on the back of the thigh. An imbalance between these two muscles is cited as one of the most common causes of hamstring injuries.[11] When you stretch your hamstrings, don't neglect your quads.
- Place your right hand against a wall. Take the left hand and grab the left foot while bending your knee. Align your knees and tilt your pelvis forward as you pull up your left foot behind you.
- Hold for 30 seconds. Repeat twice on each side.
- Perform equal hamstring and quad strength training exercises. Leg curls are a common way to build up quad strength, but it's important to balance this with your hamstrings. Do the same number of sets and repetitions for a quad leg curl (sitting up and pushing your leg up into a straightened position) as a hamstring leg curl (sitting and pulling your leg down into a bent position).
- If you are doing squats, taking them more slowly and minimizing the amount you lean forward will help you keep a good balance between quads and hamstrings.[12]
- Consider consulting a trainer or physical therapist. If you have a pronounced strength imbalance, or want more personally tailored workout plans, it can be a good idea to ask for some guidance from a professional.[13] This is especially relevant if you are doing weighted exercises where there is greater risk of injury.
- If you are strength training be sure to give your muscles a chance to rest and repair between workouts.
EditWarming Up and Cooling Down - Warm up before starting any athletic activity. Before any serious athletic activity you should always perform a warm up. The warm up should get the blood flowing through your body and increase your heart rate. It needs to be active and dynamic.[14]
- Jumping jacks and jogging can be good warm up exercises.
- If you are exercising in cold weather you should allow extra time for your warm up.[15]
- Stretch after the warm up. You should devote several minutes to stretching before you run, play sports, swim or workout on machines, in order to decrease your risk of hamstring injury. This is especially important if you have had hamstring injuries in the past. After your initial warm up exercises, run through a few static and dynamic hamstring stretches.
- Warm and stretched muscles are less likely to tear during exercise.[16]
- A good warm up stretch involves lying on your back with your knees bent. Cup your hands behind one knee and bring it down towards you chest.
- Hold it for around fifteen seconds keeping your head, back and butt on the ground.
- Release and switch sides.
- Cool down and stretch. After exercises repeat you should perform a cool down and stretch. Do some light aerobic exercise, such as jogging on spot and then stretch your hamstrings. Do not wait for the muscles to cramp up before repeating the stretches you did before your workout. After exercise your muscles are pliable and this can reduce injury and cramping.
- A good cool down stretch just involves sitting down with your back straight and your legs out in front of you.
- Reach down towards your toes with both hands, hold for ten seconds, release and repeat.
- You might it easier to do this while sitting on a yoga block or a cushion.
EditKeeping Healthy - Reduce your weight if you are overweight or obese. People who are overweight have increased stress on their leg muscles and joints, which leads to a higher risk of injury during exercise and everyday movement. Consult with your doctor about a safe combination of diet and exercise to bring your weight level down.[17]
- Stay hydrated. Dehydration can lead to muscles cramping, which increases the chances of muscle injury.[18] Drink plenty of water, with the standard eight glasses a day as your target. This is an important part of staying generally healthy, but it is especially important to stay hydrated when exercising to avoid cramping up.[19]
- Drink 15 to 20 oz. (0.4 to 0.6l) of water 2 hours before you exercise.
- Drink 8 to 10 oz. (0.2 to 0.3l) of water 10 minutes before you begin exercising.
- Drink 8 oz. (0.2l) of water for every 15 minutes you exercise.
- Increase your intake during intense exercise or hot weather. Drink at least 16 oz. (0.5l) of water after a workout.[20]
- Have a healthy balanced diet. As well as staying hydrated, you need to keep your muscles fed with all the nutrients and minerals they need to be healthy. Having a well-balanced diet will help you to do this.
- Some doctors recommend antioxidant supplements to help prevent muscle strains.[21]
- Be sure to eat enough carbohydrates, if muscles don't have enough fuel they can cramp up.[22]
- Have an active life. Doing regular exercise will help keep your body in good shape, and increase the strength and flexibility of your muscles. Simply walking around the office, home or outdoors can make your hamstrings more flexible than if you are stationary for too long.
- Regular short walking breaks of 5 minutes every hour can have real health benefits.[23]
EditThings You'll Need - Water
- Warm up exercise
- Weight loss
- Short sitting periods
- Hamstring stretches
- Equal hamstring/quad strength training
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Quit a Job Posted: 02 Oct 2016 01:00 AM PDT Quitting your job can be a freeing experience and a way to start a path to a better career. But leaving a job isn't as simple as packing up your belongings, screaming at your boss, and storming out of the building. Instead, you should leave your job with grace and respect in order to keep your options open and to leave on a good note. If you want to know how to quit your job in a way that minimizes damage and maintains a positive relationship with your company, just follow these steps. EditQuit the Traditional Way - Have a game plan for what to do after you quit. Once you've decided that you're absolutely sure you'll quit your job, you should make a bullet-proof game plan so you don't get left in the lurch after you quit your job. Ideally, you should quit your job only after you've found another job because it'll be harder to find another job as an unemployed candidate.
 - Don't assume that you can just "make it work" until you find another job. In today's economy, you might be unemployed longer than you imagined. Don't quit your job in the heat of the moment and just assume that you can figure it out after the fact.
- Line up another job before leaving. You should spend some time on the job market as you try to leave your current job. You shouldn't be dishonest about the fact that you currently have a job when you speak to potential employers.
- If you don't have another job lined up, make sure you have enough money to be unemployed. If you really can't stand your job, tap into a savings account so that you can leave earlier. This means that you will have to budget until you can find another job. When saving up, plan for an extended period of being unemployed just to be safe.
- When you do leave your job, make sure you're doing it for the right reasons. Don't just quit because you feel undervalued or underpaid before having a conversation with your employer about it first. If you don't try to solve the problems at your current job to the best of your ability, then you may face the same problems at your new job.[1]
- Give two weeks notice. This is the respectful thing to do. Remember that the company is relying on you and will have to fill a hole as soon as you leave. If the company has a policy for having to give notice earlier than two weeks, then respect that policy.
- And even if the company doesn't have a policy of giving more than two weeks company, if you're one of four employees at a company, use your judgment to determine how much time the company would need to fill your shoes.
- Don't give notice too early. Again, you'll have to use your judgment on this one. But if you know you'll be quitting your job because you'll be going abroad or moving across the country with your significant other in a few months, don't mention it until the time is right or you may create an uncomfortable work atmosphere.
- Notify your boss. Unless there are extraordinary circumstances that prevent you from talking to your boss face to face, or if you work remotely, you'll have to stay strong and deliver the news to your boss in person. Sending a letter or an email will make you look weak and like you're too afraid to have a serious conversation, or like you don't value your boss enough to take the time to have the talk in person. Here are some things to say when you talk to your boss:
 - Make sure your boss is the first person in the company to know about your resignation. Don't tell another coworker about it no matter how close you are, and don't do something irrational like post about your new job on Facebook or add the new job to your LinkedIn profile before you quit your current job.
- Keep the conversation concise and positive. If you scheduled a meeting, you should cut to the chase. Tell your boss that you're resigning from your position.
- Be polite about your reasons for leaving. Don't tell your boss that you feel undervalued and overworked, and that you hate the company culture.
- If you've found a new position, just say, "I've found something that better aligns with my objectives," or say that you've found a new job that helps you place more of an emphasis in one of your interests, such as teaching or mentoring. If you haven't found another job, just say, "I look forward to a new opportunity" or "this is the best thing for me and my family."
- Thank your boss. Tell your boss that you had a wonderful time working at the company and that it was a great learning experience. Be sincere about how much you appreciate your boss's efforts. You don't have to go overboard here. Be grateful without sucking up to your boss -- you are quitting, after all.
- Ask your boss if you can use him as a recommendation for future jobs. Having your boss as a reference can help you in your future career pursuits.
- Remember to stay professional. This is not a time to air all of the personal and unprofessional issues you had with your job. Keep in mind, your boss may be contacted in the future by another potential employer so you want to keep an open, honest line of communication.
- Be prepared to answer your boss's questions. In almost all cases, your boss won't just nod and agree with what you have to say and wish you luck in the future. Your boss will have some questions about your decision to leave, and he may even try to entice you to stay. If you are prepared for your boss's questions, you will look professional and thoughtful, and the conversation will go much more smoothly. Here are some things to be prepared for:[2]
 - Have a transition plan. Your boss will ask how you plan on wrapping up whatever you were working on, or if you were planning a way to shift some of your responsibility to other employees on a given project. Whatever your plan, show your boss that you were thoughtful about how to transition out of the job and not leave the company in the lurch.
- Know what you'll say if your boss gives you a counter-offer. What will you do if your boss suddenly offers to give you a raise of 10, or even 20% of your salary? What if he offers to double your salary? If he really wants to keep you there, will you be able to turn him down? When you're considering what you'll do in this situation, you should think about your reasons for leaving.
- If your main reason for leaving was that you felt you were unfairly compensated, then you should seriously consider the offer. But if you were determined to leave for a variety of reasons that had nothing to do with money, then don't be tempted by the offer or you'll continue to be unhappy.
- Know what you'll say if your boss asks you to stay longer. If he needs you to be there for an extra week or two to wrap up a project, what will you say?
- Draft a formal letter of resignation. This is something you can do after you talk to your boss to make your resignation more official. Before you do this, you should understand your company's culture. If you don't need to draft a letter of resignation, then don't waste your time on it, but if it's expected of you, you should follow suit.
 - The letter is an important part of quitting as this is putting your intentions to leave on paper. If you give your employer two-weeks notice and have evidential proof that you did, he or she can not require you to stay longer at the company than that.
- Address the company and date the letter. The date should be the day that you will be giving the letter to your boss. This is a formality that will help if there is any contention as to when the letter was written and received.
- Declare your intention to resign. Write,"This is my formal notification that I, (name), am resigning as (job position) at (company)." It's important to be clear and straight-forward in case of any issues.
- State the date when you will leave. Write,"I'm giving my two weeks notice as of (date)." If you're giving your company more notice, then state your time frame.
- Thank your company. Write, "I appreciate all of the opportunities that (company name) has given me and I wish the company success in the future." This is an important part of being cordial and leaving on a good note.
- Sign the letter. Use "sincerely" as a closing, followed by your name and your position.
- Remain professional after you have notified your boss. Potential employers often call past employers to get a better idea of what kind of employee you were. Leaving on a sour note can prevent you from getting a job that you want later on down the road. After you've given two weeks notice, you should dig in and finish whatever tasks were ahead of you instead of slacking off or daydreaming about the day when you can finally quit.[3]
- Do what is asked of you in that two week period. While it's easy to slack off or not want to find your replacement, a previous employer mentioning these actions can reflect poorly on you. So do your best to transition the company as well as you can. You don't want people to be frustrated because you left all of your work undone.
- Once your time at the company is up, leave in a polite and friendly way. Don't dramatically throw all of your belongings into a box and storm out. Instead, take the time to say goodbye to your boss and your coworkers, and tell them you'll stay in touch.
- After all, if you've put in a lot of years at your company, chances are that you've developed some great relationships. Do stay in touch if it feels right.
- You can send a group email to your coworkers, giving them your contact information, and even planning to hang out, if you're really close.
- Avoid saying anything negative about your former company or coworkers in the future. It can always get back to them and make you look bad. And if your new employers hear you complaining about your old job, you'll come off looking ungrateful and whiny.
EditGet "Fired" - Weigh the benefits of getting "fired" versus "quitting." Getting "fired" does not refer to driving your boss to the point where he or she wants to fire you. This refers to speaking to your boss about leaving under the official reason of getting "fired." By leaving under this term you are able to collect unemployment and any other benefits you might have lost by quitting, such as stock options, until you find another job. Unemployment is only offered to people who lose their jobs through no fault of their own.
- This only works in certain circumstances. For example, if you are working for a company and the responsibilities are too much for you to handle, speaking to your boss frankly can lead to the company agreeing to let you go on good terms.
- If you'd like to choose this method, you should have a good reason for wanting to "get fired." This means that you were valuable to the company but want to take time off to try a new project, or to spend time with your family.
- This method only works if you're not transitioning into a new job. If you're switching to a new job, then you'll be able to get the benefits and compensation of that job.
- To make this work, you have to have a strong relationship with your boss. Your boss should know you pretty well and should understand where you're coming from and how much value you bring to the company.
- Speak to your boss about the current situation. This is a difficult thing to do but this could work out better for both of you. After telling your boss that you want to leave, you should have an honest conversation about wanting to be "fired." Here's what you should do:
- Explain why you want to leave. Be honest. It may be because you have too many current responsibilities at your position, that you need to take a mental health break, or that you want to pursue your own projects.
- Try to sway your boss to let you go rather than having you quit. While you can't "ask" to be fired, it should naturally come up in a conversation. If you are close to your boss, he might offer to let you go with the understanding that it can improve your post-job situation.
- Realize that this means you have less control of your "leave-date. If you are trying to get fired, then you have no control over what your last date is. It could be immediate, or it could be much later.
- File for unemployment. Once you've made the agreement with your boss, you can file your application for unemployment to meet the requirements of your state.
- You'll receive unemployment checks until you can find another job.
EditSample Resignation Letters - Make sure to have a game plan for what to do after you leave. If you have another job lined up, then get into gear to start your new job. If not, then you should have enough money to stay comfortable after you leave, since you won't be collecting unemployment.
- Don't tell anyone you're going to quit before you tell your boss. If your boss finds out, this could lead to a very uncomfortable situation.
- On your last day with the company, it is always a good idea to arrive with a good attitude and a thank-you card for your supervisor. It makes you look like a good person and employee. Final impressions are almost as important as first ones.
- Make your resignation letter as concise as possible. Be tactful -- avoid name-calling and finger-pointing.
EditRelated wikiHows EditSources and Citations
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