Covid or no Covid

 I just don't know what to actually say about this flipping pandemic that's taking so many lives and affecting so many.  Even though I work at my local hospital, I do not see the real stress, anxieties and sheer determination through exhaustion that some of my colleagues go through.  I did not want to write about Covid on here but whilst thinking about seeing it on the news every day and the conversations I have with family, patients and colleagues, I feel that I should log it here.  I am not going to go on about it for long, I am sure a lot of us want to push it aside when we walk in the door at home or step out of work.  

The effect it has had on me has been very minimal compared to others.  At beginning of March my partner and I self isolated for 2 weeks because we thought that he had it, still don't know if he did but never mind.  His taste buds have not been the same for months, even now.  I have had to work from home for about 3 months with the odd day in the office printing off letters and doing admin tasks that you just can't do at home.  I have used public transport the whole time, still do and am strict with hand sanitiser and not touching handles etc on the bus.  We do a lot of our shopping on line but also used our local shops too which to be honest, caused less anxiety.  The only thing that was really upsetting was I was not allowed to see my grandchildren for 3 months.  That was hard, I tried ringing them every few days but not having a good relationship with their Mum, it was hard.  

We are seeing them regularly now which brings us great joy and even the last few times, my Grand-daughter wanted to do some crochet so we had a go at it together and it brought a bit smile to my face.

Today, is Monday 23.11.20 and I am just writing this with a little update of my crafts I have been doing.  To be honest I just want to start loads of things but there is just not enough hours in the day and I wanted to start some different crafts.  So far, I have cross stitch Christmas stocking on the go, a crochet blanket for  a Christmas present and am knitting garter stitch with scraps of sock yarn together with a fluffy grey yarn. I am kind of thinking it might be my idea of trying to make a cardigan for me (without a pattern).  Not saying no more about that in case I jinx it.  

Here are a few pictures of my finished projects...

This, I am ever so proud of.  It is all handspun from fibre by me using either Blue Faced Leicester, Coriedale, Gotland or Norweigan fibre.  Knitted in garter stitch like a log cabin but in blocks and then sewing together using hand spun. 

It has been a labour of love.  My grandkids helped to mix colours on a blending board and if you see if in real life it has a few dashes of shiny stellina.  I spun the fibre on my E-spinner 3 and it was a chore to have to keep getting the spinner out.  It would have been done quicker if I had the space in my house to have the E-spinner out all the time but alas, I don't.

It is very heavy, very warm and I will probably not make another one because of the work that goes into it.

However, it is certainly my unique blanket that is going to last longer than I will.

This next photo is of a Purse kit that I bought from Amazon a few weeks ago.  

The embroidery is finished and it was so quick to do.  My idea is to turn it into the purse the you can see in the photo but I have been waiting for some items to arrive in the post. 

The kit came with all the things you need, even the clasp, but I have just not had time to finish it yet.  

I hope I can get it done soon so that I can put it into a Christmas gift bag for my Mother in Law.  She will love it.

If I remember rightly, the kit only cost about £8 which was a bargain however, if you do decide to buy one, be warned.  The writing is mainly in Chinese but the diagrams are very clear.

This next photo is of scrap socks that I knitted using 2.5 mm needles.

My Grand-daughter wanted a green pair so I kind of guessed how many stitches to cast on and they turned out perfect.

I wanted them both to have a cozy pair of socks just like me and Pop, after we have had a wash and in our PJ's and all wearing our hand knit socks and settling down for the evening.

They wash up lovely, are not itchy and they both seem to like wearing them.

My Grandson wanted a blue pair and he loves them.

I decided to not show the crochet blanket because it is not completed, it is a gift for a family member and I don't want to jinx the process of it.  I am hoping that if I can get it done, I hope to be able to make it into a pattern.

Youtube is my tv watching.  In fact, I think I am addicted to craft podcasts.  Here is a list of a few of them that I watch regularly.

Fruityknitting, The Lefty Knitter, Ciaspod, Sandy by The Lakeside, Tales from Cuckoo Land, Dizzy Stitcher, Colorado Stitcher to name but a few...

So, that is my little update for you and I hope that I can get back again soon.  Keep safe and please, listen to what the government are saying,  Wear your mask, keep a safe distance and wash, wash, wash your hands.

Take care..