Dispatches to friends

A crafting advent calendar

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It started accidentally.

I didn't mean to craft everyday but I meant to regain a rhythm I had lost somewhere in November. My life was speeding ahead of me and I flirted with post exertional malaise a little too much (met it full on in early December). I had to stop, reel everything back, stay home, sit on the sofa, be still, and rest. So I picked up my crochet hooks, my yarn, my embroidery needles, and whatever other craft I had lying about.

I stashed projects in my every day bag and picked something up during a lunch break, a train commute, a long week-end away. I didn't have to think about it, craft simply landed in my hand every day (almost) because I wanted to. I was drawn to the wool and cotton, to learning new skills, to delighting in newfound creativity, to let myself be still and at rest whilst my hands slowly worked.

And here we are, almost 25 days of crafting and learning. Some days have been skipped because long covid will do as long covid will do and I can only listen and let the pain and fatigue take over when they want to.

Day 01

A vertical colour photograph of an ongoing embroidery project in white threads over a blue background. The motif is a stylised wave. In the background is a blurred bicycle.

Day 02

A vertical colour photograph of a wooden frame loom with a work in progress in a light creamish thin thread.

Day 03

None. Too long of an office day.

Day 04

A vertical colour photograph of a blue crochet on a wooden handle. On the crochet is a lavender cotton yarn with the beginning of a granny square. The whole rests on a desk. Next to them, a laptop is visible but only part of the trackpad.

Day 05

A vertical colour photograph of an embroidery loop on a car. The embroidery is a stylised sunset printed on cotton to guide the stitching. The hoop rests by the passenger window. Outside, vegetation and some barriers are blurred from the speed of the car.

Day 06

A vertical colour photograph of a lavender granny square with a crochet hook still attached to it. By the crochet hook is a stitch marker in the shape of a sheep. The work rests on a cream, orange, and black woven purse. A other smaller woven purse in yellow, black, and cream is visible at the top left of the image. The image is set on a background of a blue and yellow checkered blanket.

Day 07

Embroidery and crochet. No images created.

Day 08

None. A long day of weaving mills visit and long hours in the car as light disappeared.

Day 09

A vertical colour photograph of a colourful small granny square on a grey sofa. A crochet hook is still attached to the square. Behind is the yarn used. It's a colour changing yarn. Behind that is a woven yellow, cream, and black small pouch with a sheep pin in it.

Day 10

A vertical colour photograph of a multicoloured granny square in progress on a small white train table. A purple crochet is attached to the square. The multicoloured yarn rests on a cream, orange, and black woven bag.

Day 11

A vertical colour photograph of a corner of a multi coloured granny square. One side has a stitch marker in the shape of a sheep. The other side has two stitches and a small piece of yarn left to work with. It's not big enough to complete the last couple of stitches. A metal crochet hook rests on the work.

Day 12

A vertical colour photograph of a pre-printed embroidery work. The design is a stylised sunset over the sea. Some of the needlework has been started. The hoop is on a strong beam of sun. The background fades into dark.

Day 13

A horizontal colour photograph of a crochet shower cloth in a blue and grey variated yarn. The cloth has a light blue handle. The cloth rests on the corner of a bath tub. Around are some dark tiles, a grey bathmat, a bit of my grey slippers, and a bit of a white bathroom unit.

Day 14

A vertical colour photograph of a crochet granny square on a wooden desk. The yarn used is variegated with paster oranges, greens, and creams.

Day 15

A vertical colour photograph of the corner of a light green crochet cloth. It's just the first rows of it. A crochet hook is attached to it. It has a wooden handle and a metallic red hook. The work is on a diamond patterned blue and white cloth. At the top of the image is the bottom of a laptop trackpad. At the bottom of the image is the blue and white cloth fringe (all white) and the little bit of my jumper (mostly in shadows).

Day 16

A vertical colour photograph of a wooden Russian style spindle with some dark brown wool spun on it. The spindle rests on a wooden base. Next to it and behind it are three pouches. Two are woven and mostly cream.and grey with colour accents, one is red fabric with a thread all over it. Supporting all this is a frame loom put upright against a white wall.

Day 17

A vertical colour photograph of an embroidery loop resting over two pouches and one red book. On the book is amber rabbit and a small pair of scissors. One of the pouch is a deep Bordeaux and made of fabric. The other one is smaller and woven with cream, grey, and yellow wool. The embroidery in the hoop is on a pre-printed fabric and represents a stylised sunset over waves. Some of the top of the waves have been embroidered with a dark blue thread.

Day 18

A horizontal colour photograph of a crochet granny square in a variegated blue yarn. Next to it is a metal crochet hook with a purple handle. They rest on a table covered with a polka dot brown woollen cloth. On the table is also a pint glass with some water and a pile of notebooks.

Day 19

A vertical colour photograph of a long crochet chain with a ball of multicoloured yarn next to it. A red metal crochet hook with a wooden handle is at the end of the chain. The yarn is on a cream cloth. The whole is on a bench.

Day 20

A horizontal colour photograph of a crochet scarf in progress. It appears red and blue. The crochet hook is at the end of the work. The scarf rests on a grey sofa with a bit of cream and turquoise pillows visible on the right hand side of the image.

Day 21

A vertical colour photograph of a crochet scarf in progress. It is in a brown and blue yarn. It is curled on a wollen blanket with grey, blue, and green colours. A crochet hook is attached to the scarf.

Day 22

A vertical colour photograph of part of a wooden frame loom resting on my lap. I am wearing dark burgundy corduroys. The weave on the frame in with a cream thin thread. The shuttle rests diagonally across the frame.

Day 23

A horizontal colour photograph of a crochet scarf in progress laid on a grey sofa. The scarf is laid down with the crochet over it. On the right hand side of the image, the scarf starts to bundle on itself. The ball of yarn used is behind the scarf. In the background, a green and brown throw rests against the back of the sofa.

Day 24

A vertical colour photograph of an embroidery hoop with a stylised sunset printed on the cloth. Embroidery is in progress. I am holding the hoop by a train window bathed in light.

Day 25

A horizontal colour photograph of an embroidery work on my laps. My legs are crossed legged and in blue jeans. The embroidery hoop is on the right with a stylised sunset printed over the cloth. On the left leg are a couple pouches. One is a deep burgundy with flowers and stitches visible on the top. The other is woven with cream, yellow, and black wool, and had a pin sheep on a corner. Small scissors handle poke out of it.

Will I carry on working on a craft every day? Maybe.

I did enjoy the soothing routine and the grounding practice of repetitive movements, but I will not make it a goal. If it happens, it happens. If not, that is fine. I'm likely partaking in another activity that brings me joy or resting as I must.

Thoughts? Leave a comment