Had I known at the time of writing these diaries that we would have to endure further lockdowns, I might have kept the stitching up, I did consider it at one point. As it is, I would have struggled because my health and mental wellbeing got worse.
Day 79: Cross Stitch, brown shaded perle thread.
Diary Entry: A manic morning awaited, thought we would have a manic sewing session but all went well. I helped Pyro -the name Kira wishes to be known as- do some filming. Then I ended up napping longer than I wanted.
The rest of the day I felt wiped. I watched a film, I then felt in the mood to sew. I chose cross stitch, mainly because it suited the area I needed. I have been having issues with my eyes, and bad headaches. There is no where to get my eyes tested.
Day 80: Detached Chain, white cotton perle.
Diary Entry: Due to bullying within the group, the person who set up the group has sacked all the admins and it’s just her now. Although none of the admins were a part of it. It’s just so she can monitor all incoming posts. That hurt, answering messages for over 450 people, the time and effort I put in feels like it’s all been for nothing. Then to make matters worse, the young man that died last week on the 3rd of June in a car crash. It turns out it was a college friend of kira’s. He was on the music course with her and in the same band. His mum is a local teacher. It must be so hard for the family right now. His mum taught Kira and was one of the few teachers that understood her and her Aspergers.
An emotionally draining day. Today’s stitch reflects that, detached chains to represent tears.
Day 81: Single Feather Stitch, hand dyed pink cotton
Diary Entry: Back to Monday cleaning day again then chat with ladies. Set up a second chat as I think someone is causing trouble in the bigger chat. These are meant to be adults why can no one get along. So only a few of us in this single chat now. Feel more relaxed. Kira had a better day still a few tears from the news of her friends passing. But that’s to be expected bless her. Panic stations this afternoon when one of the ladies needed help. We made a video chat call, all of us. That was great we were all there to help her. Got it sorted. She can relax now. Apart from the bullying towards her that needs to stop. Grown ladies don’t need to do this too her, they have taken it even further; they have now started to bitch about her in another sewing group.
I am now starting to see the nasty again. The kindness is wearing thin.
Today’s stitch is single feather stitch; this stitch holds no end of possibilities. I think I may explore it some more.
Day 82: Couching with plastic on plastic net.
Diary Entry: Laughed with ladies despite feeling very wiped. Tried most of the day to sew with plastic but never got very far. Early tea and then did some sewing for my stitch club project. I had a bath and ended up with a massive headache.
Day 83: Bullion knot yellow perle and white perle thread.
Diary Entry: Not had a good day with my head. Awoke at 5:38am headache still present, ended up taking more medication. Awoke again at 8:30am, and then at 9:30am and took more meds. Headache was still there. I started to make masks but my head just made it hard. Chat with ladies. Then tried again to sew but head just hurt. I gave up. I washed the shopping when daughter came home as it was Wednesday shopping day. Then I tried for a nap, but not successful. But headache had eased a little.
Watched the Sewing Bee and did my billion stitches. With a variation of colour to offset colours already there. I am considering moving the hoop tomorrow to open up the space.
Day 84: Work in plastic, satin stitch, couching, seed stitch, back stitch and running stitch.
Diary Entry: Headache still there. I chatted most of the day on computer once the house was cleaned, as it was Thursday. I had a much needed nap and then tea and showered. I watched television with Kira tonight. Stranger Things, it was nice. Then despite the late hour I finished my plastic work.
I am very happy with it. No thread, only plastic from carrier bags, some were harder to work with than others. The bin liner was the worse as it kept breaking. The best was the spar green bag.
Day 85: Masks and mask filters.
Diary Entry: Still not good, I still felt out of sorts. But after chatty ladies session I ended up sitting on the floor with my sewing machine. Because I was not able to lift the table out or sewing machine up, so I sat on the floor instead. I was making a few more masks. At night there was no sewing on my lockdown diary project and I watched some television instead it felt good just to shut off.
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