Even more testing times

Hello my friends,

Well, I'm so sorry that I didn't return with the promised Projects Post, but not long after I last wrote I fell ill again, and this time it seems it actually was Covid-19, according to our doctor.  My husband developed it too and both of us were quite poorly for a while, but fortunately able to treat the symptoms at home, although it meant 10 days in bed for me, and 7 days for my husband, which is unheard of! I am pleased to say we are now symptom free but still get tired out very easily and can't do much without lots of rest breaks!

I didn't feel well enough to knit or crochet much and certainly not to sew, but I am pleased to say I am back in my sewing room this week, making some progress on my bed quilt.  It's going to be quite heavily embroidered so I am keeping the fabrics fairly simple and light. The lemon and the printed fabric are Rose and Hubble (lemon poplin and lemon on cream poplin respectively) and the plain cream is Moda Bella 'Snow'.  I'll show you some blocks once I have a few completed.  It's going to be a big quilt  -  over 80 inches square - so this is a project for the long haul!

As I said, I haven't knitted or crocheted much but I made a couple of dishcloths.  This one is a favourite and is a free crochet pattern on Ravelry called 'Spread the Joy', by Catherine Richardson.  It's a lovely, simple pattern, and makes a good and textured 'scrubby' cloth.  I used some Patons DK Cotton I found in a charity shop.  Our kitchen is painted blue so it even matches!

Before all this happened I had almost finished a dress for my daughter, who was meant to be coming home for Easter, with her fiance, but sadly lockdown made that impossible.  However, I hemmed her dress on Saturday and sent her a couple of pictures instead of her Easter dress!  I am pleased to say she really liked it and commented it is the colour of a Cadbury's Mini Egg, which I hadn't noticed before, but she's absolutely right - it is!  Very apt for an Easter present dress.  It's made in a heavier weight polka dot cotton, which I lined with Liberty Cotton Lawn in a plain cream colour.  

I've also been making squares for my friendship blanket, which you may remember is squares of leftover 4 ply sock yarn donated by my lovely friends at Cooper's Creative Group.  It's coming along well and I love snuggling up in it as I stitch in another square.  Like a woolly hug from my dear friends, even though we can't physically meet up at this time.

If there's been one consolation during our enforced time at home it's that the weather has been glorious here and we have been able to sit outside in the garden in the sunshine most days.  My husband and son moved the stone bench up on to the patio so I can take my cup of tea outside without getting the cushions for the 'big furniture' out. Also, I am not overlooked by anyone, meaning I am OK for early cups of tea in my dressing gown!

It's just been announced we are in for at least another three weeks of lockdown, so with all this time at home I hope to have some blocks to show you soon!!

I sincerely hope wherever you are in the world you are coping OK and that those you love are safe.  Keep well, well safe and take care of one another.

With all good wishes, 

Donna x

EDIT:  Goodness knows what happened to my photos after I uploaded this post!  Hopefully I have managed to fix it now. x