From the start of my infection with Covid-19, I found knitting to be something that I could do that relaxed my anxiety, distracted me from pain, and gave me a sense of accomplishment.
Whether on flat bedrest, waiting at Dr’s offices, or on the couch with a high heart rate and breathlessness, knitting was like a type of meditation for me. It’s creative nature helped me express myself when I could not paint the way I’m used to, or to teach.
It reminds me of another distraction ritual that helped me through a hard time. In 2008, I became addicted to going to the movie theatre and watching Twilight (yes, that crazy teen movie) over and over again. I had gone to see it after it opened with my friend Heather, who died shortly after. The next month, my husband left me and suddenly I was a single mom of a 3-year old and a new business owner. What follows is a list of deaths in my family including my mother in law and two beloved grandmothers. I was a mess, but when I'd sit in the theatre I would calm down and my monkey brain would stop chattering. Most of the time I'd just fall asleep!
Knitting has been such a soothing way for me to disconnect from the pain and discomfort I've felt during my Long Hauler's experience and to feel productive in a time when even taking a shower felt like too much.
Between December 2021 and December 2022, here are the items I knitted (most were given to friends or family):
- 37 hats
- 8 sweaters
- 2 dog sweaters
- 4 scarves
- 5 pairs of mittens
- 1 pair of socks
- 5 stuffed toys
- 1 baby blanket
- 5 shawls
- 9 washcloths
- 2 hand towels
- 4 misc (bags, bowls...)
Total number of items: 82
Here is a video of some of my knitted items from 2022: