Julie Barrett is a freelance writer and photographer based in Plano, TX.

Getting Crafty

Fresh when it gets here from Julie Barrett
Friday, October 3, 2025


Feeling better tonight. I might just be able to pop a Tylenol and be good with it.

I think I've found a craft that I can take with me to chemo. My problem: The crafts that I do require space. Or electricity. And/or heat. I don't think it would be a good idea to take my USB-powered soldering iron in. Or a laptop and prototype boards.

Most yarn crafts are out, because most of what I do requires lots of colors. Otherwise, I'd knit up another Fourth Doctor scarf.

I'll be confined to one chair, however comfy it may be, and (I think) a small side table. Not gonna carry in a large bag of yarn.

What to do?

I'm taking up hand embroidery again. It's been years since I've done any, to the point that I'm starting from the beginning. It's a craft I've been meaning to take up again. I'm re-learning the basic stitches, plus some more complex stuff. I plan to finish those lessons before Tuesday.

So, there's a hoop with fabric, a small box with needles and other notions, and a slightly larger box with dividers that will have bobbins full of embroidery thread in lots of colors. All that can easily go in a bag with my other stuff, and it won't take up a lot of room once I get going.

The alternative? Doomscrolling. Nope. Sure, I can - and will - bring ebooks and some music, the latter of which I can listen to as I sew away. But I'm pretty sure I'll have the itch to do something with my hands, and this should scratch it.

And here's another thing: I have some ideas for hand embroidery projects that I can light up! Wouldn't one make a great Sewing Circuits, Part 2?

This is called a Cunning Plan. And we all know what happens to cunning plans, right? ;-)

Filed under: Life   Crafts   Cancer Sucks      

 

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