Pandemic Life Skills
The idea of knitting being a “post-apocalyptic life skill” has been floating around the internet for a while. But what about pandemic life skills?
What Are Your Pandemic Life Skills?
Most of us were expecting a zombie apocalypse, so this pandemic thing put a wrinkle in your careful planning. We still have power and internet and sources for food. There are no marauding undead around every corner looking to eat my brains. So the skill sets we had been acquiring needed to change.
Here is the list I’ve come to find is important:
- Technology skills – to work from home, to socialize via Zoom
- Resourcefulness and Self-Reliance – like being able to sew face coverings
- Keeping occupied – sourdough starter/bread baking talents, crafting
- Tolerance for solitude and not socializing
- Physical maintenance skills – home exercise, haircutting, hygiene discipline
The first two, I am good with. The third, not so much. And fortunately I have Thaddeus for the fourth item.
I think I’ve mentioned it before. But my husband, Thaddeus, is a licensed barber. Technically, he’s a licensed beautician. But he studied to become and worked as a barber a number of years ago.
Here’s Thaddeus giving our friend Charles a trim at his enclosed courtyard where he lives.
All-in-all, I happened to have been pretty well-equipped to live in Pandemia. I miss the socializing and events where I met up with others a LOT. But I’ve been able to use Zoom as a means of socializing. Not as good, but not awful.
Did you find yourself well-suited for the demands of a pandemic?
Current Knitting
Working on two WsIP, I am making scant progress on either. The back section of the Shaker Rib Cardigan is now up to about 19 inches (on its way to 30).
One thing I’m really liking about version 2.0 of the Shaker Rib Cardigan is how neat and tidy the 1×1 ribbing looks. At least in comparison to the loose Shaker Rib.
It will be a nice sweater when all is said and done.
As for the Primordial Sworls Wrap, I’m making some progress, but not a ton.
I’ve completed about 9 inches (on its way to 20 inches). I’m really loving the loose drape of the fabric.
Especially with the little knots of color. It’s a little like lace in some ways. I blocked the initial section for a photo a few days ago, but not the latest 20 or so rows.
So you can see how much blocking evens out the stitches. This is going to be really nice when it’s finished.
Two such different projects – great idea to be doing them concurrently. Both looking very good.
Joe I am amazed at how fast you do your projects. It takes me months to do anything. I am doing a sweater now. But it might be finish in Dec. How do you do things so fast. I have tried that crosstalk Scarf. I have gotten about five inches. But doing things slowly.
i am impressed out you get your projects done so fast.
Thanks Walter. Sadly, I’m not a very fast knitter. Probably about average. But I do knit a lot. 4-8 hours a day. So I get a lot done.
As an introvert, I haven’t found the pandemic too difficult to deal with.
Both my husband and I had tech careers, so Zoom and such not a challenge.
I knit, I sew, I quilt, I garden, I read and always have. Never bored here at home.
Other than not being able to spend in person time with close friends and family, this time during the pandemic isn’t too different or difficult for me.