I (Tanya) am pretty excited about this crafty idea – sew your experience of the Covid 19 lockdown and send it in to be made into a huge UK wide artwork.
All the instructions are in the download or you can find them online here – but it’s very easy to share your experience of being socially isolated during this time through embroidery.
We’re all needing a bit of kindness at the moment, but life is a bit weird – you can’t meet someone for a cuppa and a chat, or give them a wee hug. So, we’re having to be a bit more creative in the ways we show our gratitude or kindness – from people clapping on a Thursday, to Zoom calling our families, to putting rainbows or teddies in our windows for people to see as they walk past.
Here are a few of our favourite crafty ways to show someone you are thinking of them:
A little kindness monster
This free downloadable knitting pattern is very simple to make and uses up any oddments of wool you have around the house. Imagine giving this to a child, sending this to a friend or even just sending a photo of it to someone far away.
Little kindness monster pattern by Rachel Borello Carroll
Craft a rainbow
Many of us have pictures of rainbows in our windows. If you want to take it a step further, then you could crochet or knit a rainbow. Here are 2 lovely patterns:
The Rowena the rainbow crochet pattern by The Clumsy Unicorn is a simple pattern suitable for beginners
Rowena the rainbow by The Clumsy Unicorn
Positive Slogans
You can sew a special message onto a piece of clothing or make it into a picture or a cushion. There are some lovely downloadable patterns online like You got this by DMC
You got this by DMC
Alternatively, you could just make up your own. I’ve used a favourite quote, which I embroidered and am quilting to make a wall hanging.
Tanya with an embroidered and quilted work in progress
Pictures
If you can draw or paint, then you could make something really beautiful to make someone smile
Bake a cake
Bake a cake, or a loaf of bread, or a pizza, or scones, or make jam, or tablet, or ……. the list is endless. Most of us love to receive delicious food. If someone you care about is within walking distance, you could pop a little gift on their doorstep during your daily exercise. Or share something tasty with one (or all) of your neighbours
There are lots of recipe ideas in the BBC Good Food magazine which we have available to borrow for free online.
There’s some amazing wing mural street art around the world. How about trying it out at home to create some fun, colourful, family photos?
The idea is simple: Create wing shapes on a wall or a floor and pose in front of them. Stand on a stool and get your camera angle right to make it look like you’re flying!
If you’re feeling very artistic, you could try drawing free hand, but you could also use cardboard, or create a collage effect with scrap paper, newspaper, leaves, or whatever you can get your hands on. You could even just chalk on the wall or pavement.
Your wings could take an form – fairy, bird, aeroplane, dragon. The only limit is your imagination!
This You Tube video has some ideas to help you get started.
