Hi Everyone!
As always, we ask that in order to participate in the weekly megathread, one self-identifies as some form of disabled, which is broadly defined in the community sidebar:
“Disability” is an umbrella term which encompasses physical disabilities, emotional/psychiatric disabilities, neurodivergence, intellectual/developmental disabilities, sensory disabilities, invisible disabilities, and more. You do not have to have an official diagnosis to consider yourself disabled.
Alright, with that out of the way, let’s talk about COVID-19, specifically the kind that messes with you for long time, possibly forever! <-- (so fun /s)
From the Wikipedia Page on Long COVID:
Long COVID or long-haul COVID is a group of health problems persisting or developing after an initial period of COVID-19 infection. Symptoms can last weeks, months or years and are often debilitating. The World Health Organization defines long COVID as starting three months after the initial COVID-19 infection, but other agencies define it as starting at four weeks after the initial infection.
Long COVID is characterized by a large number of symptoms that sometimes disappear and then reappear. Commonly reported symptoms of long COVID are fatigue, memory problems, shortness of breath, and sleep disorder. Several other symptoms, including headaches, mental health issues, initial loss of smell or taste, muscle weakness, fever, and cognitive dysfunction may also present. Symptoms often get worse after mental or physical effort, a process called post-exertional malaise. There is a large overlap in symptoms with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).
The causes of long COVID are not yet fully understood. Hypotheses include lasting damage to organs and blood vessels, problems with blood clotting, neurological dysfunction, persistent virus or a reactivation of latent viruses and autoimmunity. Diagnosis of long COVID is based on (suspected or confirmed) COVID-19 infection or symptoms—and by excluding alternative diagnoses.
As of 2024, the prevalence of long COVID is estimated to be about 6-7% in adults, and about 1% in children. Prevalence is less after vaccination. Risk factors are higher age, female sex, having asthma, and a more severe initial COVID-19 infection. As of 2023, there are no validated effective treatments. Management of long COVID depends on symptoms. Rest is recommended for fatigue and pacing for post-exertional malaise. People with severe symptoms or those who were in intensive care may require care from a team of specialists. Most people with symptoms at 4 weeks recover by 12 weeks. Recovery is slower (or plateaus) for those still ill at 12 weeks. For a subset of people, for instance those meeting the criteria for ME/CFS, symptoms are expected to be lifelong.
Globally, over 400 million people have experienced long COVID.
Mask up, love one another, and stay alive for one more week.
oooh that’s sweet!! i’ve been wanting to try english paper piecing. i’ve always found quilting so cool, my grandmother used to make these gorgeous quilts but she never taught me how. i’ve been seeing tutorials here and there i’m interested in following, maybe something small like a coaster
having more than one thing going always adds a nice change of pace. those kinds of projects always take a long time but the payoff is so good and i bet your work is gonna be spectacular.
and yesss, another weaver!!! i do rigid heddle as well as tablet weaving and it’s honestly my favorite thing. i would do it forever if it wasn’t killer on my back. i get so excited to see other weavers cause i don’t know any in person so i’m
Omg please try it, I’d love to have someone to talk to about weaving and quilting
Tablet weaving is like magic to me, you can create si many intricate designs with so little tools.
What do you like to weave on your rigid heddle?
Right now I only use cotton so even if I don’t like the results I can use it as a rag but I mostly make towels anyway lol
@Whatsnots too: after reading this lovely sub thread I saw someone showing their weaving in another mega https://hexbear.net/comment/5670202 Thought youse might be interested.
oh hell yeah, thank you for sharing!
all weaving feels like magic tbh!!! cotton is really nice, it has a great texture and it’s strong so i usually stick to using it too!
right now i got a log cabin patterned tablerunner on the loom that i’m chipping away at. i also enjoy making scarves, and towels too from time to time.
other people sew bags and other things out of their woven fabrics and it’s so inspiring, i’d love to learn how but until then i’m really happy making my squares and rectangles lol.
i’m genuinely always down to chat about any crafting stuff, i may ask you for advice once i give quilting a go if that’s ok?