I spent the better part of yesterday crocheting. I didn't go anywhere. I didn't do anything else at all unusual.

By the end of the day, I was beginning to wonder whether I might be getting sick. My throat and tongue were aching. My nasal passages were swollen and irritated. Even my chest was starting to burn. And, I was getting itchy. My face, eyes, neck, chest, ears, arms–suddenly seemed more itchy every time I got up and moved around.

IT WAS THE YARN!

I know I'm allergic to wearing acrylic, so I wear nitrile gloves to crochet with it, and usually, I'm just fine. This particular batch of deeply-colored acrylic "craft" yarn is a bit stiffer, and the fibers are a little frizzy, breaking off and shedding a lot more than any I've used before. (Only been at this a few months)

When I finally snapped to what was happening, I looked up from the work and realized fibers were clinging to both sides of my lighted magnifier and visibly clinging on the front of my shirt.

By the end of the day, I had inadvertently managed to work fibers into every opening of my clothing, tossed around in the blankets on my lap, rubbed into my eyes. A bunch of it, I had clearly inhaled.

Luckily, all remedied by a shower, a nasal rinse, and some Benadryl.

I guess the rest of these penguin ornaments will be crocheted under mask and bib, and only when I can get to a shower.

Throw/give it away? Sure, that would be the smart thing, but it's almost gifting time.

My new gift tags: "Made With Love and Histamine"

Image: the Penguins in Progress