Wringed Wristlets

I've been working on my first new design - some little fingerless mittens requested by my mum. I've PDFd the pattern and you can download and knit it as much as you like from my Dropbox.

I've used a new yarn for this pattern, Rowan Lima, which is a springy chained baby alpaca, merino and nylon blend yarn with heathery colours and a nice feel.

Book

I've been reading a fair bit lately...more than I've had chance to in a while. I've just demolished "It's A Jungle Out There" by Amanda Marcotte and was really impressed...I actually found myself rationing it, as it's not an especially long book, but has a lot of different ideas and topics in it, and the chapters are generally quite short. I found myself reading a couple here and there rather than reading through it in one sitting.

It's essentially a kind of guide to the world of feminism, and does a pretty thorough job of introducing you to feminist ways of thinking, plus the kind of opposition women can face in daily life. I found that it made me think a lot about situations I've found myself in or heard of other people in in a new light - you start to spot sexism and poor attitudes to women more easily. There's also some handy lists at the end of the book for where to go next; films, TV and music with good feminist credentials, and online resources for more information.

Amanda Marcotte writes with a great deal of humour and insight into both the issues of women, and the issues of those who oppose equality. She discusses topics such as abortion, contraception, sexual objectification, modesty and 'women's work' (both in the home and the world of money). The only criticism I have is that I thought she had a tendency toward fatalism in some situations when advising ways of tackling anti-feminist individuals; presenting good arguments for countering problems while saying, "good luck with that" - while it's true that many people don't listen to arguments they don't already agree with, it's probably not the best idea to plant in the head of someone newly interested in, and excited about, feminism - and I think that this is who this book is likely to appeal to.

Overall, I thought it was excellent, and is certainly a book I can imagine myself using as a reference in the future, and as a good book to dip in and out of.

The clap trap...

I'm done with all the increases and have started dropping stitches :D I'm on the third straight repeat now, but I seem to have stalled a bit...which I really can't afford to do. I think it's that it's becoming a little unwieldy to carry around in my knitting pouch now. It's poking out the top a bit and I'm worried it's going to get snagged in my bag. I'm also nearing the end of the ball of yarn, and faced with the prospect of winding another 300m skein, I'm...slowing...down...

It /is/ lovely...and it will be huge. I did 8 increase repeats, plus the half the pattern calls for. I think it should comfortably go from neck to below the hips when it's finished...each stitch drop makes it even wider too.

Clapotis

My Clapotis is coming on wonderfully well (I'm sure you're not supposed to say that this early on...), and I'm up to the seventh increase repeat, which would usually be the last. This is for my mum though, and it's to replace what's commonly known in the family as her 'horse blanket', so it's going to be a definite shawl size. I'm going to do a couple extra increase repeats and see how wide that ends up...I'm thinking nine ought to do it.

The yarn (Manos del Uruguay Silk, colour 7032) is wonderfully soft and warm - probably the best yarn I've ever knit really, and it's a joy to slip through your fingers. It's a bit pricey at £11.25 a skein, but it's fairly good in terms of yardage - you get 300 metres per 100g skein, which is better than most yarns of a similar weight. I've got 2 skeins, but will buy more if I need to.

I'll see if I can get some decent pictures taken tomorrow - my mobile is coming out all dark for some reason.

The pope is evil. Discuss.

So the pope visits the US for the first time. On his way out, he mumbles a few words of shame and regret over the scandal of unauthorised Fatherly Fiddling by his own clergy (about bloody time), and oh yes, reinforces his firm and unyielding views on abortion, contraception and gay marriage. Again.

The pope is under the misapprehension that the teachings of the church in this regard keep his flock on his straight and narrow road, ready to be beamed up to heaven when they die. The silly thing is that it doesn't at all - modern, western catholics, by and large, have the kind of (straight) sex they want to, when they want to, let their families grow according to how many children they want to have and can afford, and even get divorced when things don't work out. No, the people who actually listen to the pope, and his evil wizards, are POOR people in NON-WESTERN and developing nations with fewer human rights laws and much worse access to education. These are the people who are having very large families, with women who die in childbirth or after illegal and barbarous abortion procedures, and men women and children who are infected with HIV/AIDS. And the pope MIGHT consider 'allowing' condom use between married partners to protect an HIV negative partner. MIGHT. Tell me in the mean time, are these people supposed to not have sex, not procreate? Or should they risk their own lives and those of their children with unprotected sex?

The pope would do well to consider the harm the policies of the church are causing, not least to move forward with his congregation; according to Pink News, 60% of Catholics don't agree with the church's stance on, at the very least, contraception and abortion.

Initialise

I guess first thing is an introduction...it feels a little awkward starting these things...you're really writing to no-one (at least at first), and saying "hi" to yourself is often a sign of straitjackets to come...

What this space will become is a little undefined. It may also be sporadic; I won't know until I start. I'm a knitter - hopefully you picked up on that already - and a queer woman, sometime wishful scientist and philosopher, with a propensity to rant and to want to throw things at the TV. I get irritated by stupidity. Ignorance is not a good enough excuse.

I read: magazines, web sites, blogs, books - these things, and associated thoughts will probably crop up here.

I do: volunteering, sexual health & HIV prevention evangelism, LGBT awareness. I'm a PA at a sexual health clinic, and I'm hoping to do a Masters in health promotion some year.

I am: atheist, lesbian, left-wing, liberal, rock fan, biker, knitter, reader, questioner, changer. If these things turn you off, you don't belong here.

I'm also rather friendly, approachable, accepting, generous, wine-loving, scrabble-playing and loyal.

Any questions?