Winter knitting and what’s on the needles

This winter, I knit a pleasingly large number of accessories. Most were from stash yarn, meaning I spent basically no money and received hours of fun and some fab hats and scarves. What I knit (click through to the Rav project page for more, you can follow along at shibz):

Indie Pattern Companies or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Big 4, Part II

Welcome back. In Part I, I discussed drafting errors, grafts and crotches in indie patterns. In Part II, I finally utilise my psyc degree for completely useless purposes and share sordid stories of brand loyalty. For those with visual difficulties, there is a GIF at the end of the post.

Indie pattern company lovers: I get the hype, I really do. Being a member of several online communities that have an inclination to cult-like behaviour, I have seen and participated in many trends which were little more than clever marketing campaigns. I have seen knitting lovers fight for the right to purchase $100+ skeins of yarn. On buy swap sell groups, brand lovers will line up to purchase a stained $200 dress, or bid each other upwards of $1000 for a jacket that cost $300 retail. I’ve even sold crotch-stained tights to a diehard Gorman lover.* I’VE SEEN SOME SHIT GUYS.**

Gorman puffer jacket. Height of fashion, or some shit a farmer would wear in the rain?

Indie Pattern Companies or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Big 4, Part I

Warning: this is a long post, as I coalesce thoughts that I’ve had for a long time into words. I’m sharing this in two parts, as it ended up much longer than I expected. Bear with me – or not! 

My feels writing this post.

Indie sewing patterns: you either love them or you….love them. In the online sewing community, there seems to be little choice: the narrative is one of the Nasty Big 4 Corporations (McCall’s, Simplicity, Vogue and Butterick, alternately known as McVoguerick) wielding their industrial might to crush the little guy, indie pattern companies. They are the hero of this story, the hard-working small business owners come good. For a long while now, I’ve suspected that the success of indie pattern companies is built more on hype than good drafting, and the release of Colette Pattern’s Rue dress has brought these thoughts to a head.

It must be love

You guys – I’ve finally found my perfect match. Every sewist knows the struggle with patterns that aren’t quite drafted for their body type – the restrictive arms, the too-wide neckline, and the dress that looks cute on the envelope, but looks more like a muu-muu on your body. Enter European sewing magazines: well-drafted, stylish, and the perfect fit for my body.

And they have a dirndl issue every year. What’s not to love?

Disability and gaslighting: when being disabled makes you crazy

Warning: contains experiences of gaslighting and abuse. There is a GIF near the end.

Recently, I had an altercation with a family member on Facebook. They published a meme which is all too common on social media: the inspirational disabled person. The image was of a Paralympic horse rider, with the caption, “no excuses.”

You get a knitting book! YOU get a knitting book!

Just a note that I’ve updated my Resources page to include some vintage pattern books that I scanned in.

You can find them on my Flickr or by clicking the images below.

Sew Sweet

As someone who suffers from a disease which dictates aversion to movement, sound and people, you would think that being around children would be intolerable. And generally, you’d be right. But my friend Beth’s munchkins are the exception. I adore them. I love being around them, even when they are running through the house, squealing with excitement. I think their reading and writing skills makes them mini-geniuses. My walls are covered with their artwork, and I love nothing more than having them snuggle up on my lap, even when they are emitting endless streams of wet farts.

Inspiration porn, cripple punk and why I refuse to be grateful for my chronic illness

Disabled enamel pin. You can purchase from NormalLand on Etsy. Isn’t it perfect?

Today I’m sharing with you another piece I had published on The Mighty. Firstly, if you are a spoonie, or know someone who is, check that website out! It has contributions from people with all different abilities and illnesses speaking from the heart about their experiences. You’ll get lost in a rabbit warren of amazing stories, believe me.

After this piece was published, I received many comments complimenting me on my ability to make the best out of my illness. I’m not sure that was my intent when writing. Sometimes you have to laugh at the ridiculous situations your illness places you in (strolling naked along a hospital corridor after being showered by nurses? Anyone?), and I have grown as a person since becoming sick. However, this doesn’t mean I have to be grateful for my illness, or enjoy it.

A Tale of Three Hemlocks

For much of my sewing life, I was obsessed with dresses – making them, wearing them, stalking beautiful ones online. Now my health has come to the point where it is hard to maintain a prolonged project, or wear anything more fancy than ponte pants and a long shirt.* Enter Grainline’s Hemlock Tee, a free pattern download from the creative minds at Grainline Studio.

I’m sure this pattern has been done to death already, but I love my three makes and wear them all the time. It is quite rare that I remake any pattern, preferring the challenge and novelty of the new, so it is a testament to the Grainline Tee that so many versions are nested in my wardrobe.