X-Men: The Last Stand & Disability

For the most part, X-Men: The Last Stand was an entirely forgettable movie. (Too many plot devices, messy direction, and how many characters can you kill off in one film?)

Why tho

Ottobre 5/2016 #5 – vintage lines ribbed sweater

I’ve been inspired by the fabulous turtlenecks doing the rounds and decided to make one of my own. My Ottobre magazine stash provided the pattern (Ottobre 5/2016 #5 – vintage lines ribbed sweater) and the fabric was an old purchase from Joelle’s Fabric Warehouse on eBay.

Smile – The Dangers of Enforced Positivity

Warning: contains GIFs

It’s the bugbear of the chronically ill and disabled – that oft-repeated refrain, “why can’t you just think positive?” Not only is it disheartening to hear that your genuine challenges are the result of not thinking enough happy thoughts, this kind of enforced positivity can undermine the real, lived experiences of the disabled community, and be used as a tool to silence protest.

Don’t you think that if I could have imagined my way out of this illness, I FUCKING WOULD HAVE ALREADY?

They can’t all be winners – Burda 6798

I don’t often see a lot of sewing failures posted online. Perhaps we’re more inclined to share successes, or maybe others don’t create quite as many wadders as I do. I certainly make my share of sucky garments, and this post is about one of them: Burda 6798 boyfriend jeans.

These photos are only shared for services to sewing.

“Chronic fatigue” vs chronic fatigue syndrome

May 12 is International ME/CFS and FM Awareness Day, and throughout the month I am sharing posts which shed a bit more light on these misunderstood illnesses. For more, check out #May12BlogBomb, #MEAwarenessDay and #MillionsMissing on Twitter and Instagram.

 

One of the most common misconceptions about ME/CFS is the difference between the specific illness, chronic fatigue syndrome (myalgic encephalomyelitis) and other types of fatigue. This simple misunderstanding snowballs into real challenges for ME/CFS sufferers, who have to contend with people’s assumptions that they are not seriously unwell, but just tired.

#May12BlogBomb – Heartbroken

Artwork by Beth Parker

May 12 is International ME/CFS and FM Awareness Day, and today bloggers are joining together in a #May12BlogBomb to raise awareness of these illnesses. I should be writing about the what ME/CFS really is, the debilitating symptoms, the research. I should be valiantly trying to raise awareness for this condition that has ruined my life, and many others. But I am heartbroken and cannot.

Late to the party take two: Ginger Jeans

Closet Case Ginger Jeans – we’ve made them, we’ve blogged them, we’ve read the reviews. Now that I’ve finally caught up to the rest of the sewing world, I can reflect on what I like and don’t like so much about jeansmaking.

Solving problems I didn’t know I had #2: biased knitting

In the process of swatching for the Armande Cardigan, I learnt that my tension problems were due to rowing out, and could be solved by slightly modifying my knitting technique. When it came to knitting the cardigan itself, I came across another curiosity I’d never encountered before in all my years of knitting.

Solving problems I didn’t know I had #1: rowing out

One of my favourite things about craft is problem solving. There is always a new technique to try, and challenges to puzzle my way through.* Even though I’ve been knitting for 13 years, and feel confident in tackling most projects, there is always something new to learn. In the process of knitting the Armande Cardigan by Andi Satterlund (still on the needles), I’ve encountered a few challenges and learnt more about knitting along the way.

The Armande Cardigan, courtesy of Knitty.