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This week is the week of figuring shit out, and highly irritating books.
See, first I figured out what I was doing wrong with Tunisian Crochet (which is a weird hybrid of crochet and knitting) - that would be not reading the diagrams correctly. D'OH.
And secondly, yesterday, I suddenly was able to purl when knitting. I have been fighting with that stitch (which is supposed to be EASY) for years. DECADES. I wish I was exaggerating, but there is obviously something wrong with my brain that made it a fight. But now I can do it! I made a scarf as a form of victory celebration. It was knit from super chunky yarn, so I finished it in around 5-6 hours and it's soft and warm and finally I can fucking knit. AWESOME.
(I always vowed I'd never learn to knit, precisely because I couldn't get to grips with purling, but. Um. Now I have no excuse. Although this is cool, because there are some knitted things I like the look of. Also I bought four knitting books the other day because I want to knit some things for my nephew).
Talking of knitting books, I think I've found the most condescending and patronising knitting book on the planet. It's about knitting things for men, which I got from the library because I wanted to have a look for inspiration (also I happen to prefer men's clothes, and most women's designs I've seen are horribly faffy/fluffy/too feminine for me). It does have one redeeming quality - in that I like the way the patterns are written. It's all set out in tables, depending on the size you need, and it looks neat. I like stuff like that (though you wouldn't think so from the state of my house and other things I own/produce).
Anyway, the book's written by a woman, who makes all these presumptions about men, and what they want, and I find it incredibly sexist, to be honest. I dare say that, for the most part, she's more than likely right. I don't know. I don't make stuff for men. I have never asked a man about what sort of knitwear he'd like me to make (principally because I haven't had a chance to), but I have one problem with mens' clothes which, as I noted above, I like wearing.
They're boring. There seem to be three colours that mens' clothing come in, and that's black, white, grey. Maybe an oatmeally colour and dark blue if you're lucky*. Despite what certain people (*cough*my mum*cough*) might tell you about my teenaged dress code, I actually LIKE colours. My favourite hoodie is bright blue (although I need to adjust it, as it's too small in the armpits and that annoys me).
The reasons the author gives for not presenting alternatives to the colours suggested is that a) men don't like having to make choices, and b) they don't like to stand out in crowds; they'd prefer to blend in.
(Thinking about it, this is like saying all women like pink, frills, and skirts. Uh. NO?)
I've noticed recently that assumptions and statements about gender are REALLY starting to get on my nerves**. Not that they haven't for years, anyway, but recently my attitude towards them is worsening. Also I'm feeling particularly irritable at the moment, due to various things, so it was probably just I picked up the wrong book at the wrong time.
Also I realise that there is absolutely NOTHING to stop me copying a pattern from this book, and working on it in different, BRIGHTER colours. Which I may well do.
And that's about as much of a conclusion you're likely to get from me. I just wanted to share my irritation.
(I thought I'd knit as a not-work-creative-destress-thing to do on weekends. I did not expect to be massively wound up by a book about it).
~*~
*Though in some cases, I don't mind the dark blue. The hoodie I've got on right now is dark blue. I also don't mind black. My Batman t-shirt would look RIDICULOUS in any other colour.
**I've banned gendered terms in regards to me and my nephew and, thankfully, most people have either agreed with me, or respected my opinion.
See, first I figured out what I was doing wrong with Tunisian Crochet (which is a weird hybrid of crochet and knitting) - that would be not reading the diagrams correctly. D'OH.
And secondly, yesterday, I suddenly was able to purl when knitting. I have been fighting with that stitch (which is supposed to be EASY) for years. DECADES. I wish I was exaggerating, but there is obviously something wrong with my brain that made it a fight. But now I can do it! I made a scarf as a form of victory celebration. It was knit from super chunky yarn, so I finished it in around 5-6 hours and it's soft and warm and finally I can fucking knit. AWESOME.
(I always vowed I'd never learn to knit, precisely because I couldn't get to grips with purling, but. Um. Now I have no excuse. Although this is cool, because there are some knitted things I like the look of. Also I bought four knitting books the other day because I want to knit some things for my nephew).
Talking of knitting books, I think I've found the most condescending and patronising knitting book on the planet. It's about knitting things for men, which I got from the library because I wanted to have a look for inspiration (also I happen to prefer men's clothes, and most women's designs I've seen are horribly faffy/fluffy/too feminine for me). It does have one redeeming quality - in that I like the way the patterns are written. It's all set out in tables, depending on the size you need, and it looks neat. I like stuff like that (though you wouldn't think so from the state of my house and other things I own/produce).
Anyway, the book's written by a woman, who makes all these presumptions about men, and what they want, and I find it incredibly sexist, to be honest. I dare say that, for the most part, she's more than likely right. I don't know. I don't make stuff for men. I have never asked a man about what sort of knitwear he'd like me to make (principally because I haven't had a chance to), but I have one problem with mens' clothes which, as I noted above, I like wearing.
They're boring. There seem to be three colours that mens' clothing come in, and that's black, white, grey. Maybe an oatmeally colour and dark blue if you're lucky*. Despite what certain people (*cough*my mum*cough*) might tell you about my teenaged dress code, I actually LIKE colours. My favourite hoodie is bright blue (although I need to adjust it, as it's too small in the armpits and that annoys me).
The reasons the author gives for not presenting alternatives to the colours suggested is that a) men don't like having to make choices, and b) they don't like to stand out in crowds; they'd prefer to blend in.
(Thinking about it, this is like saying all women like pink, frills, and skirts. Uh. NO?)
I've noticed recently that assumptions and statements about gender are REALLY starting to get on my nerves**. Not that they haven't for years, anyway, but recently my attitude towards them is worsening. Also I'm feeling particularly irritable at the moment, due to various things, so it was probably just I picked up the wrong book at the wrong time.
Also I realise that there is absolutely NOTHING to stop me copying a pattern from this book, and working on it in different, BRIGHTER colours. Which I may well do.
And that's about as much of a conclusion you're likely to get from me. I just wanted to share my irritation.
(I thought I'd knit as a not-work-creative-destress-thing to do on weekends. I did not expect to be massively wound up by a book about it).
~*~
*Though in some cases, I don't mind the dark blue. The hoodie I've got on right now is dark blue. I also don't mind black. My Batman t-shirt would look RIDICULOUS in any other colour.
**I've banned gendered terms in regards to me and my nephew and, thankfully, most people have either agreed with me, or respected my opinion.
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It is kind of addictive, I must say. I need to practice in case I forget how to purl! ;)