As you might have guessed from my post on writing the damsel in distress, I'm not really comfortable writing about big issues - when it comes to sexism, racism, religion, or anything that raises people's hackles, really, I get flustered. I write about these things best through fiction, and when asked to address them directly, my answer usually tumbles out as something on the level of "Sexism bad, tree pretty." So I have a deep admiration for people who can write beautifully about these subjects.
One of those people is LJ user rawles, whose post "Now that we've got that clear, and you know that I'm not here..." addresses the Uhura/Spock relationship in the new Star Trek movie - the fan backlash, the presumption that putting a strong female character in a romantic relationship lessens her power, and the continued dearth of strong black female characters on the screen. To quote: "OMG. A black girl is fucking Spock."
That essay reminded me of Catherynne M. Valente's "Let me tell you a story" post, which in addressing the RaceFail debate attempted to explain why it's so important that characters of marginalized race/gender/sexuality/class/etc. are positively portrayed in genre fiction. "Stories," she writes, "teach us how to win through, how to perservere, how to live. [...] This is what stories do. They say: you are worthy of the world, no less than these heroes." And if there are no heroes like you in the stories you take in?
I think these two essays are saying the same thing in two very different ways: that seeing that reflection of ourselves in the fiction we take in is vital - perhaps especially in genre fiction, which deals in stunning heroics and symbolism. I'm familiar with Cat's search for heroes like myself in stories and with rawles's "OMG A [BI/LESBIAN] GIRL" gut reaction when I actually find one (Hi, entire female cast of Torchwood). They both put it into words a helluva lot better than I could.
Showing posts with label star trek. Show all posts
Showing posts with label star trek. Show all posts
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Saturday, June 6, 2009
How I spent my Saturday night
The roommates, my brother, Reed, and I drank a whole lot and marathoned a good chunk of Season 1 of Star Trek (the original series). I hung out on the Very Longest Thread in the Completely Pointless and Arbitrary Group on Ravelry, documenting our exploits.
And at one point, the VLT discussion was about 80% Star Trek, 20% sock yarn. As if I needed another reason to love Ravelry.
Anyway, I'm going to bed. If I don't post here much this week, it'll be because I'm packing like a maniac and arranging my move.
Somebody tell me not to make my dog a unicorn dog costume for Halloween.
A kind member of the VLT shared this:
And at one point, the VLT discussion was about 80% Star Trek, 20% sock yarn. As if I needed another reason to love Ravelry.
Anyway, I'm going to bed. If I don't post here much this week, it'll be because I'm packing like a maniac and arranging my move.
Somebody tell me not to make my dog a unicorn dog costume for Halloween.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Scotty's Hat, four-panel version
This is the more accurate version of the pattern, with the four panels of garter stitch shown in the movie. Both versions require the same skills, gauge, and supplies, and can be modded in the same ways. Both hats also come to about a 21-22" head circumference and are stretchy enough to fit heads quite a bit bigger than that. There are a few differences, though. This version:- uses more yarn (about 440 yards worsted weight - I used two skeins of Cascade 220 Heathers in Yakima Heather and didn't have much left over - still on size 9 needles)
- is a few inches longer, to make it more authentic
- has a less tapered tip - it's stubbier, like the tip of Scotty's hat in the movie
- has you make sections A and B twice, so any mods you make you'll need to make twice.
Many thanks to Woolly Wormhead for her advice on this version of the pattern!
If you're looking for the original two-panel version, click here.
Scotty's Hat (four-panel version)
Like the two-panel version, there are two sections to this hat, A and B. They're worked the same way as the sections in the two-panel version, but this time each panel is narrower, and you make four panels total (knitting A and B twice).
Section A
CO 22 st
K to end of row. Repeat this row until you have 21 inches of fabric. Now it's time to narrow your fabric toward the tip of your hat!
K1, k2tog, k to 3 st from end, k2tog, k1.
K to end of row.
Repeat these last two rows once. You will now have 18 st on the needles.
K1, k2tog, k to 3 st from end, k2tog, k1. Repeat this row 7 times, until you've got 4 stitches left on the needles. BO all stitches.
Section B
Choose your favorite side of section A and flip it so that's facing you, with the brim pointing toward you. Pick up all stitches along the left side of section A (one stitch per two rows - the exact number will vary based on your row gauge), starting at the brim of the hat and working toward the tip. K one row, starting from the tip. Now it's time to shape this wedge of fabric using short rows. Whoo, short rows!
K to 20 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 18 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 16 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 14 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 12 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 10 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 8 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 6 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 4 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 2 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to end (tip).
Half the wedge is knitted now, so it's time to start shaping the other side of it.
K to end (brim).
K to 2 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 4 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 6 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 8 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 10 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 12 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 14 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 16 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 18 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 20 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
Loosely BO all stitches.
Next, knit sections A and B one more time.
Finishing
Seaming is a two-part process, because you'll seam the first 6" inside out. This way, you can wear your hat with anywhere from 3"-6" of the brim folded over without having the underside of a seam showing.
First, line up the edges of the brim so the left edge of section B and the right edge of section A are aligned (twice - the two pieces of fabric you've made should make up a tube, with the panels alternating: A, B, A, B). Pin the edges together. Flip the hat inside out and seam the first 6" of the brim using mattress stitch.Second, flip the hat right-side out and continue seaming to the tip of the hat.
Repeat this process for the seam on the other side of your hat. If you find a small gap at the tip of the hat, draw the tail of your yarn through the stitches around the gap and pull it closed.
Weave in all ends.
Wear your Scotty hat while solving complex mathematical quandaries, beaming beagles through space-time, and eating sandwiches.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Scotty's Hat - the pattern
You know you're a tad knitting obsessed when you see the Star Trek movie and pay more attention to the construction of Scotty's hat than you do to the exposition.
This is the pattern for a hat based on Scotty's, knit flat in two connected panels of garter stitch going different directions. It takes a good deal of yarn, a bit of time, and quite a few picked up stitches, but in the end you'll have a delightfully squishy, floppy hat like Mr. Scott's. The pattern is pretty easy but incorporates a couple of non-beginner level techniques (short rows, picking up stitches), so I've included links to KnittingHelp.com tutorials. This pattern is free and is intended for personal, non-profit use.
The brilliant hat designer Woolly Wormhead has also come up with a pattern called Trekking, based on Scotty's hat in the movie but knit in the round. It's available here as a free Ravelry download.
The following pattern has two options: the original two-panel hat or a more accurate four-panel hat.
Big, big thanks to Beeca for proofing the pattern and the wonderful folks on Ravelry for their interest and encouragement!
Size: adult
Supplies needed: 350-440 yards worsted weight yarn, size 9 straight or circular needles (or size needed to obtain gauge), stitch markers or baby pins to pin edges together, tapestry needle
Gauge: about 16 stitches and 30 rows = 4" in garter stitch. If in doubt, go tighter - the garter stitch is very stretchy.
Skills needed: knitting, decreases, picking up stitches, short rows, seaming
Potential mods: This pattern should be pretty easy to mod. To make a longer hat, just knit the first part of section A for longer before starting decreases (this won't affect anything else in the pattern except your yarn usage). To make section B narrower, start and end the short rows at a smaller number (i.e. start short rows when you're 20 st from the end of the row instead of 22 and end them at 20 st from the end of the row as well).
Glossary, with links to tutorial videos:
CO - cast-on (I use long-tail cast-on, but any stretchy CO should work)
k - knit
st - stitch(es)
k2tog - knit two together, a basic decrease
pick up stitches - um, see this video. Or the Yarn Harlot's wonderful tutorial (with photos) here.
w&t - wrap and turn ("Short row with wrap" video near the bottom)
BO - bind-off
seam - use mattress stitch to sew two ends of fabric together invisibly
And now, on to the pattern!
Scotty's Hat (four-panel version) is available here.
Scotty's Hat (two-panel version):
There are two sections to this hat, A and B.
Section A
CO 60 st
K to end of row. Repeat this row until you have 16 inches of fabric. Now it's time to narrow your fabric toward the tip of your hat!
K1, k2tog, k to 3 st from end, k2tog, k1.
K to end of row.
Repeat these last two rows 15 times. This will decrease your stitches by half, leaving you with 30 st on the needles. Scotty's hat comes to sort of a rounded point, so for this last part of the tip, the decreases are more frequent.
K1, k2tog, k to 3 st from end, k2tog, k1. Repeat this row 13 times, until you've got 4 stitches left on the needles. BO all stitches.
Section B
Choose your favorite side of section A and flip it so that's facing you, with the brim pointing toward you. Pick up all stitches along the left side of section A (one stitch per two rows - the exact number will vary based on your row gauge), starting at the brim of the hat and working toward the tip. K one row, starting from the tip. Now it's time to shape this wedge of fabric using short rows. Whoo, short rows!
K to 22 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 20 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 18 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 16 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 14 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 12 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 10 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 8 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 6 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 4 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 2 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to end (tip).
Half the wedge is knitted now, so it's time to start shaping the other side of it.
K to end (brim).
K to 2 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 4 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 6 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 8 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 10 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 12 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 14 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 16 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 18 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 20 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 22 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
Loosely BO all stitches.
Finishing
Seaming is a two-part process, because you'll seam the first 6" inside out. This way, you can wear your hat with anywhere from 3"-6" of the brim folded over without having the underside of a seam showing.
First, line up the edges of the brim so the left edge of section B and the right edge of section A are aligned. Pin the edges together. Flip the hat inside out and seam the first 6" of the brim using mattress stitch.
Second, flip the hat right-side out and continue seaming to the tip of the hat. If you find a small gap at the tip of the hat, draw the tail of your yarn through the stitches around the gap and pull it closed.
Weave in all ends. Block if you like.
Wear your Scotty hat while solving complex mathematical quandaries, beaming beagles through space-time, and eating sandwiches.
This is the pattern for a hat based on Scotty's, knit flat in two connected panels of garter stitch going different directions. It takes a good deal of yarn, a bit of time, and quite a few picked up stitches, but in the end you'll have a delightfully squishy, floppy hat like Mr. Scott's. The pattern is pretty easy but incorporates a couple of non-beginner level techniques (short rows, picking up stitches), so I've included links to KnittingHelp.com tutorials. This pattern is free and is intended for personal, non-profit use.
The brilliant hat designer Woolly Wormhead has also come up with a pattern called Trekking, based on Scotty's hat in the movie but knit in the round. It's available here as a free Ravelry download.
The following pattern has two options: the original two-panel hat or a more accurate four-panel hat.
Big, big thanks to Beeca for proofing the pattern and the wonderful folks on Ravelry for their interest and encouragement!
Size: adultSupplies needed: 350-440 yards worsted weight yarn, size 9 straight or circular needles (or size needed to obtain gauge), stitch markers or baby pins to pin edges together, tapestry needle
Gauge: about 16 stitches and 30 rows = 4" in garter stitch. If in doubt, go tighter - the garter stitch is very stretchy.
Skills needed: knitting, decreases, picking up stitches, short rows, seaming
Potential mods: This pattern should be pretty easy to mod. To make a longer hat, just knit the first part of section A for longer before starting decreases (this won't affect anything else in the pattern except your yarn usage). To make section B narrower, start and end the short rows at a smaller number (i.e. start short rows when you're 20 st from the end of the row instead of 22 and end them at 20 st from the end of the row as well).
Glossary, with links to tutorial videos:
CO - cast-on (I use long-tail cast-on, but any stretchy CO should work)
k - knit
st - stitch(es)
k2tog - knit two together, a basic decrease
pick up stitches - um, see this video. Or the Yarn Harlot's wonderful tutorial (with photos) here.
w&t - wrap and turn ("Short row with wrap" video near the bottom)
BO - bind-off
seam - use mattress stitch to sew two ends of fabric together invisibly
And now, on to the pattern!
Scotty's Hat (four-panel version) is available here.
Scotty's Hat (two-panel version):
There are two sections to this hat, A and B.
Section ACO 60 st
K to end of row. Repeat this row until you have 16 inches of fabric. Now it's time to narrow your fabric toward the tip of your hat!
K1, k2tog, k to 3 st from end, k2tog, k1.
K to end of row.
Repeat these last two rows 15 times. This will decrease your stitches by half, leaving you with 30 st on the needles. Scotty's hat comes to sort of a rounded point, so for this last part of the tip, the decreases are more frequent.
K1, k2tog, k to 3 st from end, k2tog, k1. Repeat this row 13 times, until you've got 4 stitches left on the needles. BO all stitches.
Section B
Choose your favorite side of section A and flip it so that's facing you, with the brim pointing toward you. Pick up all stitches along the left side of section A (one stitch per two rows - the exact number will vary based on your row gauge), starting at the brim of the hat and working toward the tip. K one row, starting from the tip. Now it's time to shape this wedge of fabric using short rows. Whoo, short rows!
K to 22 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 20 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 18 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 16 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 14 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 12 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 10 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 8 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 6 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 4 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 2 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to end (tip).
Half the wedge is knitted now, so it's time to start shaping the other side of it.
K to end (brim).
K to 2 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 4 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 6 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 8 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 10 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 12 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 14 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 16 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 18 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 20 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
K to 22 st from end (tip), w&t.
K to end (brim).
Loosely BO all stitches.
Finishing
Seaming is a two-part process, because you'll seam the first 6" inside out. This way, you can wear your hat with anywhere from 3"-6" of the brim folded over without having the underside of a seam showing.
First, line up the edges of the brim so the left edge of section B and the right edge of section A are aligned. Pin the edges together. Flip the hat inside out and seam the first 6" of the brim using mattress stitch.Second, flip the hat right-side out and continue seaming to the tip of the hat. If you find a small gap at the tip of the hat, draw the tail of your yarn through the stitches around the gap and pull it closed.
Weave in all ends. Block if you like.
Wear your Scotty hat while solving complex mathematical quandaries, beaming beagles through space-time, and eating sandwiches.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
In which I am a giant nerd about this hat
Scotty's hat had a big day today. I wore it walking to work this morning and got some odd looks from passing motorists. I was wearing a blazer and carrying my laptop bag as well as my giant purse, and with the hat on top I must've looked like I was trekking off on some sort of adventure. As soon as I took the hat off in my office, it got tried on by Kate (Ravelry user pineapplechild).
(She's doing math. The hat is helping.)
And then it didn't get taken off for two hours, as she deemed it "squishy and delicious" and "best hat ever." I wasn't keen on having my hat stolen, but I did enjoy having the ability to bark, "Scotty, go do a round of the computer lab!"
The hat was also tried on by Matt, whose fearsome dreads give him a head circumference of about 30". It stretched more than admirably. Definitely a one-size-fits-all adult hat.
In the afternoon, the hat hung out with me in my office, where I spent my break pretending I was stationed on an arctic planet with dwindling food reserves. 
It's very hard to look properly annoyed about impending starvation while wearing this hat. Especially when you have trail mix in your desk drawer.
Hat has still not made significant improvements in my math or physics abilities. Though I'm suddenly finding the broken computer peripherals in my office fascinating.
Not sure if that's the fault of the hat or the caffeine.
The hat is really comfortable, and it will be hard to part with it for the meeting I've got to go to in half an hour. But I dressed up in my blazer today to look more professional, and somehow I think wearing a big floppy nerd hat might cancel out the effect I was going for. Ah, well. I'll get to wear it home and to class tonight. Provided Kate doesn't steal it while I'm out of my office, that is.
(She's doing math. The hat is helping.)And then it didn't get taken off for two hours, as she deemed it "squishy and delicious" and "best hat ever." I wasn't keen on having my hat stolen, but I did enjoy having the ability to bark, "Scotty, go do a round of the computer lab!"
The hat was also tried on by Matt, whose fearsome dreads give him a head circumference of about 30". It stretched more than admirably. Definitely a one-size-fits-all adult hat.
In the afternoon, the hat hung out with me in my office, where I spent my break pretending I was stationed on an arctic planet with dwindling food reserves. 
It's very hard to look properly annoyed about impending starvation while wearing this hat. Especially when you have trail mix in your desk drawer.Hat has still not made significant improvements in my math or physics abilities. Though I'm suddenly finding the broken computer peripherals in my office fascinating.
Not sure if that's the fault of the hat or the caffeine.The hat is really comfortable, and it will be hard to part with it for the meeting I've got to go to in half an hour. But I dressed up in my blazer today to look more professional, and somehow I think wearing a big floppy nerd hat might cancel out the effect I was going for. Ah, well. I'll get to wear it home and to class tonight. Provided Kate doesn't steal it while I'm out of my office, that is.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Scotty's hat is mine now!
So, remember when I said I was going to figure out how to make Scotty's hat from Star Trek?
Yeah.
Made with some Wool-Ease from my stash, which is why the color's not dead-on. It took about 350 yards and four days of mostly TV knitting (it's all garter stitch, knit flat).
So far wearing the hat has not made me better at math or physics. But I've only had it on for half an hour. 
The lovely and talented Miss Bex is going to proofread the pattern for me, and once I get the all-clear from her, I'll post it here.
I think I'll go home and eat a sandwich now.
Yeah.
Made with some Wool-Ease from my stash, which is why the color's not dead-on. It took about 350 yards and four days of mostly TV knitting (it's all garter stitch, knit flat).
So far wearing the hat has not made me better at math or physics. But I've only had it on for half an hour. 
The lovely and talented Miss Bex is going to proofread the pattern for me, and once I get the all-clear from her, I'll post it here.I think I'll go home and eat a sandwich now.
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