Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Knittin' Crap: SFAC March 2013 Tour

This compendium of March mission reports is late because a temporal rift ate my Command Mission at the end of last month and only just spit it out (conveniently completed) now.

MissionReport
Command: Make something inspired by a great leader from Earth or Vulcan History. Alternatively, represent a major conflict or event shaping that history.The Sontag was a specialized shawl that crosses over the chest and fastens in back, with additional front ties. It was worn by both men and women in the United States during the mid 19th century, including the tumultuous time known as the American Civil War. I can just picture soldiers on the battlefield trying to keep warm, or worried women back home, keeping up with chores and waiting for news of their male family members.
Sontag
Diplomatic: Make something representing or inspired by a particular ‘great’ literary work or character.While various sources for the ancient Greek mythologies of their gods and heroes were in existence, they were generally too racy for genteel Victorian audiences. Thomas Bulfinch’s literary collection The Age of Fable brought the stories into the popular imagination of the era. One of the most intriguing characters from these stories is Medusa:
Bad Hair Day
Engineering: Craft something inspired by a specific painting or sculptureEarth art historians have a slight mystery on their hands. In both excavations and even in current populations to this day, they have found various reproductions of a specific piece of small statuary, but do not know the source of the original. It does not seem to be a religious icon, as it seems to be found most often in businesses and homes, but not in places of worship. While the styles and colors may vary, the statue itself is of a domestic feline, sitting on its rear, waving or beckoning with one raised paw, and often holding an object, usually a coin or purse, in the other forepaw. The reproductions are found most often in East Asia, although they are also common in what seem to be enclaves of immigrant populations throughout Earth. Still, for such a secular work to have such widespread popularity, the original must have been a great work of art indeed. Here is one such reproduction:
Maneki Spoono
Medical: Whether your own preference runs to Mozart or Metal, make something representing or inspired by a particular composer or piece of music from either Vulcan or Earth.While the composer held rather contemptible beliefs, the opera cycle Ring of the Impossibly-Long-German-Word is still a classic. It features powerful women called Valkyries:
The Ride
I personally prefer a particular English translation to the original German. It goes something like this:
“Oh, Bwunhilde, you’we so wuvwy.”
“Yes, I know it. I can’t help it.”
“Oh, Bwunhilde, be-ee my wuv!”
Shuttle: Using all of the information you’ve gathered whilst studying the cultures of Vulcan and Earth, create an appropriate gift for either T’Pa’shu or her mate.On the Old Earth Chinese lunar cycle, this would be the Year of the Snake! Perhaps on Vulcan, they lack the cultural and “reptile brain” prejudices against those creatures, so I brought one to see our guests’ reaction:
Snake Charm
Tactical: Create something based on your impressions of the planet Vulcan - its architecture, cities, topography, or other distinctive feature of the environmentI had the luck to see a Vulcan sunset during one of their sand fire storms (from a safe distance of course). Quite breathtaking! Here is my abstract representation of the effect:
10-Stitch Wave Neck Scarf
Afghan Challenge: RomulusI am struck by how regimented and stratified Romulan society is, as represented by these blocks:
SFAC Afghan Squares - March
The BrigThis prisoner has had split personality issues and had also been seen colluding with the quadrupedal invasive species that has taken up residence in my quarters:
Not Helping
However, the prisoner, of late, seems to have reconciled its dual nature and is ready to leave the brig.
DK scarf

Sontag pattern circa 1860
Medusa pattern by Needlenoodles
Maneki Spoono pattern adapted from Hiroko Takeda
Valkyrie pattern by Needlenoodles
10-stitch Wave by Frankie Brown
Snake charm pattern by Ikuko Saito
Double-knit scarf pattern by Kotomi Hayashi

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