Knittin' Crap: Starfleet February 2015

We spent February at the Academy with all those young, perky, eager cadets.

Mission	Report
Command - Demonstrate ways to overcome a crafting “no-win” scenario to your cadets by planning and swatching for a project.	Although I had carefully considered details for my Away Mission for this tour before the tour actually began, my other duties kept me from confirming its viability through proof-of-concept work with the raw materials until after the start of the tour. My first sample came out at the perfect specifications (25x36 st on US4), but I was not sure I liked the lack of density, so I made another sample to smaller specifications (on US3), and ended up calculating that the original sample was superior. But, the extra time was not wasted, as I now had evidence that I could move forward with additional certainty that my mission would ultimately be a success. Swatches (tested for sleep-worthiness by my invasive quadrupeds and marked as approved):
Diplomatic - Show your cadets the importance of details by creating something involving detail work or embellishments	Without detailed facial expressions, this very undiplomatic penguin would look like an unexpressive round ball on top of a tube. And he certainly wouldn’t be able to express his indignation at being shoved aside by the giant, undiplomatic invasive quadruped:
Medical - One of the hardest lessons to accept is that you can’t save them all, and sometimes the only thing you can do is give comfort. Your Mission: Teach your cadets how to cope with these situations by creating something comforting, either for yourself or for someone else. Bonus points for charitable submissions.	Many cultures on Old Earth long had a tradition of brightening the environment of the ill with the often colorful and pleasantly scented reproductive organs of certain plants. Plants of the genus Tulipa were especially prized for their elegant beauty. I have replicated some and put them on a bunting for wall decoration.
Tactical - Teach your cadets the value of thinking quickly by making something very speedy (something that takes a day or less).	Any Starfleet cadet who has taken the Anomalous Quantum Particles course final exam will already know that concentrating on details while under time pressure is particularly difficult. To practice mental focus while simultaneously watching the clock, I manualy fabricated this special neck gear, which also acts as a sensor to monitor heart rate and blood pressure in tense situations. Keeping track of many small components, manipulating them without the aid of nano-tools, and completing an important piece of equipment are all skills that may be needed during an emergency when the replicators are not available either because of mechanical failure or on an away team mission.
The Brig - Finish off UFOs.	This prisoner hit its rehabilitation target 3 weeks ago, but I had more important things to do than process the paperwork. (Like, take naps.)

Badtz-Maru pattern by Mei Li Lee
Bull's-Eye pattern by Jennifer Hansen
Necklace designed by Un-Roen Manarata

Knittin' Crap: SFAC October 2014

This tour opened with a promotion. I am now Captain of the USS Kitchener!

We apparently have a guest, the flamboyant Luxwana Troi, so most of our missions revolved around keeping her happy and out of trouble.

(Post delayed because the Medical Mission disappeared into a Temporal Rift and only just reappeared.)

Mission	Report
Command - Craft a head covering for Lwaxana.	This headband may not be, um, haute couture enough for Lwaxana, but I have no doubt she can work it better than Dip, who just looks annoyed at being a fashion model. Or Lwaxana can try to wear Dip on her head, but I doubt that would work out too well.
Engineering - Craft something to cover Lwaxana’s torso.	Not many people these days can pull off a cape, but Lwaxana is certainly one of them. Therefore, I made this, um, cape for her.
Medical - Craft something to keep Lwaxana’s hands steady and/or warm.	This basket was designed to provide multiple uses for Luxwana. She can use it as a receptacle to hold various items, she can even put her hands inside for additional warmth, and if she gets on Captain Picard’s nerves, the many straps can be used to, um, subdue her.
Tactical - Craft a fabulous accessory for Lwaxana to wear!	This, um, accessory can be worn in a variety of ways. On the arm, around the neck, over the hair. It can even be a meta-accessory, accessorizing a small quadruped species with which Lwaxana may accessorize herself, as seen below. (In this case, a not-that-small quadruped.)

Knittin' Crap: SFAC May Shore Leave

May is a shore leave month in the Starfleet Fiber Arts Corps, but we still had a shuttle mission, plus afghan blocks and a brig release.

Mission	Report
Shuttle: Something about voting on ownership of a disputed ice planet claimed by both the Romulans and the Klingons Your mission: • Option A: Craft something in Blood wine red to show your support for the Klingon claim to Poosh. • Option B: Craft something in Romulan ale blue to show your support for the Romulan claim to Poosh.	Purely out of curiosity to see for what use they need a frozen moon (if betting weren’t against Starfleet regulations, my credits would be on ice hockey training so they can sweep the next Interstellar Games), I vote for the Romulans. My vote takes the highly appropriate form of an Earth peacock, as they are a symbol of pride, and the Romulans are a proud race, indeed.
Afghan Challenge Planet of the Month: Qo’noS, the Klingon homeworld.	These squares either represent Kang’s Summit or the pointy end of a bat’leth, both of which a tourist on Qo’noS may encounter.
The Brig - the place where unfinished projects languish in shame	This prisoner promised to deliver a personal force field 2 whole tours ago and failed miserably, causing some damage to engineering. It has since cleaned up the damage and adopted Starfleet safety protocols. Requesting release back to regular duty. Excuse me, some crew members have no manners…. There.

Peacock pattern by Yasuko Ando
Original vest pattern by DROPS Designs

Knittin' Crap: SFAC April 2013

Mission	Report
Command: Choose one of the founding civilizations of the Federation and craft something that illustrates their uniqueness, or how their influence has shaped the Federation.	In homage to that most blue-blooded of founding species, the Andorians, I present this fibrous river of navy blue:
Diplomatic: Craft something to represent a species’ communication style or negotiating skills.	The Andorian subspecies, the Aenar, thought until only a couple centuries ago to be a myth even among Andorians, have very powerful telepathic abilities. This mission represents their ability to transmit brain waves across relatively large distances. I believe the invasive quadrupeds on the Kitchener have revealed their true mission. This one appears to be intercepting the Aenarian brainwaves:
Medical: Choose a non-Terran species and craft something that represents how their physiology differs from that of the people of Earth.	Without going into details (this is a family vessel, after all), the plant-based Phylosians have a method of reproduction that vastly differs from humans. They, um, flower, like so:
Science: Improve our ability to communicate complex scientific information: Challenge yourself in learning a new skill. Do you only knit? Perhaps try crochet – or spinning, tatting, or naal-binding. Alternatively, try an advanced technique in your preferred fiber art form.	For this mission, I created this regulation headband. I was looking for a way to protect against the effects of certain neutrinos on brain waves and decided to investigate an old fabrication technique called “broomstick crochet.” The loops are highly effective at redirecting errant neutrinos.
Tactical: Choose a culture whose tactical skills you admire - or think it important we study - and craft something to represent them.	I look back to 23rd century Earth for someone who was always ready for a fight to protect his ship or crewmates or, in particular, a damsel in distress: Starfleet Lt. Pavel Chekov. Chekov never pulled his punches, particularly if said damsel was attractive. While he may have had a fiery temper, he could rein it in out of respect to his superior officers.
Afghan Challenge: Bajor IV	I have fabricated squares which represent the new path Bajor is forging:

Summit pattern by Mandie Harrington
Doily pattern from Lace Best Patterns 238

Knittin' Crap: My SFAC Medal

Well, my real-life career may be stalled, but my Starfleet Fiber Arts Corps star keeps rising! With February I started doing mission grading, finished enough missions to get promoted to Commander 3rd Class, and won the Admiral Star for Best Overall Presentation in my mission reports for the month! Yay me!

Of course, if you actually look back at the February mission reports, you'll note that Spoon inserted his big white butt in most of them. Just don't tell him he probably pushed me over the edge, because he might expect some treat that would ruin his neverending diet.

Spoonerisms: Part of the Furniture

Having been unemployed for the past two months and thus home most days, the cats went from happy to have me around more often to taking me for granted. I am pretty sure they see me now as above-room-temperature, interactive cat furniture.

 
 

Knittin' Crap: Starfleet Tour February 2013

Division	Report
Command: Craft something to represent that ‘one thing’ on the Bridge that captures your attention.	While on the bridge, I enjoy playing with the spectral visualization settings of the displays. If subatomic particles or various wave types are mapped to the visible light spectrum, we can see striking effects normally invisible to our eyes. This is what a warp field looks like when mapped to the visible spectrum and being attacked by a giant space cat:
Diplomatic: Make something for your own quarters or those of another to make the space seem more like home.	I heard a Betazed delegate remark on the quadrupeds which have invaded the Kitchener, and how they resembled Betazoid cats which the delegate had had to leave at home, so I supplied her with one of the invaders:
Engineering: Make a toy, game, or other object to be used in (or to represent) your shipboard hobby - whatever that might be.	My hobby is to go around like a fairy godmother and grant people’s wishes. And to make “pew pew pew!” sounds.
Medical: Make our visitors feel comfortable seeking medical treatment by crafting something that represents the men and women of the ship’s Medical Facilities.	One of the most revered and storied past members of the Starfleet Medical Corps is, of course, Dr Leonard “Bones” McCoy. Here is my homage to Captain Kirk’s longtime friend and ship’s doctor:
Science: Craft something to represent one of the labs or the work done there.	During my rotation through the stellar cartography lab, I actually managed to discover a new kind of star, the micro-mini blue-green dwarf star! The micro-mini blue-green dwarf star has several peculiar properties, including being endothermic and chemically/radiologically inert. It is also cute and snuggly.
Shuttle: Show Ship Pride: Using your finest fiber art skills, make something to represent the ship you serve on.	I came back from an away mission and found the Kitchener decks covered with water puddles. I’ll just mop some up with this here towel and not ask questions…
Afghan Challenge - February: Gamma Trianguli VI - Galactic Garden of Eden An idyllic planet with a tropical climate, its atmosphere has no harmful bacteria and completely screens out any negative effects from the sun. The humanoid inhabitants of this planet worshipped a sophisticated computer they called Vaal, which provided for the people by controlling the planet’s weather. Since the destruction of the device, they have resumed a more normal society. The people remain open and unquestioning toward visitors; Starfleet personnel are reminded that the Prime Directive is in full force.	These blocks are a symbolic representation of the change in the direction of the lives of the Gamma Triangulons after Captain Kirk totally violated the Prime Directive for the umpteenth time set them on a path of social evolution. Please excuse the interloper. Several of us on the Kitchener have been affected by an infestation of small quadrupeds. While they seem basically harmless, they tend to be an occasional hindrance to our duties. This one has, yes, grabbed the block on the left to… play? help? destroy?

Original cat pattern by Mitsuki Hoshi
Garland pattern from Japanese book Lace Crochet Best Pattern
Star pattern by Karolina Eckerdal
Illusion Duck pattern by Amy-lynne Mitchell

Knittin' Crap: Starfleet January Shore Leave Missions

Technically January is an "off" month in the Starfleet Fiber Arts Corp, but nonetheless, there were duties to perform, including the first month of a 12-month afghan challenge, with each month requiring blocks representing the Planète du Mois.

Starfleet Afghan Challenge, January Planet of the Month: Tellar Prime: Homeworld of the Tellarites. One of the Founding Members of the United Federation of Planets. This mountainous planet is located in a binary star system, and itself possesses two moons. The primary hobby of the Tellarites - arguing - is considered a sport. Fortunately, their homeworld possesses a hot, humid, oxygen-rich climate which (since it tends to make them cranky) allows visitors to participate fully in the planetary game.	The slanted ridges of these afghan squares represent the steep slopes of the mountains on Tellar Prime. The cat represents the camera hogs indigenous to the planet.
Surprise Mini-Mission: Organize your stash or make something to decorate your space.	I am awaiting assignment to a new duty roster (as in, I’m between jobs at the moment), so I made this flower garland to decorate my new duty station when it gets assigned.
The Brig (for UFOs that turn into FOs)	Although I’ve been knitting for years, I only got around to making my first sock a year ago. It sat around, lonely, unpaired, acting out because no one understood it, for a year. Until today! Now it’s happy and can serve as a productive member of society with its partner.

Sock pattern from DROPS
Crocheted Flower Garland from Japanese book "Lace Best Crochet Motifs 238"

Knittin' Crap: Mission Wrap-Up

As I reported earlier, this Starfleet Fiber Arts Corps tour of duty included 4 missions each month, plus 6 missions (3 each for the Tactical and Command divisions) spanning all three months that entail looking into why we spent the previous tour stuck on a rock in the middle of BF nowhere.

I managed to finish all 12 of the month-long missions, plus 5 of the 6 longer term missions.

Division	My report
Command A: Craft something that will make you seem less intimidating to the villagers and thus aid you in your interviews. Craft something to make yourself appear friendlier or perhaps comical (who can be intimidated by someone who looks ridiculous?). Craft something to make it easier for the villagers to communicate with you; a way to leave messages without having to talk to you face to face. Craft a toy for the children so you can make the interview more like a game.	I decided to play on any tradition of hospitality the natives may have by pre-emptively bringing a lovely hostess gift, this floral arrangement:
Command B: Record your observations of the planet by crafting something unusual. It can be an item with an unexpected use of color, texture, or pattern or something that is unusual for your personality. If you normally knit clothing, try a home item. If you usually crochet, give knitting or sewing a try. If you normally craft accessories, try your hand at a larger garment (sweater, skirt, etc).	I decided to utilize a service cat for further exploration and data gathering. I created a hooded garment which would gather readings for telemetry and protect the cat. However, said service cat decided the horizontal stripes on the garment were not slimming, and barely had tried it on long enough for me to snap a holo-photo. ETA: Service cat finally agreed to try on the device again, but only as long as he could sit in my lap (his primary function, other than trying to trip me and break my neck) and I kept scratching his head. Clearly, this situation is not ideal for investigating the anomalies…
Command C: Craft something that will help you overcome their security and free the prisoners. Knit a weapon that will disarm, distract or subdue the warriors, crochet something that will disable the force field, craft something that will allow you to rescue the prisoners by stealth or cunning without the alerting warriors to your plans.	Oops...
Tactical A: Craft something to warn others of the danger of the energy dampening field – something yellow, red or shiny to serve as a warning beacon, a lace perimeter net to prevent ships from entering the energy dampening field, a map of the precise location of the planet for Starfleet database, or something that sends a warning message to ships nearby.	This large arrangement of menacing space flowers will serve to deter any errant ships. The flowers pose no threat to ships themselves but appear to wave off nearby moving objects because of their sensitivity to disturbances in the surrounding field of plasma. Also, the “L”, is, of course, the galactic warning symbol, even though it was never adopted on Earth.
Tactical B: Craft something demonstrating your research. Research the Ravelry pattern recommendation feature to find a pattern to try (the if you liked this pattern, you might like that one feature) or search the queue or favorites of one of your shipmates. Craft something using the pattern you found there (include a link to the original pattern or the crew member’s queue where you it). Bonus points if you make the item as a gift.	I found this design plan for a Ten Stitch Blanket in Pandalark’s queue and adapted it as a multi-modal diffraction grating to capture different metrics of the surrounding radiation. After I collected copious data for analysis, I gifted the grating, actually made of a soft fiber, to my cat:
Tactical C: “Dismantle” a project that isn’t working and rework the project into something that you like. You may rip the entire project and start over or just frog part of a project to correct a mistake, correct the fit or to change a design element that you just don’t like. You may also completely rip finished ugh projects so the yarn can be reclaimed.	I had somehow managed to complete the entire back piece of this special engineering shield before realizing my gauge had been completely off and that the cable fiber I had selected would not produce the required dimensions, or in fact dimensions suitable for any humanoid I know who is no longer required to sit in a car shuttle booster seat. (I cannot explain how I got so far before noticing the size discrepancy, except to say that I may have been exposed to some perception-altering radiation whose effects lasted several months.) I began to reclaim the cable fiber, then got distracted. That was, oh, at least 3 Earth years ago. Here is the state I left it in: I have now reclaimed the fiber, skeined it: washed and dried: and wound to prepare for re-use:

Cat Hoodie pattern by Kristin Roach
Ten-Stitch Blanket pattern by Frankie Brown