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I thought of crocheting a sandwich but I guess this is a piece of toast.

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I started crocheting when I was 13 years old, and I think this was around 2009-10. My mum is a tailor and we would always pop by Whsmith and Borders for knitting/crochet/sewing magazines. This is when we come across amigurumus- THEY LOOKED ADORABLE- cute little toys. My mum encouraged my sister and me to learn to crochet and make them ourselves. Up until that point I always found knitting and crocheting daunting and a bit boring, to be honest. I was lucky to never be forced to do something I didn't like. But now (as a person with undiagnosed ADHD), the idea of having a cute toy at the end of learning to crochet was a game changer. Obviously, my sister became a pro and I didn't try as much. She made adorable amigurumi and I begged her to make me one- there was this monkey I really wanted. To which she said, "Sure, pay up" (££) - I don't have money to pay her! So I sat down furiously promising myself I would make better and cuter amigurumis and be proud of myself. Here I am years later, I can crochet like a pro and knit and sew my own clothes. But I never got around to making that adorable monkey amigurumi.

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Hi all!

Hello anyone who comes across my blog! After a long while of not doing much here, I just returned to my Tumblr account. (if anyone looks beyond this post) -You may find I was (and still am) an avid fan of Merlin. However, I plan to share more of my arts and crafts. I knit and crochet and sew- and hope to create the brand I always wanted. ( it always has been my dream and I am trying to overcome my fears)

x

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knitted these baby sweaters

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Dabbling with watercolours and these fairytale characters

a wedding card gift

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Crocheted my nieces summer dress!

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Knitted a cardigan/jacket from pure virgin wool raglan sleeved made for size womens 38-40 EU size

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So you’re being followed...

Okay, so, something funky happened tonight and it made me want to make a post. I’ve seen a lot of (great!) posts on here about what to do if your attacked by someone, but not a lot about what to do before it gets to that point.

First things first- No matter how stupid you think you’re being, don’t ignore your instincts. If you get that funny feeling that something isn’t quite right, or you feel like you’re in danger (even a little!), listen to yourself. Your instincts are there to save you.

If you follow your instincts and nothing happens, that doesn’t mean that you over reacted. It means that you might have saved yourself from something terrible.

I’m going to put this into dot points so it’s a bit easier to read (and so I don’t prattle on). This happened to me tonight, and I am 99.99999% sure that I could have been in serious fucking trouble if I hadn’t done this stuff (which my parents drilled into me from a young age, so it was easier for me to think).

If you think someone is following you:

Look at them. In the eye, or in the face. If they’re in a car, look at where the driver will be if they’re driving past. Do not approach them, but make them think you know what they look like.

Cross the road. Do not feel bad about this. People who get angry at this are people you want to avoid anyway. Do not think it’s brave or something to keep walking where you are. Cross the damn road (if you can).

Get as many details as you can about them. If you can get a plate number, do that. Even if you just remember the first number and the state it’s registered to. Do not feel bad if you can’t, but if you can, get it.

Find something about them/their vehicle that is unique. In my case it was the fact that one headlight was brighter than the other, and the rough description of the care. Get that description.

Keep your phone out and lit up. Text yourself/someone you trust the details if you can, but only do it in a brightly lit area. I stood directly under a streetlight and waited for more cars to pass before doing this, so that it would make it harder for anyone to make a move on me.

Spin around in a circle to check behind yourself. Don’t just turn your head, because you will have blindspots.

Leave your headphones on/in, but turn the music off. If someone is coming up behind you, they’ll be a hell of a lot less sneaky about it if they don’t think you can hear them. 

Call the police if you need to. They’re there to help you, but if you don’t feel comfortable…

Fake a phone call. Get into a loud argument with your “caller,” where you tell them where you are. Ex: “YES, I KNOW WE NEED MILK! I’M ALMOST AT THE FUCKING SHOP! I’M ON XXXX STREET, JUST NEAR THE CORNER!” The person following you already knows where you are, and now they can hear you telling “someone else” where you are. If they make a move, the “person” on the other end of the line knows where to send the cops.

Tell the “caller” that you’re getting another call, and call someone. I did this, and called my mum. When she answered, I was already talking. She put the pieces together pretty quickly, but if you can always lower your voice and say “I think I’m being followed, play along.” Tell the person where you are.

Tell the person you called that you’re meeting your father/brother/pro-wrestler boyfriend. It doesn’t matter what your gender is, just do it. Men are more likely to be second guess grabbing you if they think a bunch of dudes are only a block or two away from you.

Tell the person on the phone as much as you can, as soon as you can. “It’s a red car with blue tyres, and the guy inside looks like a clown with no make up. I first noticed them at XXXX Street, and they followed me down YYYY Street, and now they’re on ZZZZ Avenue.” 

Tell the person on the phone where you are. This is important. Keep them updated.

Go to a brightly lit area as soon as possible. People are less likely to attack you if they can be seen. 

Don’t be afraid of calling the cops. I went to the station but they said they couldn’t do much. I feel like shit, and I’m going to follow up later, but I’m glad I did. Why? Because now they have it written down. If something happens to me later (which it most likely won’t), or someone else makes a complaint, they have more to work with. The creeper now has a papertrail with the police, and they will be able to do more.

Don’t relax until you’re home with the door locked. My creeper? I saw him as I was walking into the police station. He drove around the block a few times to look for me, because he assumed (I’m guessing) that once I was in a more populated area, I’d let my guard down. I didn’t, and refused to, until I was inside my locked up house with a cup of tea.

Alright, those are a few of the things you can do. I’m going to separate the last few points, because I think they’re the most important, but feel free to add to this (if anyone reads it, haha).

LISTEN TO YOUR INSTINCTS. It is better to feel like an idiot than it is to feel dead. Listen to your gut, even if you think you’re just freaking yourself out. It doesn’t matter what the creeper looks like, because they can look like anyone. 

DON’T FEEL BAD FOR FEELING UNCOMFORTABLE. If anyone/anything makes you feel uncomfortable, get yourself out of that situation. It doesn’t matter if they’re a friend, an acquaintance, or a stranger. It does not matter if they’re attractive or not, or if they seem nice. Most predators are charismatic and seem harmless. They want you to doubt yourself so that they can attack. DON’T FEEL BAD FOR BELIEVING YOUR INSTINCTS.

MAKE SURE YOU ARE SEEN BY OTHER PEOPLE. You know how on the news when someone is missing, you see a picture of a face and get a description of what they were wearing? Make sure that, should anything happen to you, people have seen you. Pretend to yawn and raise your arms above your head. Jump up and down. Skip. Wave at another car going past, as if you thought you knew them. Do anything to get yourself stuck in another persons memory.

DO NOT APPROACH THE PERSON. DO NOT GIVE THEM DIRECTIONS. DO NOT HELP THEM IF THEY SAY THEY NEED IT, AND KEEP YOUR PHONE OUT AND UNLOCKED. If they need help, walk away from them (and keep your eyes on them) and say you’re calling the cops to help them. YOU CANNOT HELP THEM ANYWAY. Stay as far away from them as possible, because no person with pure intentions is going to guilt you/force you/follow you. Get away, and help them from a distance by calling someone who can help them. You are not a bad person for this, you are a person who is making sure they don’t end up buried in a forest somewhere. Same goes for if someone knocks on your door and asks for a drink/phone to use. Say no to the drink (you aren’t a bitch/coward/whatever), and tell them to give you the number- through the door- of the person they need to speak with. Dial it for them and talk to the person on their behalf. Do not let them in, do not let a stranger help you with groceries. Stay inside and stay safe.

YOU AREN’T OVER REACTING. YOU AREN’T OVER REACTING. YOU ARE NOT OVER REACTING. IF YOU FEEL UNSAFE THERE IS A REASON YOU ARE FEELING UNSAFE. LISTEN TO YOUR GUT! GET YOURSELF OUT! YOU ARE NOT OVER REACTING!

This is a stupidly long post already, so I think I’m going to end it here. I hope this might help someone in the future. Remember, you aren’t an idiot for worrying, that’s just your body’s way of keeping you safe and alive.

Edit: I thought of something else, sorry!

Walk with confidence, like you just punched an alien in the face. Even if you’re small (I’m 5′3″), walk like you’re tough shit. Be confident, or fake it. People are less likely to attack you if they think you might be able to back that confidence up. Don’t look at the ground or your feet, keep your eyes on what’s around you instead. Look people in the face (the space between their eyes if looking them in the eye is difficult), and pull your shoulders back. Kept a hand in your pocket like you’re packing if it helps They’re more likely to think that you are too much trouble and will leave you alone. Sharks don’t attack sharks, they attack wounded fish. Even if you’re terrified, look like a shark. That doesn’t mean you can’t cross the road or run, just make sure that (to begin with), you look like you feel like the biggest, baddest bitch in the playground. It might pay off, or not, but it’s better than nothing.

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Modern fiction is sorely lacking in friendships - and I don’t count friendships that evolve into romantic relationships. I’m talking about a real old-fashioned friendship that has no romantic connotations or potential whatsoever. Romance and sex are great, but they’re not...

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You could argue comic books have little importance in the grander scheme of things. But comic books make a big statement in a small way. We won’t have blockbuster movies about a Muslim superhero until we can all be excited about a comic book portraying one. When Marvel created Khan, it took a shot at breaking the typical paradigm of superheroes. While it’s a small gesture when measured up to the entire comic book world, it’s another step in the movement for equality in entertainment.

For the larger part of the decade, there was a potent cloud of racism and hatred towards Muslim people. Today, the fact we can portray young Muslim girls as superheroes is a beacon of hope for what is to come. Sure, a lot of people will say “it’s just a comic book.” But I’d like to think somewhere out there, it’s making a difference in a young Muslim girl’s life. And even if the message gets lost and Khan’s character doesn’t sell well, at least a young girl could have her own superhero to look up to.

Global Thinking: Kamala Khan Marvel launches female Muslim Superhero by Kavahn Mansouri.

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The Opposite end of traditional “street harassment”: the girl who never get’s cat called

In feminist spaces I see a lot of feminists complain about being street harassed. I read about it and I totally sympathize with their experiences, even though I have never experienced them myself. I am a female myself but am not conventionally attractive. I am not hideous but more or less a plain jane. On top of that I have ALWAYS valued comfort over style, so dressing feminine isn’t something I do on a regular basis. I wear a lot of loose jeans and T-shirts. But yeah, anyway, know that I  am not trying to play “who has it harder” or anything but rather I am making this to share my experiences of getting the opposite end of the shit-covered stick that is street harassment that I don’t see being mentioned. I call it street dismissal.

When I say street dismissal I am talking about men who feel the need to subtly announce that unattractive women are not worthy of respect or acknowledgement because they are not a conventionally attractive female or their fellow man. 

Some examples I’ve personally experienced include:

Many guys at parties will arrive or leave, give all the men handshakes, give the attractive women hugs, but won’t even make eye contact with me. I am not a guy or a hot girl so I don’t exist.

I’ve been bumped into in public without an apology by men. I am not an attractive girl or your fellow man, so it makes sense for you to not even notice I am there.

One time I was walking behind a group of attractive women. A guy spotted us. Opened the door for the three women and shut the door in my face. I am not worthy of his time because I am not attractive.

I once was charged a cover on ladies night because I went out to the bar in my work uniform. (red shirt khaki pants)

Another time at a bar, I saw an open space to order a drink. The guy sitting next to me saw me, raised his eyebrows and turned the other way to make sure I don’t DARE try to talk to him. (Because I totally went there to hit on him and NOT get a drink right?)

I once went with my gay male friend to a straight guys house he knew. The first thing out of the straight guy’s mouth was “I was totally excited when you had a chick with you. Nevermind!” the whole night he offered my friend drinks and didn’t offer me a thing and seemed frustrated when I asked where the bathroom was. The only other thing he said that night was “do you have any hot single friends that would come over here?”

Another time I went with a female friend of mine to get drinks. We met up with her guy friend. He ordered a round of beers for everyone except me. His excuse was “he didn’t know she was going to bring someone along and he is low on money” that was until his guy friend from high school showed up unexpectedly and he quickly bought him a drink.

These are just examples that have happened to me. So my question is are there any other “unattractive” girls out there that experience things similar to this? 

I just wanted to speak from the other perspective. We always hear the horror stories of sexism from the perspective of the women who are objectified by men in the sense of “oo I want that.” and not too many in the sense of “oo, ew DO NOT WANT” 

This may seem like a big long rant that looks like “WAH PRETTY GIRLS GET THINGS AND I DON’T OH MY LIFE SUCKS” but I don’t mean to come off that way. Because I feel the need to mention that guys don’t do this just to get laid. This is where it’s important to bring up the fact that we are treated with less respect than other men. Men aren’t decent people to other men because they want to fuck them. They are decent to them because they see them as equals that deserve basic respect and acknowledgement. But we are women and to these men either you try to fuck them because they are hot or want them to go away. An unattractive woman has no purpose to him. 

Misogyny affects  all women negatively. 

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what i learned from my fandoms

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