Blocked issue 2 (February 2022)

february/march 2022 

The Tricoteuse 

How To Survive Being Cancelled 

Know the rules and break them anyway 

Cultural Appropriation and Knitting 

Please, Whatever You Do, Don’t Read This! 

Knitting Mojo 

Knitting 

for Crocheters 

The Church of the 

Poisoned 

Mind 

1

Editor 

Neil of Uknitted Kingdom 

For all enquiries: 

blockedmagazine@gmx.com 

Cover Photography 

© 2022 Conley Olson, @NantucketStudios 

Technique Photography 

@Mac.Tlu 

Illustrations 

Abby D 


Articles 

The Laziest Knitter 

A ‘Cancellee’ 

Maree Buscke of Skeinz 

Natasha 


Patterns 


Proofreading 

Denise Pettus 

Cezanne Pellett 

Unless otherwise indicated the informaon, arcles, artwork, paerns and photography published in Blocked Magazine are 

subject to copyright ©2022 Blocked Magazine. All rights reserved. 

Blocked Magazine permits the online distribuon of the magazine in its enrety. Distribuon of any of the contents of this 

magazine for purposes of sale or resale is strictly prohibited. 

2

Acknowledgments 

Blocked has been made possible by the 

generosity and goodwill of far too many 

people to name individually. 

Thank you to all the designers, writers, 

photographers, artists, patrons, advertisers 

and, of course, you the reader. 

Blocked Magazine is a member of the 

3

Welcome by Uknitted Kingdom Page 5 

Open letter to ‘knitfluencers’ Page 6 

List of Test Knitters and Test Crocheters Page 7 

The Tricoteuse Page 8 

Dishident Knitting Pattern Page 10 

How to Survive Being Cancelled by a ‘Cancellee’ Page 12 

Know the Rules and Break Them Anyway Page 14 

Cultural Appropriation and Knitting Page 15 

Please, Whatever You Do, Don’t Read This! Page 16 

The Lazy Knitter’s Guide To Knitting Mojo Page 18 

MKAL and KCALs Page 21 

Knitting For Crocheters Page 22 

Slipped Stitch of the Month Page 27 

Designers & Indie Dyers Page 29 

The Church of the Poisoned Mind Page 30 

Vloggers and Podcasters Page 32 

Reviews Page 34 

4

Blocked is a free-to-read online publication. Please freely share each issue. 

We, at Blocked, are not interested in your race, your sex, your gender identity, your sexuality, 

your size, your abilities, your disabilities, your religious beliefs, your political beliefs, or 

any intersection of victimhood you may align with. All are welcome. 

We hope the content herein will delight and offend you in equal measure. When something 

does offend, annoy and/or upset you, and it probably will at some point, you don’t 

have to read it. You can simply turn the page. Although that particular article or feature 

may not be to your taste, it will be exactly another reader’s cup of tea. 

We’re at the beginning of 2022, many of us want to put divisive issues to one side. Many 

are tired of the constant battles over subjects that don’t interest us, or that we have no 

vested interest in. However, although we may wish for closure, there are others who take 

pleasure from targeting, harassing, and destroying the lives of others. Because of that, 

Blocked will always shine a spotlight on those who try to hurt others. This may appear to 

be, to some, a perpetuation of the problem. Unfortunately, we can’t sit idly as people are 

picked off, one by one. Some manner of resistance has to be visible. Be assured, Blocked 

will always endeavor to ‘punch up’ rather than down and will always put facts first. 

Blocked will only target the bullies and the enablers. ‘Influencers’ who use their power 

and privilege to bully, or to support the bullies, will be fair game for critique, ridicule and 

satire. 

Blocked will be a refuge for those that find themselves cancelled. When the mob won’t 

listen we will tell your story. This may, sometimes, be uncomfortable to read. We may, 

sometimes, make mistakes. That’s when we trust our readers to let us know. 

As contributions may originate from any part of the world, Blocked Magazine will incorporate 

both British-English and US-English spellings. Colour/color, fibre/fiber, centre/center, 

favourite/favorite are likely to be interchangeable between articles and patterns. A 

‘house-style’ and standard spelling will probably evolve as we progress. 

Blocked will contain articles, satirical cartoons, and promotions. Each quarter, Blocked will 

publish an issue that contains patterns provided by designers. Some designers you will already 

know, some will be new. 

We hope you will make Blocked your own. We aim to make Blocked as interactive as 

possible. 

This is your space. Let’s get back to knitting, crocheting and making. 

Neil, Uknitted Kingdom January 2022 

Email: blockedmagazine@gmx.com 

Patreon: hps://www.patreon.com/join/BlockedMagazine 

5

January 2022 

Dear ‘Knitfluencers’, 

Much harm has befallen the knitting/crochet/fibre world in the last five or six years. From the 

mass-labelling of good, decent people as racist ‘white supremacists’ and the destruction of individuals’ 

lives, to the constant policing of our words and our products/projects. 

Many of you have stood by, quietly, supported, or in some cases, even joined in or led, with the bullying 

and nastiness. This is no longer tolerable. 

In the name of protecting the self-declared ‘marginalized’ you have directly or indirectly marginalized 

thousands of others. The fate of some of the targets of harassment, hatred, threats, and ostracization 

has been far, far more harmful than any of the imagined ’microaggressions’ described by 

their attackers. 

Fighting racism with racism is not acceptable. 

Fighting fascism with fascism is not acceptable. 

Fighting white supremacy with black supremacy is not acceptable. 

Fighting patriarchy with matriarchy is not acceptable. 

Fighting toxic masculinity with toxic femininity is not acceptable. 

Our plea to you is to ’stand in the gap’ between the oppressors and the oppressed. Use your considerable 

influence to unite rather than divide people. One word from you could have helped Kristy 

Glass, Nathan Taylor, Kate Davies, Maria Tusken, and all the others that you watched be figuratively 

burned as witches. 

As with all the witch-hunts of the past; history does not remember the witchfinders fondly. 

You may think that buying gifts for the bullies will gain you favour for now. You may think that 

constantly acknowledging their presence in your live broadcasts will protect you. Enjoy your precarious 

privilege, earned from the pain of others, while you still can. Someday, soon, you will be 

cancelled by those you fete. You are only ever one poorly chosen word or one inadvertent microaggression 

away from destruction; subject to the whims of your ’friends’. When that happens we 

will be here for you, but it won’t be easy. Many will remember that you were collaborators as they 

searched the virtual village looking for transgressors. 

Before it’s too late, stand up. Speak out. Do the work. Do better. Use your influence for good in the 

name of good, not for evil masquerading as good. 

Appeasing the few at the expense of the many has never been a wise action. 

Do the right thing. 

Yours faithfully, 

The blocked and the cancelled. 

6

TEST KNITTERS AND TEST CROCHETERS 

Designed a paern and need to have 

it tested? 

Contact our volunteers listed. 

NB testers are not obligated to test. 

If they should decline; please respect 

their decision. 

Kning 

Crochet 

Tunisian Crochet 

Tang 

Quilng 

Amigurumi 

Brioche 

Cables 

Instagram Username 

1 @mountain_candi ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 

2 @mollyOMali ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 

3 @stches_by_connie ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 

4 @emily_saopraseuth ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 

5 @woolycat94 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 

6 @thebootlegknier ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 

7 @girlcanstchnbitch ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 

8 @231bakerst ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 

9 @solariEtc ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 

10 @wombatofDOOM53 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 

11 @koiwood ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 

12 @iepure.de.foc ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 

13 @loveknotsbycheryl ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 

14 @marcellaharville ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 

15 @jasminewolverine ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 

16 @chickenladyfiberarts ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 

17 @blazeknits_ ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 

18 @sandyk1ns ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 

19 @smiles5712 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 

20 @windyhillfarm_ ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 

21 @lisa_c_knits ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 

22 @mamawantstoknit ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 

23 @yarnbender ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 

24 @food.gin.travel ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 

25 @reneelmt_ ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 

26 @CezanneFiberArts ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 

27 @raspberrylanestudios ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 

28 @knit507 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 

29 @sweetmountainfiber ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 

30 @morgandailey43 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 

31 @micahstches ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 

32 @shellehret ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 

33 @collinscaoimhe ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 

34 @kningmylifeaway ü ü ü ü ü 

35 @marianhooks ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 

36 @yarnobsessed01 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 

37 @raspberrypotpourri ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 

38 @cherylb1262 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 

39 @spiralout51 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 

40 @luckyjennyknits ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 

Email 

41 murderknits@gmail.com ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 

Facebook 

42 Kansaschickie ü ü ü ü 

Double Kning 

Intarsia 

Fair Isle 

Lace 

Mosaic 

Baby Clothes 

Baby / Lap Blankets 

Large Blankets 

Socks 

Gloves / Miens 

Hats 

Cowls / Scarves / 

Sweaters / Cardigans 

Toys 

7

The Tricoteuse 

By Uknitted Kingdom 

Tricoteuse /ˌtrɪkəˈtəːz, French tʀikɔtøz/ 

Noun. One of a number of women who sat and knied while 

aending public execuons during the French Revoluon. 

"as gleefully as the most ragged and revoluonary tricoteuse" 

In October 1789, in the beginning years of the 

French Revolution, thousands of working class 

women protested and marched to the Palace 

of Versailles. The women, hungry and furious 

at the inflated cost of food, succeeded in 

forcing King Louis XVI to give in to their demands. 

The ‘Women’s March’ was applauded and 

praised by the wider community and the 

leaders of the women, The Tricoteuses, were 

exalted and feted by the Parisian Government 

and finally invited to The National Convention 

(the first French Republic after abolishing 

the monarchy). 

The Tricoteuse were known to walk the streets 

searching for aristocrats and accusing them 

of being unpatriotic. They threatened anyone 

singled out as privileged, such as landowners 

or people with wealth. 

The rich and powerful of Paris gave the Tricoteuse 

gifts and invited them to events, probably 

in a vain attempt to assuage the women’s 

wrath and subsequent accusations. 

By 1793, the government banned the Tricoteuse 

from attending political meetings or 

forming political assemblies. The precise reason 

for their falling out of favour is unknown, so 

perhaps the women harassed the wrong 

politician’s wife! 

After being banned, the Tricoteuse congregated 

in the ‘Place de la Révolution’ with 

front row views of the guillotine. Those that 

could afford the seats sat knitting in silence, as 

victim after victim was decapitated. There are 

unverifiable (and unlikely) tales of the Tricoteuses 

knitting as they were splattered with 

blood from the guillotine. One particularly grisly 

report claims at least one woman was seen 

to dip her bread into the blood of the executed 

before eating it. 

As the heads rolled, the Tricoteuses knitted 

hats for the Revolution. The pattern they knitted 

was known as a “bonnet rouge” and was 

usually a knitted red Phrygian cap 1 . The caps 

were also known as freedom hats. 

Landowners and the rich were so in fear of 

being executed they would wear the bonnet 

rouge to try to appear to be ‘one of the people’ 

and hide their links to the aristocracy. 

Rules about who was permitted to wear a 

bonnet rouge were strict and the bonnet was 

seen as sacred. Only those with merit were 

permitted to wear them. The bonnets were 

even placed atop buildings to dissuade looters 

and rioters from attacking buildings. 

The Tricoteuse became legendary and have 

been infamously depicted in literature and 

film. Charles Dickens’ character Madame De 

Farge knitted the names of those to be executed 

into her knitting. As knitters, we can all 

agree that this probably wasn’t based upon 

truth! 

hps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ 

Seal_of_the_United_States_Senate 

Etching from Harper’s Weekly, August 

1881, from a painng by Carl Piloty, 

“The Girondists.” 

1 Phrygian caps have a long history and were first recorded in the 4 th Century BC. They were worn by those in the ‘cult of Attis’. In 

Roman times ‘freemen’ often wore them to show they were no longer slaves. The caps became synonymous with freedom and liberty 

and the Seal of the US Senate proudly depicts a Phrygian cap labelled ‘liberty’. 

8

228 years later, there was another Women’s 

March. This time the march was in 2017 and 

was held in Washington D.C., USA. 

The women protested against the newly 

elected President Donald J. Trump, and arguably 

this was the result of them misinterpreting 

a private comment he had made 

more than 10 years earlier. 

The women wore knitted pink ‘pussy hats’ to 

reflect the colour of women’s genitalia. 

Some wore pink vagina costumes. The reason 

for the choice of pink for the hats was 

later denied when accusations of racism 

and transphobia were levied. 

Although the women present were not all 

knitters, most of the hats were knitted or crocheted 

by hand. The demand for pink yarn 

created a shortage across the USA. 

The pussy hat became linked to anti- 

Republicanism (specifically the Trump Administration) 

and, like the Tricoteuse, knitters 

furiously created them and demanded yarn 

stores, yarn dyers, and others join them. 

Since 2017 these modern Tricoteuse have 

stalked the internet streets searching for 

those they perceive as privileged, of the 

wrong political persuasion, of the wrong skin 

colour, or simply thinking the wrong way. 

Once singled out, their targets are figuratively 

beheaded as the Tricoteuses sit, knitting, 

dipping their bread into the severed necks of 

their victims. 

9

dishidents and secquares 

by Uknied Kingdom 

10

dishidents (dissident dishcloths) and 

secquares (secret squares) 

yarn 

The test knit for these patterns each used approximately 

41 to 43g of worsted weight 100% cotton. 

gauge 

For dishcloths; gauge isn’t particularly important as you 

will find your own gauge (or the yarn manufacturers’ recommended 

gauge) perfectly adequate. 

However, if you choose to knit squares for a blanket try to 

be consistent with your yarn and needle choices so that 

the squares are the same size. 

tips 

If preferred, slip the first OR the last stitch of every row to 

create a neater edge. 

When purling a stitch immediately after knitting a stitch; 

pull the excess yarn out of the purl stitch before knitting or 

purling on. This helps to reduce loose/baggy knit stitches. 

directions 

dishcloth/square number three: 

Cast on 45 stitches 

R1: k45 

R2: k45 

R3: k45 

R4: k45 

R5: k45 

R6: k45 

R7: k4, p37, k4 

R8: k45 

R9: k4, p2, k4, p6, k4, p8, k8, p5, k4 

R10: k45 

R11: k4, p2, k4, p5, k4, p9, k9, p4, k4 

R12: k45 

R13: k4, p2, k4, p4, k4, p10, k3, p4, k3, p3, k4 

R14: k45 

R15: k4, p2, k4, p3, k4, p2, k6, p3, k3, p5, k3, p2, k4 

R16: k45 

R17: k4, p2, k4, p2, k4, p2, k3, p2, k3, p2, k3, p5, k3, p2, k4 

R18: k45 


R20: k45 

R21: k4, p2, k8, p3, k9, p2, k3, p5, k3, p2, k4 

R22: k45 

R23: k4, p2, k8, p3, k9, p2, k3, p5, k3, p2, k4 

R24: k45 


R26: k45 


R28: k45 

R29: k4, p2, k4, p3, k3, p2, k7, p3, k9, p4, k4 

R30: k45 

R31: k4, p2, k4, p4, k3, p11, k8, p5, k4 

R32: k45 

R33: k4, p37, k4 

R34: k45 

R35: k4, p2, k8, p3, k11, p3, k7, p3, k4 

R36: k45 

R37: k4, p2, k9, p2, k11, p2, k9, p2, k4 

R38: k45 


R40: k45 


R42: k45 

R43: k4, p2, k9, p2, k3, p2, k6, p2, k3, p8, k4 

R44: k45 


R46: k45 


R48: k45 


R50: k45 

R51: k4, p2, k9, p2, k3, p3, k4, p3, k9, p2, k4 

R52: k45 

R53: k4, p2, k8, p3, k3, p11, k7, p3, k4 

R54: k45 

R55: k4, p37, k4 

R56: k45 

R57: k45 

R58: k45 

R59: k45 

R60: k45 

R61: k45 

R62: k45 

Bind Off. 

pattern errata 

Errata can be reported via email to: 

uknittedkingdom@gmail.com 

© Copyright 2022 Uknitted Kingdom 

All rights reserved. 

11

How to Survive Being Cancelled 

By ‘a cancellee’ 

When you find yourself the target of an internet mobbing, it can take your breath away. Hundreds of 

strangers “pile on” your social media account with vile accusations and hateful wishes. Those who would 

otherwise support you are too afraid to say anything in your defense out of fear of becoming a target themselves. 

The self-appointed assessors of righteousness and purity often crawl through your list of followers and 

demand your friends denounce you or suffer the same fate. Your business or brand that you’ve worked so 

hard to build starts shedding customers— thousands of them. 

If you do not own a business, the online attacks can still affect your job. If your personal information is not well 

-protected, expect calls to your employer and an attempt to get you fired. Sometimes the mob calls child 

protective services and begins that nightmare for you. 

What type of offense is worthy of all this effort and contempt? Any, really. In the past we’ve seen that simply 

asking for kindness will send the cancel mob into a hysterical frenzy where the goal is the utter destruction of 

the asker. 

There are not a lot of resources available to help you if you find yourself the focus of the mob. It can be disorienting, 

and it feels like the whole world is against you. We’ve put together a guide of coping strategies 

should you find yourself ‘cancelled.’ 

Accept That It’s Unfair 

Cancel culture essentially operates as a kangaroo court where an unappointed jury passes judgement and 

imposes punishment without giving you the ability to plead your case or be heard. Your attackers are sadists 

at heart, and they enjoy the hunt and the kill. 

It’s important to know that cancelling is NOT about morality or ethics. It is about power and dominance. The 

goal is to control behavior and thinking. 

Nothing about cancel culture is fair. Your brand and reputation are forever altered. There is no going back 

to the way it was before. However, once you accept this, you can start to rebuild. You may find in the rebuilding 

that you have a smaller but more stable customer base – or a smaller, but closer-knit group of 

friends – that doesn’t come with the threat of impending cancellation. 

Remember Who You Are 

Keep hold of your sense of who you are. Accept that others will have misconceptions about you. Being misunderstood 

is uncomfortable. However, there is a lot of wisdom in the maxim “consider the source.” Online 

strangers, no matter how strong their opinions, are simply strangers. Many of them have mental illnesses – 

many self-declared and listed in their bios – and are not people who you would ever consult for life advice. 

When you find yourself mobbed by them it’s important to rely on real people in your real life who know you 

and whom you trust. You are still the same person you were before anonymous accounts labeled you 

“toxic.” You know what is true about yourself. Stay honest and stick to the truth of the matter. 

12

Limit Screen Time 

Focus on your real life and real relationships. Remember the difference 

between real life and social media. The curated feeds of Instagram 

are an illusion. People may not realize that the behind-thescenes 

of the knitting industry is cut-throat. The smiling faces online 

do not translate to friendly people in the real world. Knitting is ultimately 

a competitive business. The same can be said for the world of 

knitfluencers. 

Do Not Apologize 

Apologies will not provide any relief from the attacks. They serve only 

to embolden the mob and will make it even more difficult for the 

next person to stand up. No apology will ever be good enough. It will 

be viewed as insincere or lacking or problematic in some way. Apologizing 

disheartens those who are willing to stand by you and help 

you rebuild. By apologizing, you alienate everyone. 

One caveat— if you truly feel like you are wrong and want to clear 

your conscience, then an apology is appropriate. Just do not expect that it will alleviate the onslaught. 

Stay Calm 

Resist the urge to go on the defensive. The mob will eventually go find someone else to harass, especially if 

you do not engage. If you do engage, your words will be used against you. Expect anything you say to circulate 

across social media and for it to be twisted to make you look bad. The intent is to shame you and to 

intimidate others. “Look what will happen to you if you don’t toe the party line.” 

One strategy is to post pretty pictures of your yarn or knitting or kittens. Make it difficult for them to find reasons 

to create more smear campaigns. Be prepared that if you leave your comments open, your posts will 

be filled with attacks from the mob. 

Don’t Expect to Change Minds 

Studies have shown that presenting sound arguments supported by facts are not effective in changing the 

minds of ideologs. These people value their social and moral status above evidence. If you are a person who 

forms your world view on the basis of facts, it may be hard to accept that most people fight data to keep 

their belief systems intact. 

Record Everything 

The behavior of some of your attackers is possibly illegal. You may be able to bring your case to court. Keeping 

records of the harassment, libel, and slander could make all the difference in a court of law. 

Courage is Contagious 

Courage begets courage. People will watch you to see how you react. Your choices will either inspire more 

fear or they will inspire others to take a stand. The more people who are willing to speak out, the more quickly 

we will reach a point where we can cancel ‘cancel culture.’ We can help create an environment where 

civil discourse is the norm. They can’t cancel all of us. 

I know of a person who was cancelled and went to a 

fiber festival anyways. When people saw her and 

scowled, she walked right up to them and started a 

conversation. She made them acknowledge her and 

see her as a person. With another human being in front 

of them, they begrudgingly engaged in polite small 

talk. 

If you find yourself cancelled and alone, please know 

that it won’t last. You WILL find a new tribe that accepts 

you and appreciates you. Being cancelled is 

emotionally difficult but life after cancellation can be 

better than before. 

13

Know the rules and break them anyway. 

By Maree Buscke 

Knitting started as a way to create cloth and garments as early as 

1000AD in Egypt and found its way to Europe and by the 14 th century 

where a trade guild was established to elevate the craft to 

improve quality and assure higher prices. 

With this elevation to guild status, techniques were recorded and 

the ‘rules’ of knitting started to be firmly established from oral tradition 

to fully-fledged trades. As knitting spread across the continent, 

so did the cultural spin to the craft. 

Outside of the guilds, knitting was a vastly more practical affair, 

with garments created to fit with the lives and livelihoods of the recipients. Those traditions 

passed from one generation to the next. 

With the advent of publishing and open access to travel, knitting started the transition from 

practicality to pastime and with this you saw creativity expand to whimsies of fashion or the 

simple necessity of the environment, supply or situation. 

Some of the foundational rules of knitting, whether it be by hand or 

machine, have always been set around consistency and predictability 

of outcome. This was usually revolved around gauge/tension & 

cover factor of the fabric. The first helped determine sizing and the latter 

wear and functionality. 

Those rules still stand today. 

How many times have you sought advice about knitting a garment 

and the first question has been “Did you swatch?” 

Swatching helps set the ground rules for sizing and shape, a snapshot of how a fabric will look 

and perform. Once you know the rules, however, then you can also break them and swatching 

is the key to this too. 

In our impatience we often think that swatching a waste of time or yarn, but if you want to express 

your inner stitching anarchist, swatching allows you to test your ideas, throw caution to 

the wind and rewrite the rules to the stitching story you want to write. 

This is where you can expand or contract your needle, work out various stitch combinations, 

multi strand yarns, even substitute yarns for other materials. Each swatch is then a glimpse of 

what could become your final garment. It allows you to also see the positives and negatives 

of the new fabric and how best it can be used. 

Designers have been doing this for years. The glitter knitter StevenBe is famous for his use of 

mixed mediums like wool with lurex, knitted fishing line and even knitted cassette tape! Steven 

crafts pieces that are worn as layers to create a statement and have fun with fashion and 

your craft. 

Personally I love nothing more than taking a single design and adding my 

own ‘Maree Modifications’. What happens if I change the gauge, alter 

the medium, add extra textures, and play with the length, shaping or 

size? 

Not only does it fuel your creativity, it also helps you maximise the value 

from every design you have purchased and allows you to add your own 

stamp of personality to each piece. 

The first step, you guessed it, is a swatch. 

14

Cultural Appropriation and Knitting 

By Natasha 

The question a lot of people in the knitting community are asking recently 

is, “Does cultural appropriation in knitting actually exist?” The answer to that in simplest 

terms is “sort-of.” What I mean by that is cultural appropriation itself does not exist in 

knitting, but some people try to stir up trouble where there is none to start arguments 

and disagreements because they want attention. Which, to me, sounds very desperate. 

Take it from a girl in middle school, it sounds like something a teenage girl would do 

for attention. This doesn’t make the knitters behaving this way seem very mature. 

An example of knitters using cultural appropriation to start drama is the knitting 

pattern “Kochi Kimono.” There is no problem with this pattern being called “Kochi 

Kimono” because the overall style, with exception to some details, is very similar to the 

traditional kimono. The pattern was actually styled to look just like the traditional 

Kimono, with the exception of it being knitted. Because knitters stirred up trouble for no 

reason, the designer of Paper Cut Patterns had to change the name to “Kochi Jacket'' 

and had to apologize to everyone for offending them. This was not the first time in fashion 

that some have named a design containing the term Kimono or copied the style of a 

Kimono. You have to ask why was this time so offensive? 

Another example of controversy is whether or not the “Chinese Waitress Cast 

On” is an offensive name. The reason it is called a “Chinese Waitress Cast On” is 

because a Chinese waitress was the first one to teach it. I see no reason to change it 

because it is just named after the waitress that created it, who was not offended by it being 

named after her. So I do not know why other people are offended by it. Why should it be offensive 

to knitters to have things named after the persons who invented them? 

These are just a couple of examples that 

show that cultural appropriation in knitting is 

just a means to start arguments and get 

attention. Knitting has been developing for 

thousands of years across the globe, different 

cultures have added new techniques 

and construction methods just like artists 

and architects have added to painting 

techniques/movements and architectural 

styles. Would we attack someone for painting 

like Salvador Dali or designing a building 

like I. M. Pei? 

Knitting is just another construction technique 

and a skill that anyone can learn. 

15

please, 

whatever you do, 

do NOT read this! 

By Uknitted Kingdom 

We seem to have caused somewhat of a stir, 

haven’t we? 

Before the premiere issue of Blocked was even 

released, the usual suspects were already accusing 

the magazine of “abhorrent and disgusting” 

content. 

“I haven’t looked at it,” said one knitter, “but I 

know what it contains.” 

“It’s a white supremacist burn book!” said another 

who hadn’t laid eyes on a word of 

Blocked. 

Many impassioned pleas were made to NOT 

look at our publication… 

It was the best advertising Blocked could have 

wished for! Within one week more than 14,000 

readers had viewed these “vile” pages. 

With every Instagram story that begged followers 

to avoid the magazine, more readers (and 

Patrons!) walked through our virtual doors. 

As our views climbed, our detractors explored 

different tactics to sabotage us. A campaign 

was organized to report Blocked for hate 

speech and racism. An automated system 

took the magazine offline for two days (over 

the weekend) until a human was able to review 

it. This person rejected the complaints as 

malicious and without merit and the magazine 

was promptly placed back online. This time, 

however, Blocked issue one was block-proof! 

The platform confirmed it would never again 

be taken down by complaints. 

Several unsuccessful attempts were made to 

break into our social media accounts so fake 

accounts featuring pornography were made 

using similar names. 

Knitfluencers used social media to intimidate 

their own followers in order to cripple our magazine. 

They demanded that their followers 

block all contributors to Blocked within 10 days 

“or else!” 

Rumours even began circulating that cancelled 

’knitfluencer’, Kristy Glass, was secretly 

funding the magazine. Apparently, a few people 

pushed the lie that the magazine had emboldened 

her to return to public life and that 

we were all somehow conspiring to promote 

racism, and other evils, within the knitting community. 

There were likely other attempts at sabotage, 

unbeknownst to us. However, you can’t stop a 

movement whose time has come. The truth 

has a way of cutting through all the lies. And 

here we still are, 14,000 readers later! 

We had anticipated a small readership of 

about 2,000. It is humbling that our expectations 

were wildly exceeded. We are grateful to 

all of you who have turned out to contribute 

content, read our magazine, and support us. If 

you are one of our many readers who has endured 

harassment or threats from 

‘knitfluencers’ online, we thank you for your 

courage. 

So now that the hysteria has quieted somewhat 

it’s time to get on with issue two of 

Blocked. We hope that you enjoy the content 

on our pages. And we hope that if you are inspired, 

you will think about participating. 

If you have a pattern, or an article, or artwork 

that you’d like to have reviewed and considered 

for publication, please email us at: 


16

17

The Lazy Knitter’s Guide 

to Knitting Mojo 

by the Laziest Knitter, Illustrations by Abby D 

Over the years, there has been a lot of talk about the somewhat elusive ‘knitting mojo.’ We all 

know how it happens; Christmas is looming on the horizon and we spend several frantic weeks 

knitting furiously on 20 pairs of wool mittens for friends and family. By the time the New Year rolls 

around, we never want to see a knitting needle again. 

A new sweater pattern and a yarn we’ve been dying to try helps to restart the mojo. That luxurious, 

fuzzy, and hard-to-frog yarn comes together with a misread of the instructions and we 

need to unravel back to the cast on. In disgust, we shove our project away and the mojo 

evaporates for weeks or months. 

If you’re reading this publication, you may be familiar with the occurrence of another mojokiller. 

Hundreds, if not thousands of knitters have laid down their needles and headed over to 

greener pastures and friendlier communities. Why? Knitting went ‘woke.’ 

For some, they walked away when Ravelry declared them white supremacists (regardless of 

their skin color.) For others, it was the online mobbings and cancel-brigades that drove them 

away from their craft. 

I abandoned my needles for over a year after Sockmatician was bullied into a hospital. Watching 

knitters I knew and admired celebrate the destruction of Nathan’s mental health and career 

ultimately soured my feelings about both the “knitting community” and knitting itself. Demands 

for statements of fidelity to the ideology that fueled the psychological torment were 

everywhere. Knitting friends who spoke of inclusivity and kindness were demonstrating cruelty 

and ostracizing anyone who had different life experiences or different perspectives. Very few 

knitfluencers were able to find the courage to take a stand against it. Those that did paid dearly 

for it. 

My beautiful stash of hand-dyed yarn and my half-completed projects became a visual reminder 

of the pain of being mischaracterized and the loss of community I felt. It’s difficult to 

want to knit when there’s so much emotional baggage attached. Also, I just didn’t want to join 

the creepy cult. 

18

Why Even Care About Your Knitting Mojo? 

If you are like me, you have spent a considerable amount of time and money collecting yarn, 

patterns, and knitting skills. You have dreamt about the beautiful finished objects that your 

stash will become. And how awesome is it when a stranger asks where we got our sweater/ 

hat/shawl and we can say we made it ourselves?! 

The stress that comes with making a 

large investment in a hobby that 

goes unused isn’t exactly comfortable. 

A sweater’s quantity of handdyed 

yarn can easily cost over $200, 

not to mention the $10 pattern and 

all the classes you took to learn the 

necessary skills. It feels incredibly 

wasteful. 

Find a New Tribe 

If your loss of mojo is due to loss of 

community, the quickest way to find 

your knitting mojo again is to find a 

group of knitters that is inclusive— as 

in the actual definition of “inclusive,” 

and not, you know, a weird cult. These inclusive groups are getting easier and easier to find 

thanks, in large part, to the “inclusive” groups shunning and publicly humiliating anyone with 

the audacity to question them. (You know, how cults work.) I’ve found knitting groups on FB 

that keep politics out of it. There are also knitting groups that cater to those who were expelled 

from Ravelry. A community of people who can empathize with your pain and who love to knit 

can go a long way toward wanting to pick up your needles again. If you are on IG, search for 

#dismantletheknittingcult. You may find kindred spirits there. 

Overdye Toxic Skeins 

What if a large part of your stash is yarn from a dyer who has participated in the mobbings 

and cancellings? Hand dyed yarn is beautiful (and expensive), but yarn dyed by the hands of 

someone who has taken part in bullying or doxing doesn’t exactly inspire. What can you do? 

Besides the obvious selling/trading/donating the yarn, you can overdye it and turn it into 

something new. Magical things happen when you overdye a color you don’t like or want, especially 

when you use light color washes which act as glazes. I’ve used this technique on colorways 

that I didn’t like and have gotten results that are stunning. 

Don’t know how to dye yarn? There 

are a lot of free resources available on 

YouTube. If you are willing to invest in 

classes, the School of Sweet Georgia 

has very thorough classes on practically 

every method of yarn dyeing under 

the sun. Dyeing yarn is not as unapproachable 

as you might think. You 

can use acid dye and citric acid or 

you can use food dye and vinegar 

right out of your kitchen. In the same 

vein, to inspire your mojo to return, try 

dyeing your own colorways from 

scratch! Wool2dye4.com is a great resource 

for quality bare yarns. 

19

Frog Everything 

Frogging all your projects may seem 

extreme, but to me, it feels like freedom. 

Unraveling my stagnant projects 

is liberating. The yarn goes back into 

stash and becomes fuel for inspiration. 

I regain all my freshly emptied needles. 

Plus, I can indulge in cast-on-itis, guilt 

free! 

What does frogging mean in 

knitting? It is when you remove 

your needles from your project 

and pull the yarn out, undoing 

all the rows. Frogging gets it’s 

name from “rip it, rip it, rip it” 

which sounds like a frog’s croak. 

Indulge Your Curiosity 

Sometimes it’s a joy to work on something mindless, like a stockinette sock. But there is something 

intrinsically exciting about a project where you learn a new technique. When I found the 

Skew sock, I couldn’t put it down. Watching a sock emerge from a construction that wasn’t intuitive 

to me was exciting! In that same vein, using a new yarn or a new pattern can reignite 

excitement for your craft. Explore and nourish your curiosity. 

Do It For You 

Forget the gift knitting and deadline knitting and knit for yourself. It’s a shame that we often refer 

to this as “selfish knitting.” Do potters have “selfish bowls” or painters have “selfish paintings?” 

Knitting can be practical but it is also an artform, a type of self-expression. All art is inherently 

selfish in this way and it should be! 

Do It For Charity 

It’s often our selfless acts that bring us the most satisfaction. Using your stash and skills to help a 

stranger may be just what you need to bring back your mojo. Whether it’s knitting hats for veterans 

or lap blankets for seniors, knitting knockers for breast cancer survivors or blankets for animals 

in shelters, there are limitless opportunities for giving back. Contact your local hospital to 

see if they need beanies for preemies or your homeless shelter to see if they need mittens and 

scarves. Want more ideas? A quick internet search on ‘charity knitting’ will bring up numerous 

options. 

Give Yourself Time 

If none of these ideas work for you, give yourself 

more time. People throughout history have 

knitted for the sheer joy of it long before 

knitfluencers existed. I often remind myself 

that I loved knitting before I loved podcasts or 

IG. While the pain of losing a community is real, 

I don’t want it to translate to the loss of my 

favorite creative outlet. It’s taken time, but my 

mojo has returned in full— reawakened, I 

would say. I hope the same for you. 

20

Join Two Sisters & Some Yarn with 

their latest make-along (MAL). 

· Just create and have fun; join in using 

the hashtag #TSASYMAL and 

tag @twosistersandsomeyarn. 

· Start a new project with the ‘Two 

Sisters and Some Yarn’ colorway 

from @sweetmountaincrafts or any 

of her other yarns or ber. 

· For details of other indie dyers you 

can use contact Two Sisters & 

Some Yarn on Instagram. 

Join us in 2022 to knit, crochet, and spin! 

Quarterly KCALS with fun themes, video chats, prizes galore, no politics 

and almost no rules. 

It’s time that we bridge the divide created in the fiber community and get 

back to the joy of making! 

21

Knitting for Crocheters 

by Uknitted Kingdom 

I was recently asked if I could write a ‘how-to-knit’ for crocheters who have tried to knit and 

failed, then tried to knit again and failed again. Those that have failed many times (and given 

up for good) may find this useful. 

This is a temporary solution designed to acclimatize crocheters into knitting in a more crochetfriendly 

way before moving on to a more traditional knitting method. 

For me, crochet was far more complicated to learn than knitting. Where knitting has 2 basic 

stitches, knit and purl, crochet has slip stitch, SC (single crochet), HDC (half double), DC 

(double), HTC (half triple), TC (triple) and so on. This is before learning extended stitches, post 

stitches, Tunisian stitches and then learning the difference between USA terms and UK terms. 

Imagine if every time you read a pattern, you had to check if the knit stitch was a USA knit 

stitch or a UK purl stitch and whether the purl stitch was a USA purl stitch or a UK knit stitch! 

Over the years I’ve experimented with different styles of knitting. I began as an English 

‘thrower’, however after developing carpal tunnel syndrome I researched different styles of 

knitting to try to reduce the stress on my hands and wrists. After trying continental, Norwegian 

and Portuguese/Andean methods I settled permanently into the Portuguese style. These styles 

of knitting gave me the idea for this technique. 

Some, but not all, Portuguese and Andean knitters use hooked knitting needles. The needles 

have a hook on one end and a traditional knitting point on the other. 

As crocheters are more familiar with manipulating yarn with hooks than needles this technique 

could be a temporary solution and a step towards knitting with needles. 

Tools 

To try this technique you will need two Portuguese knitting hooks. As these are not easily available, 

and can be quite expensive, Afghan hooks can be used instead. They are just as useful, 

are easier to source and are much more affordable. 

You will need 2 hooks of the same size (appropriate for the yarn weight you prefer to use). 

Afghan hooks have a crochet hook at one end, a smooth, uninterrupted shaft and a ‘stopper’ 

at the end of the hook to prevent the stitches falling off. Afghan hooks are usually much longer 

than crochet hooks and can be the same length as straight knitting needles. 

Your usual crochet hooks will not be suitable if they have larger handles than the shaft, an indent 

on the shaft for your thumb, or short shafts. 

22

Yarn choice 

For the time being choose your favourite weight of yarn. For example, don’t use fingering 

weight to knit if you usually use worsted weight to crochet. 

Holding the needles 

You will probably hold your crochet hook like a pen or like a knife. Whichever way you hold 

your hook, apply the same hold when knitting. 

Which Knitting Style should a crocheter choose to learn? 

As with knitting, crochet can have a number of styles. To my knowledge they don’t have titles 

(I’d be very interested to hear if you know otherwise), so for the purpose of this article, I’ll call 

them by the names of the knitting techniques that I’m going to compare them to. The reason 

for this will become clear. 

The Continental Crochet hold. This style is where a right-handed crocheter holds the hook in 

the right hand and the working yarn in the left. The yarn is tensioned around the ring or little finger 

and the ‘active’ yarn is suspended from the raised index finger. The yarn is then hooked 

from the ‘active’ part of the yarn. 

The Norwegian Crochet hold. Similar to the Continental style, the Norwegian style is where a 

right-handed crocheter holds the hook in the right hand and the working yarn in the left. The 

yarn is tensioned around the ring or little finger and the ‘active’ yarn is held over the lowered 

index finger. The index finger does not rise at any point. The working yarn is then hooked directly 

from the index finger. 

The English Crochet hold. This is a style utilized by left-handed crocheters. The hook is held in 

the left hand. And the yarn is wrapped or thrown around the hook by the right hand. 

First, identify which kind of crocheter you are. If you fall into one of the three styles above I 

think you will have some success learning to knit. 

Make your transition from crochet to knitting as familiar as possible. For continental Crocheters, 

learn continental-style knitting. Norwegian Crocheters, learn Norwegian-style knitting and English 

Crocheters, learn English-style knitting. The reason for this is that the crocheter will already 

be used to holding and manipulating the yarn in that way. 

23

Casting on 

For the time being use a crochet chain cast on. This will be familiar to all crocheters and is a legitimate 

cast on for many knitting projects. 

Chain 21. 

With the Afghan hook SC (USA) or DC (UK) into the 2 nd chain from the hook. HOWEVER do not 

finish the stitch. Insert the hook through the 2 nd chain, catch the yarn as usual, pull through the 

chain but DO NOT complete the stitch as you would with crochet. Just leave the loop on the 

hook. You will have 2 loops on your hook. Now do exactly the same into the 3 rd chain. You will 

have 3 loops on the hook. Continue until you have worked all the chains. You will have 21 loops 

on your hook. 

Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3 Fig.4 

In fig. 1 to fig. 4, I began with several rows of single crochet (USA)/ double crochet (UK). However, 

this process would be the same if starting from a chain. 

This is exactly how you would begin a Tunisian Crochet project. However, the comparison with 

Tunisian crochet begins and ends here. 

Swap the hook with the 21 loops from your right hand to your left hand (Fig. 5). The hook end 

should be facing to the right. When crocheting you would now be holding the fabric between 

your thumb and middle finger. Do the same with the hook that holds the 21 loops. Wrap the 

working yarn how you would when crocheting. 

Insert the right hook into the first loop on the left hook through the back loop (Fig. 6). 

Fig. 5 Fig. 6 Fig. 7 Fig. 8 Fig. 9 

Catch the yarn from your index finger (Fig. 7) and pull it back through the loop (Fig. 8). You will 

now have a new loop on your right-hand needle. 

Allow the ‘old’ loop to slip off the left hook (Fig. 9). 

You have knitted your first stitch. 

Continue knitting into each loop on the left hook until you have 21 stitches on the right hook. 

In Fig.10 you will see 2 rows of knit stitch directly below the 

needle. Two rows of knit stitch creates one garter stitch ridge. 

Below the garter stitch ridge are several rows of crochet. 

Fig. 10 

Photography © 2022 @Mac.Tlu 

24

Knitting is simply a series of crochet slip-stitches. Purling is similar except you enter the stitch from 

the back to the front instead of knitting from the front to the back. Purling is a little trickier so for 

now focus on the knit stitch. 

When crocheting a slip stitch you would insert 

the hook into the stitch from the front, catch 

the yarn, pull it back through the stitch and 

then, as part of the same movement, you pull 

the new loop through the old loop leaving 

one loop on the hook. Knitting is almost the 

same. You just omit the last stage. 

At this point, experienced knitters might possibly 

be appalled. Remember, this is a technique 

for crocheters that have failed to learn 

to knit and require a different approach. 

Knitters will recognize that this method produces 

an Eastern-style knit stitch. Where Western 

knitters enter the stitch from front left, the 

Eastern method enters the stitch from back 

right. This method has no bearing on the appearance 

of the knitted fabric so long as the 

accompanying purl stitch is created in the 

matching East or West style. The Eastern method 

will feel more familiar to crocheters. 

Crochet slip stitch 

Begin with one loop 

on your hook 

Insert hook through the 

first stitch from the 

front to the back. 

Catch the working yarn 

from your index finger 

with the hook. 

Pull the working yarn 

back through the stitch. 


through the loop on the 

hook. 

One loop on the hook. 

Knit stitch 

Begin with zero loops on 

your right needle but with 

the 

desired number of loops 

(stitches) on your left needle. 

Insert the needle through 

the first loop on the left 

needle from front to the 

back. 

Catch the working yarn 

from your index finger 

with your needle. 


back through the loop. 

Allow the original loop to 

drop off the left needle. 

Two loops on the needle. 

Binding Off 

To bind off, work each stitch from the left hook in the same method as before, but this time finish 

each stitch as if you are making a crochet slip stitch. 

Insert the right hook into the first loop on the left hook through the back loop. 

Catch the yarn from your index finger and pull it back through the loop. You will now have a 

new loop on your right-hand needle. You will now have one stitch. 

*Insert the right hook into the next loop on the left hook through the back loop. Pull the working 

yarn through. You will have two loops on your right hook. 

Pull the new loop through the old loop (as per crochet). One loop on your hook.** 

Continue * to ** until you have one loop left. Finish off in the same way as you would with crochet. 

Keep practicing this until you are familiar with the physical movements involved. When you feel 

confident try doing exactly the same with knitting needles instead of hooks. 

If you have found this useful please let me know and I’ll prepare a ‘Purling for Crocheters’ for 

the next issue. 

25

Email: 


26

It seems that just as we knitters and crocheters settle down to our craft; someone else comes 

along and causes us to drop a stitch, or worse, causes us to lose our excitement and enjoyment 

of the particular project we’ve been working on. So many times I’ve heard that the unpleasantness 

surrounding our corner of the world has stagnated creativity. 

In ’Dropped Stitch of the Month’ I’ll highlight the latest bad behaviour to cause our collective 

and figurative dropped stitches. As with a literal dropped stitch we can’t simply knit on. We 

have to ladder that sucker back up and regain composure, and then, and only then, knit on. 

This month’s ‘Dropped Stitch’ is: 

Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau. 

Although Trudeau is not a knitter/crocheter his actions and words have negatively affected 

many of us. 

27

THEY [THE UNVACCINATED] ARE 

EXTREMISTS WHO DON’T 

BELIEVE IN SCIENCE, 

THEY’RE OFTEN MISOGYNISTS, 

ALSO OFTEN RACISTS. 

IT’S A SMALL GROUP 

THAT MUSCLES IN, 

AND WE HAVE TO 

MAKE A CHOICE IN 

TERMS OF LEADERS, 

IN TERMS OF 

THE COUNTRY. 

DO WE 

TOLERATE 

THESE 

PEOPLE? 

28

Here, at Blocked, we believe that if you see a pattern or a yarn that you love, you should 

download or purchase it. We don’t support boycotts, blacklists, or cancelling. No one has the 

right to dictate how any of us spend our money or the yarns or patterns we enjoy. 

If you’ve seen the pattern or yarn you want to have already, go for it! However, if you haven’t 

chosen a specific pattern or yarn and are browsing for inspiration, please start with the designers 

and indie dyers listed below. 

These small businesses have been boycotted and blacklisted. Or they risk the same simply by 

not supporting the cancelling of others or, just for appearing in Blocked. 

As the months progress, we hope this list will get longer as more designers and indie dyers collaborate 

with Blocked or choose to advertise in Blocked. 

If you are a designer and we feature one of your patterns, you will receive free advertising in 

Blocked for 12 months. 

If you are an indie dyer, you can advertise within the magazine for as little as $15 per quarter to 

appear in the quarterly issues or $10 per month to appear in every issue. 

Knitty McPurly 

Lizclothier Designs 

http://www.knittymcpurly.com/ 

https://www.ravelry.com/designers/liz-clothier 

Anne Pinkava 

Deplorable Knitter 

YankeeRose Creations 

https://www.lovecrafts.com/en-us/user/maker/fdba7e1e-93b6-4b6f-9f82-06ef18d0ec8c 

https://galilee-life.com/vendor/deplorable-knitter/ 

http://www.yankeerose.etsy.com/ 

29

The Church of the Poisoned Mind (Fleecing the Disturbed) 

by Uknied Kingdom 

We face a new religious cult. The religion of 

“anti-racism.” One of the high priestesses, a 

knitwear designer, states, with authority, that: 

· all white people are racist, but some are 

working towards being less racist. 

· That she, as a black woman, cannot be 

racist. 

· That black women should be believed at 

all times. 

· That facts and evidence are tools of 

white supremacy. 

· If you don’t admit to being a racist, guess 

what? You’re a racist! 

Not being racist isn’t enough. You have to be 

actively anti-racist. This entails harassing, reprimanding, 

and reporting perceived instances 

of micro-aggression. If you aren’t actively antiracist 

you must, in their view, support racism. 

Each week she delivers her sermon, and after 

the release of Blocked, she led her flock in a 

minute’s silence for all the black women that 

were ‘harmed’. 

At the close of each sermon she allows white 

and non-black worshippers to communicate 

with her for 10 minutes and 10 minutes only in 

a form of public confessional. Confessors are 

encouraged to “sit in their discomfort” and 

profess their racist sins. 

After the confessional, ONLY black people are 

permitted to speak to her. Whites, Asians, 

Jews, Latinos, and any other non-blacks are 

strictly verboten. However, they are all expected 

to put money into the collection box 

via her tip-jar or ‘badges’. Contributors and 

contributions are noted. 

The religious metaphor took another step closer 

to reality this month when the high priestess 

issued an encyclical stating that “Black life is 

sacred.” A caveat was included to make it 

clear that unborn black babies’ lives were absolutely 

NOT sacred and had no value except 

as an extension of the uterus owner’s body. 

Deliberately excluding the lives of all other 

races/ethnicities from being perceived as 

equal/sacred is the first step on a path that 

has been well-trodden by race-purists since 

time began. 

For those of us that believe ALL life is sacred 

this should cause some concern. 

The church of Anti-Racism preaches that: 

· White people are raised to have no empathy, 

especially for black people. 

· That white lives are less important than 

the sacrosanct black lives. 

· That white people kill black people and 

that white people are inferior but also 

have privilege. 

Recently a gay, white man sent the priestess a 

private message to talk about some anti-racist 

resources he had enjoyed. She exploded with 

anger, humiliated him and instructed her flock 

of minions, as she calls them, to scorch the 

Earth of his presence. His crime? Daring to 

speak to a black woman. His white privilege 

and power wasn’t enough to save him from 

excommunication. 

This religion is not about equality. If it were, its 

disciples would call for equality for all. Instead, 

they call for power, exclusivity, privilege, and 

wealth at the expense of all others. 

There is no point defending your position as a 

reasonable human being. To this church you 

carry the original sin of white skin. The shame 

of your nakedness. The mark of Cain. Unless 

you are baptized into the cult you will always 

be considered the most racist of the racists, at 

best a heathen, worse a blasphemer, or worst 

of all, a witch. 

30

There are even ‘witch-finders’ under the command 

of a handful of white, witch-finder generals. 

They scrutinize Instagram, Facebook and 

other social media platforms for evidence of 

witchcraft. Association with other witches is 

enough to get one denounced. If those denounced 

do not confess, prostrate themselves 

before the altar of Anti-Racism, and perform 

their penance, they are tried in the ‘Court of 

Hysteria’ and inevitably burned. 

Throughout history. witch-finders, religious dogmatists, 

and cultists, have never been remembered 

fondly. 

In 1647, after personally overseeing the execution 

of approximately 300 ‘witches’, Matthew 

Hopkins, the original ‘Witchfinder General’, 

died, aged 27. He is rumoured to have 

drowned undergoing one of his own 

’swimming trials’ after being accused of witchcraft 

himself. 

Sadly, as ironic and satisfying as this rumour is, 

it is more likely that he died of tuberculosis. 

Either way, his legacy is not one to be envied. 

[T]O HAVE BLACK MAKERS FEEL 

SAFETY DO I NEED TO 

SPECIFICALLY SAY, “I'M 

HAVING A ZOOM MEETING 

WITH BLACK PEOPLE ONLY”? 

I WAS THINKING ABOUT 

HOLDING A ZOOM GATHERING… 

[T]HE POINT IS NOT TO HAVE WHITE 

PEOPLE OBSERVE, TO HAVE WHITE 

PEOPLE BE ON THE OUTSKIRTS… 

ERM, I ALSO DON'T WANT 

NON BLACK PEOPLE IN MY DMS 

TALKING TO ME ABOUT HOW 

THEY FEEL… SO I, I, I DO NOT, 

I DO NOT WANT NON BLACK 

PEOPLE IN MY DMS TELLING 

ME ABOUT HOW THEY FEEL, I 

DON'T, I DON'T HAVE THE 

TIME OR THE ENERGY. 

AT THIS TIME THE 

CONVERSATION AND THE 

QUESTION IS NOT FOR 

WHITE MAKERS, IT IS 

NOT FOR WHITE PEOPLE. 

I CHARGE $60 AN HOUR. 

SO… IT’S BEEN 90 MINUTES. 

SO THAT’LL BE $90. 

31

Vloggers and Podcasters 

If you’d like your channel featured here please email blockedmagazine@gmx.com 

Click on the tles to visit the channels. 

Adventures With Yarn 

Presented by Louise 

Child friendly, fun, quirky and full of energy. 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbFHj9k5Uxc44g1pnlgiQjg 

Blocked Magazine 

Presented by Neil (Uknitted Kingdom) 

Not really child friendly. 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAY880IYHF8gJ8b-UdEWAxQ 

Herd knitunity 

Presented by Treecurtis 

Not child friendly. Shepherd and ‘woolfluencer’, a sheep to 

sweater kinda gal. 

https://herdknitunity.locals.com/ 

Knitty McPurly 

Presented by Devin 

Very child friendly, a virtual saint! 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyIInmPUQGqoohNgUj0Zmow 

32

Murder Knits 

Presented by Tabitha 

If your children watch, they'll become serial killers! 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbrSeXmJuT0_BglI_pzi1jg 

Politically Incorrect Knitters 

Presented by DK and Anne 

Mostly child friendly, they’ll learn a lot! 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm8CME6h72cFfQ7ZBNGCj5w 

Skeinz Diaries 

Presented by Maree 

Child friendly. Take off your ‘gummies’, put your feet up and 

prepare for a ‘tiki tour’ of yarny goodness! 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCswGNOSxnHlPZsQMCC2YHxQ 

Two Sisters & Some Yarn 

Presented by Amy & Denise 

Mostly child friendly, especially if they’re little wiseguys. 

https://www.youtube.com/c/TwoSistersAndSomeYarn 

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Although Blocked is free to read, it isn’t free to produce. 

There are overheads that need to be met including subscriptions for software, the 

magazine online platform, a future website, and time. 

If you have enjoyed this issue, please consider becoming a patron. 

Patrons receive the magazine a week before general release, see exclusive content, 

get to vote on future content, and may receive exclusive offers. 

Each quarter patrons have a chance to win 1 skein of TuskenKnits’ yarn. More details 

available on the Patreon site linked below. 

Without the generosity of patrons, Blocked would not be possible. 

Patron Checkout | Patreon 

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Please email pattern submissions for the May issue to: 


by no later than April 18th (Easter Monday) 

Thank you! 

36

Blocked issue 2 (February 2022)

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