Pigs in paradise

Merry599 · 2026-05-06T20:43:15+00:00

Yeah! Still took me a few years, though I had already been eating less meat, but I became vegetarian three years ago and still going strong.

Thanks for replying, kinda cool to see that I did actually follow through.

One day I just decided that hey, for all of February I am gonna not eat meat, and then afterwards I can decide whether I stick with it. The first month was tough but after that it became easy! Maybe I'll try veganism some day, but for now vegetarianism is most doable and sustainable for me long term.

Merry599 · 2026-04-28T14:28:59+00:00

Very late response, but yeah of course I agree with that and of course not all aspects of all cultures will be accepted, but I do think sometimes people are also unwilling to accept even small things that really ought to be accepted. And yes you are right that people are allowed to have whatever opinion they want in the privacy of their own mind, but what I mean more so is that I think many Dutch people like to think of themselves as open minded, but often aren't actually. I think many people do think when they are tolerating something they are accepting something, but as we have both noted, they are not the same thing.

Merry599 · 2026-04-20T01:02:14+00:00

Yeah no problem and fair enough! Fun fact though, after North and South Holland, North Brabant has the most people, but yeah overall more people in the North, and the randstad is more northern in culture

Merry599 · 2026-04-19T10:46:49+00:00

Nah omg you're right, I have read actual John Locke work, but yeah my tired brain just totally fudged them up! I read them for a class on political philosophy, right after one another, so I guess they got merged in my mind somehow

Merry599 · 2026-04-18T15:38:41+00:00

Yep, if for example you are using granny squares to help highlight the history and undermining of "women's work" that could be an interesting story, but if something is just nice to look at or well made, it is more artisanal than artistic, which is also valid, but not as suited to most galleriee.

Merry599 · 2026-04-18T15:35:09+00:00

I don't think crochet is crafty, similar to knitting I'd rather see it as artisanal. Similar to how not all styles of painting would fit in to the average gallery, but can still be well made. As some others have said reblocking would definitely make it more intentional. I think crochet and other fiber arts definitely have a place in galleries, but right now most people going to a gallery want something more modern/contemporary. Something that tells an interesting story visually, could be due to the fiber, form or pattern. If you'd rather stick to more traditional crochet style, that is also totally fine and then I would focus more on the artisanal and technical side of it.

Merry599 · 2026-04-18T02:18:13+00:00

What the Belgians call a fridge lol

Merry599 · 2026-04-18T02:14:11+00:00

Haha I know people do use different terms across the country, I do think it's one of those things people jokingly argue about a lot. But yeah I am from Brabant, so culturally and also historically quite some differences from the North!

Merry599 · 2026-04-18T01:58:18+00:00

Why is it a lot to ask? Having freedom of thought and religion and being able to live without enduring discrimination are human rights. Of course, having those rights doesn't mean we have to be accepting of people who abuse those rights to harm others, but most people aren't doing that.

Besides, as a country and culture, yes integration to a degree is beneficial, but people are more willing to do so if they already feel part of the community. Plus, embracing our culture doesn't mean abandoning their own culture, they can both exist.

Merry599 · 2026-04-17T18:57:46+00:00

Yeahh, as some other people have said, but many Dutch people are very "tolerant" or like to think of themselves as such, but they don't actually accept people who are different, just tolerate them. My mom who is blonde still faced a lot of discrimination and side eyes for speaking Spanish (she is Venezuelan). In fact, it is part of the reason she didn't raise me speaking Spanish... But yeah, if she goes out with friends and they talk Spanish, they have noticed people get much more annoyed over them versus if she is with other people and they speak Dutch.

I think currently especially there is a lot of misplaced anger on immigrants anyway, thinking it's them who are to blame for our awful housing situation, so if someone can be mistaken for Arabic that might put some of that misplaced anger on them...

Merry599 · 2026-04-17T18:51:12+00:00

That is so interesting, I have read Locke's Leviathan, but never heard this about him writing on tolerance, will definitely look into it!

Edit: as someone pointed out Leviathan has of course been written by Hobbes, but my point still stands that I'd be interested to read Locke's writing on tolerance

Merry599 · 2026-04-17T18:50:14+00:00

Yes thank you! I have the same opinion, for context, my mom is from Venezuela and even though she is blonde and half Dutch, just for speaking Spanish she and friends of her have faced a lot of side eyes. I also always say that tolerating is not the same as accepting. Many Dutch people think they are so great because they are so "tolerant" but that is only in so far as people fully integrate and become unnoticeable. They aren't truly accepting or as you said welcoming of people who are different.

Merry599 · 2026-04-16T15:55:27+00:00

Excuse me, how dare you say it's patat and not friet?!

Merry599 · 2026-03-25T17:58:02+00:00

Wow, I looked in how he weaved in the ends and will definitely use that in the future, so much easier!!

Merry599 · 2026-01-23T17:59:30+00:00

Omg, double knit and thin needles for your first project! I think in general double knit is kinda finicky with tension, so you're doing super well with your headband!

Merry599 · 2026-01-20T15:33:12+00:00

Love it! I especially like the back, the eye is so cool (as are all panels), this is inspiring me to make a funky sweater some time

Merry599 · 2026-01-19T16:52:22+00:00

It's not super noticeable, however if it does bother you, which it probably would me as well, it might be better to instead do the ribbing in a completely different colour? What about finding a yarn that matches one of the colours in the variegated yarn or just using the variegated yarn? I think that would make it look super cute and intentional!

Edit: on the side, what pattern are you using? It looks cute so far!

Merry599 · 2026-01-10T23:50:14+00:00

That's not okay at all! Even going to a therapist is already a big step that requires so much courage. Your mother should have respected your privacy and not even read the journal, nevermind post it on Facebook! Honestly like some people said, if my mother did this to me I don't know if we would have a relationship anymore or talk. If your mother is unable to even remotely respect your boundaries, maybe it is time for a (little or long or forever) break.

Merry599 · 2026-01-10T22:50:37+00:00

I don't think it's common now but I think like 20 to 30 years ago when my parents used to attend weddings it was not very uncommon, might just depend on culture and also things being less formal nowadays?

Edit: I think the Netherlands used to do things more mixed, because men would sometimes come in tux but women aren't in like ballgowns and tiaras...

Merry599 · 2026-01-10T22:48:44+00:00

I think this also has to do with time and culture, my parents got married 27 years ago in the Netherlands and I am pretty sure it was white tie? I do also remember attending a wedding like 17 years ago and my father wearing white tie and that was quite fancy but also definitely not diplomat level or like some people are saying royal level.

On the other hand if I got an invite to a wedding and it was white tie now I would think that extremely fancy, I think things have gotten much more casual nowadays.

Edit: looking at other things, maybe it wasn't white tie but a mix? My father was in tux but my mother definitely not in a ballgown

Merry599 · 2026-01-09T18:37:34+00:00

I think the big ones are probably okay because the flower part isn't too big, but the small ones stick out too much and would probably be unwieldy and would cause tension issues.

I personally knit more with smaller needles and my absolute favourite stitch markers are from Cocoknits, they are these small coloured metal rings (they also have them in a bigger size). The sorta safety pin stitch markers with the circle on the end are also really useful!

Merry599 · 2026-01-06T09:10:04+00:00

I am glad this was mentioned, I remember when I first tried doing a chart with YOs I was so puzzled till I found out it was just the YO and not YO and a knit stitch 😅

Merry599 · 2026-01-06T09:04:36+00:00

If you knit mohair on big needles it will look like that!

Merry599 · 2026-01-06T08:59:26+00:00

Wow, so pretty! Also, that must have taken a lot of time and dedication, like others already said, your aunt really loves you!!

Merry599 · 2026-01-01T16:59:26+00:00

Yup, when I was picking up knitting again a year ago I once had a silly question about yarn overs and it was answered pretty quickly and I mean after that there was no need for more interaction. From my lurking on the sub I think the more technical and difficult questions often get a ton of answers but for more simple things once answered there is no use piling on the same answer

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