Week 16 – The Bat Wings Poncho

16 weeks into 2026, and I am yearning for a time when I didn’t have to be aware of all the stupid shit going on in the world.

Before 2025, I only had a vague idea of how tariffs worked. Now, I have a fairly good understanding of economics. I don’t want to know about economics! I don’t want to know about tariffs, oil prices, AI bubbles, or any of the other shit that I’ve learned to try to understand how our society is crumbling due to the greed of billionaires.

I have been thinking a lot this week about how so many things in our world are made from petrochemicals (and the byproducts of oil production)…

Did you know that helium will simply float off into space once it’s released from the ground?

Did you know that urea is the main fertiliser used around the world, and, without it, there will be a global food shortages?

Did you know that helium is used in medical imaging and the production of computer chips?

Did you know that takeaway shops in South Korea are struggling to stay in business because they can’t afford the cheap, plastic containers?

Did you know that Trump’s absolute idiocy is likely to plunge the WORLD into a recession (or worse – stagflation) and food insecurity?

Honestly, I wish that I didn’t have all this shit in my brain, but I also feel like I need to understand it in order to stay safe.

Does anyone else feel like this? I don’t want to look away and miss the next thing… just in case. Although I have no idea what I would do about it! We already have an EV and solar. We’ve planted some veggies and stocked up on pantry essentials. What else is there?

Week 7 of the stupidest war of the century.

I feel like I have whiplash from the last 24 hours. The Strait has been open, closed, open, closed. 

Yet again, right before markets closed on Friday, Trump announced that the Strait of Hormuz was open. Oil futures dropped. Someone made millions on Polymarket.

There were countless news stories asking when we would see reduced prices at the pump. Next minute – the Strait is closed again. 

No one knows wtf is going on from 1 hours to the next. It’s like being tied to a rollercoaster against your will. 

Other shit from this week:

• Reports out this week that Europe only has 6 weeks of jet fuel left

• Trump continues to call out NATO and Australia, in particular, for now coming to the US’s aid (even though they didn’t need help)
• There was a big fire in a Victorian oil refinery, which supplies approx. 10% of fuel to Australia

• Workers are setting fire to warehouses around the US

• Trump had a social media fight with the Pope

• US Navy is still blockading the Strait of Hormuz
• We are about halfway through the Iran War ceasefire – Trump said the ‘Strait of Iran’ was open again, but now Iran has closed it due to US ‘piracy’, due to the continued blockade

It’s been a bit warmer this week, so I’ve been spending as much time outside as possible. I am really not looking forward to the cold… it seems like we didn’t get much of a Summer since the warm weather came so late into last year. 

I’m still working on the shawl pattern by TL Yarn Crafts with a Scheepjes Whirl. It is taking forever because it’s basically all single crochets with a fingering weight cotton (and 4mm hook). I’m almost done with the final sc part, and then I will be onto the ‘lace’. I’m hoping to finish next week, but who knows! Sometimes my fingers flare up, and I can’t hold the yarn. 

We finally finished Breaking Bad. Wow. That show is so good. All the actors were brilliant. Brian Cranston is a top-tier actor in drama and comedy. We moved on to Star Trek: The Next Generation. My husband has never seen it! Insane considering we’re both 80’s babies. He’s also never seen Deep Space 9, so maybe we’ll watch that next. 

House is ongoing. The sexism has slightly improved in Season 4. Oops. Nevermind. He just insulted someone’s breasts while I was typing that.

My loan for Nona the Ninth ran out on Libby, so I went back to reading another series, but then the person returned it, so I’m back on Nona. My poor brain is going to have a hard time trying to keep up with what’s going on in 2 different books. The brain fog has been fogging the last week. 

The Fidget Bead Key Fobs have still been popular, along with the Magic Mosaic Cube.

I spent some time this week rewriting two more fidget patterns: Granny Square Fidget and Fidget Bead Lanyard. I think that might be the last one, but I want to reformat the rest of my early patterns. 

The sun finally started to shine again in Adelaide, so I was able to get the final pictures of the Bat Wings Poncho. The pattern is also 50% off until the end of April on Ravelry with coupon code: 50OFFBAT

This is one of the only projects I’ve made that I will actually wear myself! I feel like a vampire from a 90’s movie when I wear it. It’s going to be super cosy for the upcoming cold weather here in the Southern Hemisphere. I’m thinking of making another one in 2 colours for my niece once I finish some of my other projects. 

I haven’t had much time to work on the other poncho with Sindar Jewelspun Ombre. I’m hoping to get back to it next week, but it will really depend on the chronic pain and my mood. I’m using a 7mm hook again, and this one I want to have a rugged, apocalypse vibe. 

I did a pattern roundup for NSFW patterns last week, so be sure to check it out. There are some really great designs on there! I’m thinking of doing a gothic clothing roundup next.