2015 Geek-A-Long: Poison Ivy

Welcome to week 24! I can’t believe we’re already halfway through the 2015 Geek-A-Long. When I pulled the pictures of the square out of the file, I was like: “Week 24, that can’t be right.” But it is! We’ve released enough of the Mad Scientist patterns to create an afghan:

This week we’re honoring one of my favorite Batman villains, Dr. Pamela Lillian Isley. She first appeared in Batman comics in 1966 as a notorious eco-terrorist. Robert Kanigher created Poison Ivy, and modeled her after Bettie Page. At her debut, Poison Ivy didn’t have a strong (well, any) origin story. However, over the years she was developed into a complexly developed character. In fact, she just made many fans happy (or irate, depending on who you ask) by confirming rumors that she is in a romantic relationship with her long time BFF Harley Quinn.

Honored in IGN’s list of top 100 comic book villians, Ivy is considered one of Batman’s most formidable foes. She is also the only Batman Villian with powers that could be described as “superpowers.” The accident that transformed Dr. Isley into Poison Ivy filled her with toxins that rendered her touch poisonous, while giving her immunity to other types of poison. She can communicate with plants, and in some versions of Batman she can control them with her mind, and using spores and pheromones can even control the minds of other humans. She’s an extreme supporter of ecological causes, and I think she’s a perfect addition to this year’s GAL.

For the square I chose her signature leaf covered mask and the chemical symbol for Urushiol, the compound that makes up the “poison” in a poison ivy plant. I think Dr. Isley would appreciate that the bulk of the square space went to science.

Whether you’re knitting, crocheting, or cross stitching this square, you can download the Poison Ivy pattern here. Instructions for both knit and crochet are listed in the pattern. When you’re finished making it, don’t forget to tweet or instagram your squares at me @jac_attacking or Megan-Anne @Doctor_Llama with the hashtag #geekalong!

If you’re having trouble with double-sided knitting, we have a how-to video here and a tutorial on crochet here. Want to hang out with other people making the blanket? You can find moral support in the Geek-A-Long group on Ravelry here.

~ Jac
I don’t care what anyone says. I LIKED the Batman & Robin movie with Uma Thurman.

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