Articles written by Carrie Schutrick

What is Helium

About me - Carrie Schutrick

I live in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with a man, two cats, and no children as yet. I'm on Helium because my current job, while it pays the bills, has a salary rather less than my yearly tuition was for the university at which I got my degree in writing, and

+ more bio information

RSS Feed

Hobbies & Games > Yarn & Needle Crafts Knitting: The importance of gauge: 1 of 10
Anyone who's ever ended up with a woolen circus tent or socks that wouldn't fit a kitten can tell you why gauge is important, but the quickest way to make it crystal clear is to say that without the right gauge, nothing will fit. Fortunately, this is an easy fact to work with.So what is gauge? It's the number of stitches or r... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Environmental Awareness Easy ways your family can "go green": 41 of 319
The number one misconception about living a greener life is that it's hard. Nothing could be further from the truth. You have to accept that you, personally, are not going to save the world, but as the lady said, the only thing that ever has changed the world is a group of people who care. So be part of the group-because it's... More..
Hobbies & Games > Yarn & Needle Crafts The lost art of sewing: 2 of 15
If sewing is really a lost art, you kind of have to wonder who's been doing the searching-because it's not hard to find, if you do a little looking around.Now, it's true that it's no longer the responsibility of the woman of the house to make all the clothing her family needs. That's all to the good, generally, since even a s... More..
Celebrations & Holidays > New Year's The Chinese New Year explained: 3 of 22
If you've ever noticed how much the Chinese New Year moves around relative to the Western (Gregorian) calendar, you may have wondered why. The answer is pretty simple: the first day of the Chinese year is determined not by the sun, but by the moon. Chinese New Year is always the second new moon after the winter solstice, whic... More..
Hobbies & Games > Yarn & Needle Crafts Best sewing projects for beginners: 3 of 21
To get started in sewing, you want a project that's got a few features to make it easier. Mostly straight seams are a plus, as is a lack of any complex construction. You want small and quick, so that you can get a taste of the craft without having to devote huge amounts of time, energy or money to something you don't even kno... More..
Hobbies & Games > Yarn & Needle Crafts Tips on picking the right knitting needle: 1 of 7
Picking the right knitting needle isn't just a matter of making sure you have the right size. There are two other factors that come into play: the type of needle, and the material the needle is made from. Fortunately, it's easy to pick the right type once you go through this simple guide to your options. Straight needles a... More..
Hobbies & Games > Yarn & Needle Crafts How to make a duvet cover: 1 of 6
The great thing about a duvet cover is that it's essentially just a big bag. This makes it a great sewing project for a beginner, and a quick job for the more experienced.All you really need for a duvet cover is two pieces of fabric, each of which is about a foot (30 cm) wider and longer than the duvet you need to cover. You ... More..
Arts & Humanities > Fantasy & Science Fiction Book reviews: Storm Front, by Jim Butcher: 1 of 6
The "modern-day paranormal" genre is taking off, and Jim Butcher's Storm Front, the first of his bestselling Harry Dresden series, is a great example of why.Harry Dresden is in the phone book, under "wizards". Not surprisingly, he's the only one. And don't think he's the kind of guy you hire to play your kid's birthday party,... More..
Hobbies & Games > Role Playing & War Games Clearing up misconceptions about role-playing: 4 of 20
There are two big classes of misconceptions about roleplaying: those about the games, and those about the gamers. First, the games, because those are easy to deal with.Roleplaying games have nothing to do with "real magic", Satanism, actual combat, or pretty much anything else to do with real life. It's all about sitting arou... More..
Hobbies & Games > Yarn & Needle Crafts Knitting projects for which gauge is not important: 2 of 10
Even for an experience knitter, gauge can be a pain in the neck; when you just want to sit down and keep your hands busy, there are plenty of easy projects that don't need any careful attention to gauge as long as you stay reasonably consistent.Foremost on that list is washcloths. They can be square, rectangular or circular; ... More..