Articles written by Carrie Schutrick - Page 3

Where Knowledge Rules

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 The golden age of knitting (old-school style): 1 of 4
It's hard to pick a Golden Age of knitting, especially if you want to pin it down to a single geographic location as well. The contenders for that title are many, and they start as soon as knitting itself does. For example, it could be argued that the Golden Age was at the very beginning of knitting, in the Middle East somet... More..
Hobbies & Games > Yarn & Needle Crafts Easy crochet projects for beginners: 5 of 18
When you're just getting started with a new craft, you want projects that have simple lines and not too much in the way of pieces to put together; being worked with fairly heavy yarn is a plus too, as is using only a few techniques that are easy to master. Crochet is no exception. But if your only exposure to crochet is doil... More..
Hobbies & Games > Yarn & Needle Crafts Tips for sewing without using a pattern: 2 of 7
Assuming you know your way around a sewing machine and have a decent grasp of how patterns usually go together, sewing without a commercial pattern is pretty easy. Copying an existing garment, or even inventing your own pattern, is within your reach. If you're making a garment, the first thing you need is measurements from t... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Astrology & Prophecy How your astrological sign affects your personality: 6 of 20
Whether you believe in astrology or just think it's a fun way to categorize people, there are some times when you can just tell someone's sign. If you're interested in learning a few of the subtle-and not-so-subtle-markers of different sun signs, read on! The first sign of the Zodiac, occurring between the spring equinox (ar... More..
Arts & Humanities > English Language The difference between a simile and a metaphor: 3 of 10
Telling the difference between a simile and a metaphor can get a little tricky, but there's a very easy way to remember which is which: "simile" sounds like "similar", which means that a simile uses "like". That's it; that's all there is to it. But if you want to get a little more in depth, read on. Similes and metaphors are... More..
Celebrations & Holidays > Easter The pagan roots to Easter traditions: 3 of 10
Easter is the most important holiday of the Christian year; Christmas may be when Christ was born, but Easter was the day when His promise of eternal life was made manifest. Nonetheless, many of the well-loved Easter traditions we practice today have their roots in pagan symbolism and imagery. Easter's very name, at least in... More..
Home & Garden > Home & Garden (Other) Holiday fire safety: How to use electrical extension cords wisely: 5 of 16
When you're decorating your home for the holidays, you have all sorts of things to consider: What kind of a display do you want? How many bulbs are you going to have to replace? Do you have to put up light hooks? But in all that, you should also spend a few minutes considering the safety of your home. The reason holiday fire... More..
Hobbies & Games > Crafts (Other) Homemade crafts: Do imperfections matter?: 5 of 16
Whether imperfections "matter" in a handmade item is not a question that can be answered with a simple Yes or No. There are several factors that go into deciding it, and even when they're all taken into account you may not get a definite answer. For example, is the item meant to be sold? If so, imperfections might not be des... More..
Pets & Animals > Cat Care & Health Guide to cat grooming: 3 of 9
Anyone who owns a long-haired cat knows that their pet's fur needs to be groomed to keep it healthy. But what you may not know is that short-haired cats love to be groomed too, for reasons that have to do with the way cats think. If you've ever watched a pair of cats snuggling together, you've probably noticed that they groo... More..
Hobbies & Games > Yarn & Needle Crafts Fun knit sock patterns: 2 of 6
The great thing about socks is that they're small. You can carry them anywhere and work on them in odd moments. The problem with socks is that you have to make two of them, so it's a good idea to pick sock patterns that are fun to work on. Texture patterns, lace, cables and even colorwork can make the dreaded Second Sock Syn... More..