Articles written by Carrie Schutrick - Page 4

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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

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Arts & Humanities > Middle Ages Homosexuality in the Middle Ages: 1 of 3
The important thing to keep in mind about homosexuality is that, for the medieval Europeans, no such thing really existed. Which is not to say that the phenomenon of people who prefer sexual intimacy with members of their own gender is a twentieth century one; it's just that the idea of sexual identity as being central to on... More..
Arts & Humanities > Fantasy & Science Fiction Book reviews: Small Favor, by Jim Butcher: 1 of 3
For the tenth installment of the Dresden Files, "Small Favor", Jim Butcher brings back some familiar faces-both the friendly kind and otherwise. Our hero Harry Dresden (the only professional wizard in the Chicago phone book) gets to deal with the fairies again, both Winter and Summer, plus a visit from the Knights of the Bla... More..
Hobbies & Games > Yarn & Needle Crafts Simple knitting patterns for wrist warmers: 1 of 3
It's amazing how much warmer you can feel when the pulse points of your wrists are covered; wristwarmers even help keep your fingers warm in a chilly office or when outside on a cool day, without the loss of dexterity that can come with gloves. And since wristwarmers are nothing more or less than tubes, they're easy as pie t... More..
Hobbies & Games > Yarn & Needle Crafts Unique ideas for using fabric scraps in your next sewing project: 5 of 14
As soon as you start sewing, you start acuumulating scraps: those pieces of fabric that are too small to cut any of your pattern pieces out of, but too big to just throw away, especially if they're a special fabric like a velvet or brocade. What's one to do with all those scraps? The traditional answer is a patchwork quilt, ... More..
Hobbies & Games > Yarn & Needle Crafts Tips for sewing on a budget: 6 of 15
Sewing your own clothes and housewares can be a great way to save some money; making your purchases carefully can help even more. Most of saving money on sewing is just common sense, but here's a few tips in one convenient place. *Don't sew anything you're not going to use. If you have your heart set on a given fabric or pat... More..
Hobbies & Games > Yarn & Needle Crafts Knitting felted tote bags: 2 of 5
Despite the title of this article, felting (well, technically fulling, but that's not terribly important) can be used for all sorts of projects, from bags to mittens to hats. A bag is a good beginning project, though, because it can be done all in rectangles and still look great. First of all, decide what yarn you want to us... More..
Hobbies & Games > Yarn & Needle Crafts Knitting: Rescuing a dropped stitch: 2 of 5
Here are a few of the fundamental truths of knitting: Wool itches. Stockinette curls. Stitches get dropped. All of these problems can be dealt with. First off, if you discover a dropped stitch, don't panic. Especially if you're working in wool, the odds are good that the stitch has only gone a few rows; in the words of Eliza... More..
Hobbies & Games > Home Decor Crafts How to make a fleece tie blanket: 2 of 5
A tied fleece blanket is a quick and easy project that requires no actual sewing because of the non-raveling nature of the fabric used to make it. It fits in anywhere you need a little extra warmth, and it's durable and washable to boot! It'll only take an evening, which makes it great for quick baby presents or going-away g... More..
Hobbies & Games > Yarn & Needle Crafts Tips for sewing knit fabrics: 2 of 5
Knit fabrics are stretchy-far more so than woven fabrics. And while this can be a desirable characteristic, even an experienced tailor can be caught off guard by the differences. So, a few tips on getting the most out of knits. First, make sure you're getting the right kind of knit. A commercial pattern intended for knit fab... More..
Hobbies & Games > Video Game Reviews Downloadable game review: Somersault Game: 5 of 11
I've just tried the downloadable game Somersault, and I give it an allover rating of 3/5-entertaining, and worth it for a few hours of diversion, but nothing terribly original. Kids will probably love it for the bright colors and amusing protagonist. The game is a sidescroller in which the player's task is to guide a cute li... More..