Wednesday, 30 May 2012
Monday, 28 May 2012
Gettin' Knitty with It
So I got obsessed with knitting last fall. There was a groupon for classes at the school of extended studies at NSCAD and I signed up for a knitwear design class that met every Thursday.
Materials: Dowels, saw, pencil sharpener, nail file, sandpaper, olive oil, paper towel
Step 1: cut dowel with saw to desired length - tip: bring your needle gauge to the hardware store so you can get dowels in a variety of sizes that fit standard patterns. We cut long needles in 16" lengths. This is also a really good way to expand your collection cheaply - one dowel can produce a long set of needles, along with a four set of double pointed - all in the same size of course.
Step 2: use the pencil sharpener to point the end(s) of your needles depending on if you are doing a standard or double sided set.
Step 3: use the nail file to soften and round the newly pointed ends - you can use sandpaper for this I suppose, but a nail file gives you more control and leverage making it faster and more accurate.
Step 4: use the sandpaper to lightly sand the entire needle.
Step 5: use the olive oil, VERY SPARINGLY, on a paper towel to coat the needle and seal it/make it soft
Optional step: you can get little caps at the hardware store to cap your dowels so your fabric doesn't slip off the ends. I have never made anything large enough on my needles to warrant this, so I don't think they are that necessary for myself.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
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| This is a swift. It is essential to pro knitting. If you don't want to drop mad $$ on one, most fabric shops will let you use theirs when you buy a skein from them (they are used to turn skeins into workable balls) |
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| SEE! |
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| in the first class we made our own needles - super easy |
Materials: Dowels, saw, pencil sharpener, nail file, sandpaper, olive oil, paper towel
Step 1: cut dowel with saw to desired length - tip: bring your needle gauge to the hardware store so you can get dowels in a variety of sizes that fit standard patterns. We cut long needles in 16" lengths. This is also a really good way to expand your collection cheaply - one dowel can produce a long set of needles, along with a four set of double pointed - all in the same size of course.
Step 2: use the pencil sharpener to point the end(s) of your needles depending on if you are doing a standard or double sided set.
Step 3: use the nail file to soften and round the newly pointed ends - you can use sandpaper for this I suppose, but a nail file gives you more control and leverage making it faster and more accurate.
Step 4: use the sandpaper to lightly sand the entire needle.
Step 5: use the olive oil, VERY SPARINGLY, on a paper towel to coat the needle and seal it/make it soft
Optional step: you can get little caps at the hardware store to cap your dowels so your fabric doesn't slip off the ends. I have never made anything large enough on my needles to warrant this, so I don't think they are that necessary for myself.
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| Ta-Dah! |
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| sigh, we painted the caps of our needles and I got messy |
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Wednesday, 23 May 2012
To Do's
Bike Week Kick Off: Friday May 25, 6-10pm @ The Sands at Salter (waterfront)
Halifax Ale Festival: Friday, May 25, 6-10pm @ Halifax Alehouse
Giant Yard Sale/BBQ: Saturday, May 26, 10am-2pm @ SPCA (5 Scarfe Court)
After Effects Workshop: Saturday, May 26, 1-5pm @Centre for Art Tapes
Outgrow Patriarchy: Saturday, May 26, 1pm @ Grand Parade Square
Monty Python and The Holy Grail: Saturday, May 26, 7pm @ Kyhber
Tweed Run (bike week event): Sunday, May 27, 2-5pm @ I heart Bikes
Comic Jam: Tuesday, May 29, 6-10pm @ Roberts Street Social Centre
Friday, 18 May 2012
To Do's
Capture the Flag: Sat. May 19, 4-7pm @ I heart Bikes
Stop Motion Animation: Sun. May 20, 1-5pm @ Centre for Art Tapes (220-1657 Barrington)
Maritime Tattoo Festival: May 19-21 @ Halifax Civiv Arena (Windsor and Young)
Reminisce: Old Skool Party ft. Scorpio fro Grandmaster Flash and the Furious 5: Sun. May 20, 9:30-2am @ Red Fox Tavern (7071 Bayers Road)
Clueless: Wed. May 23, 7pm @ Kyhber Centre for the Arts (1588 Barrington)
Spring Star Patterns and Lore
Thurs., May 24, 7:15pm @ Halifax Planetarium (Dalhousie)
Wednesday, 16 May 2012
Quinpool Shoe Repiar
In Halifax everyone wears boots
Boots get lots of wear
So my boots had a tear
Hence I asked around and was told to go to Quinpool Shoe Repair. It was great. I have never gotten shoes repaired before and I was wary about how much it would cost. My boots were in ROUGH shape. I had also unearthed a pair of hot pink, patent leather, Steve Madden wedge sandals that I haven't worn in two summers because the strap was broke on both shoes, but I had only worn them a few times and they are amazing and I didn't want to get rid of them. So I took both pairs in (it is around the corner from the Oxford Theatre) and hoped that it would cost me less than $50.
The man who runs it is amazing. He is super cheerful and great to be around. A regular was dropping off egg salad for him when I showed up. It is a great place. I said I wasn't in a rush - he does same day service if you want - and was told to come back in two days. I showed up two days later and my shoes weren't ready, he was very apologetic and said he got behind, which was fine, I was in no rush, and he set to work right away. I got to admire the shoes waiting to get picked up and lusted HARD after a pair of Mary Janes. It took about fifteen minutes and he only charged me $12. I was thrilled!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Boots get lots of wear
So my boots had a tear
Hence I asked around and was told to go to Quinpool Shoe Repair. It was great. I have never gotten shoes repaired before and I was wary about how much it would cost. My boots were in ROUGH shape. I had also unearthed a pair of hot pink, patent leather, Steve Madden wedge sandals that I haven't worn in two summers because the strap was broke on both shoes, but I had only worn them a few times and they are amazing and I didn't want to get rid of them. So I took both pairs in (it is around the corner from the Oxford Theatre) and hoped that it would cost me less than $50.
The man who runs it is amazing. He is super cheerful and great to be around. A regular was dropping off egg salad for him when I showed up. It is a great place. I said I wasn't in a rush - he does same day service if you want - and was told to come back in two days. I showed up two days later and my shoes weren't ready, he was very apologetic and said he got behind, which was fine, I was in no rush, and he set to work right away. I got to admire the shoes waiting to get picked up and lusted HARD after a pair of Mary Janes. It took about fifteen minutes and he only charged me $12. I was thrilled!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Sunday, 13 May 2012
On a Darker Note
Here is a PSA:
It is singularly the most frustrating and insulting thing that happens to me on the reg. Listen, if people wanted to smile, they would. If they are not smiling, or look miserable, chances are they are fucking miserable and they don`t need strangers to point that shit out to them. Having someone tell me to smile infuriates me.
You have no idea what is going on with someone. I had a horrific evening and my coworker`s cousin died last night, so forgive us for not being overly joyous. I am so sorry that it is 6am and you feel the need to be a dick. Having you say that ``you should stay home if you are miserable`` does not fucking help anything. Don`t you think that if I could afford to stay at home I would (question mark) I can`t okay, I can`t afford to miss a day of work because I feel awful and just want to sleep. Fuck off. Thanks.
So the next time you see someone looking like they want to die, don`t fucking say anything that is not a simple niceitey (not a clue how to spell that) like, ``thank you``. You have no idea what is going on in a strangers life and telling them to smile is a dick move.
NEVER TELL SOMEONE TO SMILE
It is singularly the most frustrating and insulting thing that happens to me on the reg. Listen, if people wanted to smile, they would. If they are not smiling, or look miserable, chances are they are fucking miserable and they don`t need strangers to point that shit out to them. Having someone tell me to smile infuriates me.
You have no idea what is going on with someone. I had a horrific evening and my coworker`s cousin died last night, so forgive us for not being overly joyous. I am so sorry that it is 6am and you feel the need to be a dick. Having you say that ``you should stay home if you are miserable`` does not fucking help anything. Don`t you think that if I could afford to stay at home I would (question mark) I can`t okay, I can`t afford to miss a day of work because I feel awful and just want to sleep. Fuck off. Thanks.
So the next time you see someone looking like they want to die, don`t fucking say anything that is not a simple niceitey (not a clue how to spell that) like, ``thank you``. You have no idea what is going on in a strangers life and telling them to smile is a dick move.
Photos of things I am too lazy to explain
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| I did my taxes! |
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| half hour line up at the library sale |
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Saturday, 12 May 2012
Dragonette
A few weeks ago some peeps and I threw back some drinks on a Wednesday night and danced the night away at Pacifico. Verdict: Dragonette is awesome and I am too old to go dancing on a Wednesday night. Did I mention I had to be at work at 5:30am? I felt like I was hit by a truck.
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| I have a habit of stealing set lists - whoops |
This is their latest single, not my favoutite at first, but then I became addicted.
Their album Fixin' to Thrill is pure pop gold and you should buy it.
Thursday, 10 May 2012
I Still Exist
Hey there, it has been an age, my apologies. Firstly, after my computer bit it I had to wait until my tax return came in to get a new one aka four month internet diet. Turns out that when you don't have a computer your addiction turns to your phone for the first two months, and my phone was not playing nice with blogger and ate everything I tried to post, therefore this place was a deadzone. Then your internet addiction is gone. You get a new computer and you go days without turning it on because you no loner NEED to be on it at all times. You end up reading like a mad woman and spend way too much cash on ebooks and you are a regular at the library renting seasons of TV and getting books like Helter Skelter out and spend your days thinking there is someone behind every door with a knife and your nights running from serial killers in your dreams... needless to say it has been a trying time.
But, I have a computer, and I solemnly swear that I will give a solid half assed attempt at blogging on the reg again.
I am sad that I missed my one year in Halifax anniversary on this blog, it was April 27th if anyone is interested.
I have three days to decide if I am staying in my current apartment, and all signs point to yes, which is a surprise because well I adore my place, I have been dreaming of something with 400sq.ft., a bathtub, and an outdoor space for months now. But I have been searching for a while and nothing has the charm of this place (in my price range), and the cost of moving is depressing.
I still loathe my job. It has been a week since I have been called a bitch though, so that is progress.
I will try and get my phone to play nice later and post photos of my trip home and other ongoings.
In the mean time I give you things TO DO:
paffairs@smu.ca
But, I have a computer, and I solemnly swear that I will give a solid half assed attempt at blogging on the reg again.
I am sad that I missed my one year in Halifax anniversary on this blog, it was April 27th if anyone is interested.
I have three days to decide if I am staying in my current apartment, and all signs point to yes, which is a surprise because well I adore my place, I have been dreaming of something with 400sq.ft., a bathtub, and an outdoor space for months now. But I have been searching for a while and nothing has the charm of this place (in my price range), and the cost of moving is depressing.
I still loathe my job. It has been a week since I have been called a bitch though, so that is progress.
I will try and get my phone to play nice later and post photos of my trip home and other ongoings.
In the mean time I give you things TO DO:
The library’s annual book sale at the Alderney Gate Public Librarywill take place on
Friday, May 11 from 1-4 p.m. and Saturday, May 12 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
There will be thousands of books for all ages. Please note that the book sale is cash only.
Don’t forget to bring your own bags.
For more information, call 490-5753
Carbon Arc presents: Swing Kids
Sat., May 12, 7 p.m. @ the KyhberMay-hem Massacre:
Halifax Roller Derby season opener
Sat., May 12, 8 p.m. @ Shannon Park Rink
Fair Trade Bazaar
May 12-13, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. @ Victoria ParkThe Clean Bin Project
Wed., May 16, 7:30 p.m. @ Museum of Natural HistoryForensic Archaeological Dig
Sat., May 19, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. @ SMUpaffairs@smu.ca
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