Garak's Apprentice
@garaksapprentice.bsky.social
Textile artist, writer, permaculturalist, medieval re-enactor, nerd. I write about fashion history and textile crafts at the intersections of permaculture, sustainability, equitable tech, & neurodivergence. They/them.
No pyjama pants today. Only pats.
December 21, 2025 at 1:51 AM
No pyjama pants today. Only pats.
Cis men discovering the power of the sewing machine and then radically experimenting with their wardrobe is one of my favourite genres.
"Before I knew it I was making myself a second shirt, and then it hit me: I could make whatever I want."
www.menshealth.com/style/a35477...
"Before I knew it I was making myself a second shirt, and then it hit me: I could make whatever I want."
www.menshealth.com/style/a35477...
Wearing Dresses Changed the Way I Think About Gender
Sebastiaan Vermeulen felt boxed in by men's fashion, so he started making his own category-defying clothes.
www.menshealth.com
December 19, 2025 at 3:06 AM
Cis men discovering the power of the sewing machine and then radically experimenting with their wardrobe is one of my favourite genres.
"Before I knew it I was making myself a second shirt, and then it hit me: I could make whatever I want."
www.menshealth.com/style/a35477...
"Before I knew it I was making myself a second shirt, and then it hit me: I could make whatever I want."
www.menshealth.com/style/a35477...
Reposted by Garak's Apprentice
Government: get off social media and go outside
Also the government: no! Not like that!
Also the government: no! Not like that!
The increasing capitalisation of third spaces, the social media ban, disconnect from public sentiment around current affairs in other places atm, and boredom. So much boredom
December 18, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Government: get off social media and go outside
Also the government: no! Not like that!
Also the government: no! Not like that!
Incidentally this is why every new recipe gets converted to weight measures the first time I make it, and not just because I'm bougie and own a Thermomix. Gluten free stuff really benefits from the extra accuracy IMO.
...ooooh. There's 20 ounces to the Aus pint, if I did the maths correctly. So the tablespoon is the other set of division in the thing. That makes a lot more sense now, thanks!
The things I never learned, not being a beer drinker 😅
The things I never learned, not being a beer drinker 😅
December 13, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Incidentally this is why every new recipe gets converted to weight measures the first time I make it, and not just because I'm bougie and own a Thermomix. Gluten free stuff really benefits from the extra accuracy IMO.
It's the most wonderful time of the year (summer haircut time)
a close up of a stuffed animal with the words `` it is time '' written next to it .
Alt: A Muppet with bright pink skin and long, chaotic blonde hair sitting in a chair, about to get a haircut. The words "it is time" are written on the screen.
media.tenor.com
December 13, 2025 at 1:39 AM
It's the most wonderful time of the year (summer haircut time)
Reposted by Garak's Apprentice
you can very often terrify people trying to break social norms at you by returning the favor even more so
Yes! People who pride themselves on being shameless norm-breakers often depend the most on norms… or, on all the other people nearby being too stunned or norm-compliant to resist.
You have to be as defiant and brazen as they are, but in defense of decency. You can be pleasant but you don’t budge.
You have to be as defiant and brazen as they are, but in defense of decency. You can be pleasant but you don’t budge.
December 12, 2025 at 12:45 AM
you can very often terrify people trying to break social norms at you by returning the favor even more so
why are you polyamorous?
wrong answers only:
I needed it to get bingo on my Venn diagram of weirdo nerdiness attributes.
wrong answers only:
I needed it to get bingo on my Venn diagram of weirdo nerdiness attributes.
why are you polyamorous?
wrong answers only:
do you know how much rent is in this town?
wrong answers only:
do you know how much rent is in this town?
why are you polyamorous?
wrong answers only:
regular check-in meetings, shared calendar management, and frequent travel were so fun at work that i needed them at home too
wrong answers only:
regular check-in meetings, shared calendar management, and frequent travel were so fun at work that i needed them at home too
December 12, 2025 at 12:39 PM
why are you polyamorous?
wrong answers only:
I needed it to get bingo on my Venn diagram of weirdo nerdiness attributes.
wrong answers only:
I needed it to get bingo on my Venn diagram of weirdo nerdiness attributes.
Re-reading Nettle & Bone cos I needed a comfort read and I'd forgotten how delightful the prose is. Chunks of it keep smacking me in the face at unexpected moments. No idea which fairytale this is a retelling of, if any, but it's a delight I'm glad I indulged in today.
December 12, 2025 at 1:46 AM
Re-reading Nettle & Bone cos I needed a comfort read and I'd forgotten how delightful the prose is. Chunks of it keep smacking me in the face at unexpected moments. No idea which fairytale this is a retelling of, if any, but it's a delight I'm glad I indulged in today.
I do most everything in Fira Code, a serif mono font that can handle ligatures. And headers are Comic Sans. It's a nice readable combo for me that doesn't take up as much screen real estate as OpenDyslexic, which I used previously.
ok this is an insane story but let’s do a poll: if you could declare your workplace’s official font, what would it be? (Might be different than *favorite* font!)
Mr. Rubio said switching back to Times New Roman would “restore decorum and professionalism to the department’s written work.” Calibri is “informal” when compared to serif typefaces like Times New Roman and “clashes” with the department’s official letterhead. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/u...
December 11, 2025 at 12:04 AM
I do most everything in Fira Code, a serif mono font that can handle ligatures. And headers are Comic Sans. It's a nice readable combo for me that doesn't take up as much screen real estate as OpenDyslexic, which I used previously.
These soaps are amazing and hey, you know you need some more stocking fillers anyway.
Frustrating. I am getting zero reach on my soap FB page because apparently Meta wants everyone to pay for reach. ($87 a month for Business Plus!)
In other news, if you're in Australia, today is probably the last day I can guarantee delivery for Xmas.
veronicafoaleessentials.com.au
In other news, if you're in Australia, today is probably the last day I can guarantee delivery for Xmas.
veronicafoaleessentials.com.au
December 10, 2025 at 11:16 PM
These soaps are amazing and hey, you know you need some more stocking fillers anyway.
Currently looking up third party clients for YouTube that don't require an account, and working out how hard it is to circumvent age verification software. Purely for educational purposes of course. Next trick will be educationally researching VPNs, I suspect.
December 10, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Currently looking up third party clients for YouTube that don't require an account, and working out how hard it is to circumvent age verification software. Purely for educational purposes of course. Next trick will be educationally researching VPNs, I suspect.
Yet another reason that any social media ban is not a thing to trust.
One barrier is ID checks. Imagine living in one of the 12 U.S. states where abortion is illegal and just trying to learn about abortion on Reddit or YouTube then having to hand over your ID. If at any point you actually seek out an abortion, this info can be used to incriminate you.
The U.S. is mirroring a pattern that has happened in authoritarian regimes around the world. When a government erects barriers to reproductive care, it doesn’t just cause death and suffering for women and their families. Such policies are often a first step in the gradual decline of democracies.
December 9, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Yet another reason that any social media ban is not a thing to trust.
Reposted by Garak's Apprentice
Gonna get my Kid a recorder and a ticket to the PM’s front door step for Christmas
December 9, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Gonna get my Kid a recorder and a ticket to the PM’s front door step for Christmas
Blessings upon my eldest, who heard me bitching about the completely unreadable state of the time on my phone's newly updated interface, and promptly showed me how to fix it. (It was utterly unintuitive and I never would have found it without at least an hour of sweary googling.)
December 9, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Blessings upon my eldest, who heard me bitching about the completely unreadable state of the time on my phone's newly updated interface, and promptly showed me how to fix it. (It was utterly unintuitive and I never would have found it without at least an hour of sweary googling.)
Movie you’ve watched more than six times with a gif. Hard mode: no Stars (Wars nor Trek), LOTR, or Marvel, Disney Animated or Pixar.
December 8, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Movie you’ve watched more than six times with a gif. Hard mode: no Stars (Wars nor Trek), LOTR, or Marvel, Disney Animated or Pixar.
I love how Apple talks such a big accessibility game and then continues to make their app icons with less and less contrast so that they just look like blobs of colour. Give me back flat colours that aren't monochrome, cowards! Return to me my rightful black outlines! This Liquid Glass stuff sucks!
December 7, 2025 at 11:15 PM
I love how Apple talks such a big accessibility game and then continues to make their app icons with less and less contrast so that they just look like blobs of colour. Give me back flat colours that aren't monochrome, cowards! Return to me my rightful black outlines! This Liquid Glass stuff sucks!
It’s finally my turn with the library copy of Snake Eater by @tkingfisher.com and everyone in the house has just had an art lesson because I was cackling too much over the toilet to be ignored.
If I’m ever rich enough to go ham with renovations, I’m getting that exact porcelain monstrosity.
If I’m ever rich enough to go ham with renovations, I’m getting that exact porcelain monstrosity.
December 6, 2025 at 5:19 AM
It’s finally my turn with the library copy of Snake Eater by @tkingfisher.com and everyone in the house has just had an art lesson because I was cackling too much over the toilet to be ignored.
If I’m ever rich enough to go ham with renovations, I’m getting that exact porcelain monstrosity.
If I’m ever rich enough to go ham with renovations, I’m getting that exact porcelain monstrosity.
I felt that so far down into my soul I'm pretty sure I high-fived the universe on the way back up.
Recently, as I was doing some deep breathing exercises in the vestry to cope with some nonsense at church, someone came up to me and said "these days I have to ask God for patience, because if I ask him for strength I'll deck a bitch." and honestly? Biblical levels of wisdom there.
December 1, 2025 at 11:34 PM
I felt that so far down into my soul I'm pretty sure I high-fived the universe on the way back up.
The youngest is introducing their dad to the Minecraft Movie. Said father is about to have the most pedantic time of their lives thrust upon them, commentary wise. The shouts of "it's nothing like the game! Those are supposed to be RARE!" have already begun.
November 28, 2025 at 8:38 AM
The youngest is introducing their dad to the Minecraft Movie. Said father is about to have the most pedantic time of their lives thrust upon them, commentary wise. The shouts of "it's nothing like the game! Those are supposed to be RARE!" have already begun.
"Noah Jones argued the government's policy was "lazy". "We are the true digital natives and we want to remain educated, robust, and savvy in our digital world... They should protect kids with safeguards, not silence.""
Kid's right on the money and I hope they win.
Kid's right on the money and I hope they win.
Social median ban: teens challenge law before High Court www.bbc.com/news/article...
Australia social media ban: Teens challenge law before High Court
They argue the law - which will block users under 16 from having social media accounts - is unconstitutional.
www.bbc.com
November 26, 2025 at 11:01 PM
"Noah Jones argued the government's policy was "lazy". "We are the true digital natives and we want to remain educated, robust, and savvy in our digital world... They should protect kids with safeguards, not silence.""
Kid's right on the money and I hope they win.
Kid's right on the money and I hope they win.
You’ve been kidnapped. The characters from the last TV show you watched are trying to rescue you. Who’s coming to save you?
Real glad I pulled up Mythbusters for the kids last night. Adam and Jamie will have it sorted out by tea time, and there will be shenanigans along the way.
Real glad I pulled up Mythbusters for the kids last night. Adam and Jamie will have it sorted out by tea time, and there will be shenanigans along the way.
You’ve been kidnapped. The characters from the last TV show you watched are trying to rescue you. Who’s coming to save you?
Hello, David of My Lottery Dream Home... shall we go get some matching tattoos?
Hello, David of My Lottery Dream Home... shall we go get some matching tattoos?
You’ve been kidnapped. The characters from the last TV show you watched are trying to rescue you. Who’s coming to save you?
...Hang on, am I getting rescued by Geo. Washington and his army? Or by, like, Ken Burns and a couple historians?
...Hang on, am I getting rescued by Geo. Washington and his army? Or by, like, Ken Burns and a couple historians?
November 25, 2025 at 11:40 PM
You’ve been kidnapped. The characters from the last TV show you watched are trying to rescue you. Who’s coming to save you?
Real glad I pulled up Mythbusters for the kids last night. Adam and Jamie will have it sorted out by tea time, and there will be shenanigans along the way.
Real glad I pulled up Mythbusters for the kids last night. Adam and Jamie will have it sorted out by tea time, and there will be shenanigans along the way.
That sound you hear is approximately a third of autistics getting ready to eviscerate someone for blasphemy.
November 25, 2025 at 11:05 PM
That sound you hear is approximately a third of autistics getting ready to eviscerate someone for blasphemy.
This comment chain is the best summation of Australia's social media ban ever. I may have to print it and frame it and keep a big "I TOLD YOU SO" stick next to it, so I can tap the sign whenever someone who supports it gets mad that the leopards ate their face, too.
What you are mistaking for a criticism of Australia's ridiculous, censorial, hastily-passed, nonsensical, expropriative, illiberal, bullshit law is, in fact, contempt for their complete inability to draft legislation that addresses the pretext they're using to control speech in such a way --
November 24, 2025 at 3:45 AM
This comment chain is the best summation of Australia's social media ban ever. I may have to print it and frame it and keep a big "I TOLD YOU SO" stick next to it, so I can tap the sign whenever someone who supports it gets mad that the leopards ate their face, too.
I'm really annoyed by how much I'm unable to disagree with this assessment.
Ahh, but token efforts is what the current .au government are all about. They accidentally failed to lose an election because the other side lost it much, much harder, and now they just want to go back to the comfy Opposition side of the room and never have to be responsible for anything ever again.
November 24, 2025 at 3:42 AM
I'm really annoyed by how much I'm unable to disagree with this assessment.