Episode 36: Intersting Times or "Low and Be-Holden"

Episode 36:

1. Production scheduling
   1. Production
   2. What’s in My Teapot
   3. Shipping
   4. Materials Sourcing
   5. After 5

2. Production

1. Soft Serve
   1. I found this while surfing Ravelry for interesting hats to make for my knit groups year of the baby contest. It looks like a swirl of DQ soft serve. I’m using the left overs from the Top Down raglan sweater.

3. What’s In my Tea Pot

4. Shipping

1. The Cupcake Hat
   1. The Cupcake Hat is done! In the end I gave up on the Heart Shaped Pompom as the cherry. I can’t believe that I do not have a pair of scissors in the house that can cut well in the channel of the pompom makers. <Grrrr> That’s one for the Christmas List! What I ended up going with was a cut Amigurumi cherry that I crocheted and stuffed with one of my misshapen heart pompoms. Instead of multi colored “sprinkles” I did a series of French Knots in red for “Cherry Chips” It’s Flat out adorable and since it’s red and White Vaentinesy I’ve been wearing it around town today.
   2. Top and side views are on my project page. (Yes, this may be a sign of the Apocalypse.)
2. 
   Holden Shawlette by Mindy Wilkes
   1. Knit from my Nazar Boncugu Wollemeisse. ("nah-zahr bon-joo-ooh")
      1. I’ll butcher this name no more! I Looked it up and was surprised to find my blue yarn was named for the Turkish Evil Eye talismans. http://www.turkishclass.com/picture_11212 “Nazar Boncuğu is traditional Turkish talisman, usually made of glass, in many stiles, from simple to ornate. There is belief between Turkish people that it absorbs bad energy coming from evil eyes.” Learn something new everyday!
   2. I have 4 more rows and the bind off to go!
   3. I had to tink back the last garter stitch rib 2X. <Grumble> I was too involved with Mathew and Mary on Downton Abbey and the 1^st time purled the wrong side row as normal. The second time I knit the wrong side row but for got the YO increases. Then my screw together interchangeable needle fell apart and luckily nothing fot away. It was at that point that I put the project down and went off to cook dinner and take a breather. I sat down to pick it up again while watching yet more Downton and found that some grubby little fingers had moved Mommy’s sticky note and I knit the wrong row on the chart. Every thing in back in place for another go at it tonight. Hopefully I’ll have a better time of it.

5. Material Sourcing
   1. Merino Camel Blend
      1. I’m still working on the Merino Camel blend. I have all the camel blended into the merino. I have all the rolags sitting on the entertainment center so that they yell “Spin ME!” every time I walk by. My goal was to get them done for the winter Spin along but seeing as that ends today…. I don’t think I’ll be making it.
      2. I am still less than thrilled with these merino locks. In addition to having all sorts of second cuts in this bag I found that the other half the bag was poorly washed and is sticky. From the smell I don’t think it’s lanolin I think it’s excess detergent. A LOT of excess detergent. My thought was to try and spin some of this merino from the lock… But I think I’ll be re washing some of this.
      3. From the looks of things I’m estimating that I’ll fill my second bobbin and maybe a bit of a third.
      4. Cant’s wait to see this plied!
6. After 5
   1. Pittsburgh Knit and Crochet
      1. Snow Storm
      2. Winter Fest in February
      3. Brakes
   2. Crock Pot Yogurt
      1. OMG Soooo Good!
      2. http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/10/you-can-make-yogurt-in-your-crockpot.html
      3. Use whole milk for thicker yogurt. I used 2% and mine was a bit on the runny side. It was thick just not as thick as commercial yogurt. That first swipe with the spoon through the crock pot was soooo worth the wait!