Interesting Times or "Low and Be-Holden"

AJ Knits

Episode 36:

1. Production scheduling – It feels so good to be back infront of the microphone! Not to be to Excusey but... there's a chineese curse. Or a saying that's been attributed as a chineese curse... That says May you live in interesting times. Life over here ahas taken a turn to the interesting to say the least.

   1. Production

   2. What’s in My Teapot

   3. Shipping

   4. Materials Sourcing

   5. After 5

2. Production

1. Soft Serve by fervid Design

   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 ofhbh DQ soft serve. I’m using the left overs from the Top Down raglan sweater.

2. 10 stitch Blanket by Frankie Brown.

   1. My knittign grup is having a blanket drive for Project linus. I have a large amount of recycled afghan yarn ans thought this blanket mayhe a good use as It doesn't include my main turn off when it comes to blamkets. Long never ending rows. I have this cast on and I'm to the point of adding in the contrast color. I've ripped it out twice as I'm not happy with how the joing look. The prescribed SL1 K1 PSSO isn't workign for me. I may tear this out again and tinker with it some more.

   2. Find out more about project linus at www.projectlinus.org it is our mission to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer “blanketeers.”

3. What’s In my Tea Pot

   1. casablanca twist

      1. An interesting twist on classic Moroccan Mint tea, which traditionally combines Gunpowder green tea from China with fresh mint. We kept the latter, and replaced the smoky notes of Gunpowder with the muscatel highlights of a First Flush Darjeeling from India. The result is very a refreshing cup, with bold, cool minty notes, smooth and relaxing texture and flavor. Very intriguing cup.

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. 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 Boncu?u 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. I was too involved with Mathew and Mary on Downton Abbey and the 1st 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!