Episode 247: Socks & Scraps

Thank you for tuning in to Episode 247 of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. This week’s segments included:

Off the Needles
On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins
Brainstorming
From the Armchair
Some Years Later
Knitting in Passing
KAL News
Events
Contest, News & Notes
Life in Focus
On a Happy Note
Quote of the Week

Off the Needles

Cascade Heritage Socks

Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry )
Yarn: Cascade Heritage Prints in Colorway 111 Aqua
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
Contrast heel- mini skein in a beautiful solid teal. I did a little colorwork on the foot that I’ll share more later.

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Mini Skein Hexagon Blanket

Pattern: Basic Crochet Hexagon Pattern & Tips from Make Do and Crew Website & YouTube Tutorial
Hook: F (3.75 mm)
Yarn: Mini skeins from 2022 agirlandherwool Advent Calendar, 24 Days of Cheer Swap minis + other scraps/swap yarn
Ravelry Project Page
4 rounds per hexagon
51+ hexagons done now. All ends woven in!

Chevron Scrap Blanket

Pattern: Chevron Scrap Blanket by Maria’s Blue Crayon (free crochet pattern) available on Ravelry & the Maria’s Blue Crayon Website.
- This pattern presumes you already know the c2c crochet technique.
Yarn: Knit Picks Brava Worsted in White & Tranquil (light green), Lion Brand Pound of Love in Pastel Pink and Loops & Threads Snuggly Wuggly Big! in colorway Soft Lilac
Hook: J (6.0 mm)
Ravelry Project Page (I crocheted one of these in summer 2020- click here for that Ravelry Project Page)
For help learning the Corner to Corner Crochet method you could check out this free Ravelry Download from Lauri Bolland or this video tutorial from Lion Brand on YouTube.
1st Strip is finished progress. 11 squares wide. Each section is 11 squares tall. Green, white, pink, white, purple, white.
Some of this is spirit yarn from my friend Kim’s SIL’s stash that I received after she passed away (purple). I’m not sure where the pink yarn came from, but it might have been my Nana’s stash. It feels great to put it to good use.

Musselburgh Hat

Pattern: Musselburgh by Ysolda Teague ($7.77 US/ 6 GBP knitting pattern available on Ravelry or on Ysolda’s website)
Yarn: fingering weight yarn from stash in a denim blue (can’t find the ballband)
Needles: US 2 (2.75) circular- 32 in (magic loop for beginning & end of project & US 2 (also called US 2.5) 3.0 mm 16-inch circular for the body of the hat
Ravelry Project Page
Size: Adult Medium
I found that I liked working this hat in the round. Purchased Addi Rocket Lace Turbo 16 inch needles in US 2 (but it turns out its technically a US 2.5 or a 3.0 mm needle- not a 2.75 mm needle like I use for the cast on). The difference isn’t all that noticeable but it was a little frustrating.
Progress check- I have finished the increases and have knit about 4 inches.
Plan: Switch colors half way through. I have a lighter blue skein from On the Round that I purchased at Wicked Good Yarns in Rockland, MA that I want to use to make it a reversible hat.

Solstice Socks

Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry )
Yarn: Knit Picks Felici in the Solstice colorway
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
Ravelry Project Page
Progress- turned heel on first sock. Cast on the second sock.

Brainstorming

My Grandmother called to ask me to knit her another Jean Marie Shawl (named for her). You can find this knitting pattern for $6 on Ravelry & LoveCrafts.Here’s the story:

My grandmother called me in mid-January 2023 saying she needed to place an order. I thought she wanted something from Amazon.
She told me very time she wears her Jean Marie Shawl to dinner at her residence she gets tons of compliments. All of her friends love it. Its the right size and it just stays in place perfectly.
I published this pattern in 2018 to suit the request that she have a slightly bigger shawl that would stay in place. Half hexagon shape is perfect for this. It is knit in 3 sections, originally done in sport/dk natural yarns from Ross Farm in browns/tans. For this one, she wants white/black to wear with different outfits.

From the Armchair

Books

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link.
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link.
Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link.

Movies

Note: Some links are listed as Amazon Affiliate Links. If you click those, please know that I am an Amazon Associate and I earn money from qualifying purchases.

Some Years Later

Wearing lately:

Felicity Hat by Wanett Clyde: Aran weight slouchy hat knit in Duck Duck Wool. Ravelry Project Page. Free pattern available only on Ravelry.
Sagamore Flyover Slouch Hat: chunky weight hat. Ravelry Project Page. Yarn: Sugarbush Dawson in Colorway- Wild Willow, a great mustard color. 50/50 llama/wool blend

Knitting in Passing

Sunday night hang. Taught megg single and hdc. Knit a little with Hattie while Dan untangled Hattie’s yarn again. Untangled same ball in Ireland. She’d been using it to create a laser course.

KAL News

Pigskin Party’22: The Official Hashtag is #DCSPigskinParty22

Pigskin Landing Page on the Down Cellar Studio Website.
Start Here Thread in the Ravelry Group
Link to the Official Rules
Player Registration- Google Form
Check out our amazing Sponsors! Click here for the Google doc with their websites and Instagram profiles.
- Check out the list of available Coupons from our amazing sponsors- Ravelry Link. Google Doc.
- Check out the Pigskin Exclusive Items in this Ravelry Thread
Important Updates in this Episode
- January Self Care Interception: hosted by Fitness by Mara. Get your Bingo Card PDF Here or the JPG here. Find all of the details in this Google Doc or in this Ravelry Thread.
- Spread the Warmth Challenge; runs through the end of the Pigskin Party. Get details in this Google doc or this Ravelry Thread.
- Pigskin Ends on Monday February 13, 2023. Get those projects entered. Don’t wait until the last day to get everything entered on the Google Form!

Events

Fiberuary Challenge on Instagram hosted by CreativeCeci

Contest, News & Notes

My college roommate and friend Jen opened an Etsy Shop called JLSCreative Shop. Check it out
Mom & I recorded an update video that went up on the Down Cellar Studio YouTube Channel in the Just Breathe Playlist. You can find that video here. Right now, scans show things are going well and the combination of chemo and gene therapy is keeping the cancer at bay.

Life in Focus

23 for 2023 List

Read 23 books
Try at least one pair of fake eyelashes
Print and hang at least 1 of our new family photos
Kayak in one new place
Hike in one new place
See 4 plays/musicals
Give blood at least 3 times
Knit myself a pair of mittens
Knit/crochet at least one project with handspun
Watch 3 movies in one day – done!
See a movie in the theater
Go to a museum
Finish 1 punch needle project
Ski at least 1 day (ideally 2-4)
Try at least 1 new gym/in person fitness option
Make at least 1 new financial investment
Purge at least 23 items from the house. Ideally 46.
Publish 1 knitting pattern
Send 5 cards to friends/family just because
Go Camping
Participate in the Fiberuary Challenge on Instagram
Take a class (in person or virtual)
Create a new music playlist

Word of the Year- Flow

Definitions:

to proceed smoothly and readily to issue or move in a stream
To exist in abundance
the continuous movement of a liquid in one direction
to hang loose and billowing
To move or proceed with a given movement or momentum
To pass or move by
a supply of something that continues without stopping
a way of talking or thinking in an easy natural way, without any pauses or difficulties
a smooth uninterrupted movement or progress
Smoothness or fluidity in one’s movement
A strong, regular repeated pattern of movement or sound

I want to be able to go with the Flow no matter what this year brings.
I want to remember my dear Aunt Florence and remind myself what she would do. She was smart, caring, generous and strong. Her presence will be a good guide when things get tough.
I want to find projects, especially creatively that I can keep up the flow with… that I can get into a flow state with. To zen/bliss out and enjoy.
I want to keep my body strong and stretched so that I can move fluidly through the year without things getting in the way of my body’s flow.

On a Happy Note

Playing the sock game during our visit to the Rowan’s. UK/European game. Fun for all ages.
Surprise package from Nicole with mini skeins.
Snow! Not a lot for as late into the season as we are, but I enjoy it.
Visit from family friends who came down from NH. We played games at my parents’ house!
January Zoom with my Patrons! I had a blast catching up with you.
3 movies in 1 day- checked off my 23 for 23 list. Homemade popcorn. Lots of knitting and crochet time. Fixed dropped sts in Megg’s socks.
Drag show and dinner with Megg and Kris.