Episode 259: Covid Frenzy

Thank you for tuning in to Episode 259 of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. This week’s segments included:

Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins
On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins
From the Armchair
Some Years Later
Crafty Adventures
KAL News
Events
Life in Focus
Ask Me Anything
On a Happy Note
Quote of the Week

Thank you to this episode’s sponsors: Enchanted Etchings

Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Shock Star Hat

Yarn: Spun Right Round Squish DK in the Shock Star colorway
Needles: US 5 (3.75 mm) & US 7 (4.5 mm)
Pattern: none
Ravelry Project Page
About the yarn: cream base with small bits of neons + black.
92 sts
130.5 meters for Stash Dash

Watermelon cozies

Pattern: Ball Band (free pattern on Ravelry & LoveCrafts) & Ball Band with a Twist ($2 crochet pattern on Ravelry & LoveCrafts) by Jennifer Lassonde
Yarns: Loops & Threads Capri Eco Cotton in Colorway: Cranberry. Loops & Threads Everyday Cotton in Jade. Leftover scrubby yarn for lighter green
Hooks: 3.75 mm (F) & 4.25 mm (G)
Ravelry Project Page
Inspiration- Ali (starryeyesali) posted a watermelon bowl she made with leftover yarn on Instagram
Small Jar cozy (16 oz wide mouth Mason jars). All sc (like the original ball band pattern). 7 rounds of Jade, 2 rounds of light green, 9 rounds of red. Black “seeds” sewn in later.
Large Jar cozy (24 oz wide mouth Mason jars)- following Ball Band with a Twist instructions. 6 rounds of bottom section in Jade. 2 rounds of light green and the rest in Red. Black “seeds” sewn in later.
Large Jar cozy #2 (24 oz wide mouth Mason jars)- rounds of Jade, 2 rounds of light green, rest was done in red. Black “seeds” sewn in later.
156.4 meters for Stash Dash

Woolens and Nosh Socks

Yarn: Woolens & Nosh Targee Socks- 2022 Advent Calendar
Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams ($5 Knitting Pattern available on Ravelry)
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
Ravelry Project Page
20g mini in dark purple; used for cuff and heel.
285.8 meters for Stash Dash

Zebra Stripes Socks

Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry )
Yarn: Patons Kroy in the Zebra Stripes Colorway
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
Ravelry Project Page
273.6 meters for Stash Dash

Children of Time Spinning

Fiber: Into the Whirled Cheviot (4 oz) in the Children of Time colorway
Twist direction: singles = Z plied = S
- This means when I’m spinning, my wheel is spinning clockwise and when plying my wheel is moving counter-clockwise.
Ravelry Project Page
1 ply of Wool of the Andes in 2 colors of blue + 2 plies of Into the Whirled
- Skein 1= 94g. 116.91 yards or 106.9 meters
- Skein 2= 82g 120.3 yards, 110 meters
- Total meters of yarn 216.9
For Stash Dash= 4 x 216.9 = 867.6 meters

Purple Spring Spin

Fiber: Fluffypuf #130 Hand Dyed Roving Batt Purple/Pink. 1.4 ounces. 50% BFL, 40% merino, 10% Tussah Silk.
Twist direction: singles = Z plied = S
- This means when I’m spinning, my wheel is spinning clockwise and when plying my wheel is moving counter-clockwise.
Ravelry Project Page
2 skeins of finished yarn with Fluffypuf & Kingdom Fleece & Fiber Works
- Skein 1- 66g. 80.97 yards or 74.04 meters
- Skein 2= 66g. 79.44 yards or 72.64 meters
- Total Meters= 146.68
I still had singles left of the Kingdom Fleece & Fiberworks fiber, so I plied that with some mystery purple singles.
- Skein 3: 28g. 54.44 yards or 49.78 meters
- Meters for Stash Dash- 49.78 x 4= 199.12
Total Meters for Stash Dash for all 3 skeins = 795.84

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.

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
I’ve been closing the end of each hexagon with this join- link to Instagram post
4 rounds per hexagon.
3.75 inches each. Likely need over 300
- Twin sized blanket is 60×80 inches. 17×22 hexis- 374.
Learned double magic circle from this YouTube video. The trick is to know how to pull both loops to tighten the loop.
As of 7/25/23- 51′ wide by 58″ long. (13 x 17 hexis)

Silver Spoon Socks

Yarn: A Whimsical Wood Yarn Company Pixie Toes Socks in the Silver Spoon Up My A$$ colorway
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry )
Ravelry Project Page
Progress: on the foot of the first sock.

3 Christmas Stockings

Pattern: Christmas Stockings to Knit and Crochet from Family Circle Magazine. Available in this web archive link. I’ve also saved it to my podcast Gmail Google Drive in case it disappears! web.archive.org-Christmas Stockings to Knit and Crochet from Our Archives.pdf
Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver in Cherry Red, Hunter Green and White
Hook: G (4.0 mm)
Ravelry Project Page
Progress: I have 3 of the 4 front/back panels I need for the frist 2 done. The forth is onto the leg. I am going to crochet up 2 more and then iron them, and start seaming them.

Rainbow Crochet Crop

Pattern: 100% improvised.
Yarn: Lion Brand Re-up. Colors: Ecru, Red, Orange, Sunflower, Lime, Aqua, Lilac and Raspberry
Hook: E (3.5 mm)
Ravelry Project Page
Wide, oversized crochet top that I completely improvised on the go. Thought I’d do all granny squares but didn’t think I’d have enough yarn.
Originally finished in June 2022, but it was too short and I only wore it once.
Had hdc rows in rainbow colors at the bottom. Ripped all of that back and instead of doing 1 round of each color, I did 2. Extending beyond blue to include purple and pink.

My Little Unicorn Socks

Yarn: Andre Sue Knits Sock Blank in the My Little Unicorn colorway
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry )
Ravelry Project Page
Gray background with white and pink unicorns that look like My Little Pony. My inner 80’s child loved this one.

From the Armchair

The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link.
Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link.
- Recommended by Dan’s cousin Melissa
Just the Nicest Couple by Mary Kubica. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link.

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

Mom sent 2 socks to be repaired. Her Knit Picks Felici Zen Socks had a hole in the foot. It was easy to repair with a bit of yarn. I washed them and they’re ready to give back. I only finished these in May 2022, right before Mother’s Day so these haven’t held up very well. Click here for my Ravelry Project Page.
I also did a blanket repair on a knitted blanket a friend’s mother asked me to fix. I was assuming it was crochet, so the fact that it was knitted was a surprise. The section that was torn was part of a very long strip of knitting that was knit on the bias, so it was a little tricky but it was in garter stitch and I did a good job of pulling the stitches back up. Its not 100% invisible, but I’m happy with it. I have it washed and ready to return.

Crafty Adventures

Resin adventures with Gayle & Meagan for their Bucket List with a Twist. They made us aprons to wear while working that Bucket List with a Twist!

KAL News

Splash Pad Party 23: May 26-July 31, 2023

Sign up using this Google Form.
To confirm you’re signed up, check the Stats/Registration Spreadsheet here.
Click here for the full list of Sponsors with all the links you need to their websites & social media.
Many of our Sponsors are offering coupon codes. Find them here- Google Doc or Ravelry Thread.
Tune in to hear if you won a participation prize.
End of the event winners will be announced in Episode 260

Events

Stash Dash, hosted by Leslie & Laura of the Knit Girllls Video Podcast starts May 26th and runs through August 31, 2023. Check out details in the knit girllls discord
- My total as of this episode: 8,140 meters
- You can check out my Stash Dash 2023 Progress on this Google Sheet.
Legacy Fiber Artz Knit Your Stash MAL- check out the details on the Treehouse Fiber Arts website
- Runs May 29- September 4, 2023
- #legacyfiberartzknityourstashMal and #flashyourstash
Crafty Bingo- Craft Cook Read Repeat Podcast
- May 26-September 4, 2023
- Grab the Bingo card over on their Instagram feed
The Grocery Girls are hosting Hot Granny Square Summer MAL. Check out details in their Ravelry Group & in Episode 183 on their YouTube Channel.
Summer Sock Camp hosted in the Crazy Sock Lady Ravelry Group
- 5/26- 8/31/2023
Vermont Sheep & Wool: Sept 30 & Oct 1 at the Tunbridge Fairgrounds
Check out some West Coast (US) Events on the Seattle Knitters Guild site (thanks Kristen- kips206)

Life in Focus

After 3+ years I got Covid.
Mom’s July MRI & CT Scans show that the cancer has not grown/changed! Great news!

Ask Me Anything

Tune in to hear my answers to these questions:

AnnahB wants to know how many UFOs I have. (12 somewhat active + hibernations)
MaysMomNH- How your Mom is doing.
Elisa.Knits- How you pick yarn for sweaters and cardis please.
Nali_Knits- what motivates you to keep knitting/podcasting after so many years?
KGZKnits- Can we watch instead?
Red-Christina- trying to knit men’s cardigan for my grandpa- any suggestions?
- Classic Cardigan by Tin Can Knits. $8 knitting pattern on Ravelry or Tin Can Knits website.
- Slade by Michelle Wang (for Brooklyn Tweed). $10 pattern available on Ravelry; $9 on Brooklyn Tweed Website.
- Reading Cardigan by Jared Flood. $16 knitting pattern available on Ravelry & for $15 on Brooklyn Tweed website)
DogMomKnits- Fall Knitting Plans- Pigskin Party (if there will be one) info?
- There will be a Pigskin Party. I’ll be planning it very soon!

On a Happy Note

After a day of resin crafts and pool time, Mom, Dad, Gayle, Meagan, Liz and I headed out for ice cream and then back for 2 round Tock match (Meagan & I won one, Gayle & Liz won one).
I went to Minute Clinic to confirm I had Covid, but mostly to see if I also had strep throat, and was treated by my childhood bestie, Maribeth!
Grateful for my own craft room with a comfy chair in a cool part of the house. Perfect for isolating and making sure Dan didn’t get sick. I did go outside a bit on the weekend days. Dan brought up my wheel. I still spent a lot of time lying down between projects but it was nice to get out. I missed our nephew’s 16th birthday pool party, though, so that was a bummer.
Jeff was able to get an extra ticket for me to join he and Riley to see Lainey Wilson at the Mohegan Sun casino on Friday night! We had dinner, loved the show, got a cool Watermelon Moonshine Stanley Tumbler, and then I slept over at their house. Hung out with Riley & Millie in the morning, singing Hamilton as Riley made us homemade waffles.