Episode 260: Things are Getting Wild

Thank you for tuning in to Episode 260 of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. This week’s segments included:

Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins
On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins
Brainstorming
From the Armchair
KAL News
Events
Life in Focus
On a Happy Note
Quote of the Week

Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

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
I originally finished in June 2022 but it was too short. I ripped out the bottom section and changed from 1 round of each color to 2 rounds each on the bottom trip and added 2 more colors (purple and pink)
552 grams. 819.5 meters for Stash Dash

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.
Learned double magic circle from this YouTube video. The trick is to know how to pull both loops to tighten the loop.
Progress as of 8/14- 58 x70 inches (14×20 hexis)
My goal is for it to be twin blanket size which is 60×80 inches. I would need to add 2 more rows to the length= 28 hexis to make, wash and seam. Plus add the border.

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.
Progress: 1st sock finished. 2nd cuff started.

Petrichor Socks

Yarn: Oink Pigments Targhee Sock in the Petrichor Colorway (90% Targhee, 10% Nylon)
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry )
Ravelry Project Page
Progress: Past the heel of the first sock

Sweet Liberty Socks

Yarn: Hypnotic Yarn Plush Sock in the Sweet Liberty Colorway (July 2023 Yarnable 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: 1st sock done. On the leg of the second sock.
Check out my July 2023 Yarnable Unboxing Video

Liz’s Water Bottle Holder

Yarn: Loops & Threads Capri Eco Cotton (85% Cotton, 15% Polyester)
Hook: F (3.75 mm)
Pattern: None
Ravelry Project Page
From Amazon, I ordered Black Buckles to allow for adjusting the length of the strap.
My friend Liz was walking around sightseeing on a recent trip to St. Louis and mentioned she may need a water bottle holder like the one I made for Hattie (Ravelry Project Page).

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.

Wild Air Farm Spinning

I am spinning a 4 oz braid of Polwarth/Silk (85/15) from Jakira Farms to ply with Wild Air Farm Shetland & Pygora- Melody & Cadence (dyed in blues and greens)
Ravelry Project Page

Brainstorming

I’d like to crochet a pocket to put between the mattress and the platform part of our bed. I sleep with my heating pad nearly every night and depending on how I move, and especially when I get out of bed, the controller for the heating pad clangs loudly against the wooden drawers and metal drawer pulls of the platform bed. I’d like to hold several strands together and make a large piece of fabric with a pocket in it, to hold the controller and muffle the sound. I need to go through my stash to see what I can find. I will likely crochet it for the sake of time and I think it will also yield a denser fabric that will work well without hurting my hands too much.

From the Armchair

Cassandra in Reverse by Holly Smale. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link.
Happy Place by Emily Henry. 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.

KAL News

Tune in to hear if you won a prize in the Splash Pad Party. I will email all winners within a week of this recording.

The 10th Annual Pigskin Party is Coming SOON! The event will run from Thursday September 7, 2023 through Monday February 12, 2024

Official hashtag- #DCSPigskinParty23 (feel free to start using it while you prep for the KAL)
Registration starts Monday 8/21
Our Commissioners will announce Teams on 9/1
KAL Starts 9/7
Virtual Kick Off- Friday 9/8 & Saturday 9/9
Updated rules coming soon

Back this year we have

Wendy (socalknitgirl) Wendy- Umpire
Heather (zoomdogknits) – Sheep Football Conferece
Emily- (ElsaandEm)- Llama Football Conference
Alicia (almariecraft)- Alpaca Football Conference
Broadcast- yours truly

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: 8,959 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
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

23 for 2023 list (a few updates)

Read 23 books (37 as of August)
Print and hang at least 1 of our new family photos (ordered 8/9 from Walgreens- 8×10 for $12!)
Give blood at least 3 times (March, May, August done)
Knit myself a pair of mittens

On a Happy Note

Dan and I went to a local brewery on a Sunday afternoon and came home to a black bear in our yard!
Barbie Movie- purchased a new pink top and heels to wear with floral pants I bought. Stephanie deemed me Resort Barbie!
Gabriella’s 3rd birthday. Dan and I had so much fun playing with playdough with them in the backyard.
Mom’s friends at List Perfectly treated us to box seats at a Red Sox at Fenway. The game itself was terrible- they lost 13-1 and put in the short stop as pitcher in the top of the 9th, but we had so much fun we didn’t care. The box was decked out with every kind of delicious beverage you could want, pizza, lobster rolls, hot dogs, pretzels and more… and they even have a ice cream sundae cart come around!
2 nights of Tock and ice cream at the pool. The first night Liz and I taught Stephanie and Kris how to play. The second night, Mom, Riley and I played.
Emelie’s birthday party
Kayaking for the first time this season; it was cut a bit short by a storm that was threatening. Not sure if would have ever actually come where we were, but it wasn’t worth the risk.

Click any of the photos to enlarge