Episode 280: Ring the Bell!

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Thank you for tuning in to Episode 280 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
  • Crafty Adventures
  • Knitting in Passing
  • In my Travels
  • KAL News
  • Events
  • Life in Focus
  • On a Happy Note
  • Quote of the Week

Thank you to this episode’s sponsors: Stitched by Jessalu

Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

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
  • About the yarn: peaches and pinks with gray/taupe. At my gauge it is striping (~2 rounds per color). I purchased this yarn at Yarncentric event in Maryland.
  • Started in May 2023. Finished on June 28, 2024
  • Total for Stash Dash: 262 meters

Baby James’ Cozy Clusters Blanket

  • Pattern: Cozy Clusters Baby Blanket by Leelee Knits (free & paid options available on the LeeLeeKnits website)
  • Yarn: Caron Cinnamon Swirl Cakes in the Slush Colorway (purchased 3). 1 skein of Loops & Threads Impeccable in Colorway 01110 [Navy] for the border
  • Hook: I (5.5 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Bobble Border instructions from this blog
  • Finished size- 30.5 inches wide by 38.8 inches tall (not including the bobbles)
  • Finished on July 2
  • Total for Stash Dash: 1,010 meters (833 meters Caron Cakes [2.25 skeins] – 178 meters Loops & Threads- less than 1 skein)

Trish’s New Orleans Socks

  • Yarn- Cat Tails Yarn in the Chartreux Base (75% Superwash Merino, 15% Nylon, 10% Silver Stellina) in the Christmas Bonfires Colorway (part of the Down in New Orleans Collection)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry )
  • Trish purchased in New Orleans in 2024 (exclusive colorway for the Quarter Stitch). $34.
  • Finished on July 3
  • Total for Stash Dash: 259 meters

American Ewe Turn a Square Hat

  • Yarn: American Ewe Worsted Tweed in the Terrace Mountain Colorway
  • Pattern: Turn a Square by Jared Flood ($5 pattern available on Ravelry & Brooklyn Tweed website)
  • Needles: US 5 (3.75 mm) & US 7 (4.5 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • About the yarn: 3 ply Merino/Rambouillet Shaniko Wool (89%) with 6% acrylic and 5% rayon flecks. The colorway is a natural with brownish tweedy bits.
  • I purchased the yarn for $15 at Adventures in Knitting in Harwich, MA on the way to visit friends who were staying in Wellfleet. They had a cool display of “used needles” for $4 each. I bought bamboo US.
  • Modifications: I use worsted weight yarn and knit the smallest size, omitting the increases after the ribbing. I knit 6 inches before the crown decreases.
  • Total for Stash Dash: 99.8 meters (109.2 yards), 51 grams

Portland Socks

  • Yarn: Urth Yarns Uneek Fingering in Colorway 3024
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry )
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • About the yarn: self striping yarn- cornflower blue, dusty orange, yellowy green, peach, magenta and purple. I purchased the yarn at Knit Wit Yarn Shop in Portland, Maine. You can purchase the same yarn online from them.
  • I held a strand of navy blue nylon thread along with yarn for the heel flap and gusset to give more strength to the heel.
  • I used the Lemonwood Mini Minder (also purchased at Knit Wit) and knit the vast majority of this pair of socks in 2 days walking around Portland, visiting breweries and hanging out with friends. You can see a video I made of this project on Instagram.
  • Total for Stash Dash: 254.7 meters

Welcome to Litchfield Spinning Project

  • Fiber: I purchased two 4oz braid of fiber from Into the Whirled in the Welcome to Litchfield colorway (1 braid Texel & 1 braid BFL Tussah Silk) along with 1 gray  (The Traveler on Cheviot base) braid to ply them together.
  • 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
  • I didn’t fully spin the gray Traveler colorway braid.
  • Finished Project- 3 braids of 3 ply yarn: 184g= 252.2 meters (275.9 yards) ~Aran weight
  • Total for Stash Dash= 252.2 meters x 4= 1,008.8 meters

Book Holder

  • Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease Roving Stripes in Daisy & 1 other mystery colorway (lost the ball band), Premier Yarns Parfait Chunky (mustard) & Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Worsted
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Hook: 9.0 mm (M/N)
  • I took inspiration from this pattern on Ravelry. (Boho Book Nook crochet pattern- but I was using MUCH chunkier yarn and I didn’t want to use the same textured stitches)
  • I chained 21 sts and worked with 20 hdcs across each row- working in the third loop after the first row. I wasn’t going to have enough of the Lion Brand Roving to make the whole thing, so I held the Wool of the Andes double for the part that would be covered. I worked a single crochet around the edges, and then sewed the front to back in just 1 spot on either side. I used a chain for the loop to tack it up on the wall.
  • Total for Stash Dash: 128.1 meters

Declan’s Adrift Socks

  • Yarn: Patons Kroy Stripes in the Adrift colorway
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry )
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • About the colorway- short stripes (about 3 rounds each) with 3 shades of blue- navy, denim and cornflower plus orange and brown.
  • Total for Stash Dash: 278.2 meters

Deschain

  • Pattern Deschain by Leila Raven
  • Needles: US 9 (5.5 mm)
  • Yarn. Rowan Creative Linen. Colorway 00624-   Gray.
    • Worsted weight 50% Linen / Flax, 50% Cotton. 200 meters / 100 grams. Bought 4 skeins. Used a little more than 2
  • Size: Smallest (54 1/4 in bust) Calls for 16-22″ positive ease. I should have around 19″
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Originally finished July 10, 2021. I ripped out in 2024 because the back was far too short. I ripped out the sleeves (tossed) and unseamed the back and front. The instructions call for the back to be 12 inches but the front falls about 17 inches from collarbone to the bottom hem. I knit about 14 inches on the back and then worked a few sets of German Short Rows before the bottom hem instructions.
  • I tried a few options for sleeves and then decided I”d just sew up the ends in a way to tuck/hem the ends under and I love that.
  • In the end I made the body longer and the sleeves shorter
  • Total for Stash Dash: 424.0 meters (463.7 yards), 212 grams

First Point of Libra Cowl

  • Pattern: First Point of Libra Cowl by Laura Aylor
  • Needles: US 3 (3.25 mm)
  • Yarn: Barnyard Knits, Fuse Fiber Studio, One Twisted Tree (shop formerly own Prairie Girl Danie) + other leftover sock yarn
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Yarn purchased at Vogue Knitting Live January 2020 with Lauren. Planned to make a 2 color shawl. Cast on My Cryptonite by Melanie Berg and never got more than a couple inches in. Here’s the Ravelry Project Page for the shawl that’s now frogged.
  • I started in October 2022. My November 2022 notes say- I’m losing mojo on this and I don’t think it has to do w/ the pattern or my yarn. I like it… but its not getting finished before my trip to the UK so I will need to find other wooly accessories to bring with me.
  • I picked up again July 2024 and it flew off the needles!
  • Modifications: In Section 4, I skipped adding color 4 & 5 (1-3 only). Skipped Section 5.
  • Finished size: 21 inches around. 15 inches tall.
  • Total for Stash Dash: 406 meters

Vera’s Christmas Stocking

  • 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!
  • Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in Red, Everglade Heather and White
  • Hook: F (3.75 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Total for Stash Dash: 456.5 meters

8,353 meters for Stash Dash

Over 4,500 meters added since the last episode!

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Wool Ease Hexagon Blanket

  • Pattern: Basic Crochet Hexagon Pattern & Tips from Make Do and Crew Website & YouTube Tutorial
  • Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick. Centers in colorways- Fern, Coney Island, Seaglass, Slate. Borders- Wheat & Oatmeal
  • Hook: 10mm (N/P)
  • Notes: started in April 2022. I never talked about it on the podcast.  Inspired by an instagram post from Lion Brand. This WIP has been taking up a ton of space in my craft room ever since. When the pump in my dehumidifer went and we had to move some things to get at it, I decided I had to get this WIP done.
  • 2 rounds of color- 1 round of wheat or oatmeal
  • 18 were done. 30 finished now

Berry Bliss Socks

  • Yarn: Hypnotic Yarn Plush Sock (75% SW Merino/25% Nylon) in the Berry Bliss Colorway (May 2024 Yarnable Box) & Legacy Fiber Artz Glitzy Toes (pink mini from 2023 Advent Calendar)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • About the yarn- lemon yellow, sherbet orange and pink. I worked the first heel in a pink sparkle yarn from Legacy Fiber Artz because I have some spiral striping going on and didn’t want to disrupt it.
  • Progress: I’ve finished the heel on the first sock.

Rafa’s Hat

  • Yarn: Malabrigo Rios in the Cielo y Tierra colorway
  • Needles: US 5 (3.75 mm)
  • Pattern: Rafa’s Hat by Joji Locatelli (free knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Ravelry Project Page:
  • About the yarn: blues/tans that is almost striping at my gauge. The hat is a 1×1 rib that has a cool purl ridge detail.
  • Progress: I’ve worked two repeats of the pattern

Cold Goat Farm Spinning

  • Fiber: Cold Goat Farm Batt- I believe its Merino/Mohair but there are no details on the business card in my bag. I think I purchased it at Rhinebeck 2023.
  • 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

Brainstorming

Connections socks! Have you heard about them? You take your Daily NY Times Game- Connections Results and put them into colorwork socks. Suzanne told me about them- and recently saw and loved Wendy’s!

Here’s a link to Wendy’s Connection Socks Ravelry Project Page.

From the Armchair

  1. Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto. Bookshop Affiliate Link.Amazon Affiliate Link.
  2. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link.
  3. I’ll Just Be Five More Minutes (and other tales from my ADHD brain) by Emily Farris. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link.
  4. We Were Never Here by Andrea Bartz. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link.
  5. Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link.
  6. Feed by M.T. Anderson. Bookshop Affiliate Link (not available). Amazon Affiliate Link.
  7. Briefly Perfectly Human by Alua Arthur. 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.

Crafty Adventures

  • I found a small hole in my Mabel Style cross body sling bag and decided to use embroidery floss for a better hold and to add a bit of visible mending color. I received great customer service when I reached out to them!
  • I’m in the midst of a massive studio clean out. It started w/ issues with my dehumidifier and it’s really spiraled from there. I’m excited to see how it all comes back together.

Knitting in Passing

Aila FaceTimed me from a friend’s house after buying a crochet dinosaur kit at the dollar store. The next day after pool day and dinner we practiced chain and single crochet.

In My Travels

  • Dan and I spent a long weekend in Portland, Maine to celebrate our 20th Anniversary.
  • I was able to go up a night early to attend the knit night at Rising Tide Brewery. I loved meeting Heather from Rising Tide and Jenn & her husband Chuck from Knit Wit.
  • Friday morning, I visited Knit Wit Yarn Shop‘s new location and then walked around. Dan, Dana and Sheri arrived and we met at Duck Fat for lunch before showing them around to some of our favorite breweries.
  • Saturday we visited local shops and more breweries before going to see comedian Kathleen Madigan.
  • Sunday, I did some shopping while Dan watched soccer then we enjoyed some drinks together and ended up back at Rising Tide where there was a 6p Burlesque show so Dan got us tickets. Really fun end to an awesome weekend.

KAL News

Pigskin Party ’24 will kick off in the fall (specific date TBD). We’re looking for Sponsors for this season. Interested or know someone who is?

Sign up for my email newsletter and click the box saying you’re potentially interested in sponsoring events and you’ll get first dibs on spots.

And/or email me for details!

Other current & upcoming events:

Events

Know of an event I should spread the word about? Let me know!

Life in Focus

Tune in for a health Update on BostonJensMom

On a Happy Note

  • Dan and I took vacation the first week of July. Monday after Portland we just chilled. Tuesday I took Mom for whole brain radiation, then to visit my grandmother (her mother) and out for lunch. Wednesday/Thursday we visited friends renting a house in Wellfleet (Cape Cod) and Thursday/Friday we visited friends in Falmouth. Friday morning we picked up Riley from Camp and brought her to our house before she and I headed to Hornstra to get ice cream for lunch (because that’s what vacation is for!) and over to my parents to the pool for the day.
  • Monday 7/8- I met up with my friend Megg to do a 5+ mile beach walk before she headed out to Ireland for the month.
  • Wed 7/10  Mom and I stayed in Boston to save her the back & forth daily for treatment. We met her friend Jacky for lunch. I went back to work in the afternoon. After work, we cooled off in the hotel pool and then had dinner, played Uno and bar trivia at The Hill. We stunk but it was fun!
  • Sunday July 14th pool day at my parents. Jenna, Dave, Gabriella and Zach came over. Within a few hours they were both jumping off the diving board!
  • July 17-18th Mom and I stayed in Boston again after her Radiation treatment. We hit the pool and fared slightly better at trivia but it was hard to be out as long. Mom’s energy was much lower, she was coughing more and couldn’t speak above a whisper.
  • July 21st we had a pool day at my parents. Jeff, Millie and Garret, Jenna, and the 2 kiddos, Kris, Will, Aila and Matt. We celebrated Will’s 17th birthday. Mom’s hair had started falling out and the blank spots at the back of her head looked like a butterfly! Mom told us to go find some Sharpies and color it in! It was a hard day for her and by extension us, but this added a bit of fun and whimsy to it! Millie even attached little plastic gems to parts of the butterfly. After the “temporary tattooing” we shaved off the rest of her hair to help w/ the shedding.
  • July 23rd- Mom’s last day of Whole Brain Radiation!
  • Coming home to a beautiful bouquet of flowers from Dan.
  • Getting 2 massages this month after missing my scheduled on in June for our Portland trip! I always feel like I need it but I’ve been going up on weights at the gym and my upper body was screaming!

Quote of the Week

“I know nothing in the world that has as much power as a word. Sometimes I write one, and I look at it, until it begins to shine.”

-Emily Dickinson

——

Thank you for tuning in!

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