Episode 274: Fun, Sun & Chickens

Thank you for tuning in to Episode 274 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
In my Travels
Events
Contest, News & Notes
On a Happy Note
Quote of the Week

Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

FearLESS Socks (DK)

Yarn: Legacy Fiber Artz DK (75% Merino, 25% Nylon) in the FearLESS Colorway
Needles: US 3 (3.25 mm)
Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
Size: XS
Ravelry Project Page
About the Colorway- FearLESS is a special colorway by Legacy Fiber Artz for our February Fiber Community FearLESS Living Fund Fundraiser.
Made for Mom

FearLESS Socks (Steel Toes)

Yarn: Legacy Fiber Artz DK Steel Toes (75% Merino, 25% Nylon) in the FearLESS Colorway
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
Size: M
Ravelry Project Page
About the Colorway- FearLESS is a special colorway by Legacy Fiber Artz for our February Fiber Community FearLESS Living Fund Fundraiser.
Made for my Mom’s chemo nurse, Nicole, who also cared for my Aunt Florence.

Greyhaven Hat

Pattern: Greyhaven hat by Robin Ulrich ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
Needles: US 5 (3.75 mm) & US 7 (4.5 mm)
Yarn: Berocco Ultra Alpaca in the Avocado Colorway
Ravelry Project Page
Made for my niece’s Aila’s 15th birthday after she saw and like the grey one I wear a lot.

Emotional Support Chicken

Pattern: Emotional Support Chicken by Annette Corsino ($6.50 US Knitting Pattern available on Ravelry & this website)
Yarn: Various DK scraps
Needles: US 6 (4.0 mm)
Ravelry Project Page

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Modern Classic Baby Blanket

Pattern: Modern Classic Baby Blanket by Kristin Holloway ($8 crochet pattern available on Ravelry: free version w/ ads available on this website)
Hook: I (5.5)
Yarn: Big Twist Tweed in White (7 skeins)
Size: Crib Blanket: 36 x 50”
The blanket is worked in 2 halves that you seam together at the center to make it symmetrical. The pattern features some crochet cables.

Let the Mystery Unravel 2023 Blanket of Calm

Pattern: Blanket of Calm by Casapinka (free crochet pattern)
Yarn: Woolen Women Fibers- Let the Mystery Unravel subscription + Cascade Heritage Sock yarn in the Forged Iron Colorway
Hook: 3.25 mm (D)
Ravelry Project Page
You can find my Let the Mystery Unravel Unboxing Video on YouTube in this Playlist
This subscription is not available to new subscribers but I hope you’ll watch each month and see how my blanket comes along. Stay tuned to Woolen Women for all of the fun kits they have!

LFA Mystery Shortie Socks

Yarn: Legacy Fiber Artz Steel Toes
Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
Ravelry Project Page
About 12 rounds of ribbing. 1 round of knitting before starting the heel
Progress: Finished first sock and beyond the heel on the second sock.

From the Armchair

Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts by Kate Racculia. Bookshop Affiliate Link.Amazon Affiliate Link.
Big Swiss by Jen Beagin. 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.

In My Travels

I traveled to Orlando with my friend Megg who was going there for a conference. We stayed at the Gaylord Palms, visited Epcot one evening and had a great time.
I had a couple interesting conversations with people at the pool. One lady was fascinated by my knitting and we had a rather awkward chat when I told her I was knitting a chicken.
My poolside waiter told me he lived in NYC for a couple years with grandmother was a prolific knitter and he always enjoyed watching her knit.
Celebrated Megg’s birthday while we were there with a delicious dinner, room decorations and of course some handknit socks (Ravelry Project Page)

Events

Connecticut Sheep & Wool: Sunday April 27, 2024 in North Haven, CT
Yarncentrick Pop-up Event: May 2 & 3, 2024 in Frederick, MD
Maryland Sheep & Wool: May 4 & 5, 2024 in West Friendship, MD
New Hampshire Sheep & Wool: May 11 & 12, 2024 in Deerfield, NH
Coggeshall Farm Sheep & Wool Festival: May 18th in Bristol, RI
Massachusetts Sheep & Wool: March 25 & 26, 2024 in Cummington, MA
Vermont Sheep & Wool: October 1 & 2, 2024 in Tunnebridge, VT
NY Sheep & Wool Festival (aka Rhinebeck): October 19 & 20, 2024 in Rhinebeck, NY

Contest, News & Notes

I announced the winners of the prizes I offered up for February FearLESS Living Fund Fundraiser.
Total raised during the event: $6,627. 67

Stitched by Jessalu is coming out with bags with the FearLESS Living Fund logo w/ a fibery twist. Check it out

Life in Focus

Health Update on Mom: March scans showed growth including in her brain. Radiation likely coming soon, but they’re waiting until she’s done with this round of chemo (hoping for 6 cycles)

On a Happy Note

Impromptu sleepover with Riley. We started a new secret project I’ll tell you about in an upcoming episode. We also started a blanket for my cousin Joe who is expecting a baby boy in the summer. Riley chose a granny square that has a heart at the center. We each made just 1 to try it out and to make sure our squares would come out the same size. More on that in a future episode.
Riley and I went to Garret’s hockey game. He got 2 goal but they ended up tying. That weekend, they did well enough to get to the next round of the playoffs.
My parents went to St. Maarten with 5 of my mom’s first cousins and their spouses! She, Riley and I shared pics and videos of our daily outfits via text or Snapchat which is always fun.
Suzanne (SewRunKnit) turned me onto a new NY Times Game that’s in beta: Strands.
My friend Marta messaged me to show me that her eldest son, Roc, has taken up crochet and made a little stuffed animal. Had planned to make a circle but he decided to free form it and it turned into a pear! Adorable!
Running around with Megg at Epcot like we were kids!
We even got our photo taken with Mickey. They got some candids as we were hugging him, and it looks like I’m bracing for an assault! Check out the hilarious photo.
I finished up my 4 part sock class at Staci’s Stitches.