Thank you for tuning in to Episode 133 of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. This week’s segments included:
- On the Needles
- Crafty Adventures
- KAL News
- Events
- Contest, News & Notes
- Life in Focus
- Ask Me Anything
- On a Happy Note
- Quote of the Week
Thank you to Macolrich, knittergirlkatie, ms.knitslot, knitternicole for the new reviews in Apple Podcasts.
Thank you to everyone for your support and community as I celebrate my 6th Podiversary!
On the Needles
- Pattern: Non-Eucilidian by Sarah Jordan
- Yarn: Olann Hand Dyed in Ireland Sock Lite in the Pewter Colorway
- Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
- Heel notes:
- Cuff down only. The heel turn takes what feels like a long time. You’re adding stitches but still working in the round. It takes many rounds to increase out for the heel but the turn itself felt quick. Much less purling than any other heel flap I’ve done. No picking up stitches. I think it will be easy to memorize which is important to me.
- Cuff down only. The heel turn takes what feels like a long time. You’re adding stitches but still working in the round. It takes many rounds to increase out for the heel but the turn itself felt quick. Much less purling than any other heel flap I’ve done. No picking up stitches. I think it will be easy to memorize which is important to me.
- Yarn: Paintbox Sock yarn in the Rainbow stripe colorway
- Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm) and US 1 (2 mm)
- Pattern: planning to do the Non-Euclidian heel by Sarah Jordan
Christmas Stockings
- 3 to do in 2018. One for my cousin Kara who is expecting a baby girl in August! 2 that my mom’s cousin in VA asked for for grandkids. 1 girl (Noelle), 1 boy (Noah)
- Pattern: Granny Square Christmas Stockings from Family Circle Magazine 1977
- Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in Red, Everglade Heather and White
- Hook: F (3.75 mm)
- Progress to date: 2 red pieces done. 1 green done.
- Yarn: leftovers and mini skeins (fingering weight yarn)
- Hook: C yarn
- Plan: 3 large granny squares, bordered with cream or gray (TBD), 4-5 rows
- Inspiration: BetsyMakes Project
- Pattern: Log Cabin Mitts by Karen Templer (free)
- Needles: US 6
- Yarn: scraps of worsted
Go with the Flo Shawl
- Yarn: Invictus Yarn
- Needles: US 6
- Pattern: to be published soon
Crafty Adventures
Got a little work done on my Week in the Life album from 2017. I am planning to participate in this project again this year. Check out Ali Edwards website for more details.KAL News
Slay the Stash 2018
- Each month you can declare a skein of yarn to knit/crochet/weave to its very end. Let’s use up those older special skeins that are soooo pretty we don’t want to touch them. In 2018, we are turning those sacred skeins into beautiful projects you can enjoy– and maybe win a new beautiful skein of yarn from one of our sponsors along the way! Full details and rules can be found here.
- Use and follow #slaythestash2018 on Social Media
- March Thread
- Tune in to see if you’re the February Winner!
Slay the Stash 2018: Sponsor List
- January: KnitCircus
- February: Kathryn Frank Fiber Arts
- March: Blue Skin Yarns
- April: BlueberryChick Yarn
- May: Legacy Fiber Artz
- June: Knitters Brewing Co
- July: Fish Belly Fiber Works
- August: SixandSevenFiber
- September: Fibernymph Dye Works
- October: Marigold Jen
- November: Dyenamixx Yarns
- December: Sunsoaked Yarns
Events
2018 Box O’ Balls Round Robin Mini Swap: sign up anytime during 2018. Shipping cost of $13.50 (within US; have option to send Internationally) The contents will include: at least 20 mini yarn balls (each ball will be minimum of 5g/ 20 yards) to choose from, a handwritten note or card and a small gift. Find all of the details in this thread in the Ravelry Group.
Festival Schedule
- Stitches United, Hartford CT- March 22-25
- 5th Annual Fiber Marketplace- Yarn Sellar, York, ME: Saturday April 7 from 10a-3p
- York Harbor Inn in York ME. $5 entry fee List of vendors available on their website
- Gore Place Annual Sheepsheering Festival: April 28
- Connecticut Sheep, Wool & Fiber Festival: April 28 in Vernon, CT
- Needles Up: May 4 from 2-6p in Columbia Maryland
- Knot House Event: May 4 (and through the weekend), Frederick, MD
- Maryland Sheep & Wool: May 5 & 6 in West Friendship, MD
- NH Sheep & Wool: May 12 & 13 in Deerfield, NH
- Rhode Island Fiber Festival & Craft Fair: May 19 & 20 in Bristol, RI
- Massachusetts Sheep & Wool Festival: May 26 & 27 in Cummington, MA
- Fiber Frolic:June 2 & 3 in Windsor, ME
- VT Sheep & Wool: September 29 & 30 in Tunbridge, VT
- NY State Sheep & Wool Festival: October 20 & 21 in Rhinebeck, NY
- Fiber Festival of New England: November 3 & 4 in West Springfield, MA
Contest, News & Notes
- Splash Pad Party KAL will run June and July 2018.
- Sponsor spots available.
Life in Focus
I’ve been very regimented all year- documenting goals for each week and checking off boxes. This month has thrown me for a loop with storms and sickness. But that’s life, right? I’ve eased up and adjusted. It was a good reminder that we need to be able to pivot. Go with the flow… It will all be ok.
Ask Me Anything
Question from Michelle- chellescraps on Ravelry:
I am interested in what type of ball winder and swift you have or would recommend. I am getting to the point that I could really use one. I know that I would rather spend more money on something that would last, but I do not need the gold version.
Answer:
- I have a Stanwood swift that I bought on Amazon. I love it and it’s held up well. At $52 it’s not cheap but its not crazy expensive either. I like that i folds down and doesn’t take up a lot of space.
- I have the Nancy’s Knit Knacks Ball Winder. I have this one. At $299 it’s a huge investment. I’m not 100% sure I’d have purchased it for myself. My mom kindly gifted it to me for Christmas. I’ve had it for a few years now and it’s amazing. I’ve used others at friend’s houses and nothing comes close to the experience I’ve had with this.
- If you want a more in depth comparison of these items I’d check out Episode 300 of the Knitmore Girls podcast.
On a Happy Note
- We’ve had three Nor’easters here in Boston already this March! For us that’s meant at least 4 days without power, 2 of those had us trapped at home when a tree took down the power line in the driveway. Dan and I made the best of it, chatting, listening to podcasts and crafting. During the second storm, I got struck down with my first virus of the season and it was a doozie!
Tree that took out the power during Nor’easter #1
I got sick during Nor’easter #2
Tree that took out the power and blocked the driveway during Nor’easter #3
- I was able to my niece Riley’s 1st dance competition. She did great!
- Planning my nephew’s Garret’s birthday celebration. He wants to go to one of the trampoline park type places and then for me to bring my big camera to his dirt bike race.
- I had my costume fitting for Cabaret. Most of my costumes aren’t family-friendly but here’s one I can share.
Quote of the Week
Don’t expect much from a drowning man. He’s not going to offer you a candy bar or ask how your day was. He’s too busy not drowning. Generosity takes effort. It requires the space to take your mind off your own problems long enough to see someone else’s. It requires the confidence to share when a big part of you wants to hoard. And it requires the emotional labor of empathy. Generosity begins by trusting ourselves enough to know that we’re not actually drowning.
-Seth Godin
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Thank you for tuning in!
Contact Information:
- Ravelry: BostonJen & Down Cellar Studio Podcast Ravelry Group
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