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Episode 233: Europe, Socks & Crops

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Thank you for tuning in to Episode 233 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
  • Knitting in Passing
  • In my Travels
  • KAL News
  • Events
  • On a Happy Note
  • Quote of the Week

Thank you to this episode’s sponsors:

Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Oisin’s alien

  • Pattern: Tripod Visitor by Alison Grenier (free crochet pattern available through this web archive link & linked from Ravelry)
  • My Ravelry Project Page
  • Yarn: leftover fingering weight yarn in green, white and black.
  • Hook: 2.25 mm (B)

Double Dog Dare Socks

  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams ($5 Knitting Pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Yarn: Knit Picks Felici in the Double Dog Dare Colorway
  • Ravelry Project Page

Marta’s Socks

  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams ($5 Knitting Pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Yarn: Patons Kroy Socks FX in the Geranium Colors Colorway
  • First Stash Dash Finish- 253.8 meters
  • Ravelry Project Page

Pumpkin Patch Socks

  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams ($5 Knitting Pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Yarn: Hypnotic Yarn Plush Sock in the Pumpkin Patch colorway (October Yarnable Subscription Box Colorway). Click here for my YouTube Unboxing Video.
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • 264.0 meters for Stash Dash
  • Curious about Yarnable? Consider checking out my Yarnable Subscription Box Affiliate Link. Use Coupon Code BOSTONJEN for $5 off your first box.
  • Don’t forget- Yarnable/Hypnotic Yarn is a Snack Shack Sponsor

Mr. Fezziwig Socks

  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams
  • Yarn: Woolens & Nosh Corriedale Sock in the Mr. Fezziwig Colorway
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • My Ravelry Project Page
  •  238.0 meters for Stash Dash

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
  • 482 g used. 719.7 meters for Stash Dash. 

3 ply yarn in Blues & Greens

  • Wool of the Andes Unspun Roving. Colorway: Delft Heather (100 grams) 100% Peruvian Highland Wool. 
  • Malabrigo Nube. 113 grames Combed Top 100% Merino Wool in Colorway 809 Solis. 
  •  Rhapsody Fiber Arts- 2oz 50% Angora/50% merino no colorway- lighter blues.
  • This 3 ply skein is 31 inches long from end to end, or 62 inches per wrap of the noddy noddy. 106 wraps= 6,572 inches or 166.9 meters for Stash Dash (because the fiber went through the orifice 4 times)

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Shawl Design 

  • I shared some preliminary details about a new design idea using a 150g skein of fingering weight from  agirlandherwool in the On the Boardwalk colorway.

Meggsie/Marta Scrappy Socks

  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams ($5 Knitting Pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Yarn: Patons Kroy Socks FX in the Geranium Colors Colorway (leftover from Marta’s Socks) & Yarn: Knit Picks Felici in the Double Dog Dare Colorway (leftover from Meggsie’s socks) + also added yarn from Aila’s dance socks.
  • Ravelry Project Page

Love Letters Socks

  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams ($5 Knitting Pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Yarn: Fibernymph Dye Works Mountain Tweed BFL in the Love Letters Colorway
  • Ravelry Project Page

Felici Socks (4 in progress) 

  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams ($5 Knitting Pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Baker Street Colorway (Ravelry Page), Desert Rose (Ravelry Page), Bayou Colorway (Ravelry Page) Psychedelic Rainbow (Ravelry Page- used a Lemonade Shop yarn for heel) 

Scrappy Hexagon Blanket

  • Pattern: Basic Crochet Hexagon Pattern & Tips from Make Do and Crew Website & YouTube Tutorial
  • Hook: F (3.75 mm)
  • Yarn: Knit Picks Hawthorne Marl Sock Lab in the Grey White Marl Colorway, Patons Kroy in the Gentry Colorway + fingering weight scraps
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • As of 6/14: 95 light gray, 27 dark gray – 112 total

Brainstorming

Stash Dash Planning

I’m brainstorming baby blanket options

  • Snuggle Bean Blanket by Little Duck Crochet available on Etsy & Ravelry Link ($5 US)
  • Abacus Blanket by Susan Carlson available on LoveCrafts & Ravelry & Etsy ($6 US)
  • or maybe a simple corner to corner (C2C) crochet blanket?

From the Armchair

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson. 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.

Knitting in Passing

Kris’ Felici sock (Ravelry Project Page) blew out after just more than a year but keep in mind that Kris wears her socks daily from October- May and teaches dance in them.

In My Travels

I shared some stories about my recent trip to Ireland, Scotland and Spain. Patrons, don’t forget to check out the Patreon feed for blog posts, photos and a Google Album of my trip pictures.

KAL News

#SplashPadParty22

  • Link to the 2022 Splash Pad Party Rules.docx
  • Participant Sign Up- Google Form
  • Check out our amazing Sponsors! Click here for the Google doc with their websites and Instagram profiles.
    • Check out the list of available Coupons from our amazing sponsors: Ravelry link
    • Check out the Splash Pad Exclusive Items here
  • Enter your FOs using this Splash Pad Summer Celebration Form to be eligible for prizes (not a Ravelry link).
  • View all the Entries and the Leaderboard here -> Splash Pad Party Player Stats
  • Need help with an entry submission? -> Splash Pad Support Request Form
  • Questions- check out this Ravelry Thread or email Jen.

On this episode I talked about:

  • Thanks to everyone who joined our May 30th Kick Off.
  • Thursday June 23rd at 8p Eastern we’re doing another Zoom hangout for Patrons at the$5 level and up. Check out the details here.
  • Splash Pad ’22 logo bags are available from Woolen Women Fibers. Check out their knit kits here or sock sets here.  

Events

  • Sock Week with Knitty Natty. July 10-17th. I’ll be co-hosting an event with Natalie on Tuesday July 12th at 8p Eastern!
  • Summer Sock Camp hosted by Kay of The Crazy Sock Lady YouTube Channel. The KAL runs 5/28/22 – 8/31/22 this year!
  • Irocknitters KAL hosted by Cori (Irocknits Designs, also a Splash Pad Sponsor). Check out this post in her Ravelry Group. KAL runs from April 25th through June 30, 2022.
  • Woolen Women Fibers Rock It Tee KAL. Check out this post on Instagram for details. Runs May 7-July 30th.
  • Two Ewes Fiber Adventures Summer Spin In. June 1-September 5th. Find their Ravelry Group thread here. #SummerSpinIn2022
  • Stash Dash (Hosted by The Knit Girllls) will be hosted on Discord again and will be from May 27th-end of August.

Stash Dash Update:

  • Jen’s Stash Dash Spreadsheet Tracker- Google Doc
  • Jasmin’s Stash Dash Spreadsheet Tracker- Google Doc

On a Happy Note

  • Girls weekend with Kris and Laura. Got a cool embroidered art piece for our guest room which Mom and Dad got me for my birthday.
  • Birthday celebrations. Friday- kayaking with Mom, Dad and Dan. Beer out on the sandbar, local brewery, then ice cream and dinner with RGM. Sleepover at Mom’s. Pool day, lobsters. Kids bouncing on air mattress. Fake out with a small ice cream cake- which I have VERY strong feelings about. Kara’s kids- Emelie and Teddy. Em asked me if she could lick my cake. I thought she said Look AT my cake and I said SURE!

Quote of the Week

One does not ‘find oneself’ by pursuing one’s self, but on the contrary by pursuing something else and learning through some discipline or routine (even the routine of making beds) who one is and wants to be.

–May Sarton

Thank you for tuning in!

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Episode 232: Tiny Turtles & Splash Pad Prep

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Thank you for tuning in to Episode 232 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
  • Knitting in Passing
  • KAL News
  • Events
  • On a Happy Note
  • Quote of the Week

Thank you to this episode’s sponsors: Sunsoaked Yarns & Fibernymph Dye Works

Note- there will be only one episode in May 2022. Talk to you again in June (or join us May 30th for our Splash Pad Virtual Kick Off)

Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Mom’s Zen Socks 

  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams ($5 Knitting Pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Yarn: Knit Picks Felici in the Zen Colorway
  • Ravelry Project Page

2 Tiny Turtles

  • Pattern: Little Miss Turtle by Diana Moore (free crochet pattern available on Ravelry & on the PinkMouseBoutique website)
  • Yarn: Legacy Fiber Artz Minis in various greens
  • Hook: B 2.25 m 
  • Ravelry Project Page for Turtle 1
  • Ravelry Project Page for Turtle 2

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Spinning:

  • Wool of the Andes Unspun Roving. Colorway: Delft Heather (100 grams) 100% Peruvian Highland Wool & Malabrigo Nube. 113 grames Combed Top 100% Merino Wool in Colorway 809 Solis. 
  • Planning to ply these together with Rhapsody Fiber Arts- 2oz 50% Angora/50% merino no colorway- lighter blues.

Scrappy Hexagon Blanket

Double Dog Dare Socks

  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams ($5 Knitting Pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Yarn: Knit Picks Felici in the Double Dog Dare Colorway
  • Ravelry Project Page

Pumpkin Patch Socks

  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams ($5 Knitting Pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Yarn: Hypnotic Yarn Plush Sock in the Pumpkin Patch colorway (October Yarnable Subscription Box Colorway). Click here for my YouTube Unboxing Video.
  • Curious about Yarnable? Consider checking out my Yarnable Subscription Box Affiliate Link. Use Coupon Code BOSTONJEN for $5 off your first box.
    • 2 recent Unboxing Videos- check out April & May on YouTube.

Brainstorming

Shawl idea forming. Maybe a new design? Maybe a disaster? Time will tell.

From the Armchair

Knitting in Passing

  • My cousin Gayle gave me an antique darning egg that was her great grandmother’s. 
    • It appears to be a vintage white milk glass hand blown darning egg- similar to this one listed on eBay
  • Mom got us matching pink socks with sheep on them for upcoming Wool Festivals!

KAL News

Events

On a Happy Note

  • Scituate Salt Cave
    • I enjoyed the quiet time & guided meditation. I’m not sure I believe in the benefits of the salt and am especially skeptical that the website sites Dr. Oz as their source.
  • Morgen’s First Communion and A’s birthday dinner. 
  • I saw a local production of Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat with my cousins, my grandmother & my great aunt Florence as part of her 94th birthday celebration. She’s always wanted red leather pants. Her daughter Joanie bought them for her and she rocked them!
  • Savers trip with Mom! Always fun (and funny)
  • My cousin Bella’s performance as Fiona in Shrek the Musical
  • Our friend Liz’s surprise 30th Birthday- Star Wars Themed Party. The decorations were on point!
  • We have a new nephew- Zachary!
  • Mother’s Day at Mom’s.
  • My mom, Diane Lassonde, was on Episode 190 of the eBay for Business Podcast. Check it out!

Quote of the Week

Life will hit you hard in the face, wait for you to get back up just so it can kick you in the stomach. But getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air.– Sarah Kay

Thank you for tuning in!
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Episode 231: Wordle, Geometry & Travel Adventures

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Thank you for tuning in to Episode 231 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
  • Some Years Later
  • Knitting in Passing
  • In my Travels
  • KAL News
  • On a Happy Note
  • Quote of the Week

Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Wordle

  • Pattern: Wordle by Ham & Eggs (free crochet pattern available on Ravelry) Yarn: Knit Picks Brava Worsted in Peapod (Green), Loops & Thread Impeccable in True Gray, Rowan Purelife in Alder Buckthorn (Mustard), Red Heart Super Saver in White
  • Hook: D (3.25 mm)
  • Directions tell you exactly how to make the format they show in the pattern or you can create your own. I chose to use one of the Riley’s actually Wordle days using a screenshot she sent me.
  • I did the bottom row as one strip instead of five squares. When I joined the columns, I ran a slipped stitch down the existing stitches to match where I seamed up the previous rows
  • I didn’t weave in any ends. I tucked them inside snd tied some of them together. I did one round of white to edge the front piece. Then seamed together the front and back together with sc with right sides facing out.
  • I made the back piece in gray. I dont think that’s what was called for in the pattern.
  • He has safety eyes and two little white arms.
  • Riley is calling him Stove- after the winning word I based it on. She wants me to embroider STOVE on the back so we don’t forget his name

Perry’s Hat

  • Pattern:Turn a Square by Jared Flood ($4 knitting pattern available on Ravelry & on the Brooklyn Tweed website)
  • Yarn: Berroco Vintage in the Dungaree Colorway
  • Needles: US 5 (4.5 mm) and US 7 (3.75 mm)
  • My Ravelry Project Page
  • I realized i don’t do all the decreases correctly. I work them every other round until the end. 

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Wool Ease Hexagon Blanket

  • Pattern: Basic Crochet Hexagon Pattern & Tips from Make Do and Crew Website & YouTube Tutorial
  • Hook: 10 mm (N/P) hook
  • Yarn: Wool Ease Thick & Quick- Solids, Stripes and Prints (colorways used, Wheat, Seaglass, Slate, Fern, Coney Island and 
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • My hexagons are 3 rounds each- 2 with color (earth tones, mostly gray/blue/green), last round with Wheat. 

Brainstorming

I’m looking for a necktie pattern to knit up for my friend Liz. She’d like one with a squared off bottom (not the V bottom)

From the Armchair

Weaving the Rainbow written by George Ella Lyon & illustrated by Stephanie Anderson-Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link

 If you’re looking for a great book for a child in your life- check this out. It’s beautiful!

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

April 2015- I knit the sample for my Trickle Shawl pattern.Ravelry Link. LoveCrafts Link$5 US Knitting Pattern The Trickle Shawl is a heart-shaped garter stitch shawl knit in DK weight yarn. Mostly Garter stitch  that features slipped-stitch details down the center. The heart shape yields a shawl that stays in place without fuss, and the slipped stitch details provide visual interest without adding a single purl stitch to the design! Easy to knit, easy to wear, and a gorgeous complement to almost any outfit.Easy enough for an advanced beginner but enjoyable for a knitter of any skill level.I used a blue DK weight yarn from Infinite Twist that I think is now discontinued. Looks great in a gradient tonal variegated. I don’t wear mine often but Mom has two and wear them often. 

Knitting in Passing

  • Riley wore her Everyday Cardigan in Merino Number 5 by Loopy Mango. Click here for my Ravelry Project Page.
  • Aila love her A’s Scrappy Dance Shoe Legwarmers. Pattern: Dance Shoe Legwarmers by Sherry Katherine Vernon (free knitting pattern). My Ravelry Project Page
  • Knitting with Eme’s roommate Zi.

In My Travels

  • Visit to the Berkshires with the kiddos for Riley, Aila & Eme’s birthdays
  • We visited Hancock Shaker Village
    • Baby animal petting through May 8, 2022
  • Riley, Aila and Eme wanted to record a bit to tell you about our adventures.

KAL News

Splash Pad Party ’22 

  • Official Rules- Google Doc
  • Participant Sign Up- Google Form
  • Check out our Sponsors- Google Doc
  • Want to be a Sponsor? Please email me before 5/5- downcellarstudio at gmail dot com

On a Happy Note

  • Date night with Dan the local Brewery.
  • Day trip to Visit Eme. Dan drove. I knit on the way there and then was motion sick the whole way home!
  • Easter!
  • Ihecked out nail salon near my house and they were great.
  • Dinner with Mom, Dad & Mom’s eBay friends. 

Quote of the Week

“Sometimes magic is just someone spending more time on something than anyone else might reasonably expect.” 

-Raymond Joseph TellerMusic 

Thank you for tuning in!
Contact Information: