Author Archives: downcellarstudio@gmail.com

Episode 278: Game On!

2 Replies

Thank you for tuning in to Episode 278 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
  • 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

Be Fearless Socks

  • Yarn: Area 51 Fibres Sturdy Alien Base in the Be FearLESS Colorway
  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • About the yarn: this self striping colorway is a bright rainbow colorway that’s meant to mimic the logo for our FearLESS Living Fund
  • Meters for Stash Dash: 290.4 meters

Raven Socks

  • Yarn: Hypnotic Yarn in the Raven Colorway from the Yarnable Box.
  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • About the Yarn: Speckled colorway with a cream base. Green, gray/black and hot pink colors speckled in.
  • Meters for Stash Dash: 256 meters

Beer Hat

  • Pattern: Beer Stein Hat by Lindsay Hoffman (free crochet hat available on this blog)
  • Yarn: Lion Brand Homespun Yarn- Hepplewhite & Red Heart Super Saver- Gold
  • Hook: G: 4.25 mm (started with an H but thought the gauge was too large.
  • Other Materials: 3 Pipe Cleaners
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Dan’s friend Chris’ wife asked for this for her husband (he excitedly agreed). He’s a brewer and manager at one of our local breweries, Vitamin Sea, so maybe he’ll sport it to work.
  • Meters for Stash Dash: 120.7

Total for Stash Dash meters for this episode: 667.1 meters

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

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

Riley’s 16th Birthday Flower Top

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 there’s a new one coming in the Fall.
    • Blanket Pre-Orders for the Murder She Knit club are available now! Please consider using my Affiliate Link.
    • The patterns for this kit will be the Northeasterly Blanket by Melissa Alexander-Loomis (knit version) and the Northeasterly blanket by Katy Stevens (crochet version). 
  • Progress: I finished 5 (of 9) my May squares.

Static Musselburgh

  • Pattern: Musselburgh Hat by Ysolda Teague (7 GBP Knitting Pattern available on Ravelry & on Ysolda’s website)
  • Yarn: Knit Picks Static Fingering Weight Yarn in the Peppercorn colorway
  • Needles: US 2 (2.75 mm) & US 2.5 (3.0 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page

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. My inner 80’s child loved this one.
  • Progress: Started in July of 2023. Past the cuff of the second sock when I picked them up. I knit the leg and heel over Memorial Day Weekend 2024.

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.
  • Progress: at the heel of the first sock

Julia’s 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 Hibiscus Colorway (purchased 3). 1 skein of Loops & Threads Impeccable in Orange for the border)
  • Hooks: H (5.0 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • I initially bought 2 skeins based on the size of a similar blanket I made with this pattern, but after coming to the end of the first skein I knew it wouldn’t be large enough. I probably should have/could have used an I hook.
  • 2 row repeat that is easy to memorize. Almost done with the 3rd skein. Plan to finish the first week of June.

Brainstorming

Took a chair off the side of the road- the arms are ripped at the front but the rest looks great, so I am going to crochet covers for the arms!

From the Armchair

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

Aila and I drove out to Great Barrington for Eme’s Associate Degree graduation ceremony. We enjoyed dinner at Steam and an ice cream afterwards. In taking Eme to pick up their pottery pieces for the year to bring home, I got to see and hear all about it!

At the graduation ceremony the next day, I was chatting for awhile only to look up when asked what I was knitting to see Crispina French, who I know from her vending at Rhinebeck! Talk about a small world!

KAL News

Events

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

Life in Focus

I give a quick update on my word of the year HEART, which I’ve been seeing hearts in/on the trees lately! I share a quick goals update and a health update about my parents.

On a Happy Note

  • Dan and I celebrated our 20th Anniversary on May 22nd- the 143rd day of the year (which happened in 2024 only because its a Leap Year- usually Day 143 is May 23rd).
  • Friday of Memorial Day Weekend we went out for dinner (to use up a gift card- which we still had $1 left on when we left) and to a friends’ house for a fire.
  • Saturday & Sunday pool days
    • My niece Riley got her learner’s permit and drove us home from the grocery store!
    • Teddy and the snorkel (so cute)
    • Baby Vera’s first swim
  • The long weekend allowed me the extra day off to clean out our pantry and my closet. I switched out my winter clothes for summer ones, took donations to Savers and did shopping and meal prep for the week. It felt great.
  • Deer and turtles abound!

Quote of the Week

Writer and designer Edith Wharton, the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize, on what causes old age:

“The producer of old age is habit: the deathly process of doing the same thing in the same way at the same hour day after day, first from carelessness, then from inclination, at last from cowardice or inertia.

Habit is necessary; but it is the habit of having careless habits, of turning a trail into a rut, that must be incessantly fought against if one is to remain alive… one can remain alive long past the usual date of disintegration if one is unafraid of change, insatiable in intellectual curiosity, interested in big things, and happy in small ways.”

Source: A Backward Glance (lightly edited for clarity)

Thank you for tuning in!

Contact Information:

Episode 277: 1 Month of Making & Updates

Leave a reply

Thank you for tuning in to Episode 277 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
  • KAL News
  • Events
  • Life in Focus
  • On a Happy Note
  • Quote of the Week

Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Woolen Camelot socks

  • Yarn: Woolen Women Fibers Sock (80/20 SW Merino/Nylon) in the Woolen Camelot colorway from the May 2024 Woolen Yarn Box.
  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Check out my Unboxing Video for this May 2024 Woolen Yarn Box & the more recent June box which is available now. If you’re thinking of joining, please purchase using my Affiliate Link.
    • It won’t cost you any extra. I will make a small commission.

Same as It Ever Was Hat #2

  • Pattern: Same as It Ever Was by Sarah Jordan ($6 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Yarn: Kingdom Fleece and Fiberworks. No colorway listed.
  • Needles: US 2 (2.75 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • I started this project in January. Used nearly all of the yarn. Loved this yarn/pattern combo. I am planning to keep this hat! It is plenty long enough to wear with the brim folded and still have it worn slouchy.

Colleen’s Baby Blanket

  • Pattern: Crochet Modern Boho Granny Blanket by Tiffany Brown (free crochet pattern available on this website)
  • Yarn: Caron Simply Soft in Blue Mint, Soft Green, Riviera (Speckle), Kelly Green, Robin’s Egg, White Sage (Speckle) & White
  • Hook: H (5.0 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • I learned about this edge technique on this website.

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Riley’s 16th Birthday Flower Top

  • Pattern:  Riley found in this TikTok video
  • Hook: G (4.0 mm)
  • Yarn: Caron Skinny Cakes in the Grape Raisin UVA colorway (purchased 3)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • YouTube Video
  • About the yarn- probably about a sport weight yarn that gradiates through purples, blues and white.
  • I’m enjoying this project but it involves a lot of counting on each row so it takes focused time which I haven’t had a ton of.
  • Working on the Front (or Back): 3 repeats of the pattern = 6 flowers

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 there’s a new one coming in the Fall.
    • Blanket Pre-Orders for the Murder She Knit club are available now! Please consider using my Affiliate Link.
    • The patterns for this kit will be the Northeasterly Blanket by Melissa Alexander-Loomis (knit version) and the Northeasterly blanket by Katy Stevens (crochet version). 
  • Progress: I finished my April squares and am working on the border.

Raven Socks

  • Yarn: Hypnotic Yarn in the Raven Colorway from the Yarnable Box.
  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • About the Yarn: Speckled colorway with a cream base. Green, gray/black and hot pink colors speckled in.

Static Musselburgh

  • Pattern: Musselburgh Hat by Ysolda Teague (7 GBP Knitting Pattern available on Ravelry & on Ysolda’s website)
  • Yarn: Knit Picks Static Fingering Weight Yarn in the Peppercorn colorway
  • Needles: US 2 (2.75 mm) & US 2.5 (3.0 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page

Be Fearless Socks

  • Yarn: Area 51 Fibres Sturdy Alien Base in the Be FearLESS Colorway
  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • About the yarn: this self striping colorway is a bright rainbow colorway that’s meant to mimic the logo for our FearLESS Living Fund

Julia’s 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 Hibiscus Colorway (purchased 3). 1 skein of Loops & Threads Impeccable in Orange for the border)
  • Hooks: H (5.0 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • I really enjoy this pattern. It’s a 2 row repeat that I remember having memorized the first time around but thought I couldn’t this time. After working maybe 10 repeats, I was able to memorize it. It’s just the cozy comfort project I need right now.

From the Armchair

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

No Splash Pad Party this Summer, but check out these other awesome online events

  • Summer Sock Camp with the Crazy Sock Lady
  • The Knit Girllls are hosting their annual Stash Dash Event from May 24-August 31,2024.
    • Here’s a chatter thread for stash dash 2024! Stash Dash will run from May 24th-the end of August. Craft all the things and see how your FO pile grows! This is a competition only against yourself.
    • Discord link: knit girllls discord

Events

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

Life in Focus

  • I shared more details about my parents’ car accident. Tune in to hear more. Thankfully they are both recovering.
  • Resources- Scituate Etrusco– serves the South Shore of MA with medical equipment that they loan out. Huge savings! Look for something similar near you.
  • I’m not sure what this will mean for mom’s upcoming cancer treatments. She was supposed to be healing to be ready for radiation. Will know more within the next week.

On a Happy Note

  • Conor & Carly hosted a family game night for their Bucket List with a Twist item with my mom. We played Code Names & Penny Drop!
  • Riley gave Auntie Krissy the chicken we made together and she was over the moon! It was awesome.
  • My cousin Jenny had her baby girl, Vera Camela, at the hospital where I work, so I got to hold her when she was only a few hours old!
  • I went to see a local production of Gypsy that my friend Megg was in.
  • My 12 year old niece Millie was a huge help with my parents.
  • I finished my drawing class at the local rec center. I had to miss 2 out of 6 classes, but I learned a lot doing a portrait of Eme from a photo I took of them at the playground when they were a kid.
  • I took my grandmother to my cousin Colleen’s baby shower. Coleen had a great reaction to her crocheted blanket. I’m always grateful for that.
  • We had a birthday dinner for Aila- low key backyard party made more interesting by a full-family cartwheel contest!
  • Big work project rolling out new technology went well. I was still able to take Mom to her appointments (while Dad wasn’t driving and they didn’t have a car), and was able to work other shifts so my coworkers could attend their kids events. As a thank you for that, my boss invited us to use a suite at the Garden for game 1 of the Celtics/Cavaliers Playoff Game! The Celtics crushed it. Dan wasn’t able to come, so I brought my friend Liz who is a huge fan.
  • My friend Laura came in to visit for Mother’s Day weekend- along w/ 7 of my Mom’s friends. We went to a movie on Friday night then to visit Mom and her guests on Saturday. Sunday we made brunch for Mother’s Day and then off to see Millie as a Munchkin and Flying Monkey in the Wizard of Oz at a local theater.

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.

Quote of the Week

“It’s easier to take than to give. It’s nobler to give than to take. The thrill of taking lasts a day. The thrill of giving lasts a lifetime.”

~ Joan Marques

Thank you for tuning in!

Contact Information:

Episode 276: More Chicken Please!

Leave a reply

Thank you for tuning in to Episode 276 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
  • KAL News
  • Events
  • On a Happy Note
  • Quote of the Week

Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Christmas in July Socks

  • Yarn: Area 51 Fibres Sturdy Alien Base in the Christmas in July 2023 Colorway
  • Needles: US 1 (2.25 mm)
  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry )
  • Ravelry Project Page

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 (5.5mm)
  • Yarn: Big Twist Tweed in White (7 skeins- I used just shy of 5 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.

Auntie Krissy’s Chickens

  • Pattern: Chicken Familyby Kensey Davis ($5 crochet pattern on Etsy)
  • Hook: G (4.0 mm)
  • Yarn: Premier Yarns Chunky Parfair in Mushroom, White, Ruby and Mustard.
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Thanks to Riley for joining me to talk about this joint project.

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

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!
  • Progress: I finished my March squares (month 6) and unboxed month 7!

Woolen Camelot socks

  • Yarn: Woolen Women Fibers Sock (80/20 SW Merino/Nylon) in the Woolen Camelot colorway from the May 2024 Woolen Yarn Box.
  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Check out my Unboxing Video for this May 2024 Woolen Yarn Box. If you’re thinking of joining, please purchase using my Affiliate Link.
    • It won’t cost you any extra. I will make a small commission.

Colleen’s Baby Blanket

  • Pattern: Crochet Modern Boho Granny Blanket by Tiffany Brown (free crochet pattern available on this website)
  • Yarn: Caron Simply Soft in Blue Mint, Soft Green, Riviera (Speckle), Kelly Green, Robin’s Egg, White Sage (Speckle) & White
  • Hook: H (5.0 mm)
  • Progress: I’ve finished 3 colors, doing 7 pairs of DC/DC3 tog per color. On the 3rd color, Riviera, I ran out of yarn, so couldn’t complete the last row, so I ripped back and had to start with the Kelly Green early.

Riley’s 16th Birthday Flower Top

From the Armchair

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 took my nieces Riley and Aila to Connecticut for their birthday weekend sleepover. We got an AirBnB in Litchfield. Friday night, we stayed in and watched Gilmore Girls on Netflix (the inspiration for our adventure). Saturday we toured around! Here are some handy links.

Check out this blog post for more ideas of Exploring Washington Connecticut with a Gilmore Girls themed lens.

Stay tuned for a vlog coming to the Down Cellar Studio YouTube Channel.

KAL News

  • Splash Pad Registration Opens May 1
  • Event will run Friday May 24th through Wednesday July 31, 2024
  • Sponsor Call will go out SOON!

Events

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

On a Happy Note

  • I went to see the musical Company in Boston.
  • I joined my parents and a few of my cousins at the Spring Fling event at my Grandmother’s Assisted Living.
  • Riley came for a sleepover to finish Kris’s chicken. On Saturday, we spent some time at my parents, and then Dad drove us to my nephew Garret’s hockey final. His team won and he scored the first and last goal of the game.
  • After spending Sunday morning with a headache, I rallied to join my parents for Riley’s dance competition.
  • I’ve had 2 weeks of drawing classes through my town’s Rec program. We did some basic exercises the first week and then moved into more structural architectural drawing using 2 point perspective.
  • My mom’s friends ran an auction event and raised over $1200 for the FearLESS Living Fund!
  • Mom completed another round of chemo.
  • I did a bit of studio tidying.
  • Gilmore Girls weekend with Riley & Aila.

Quote of the Week

We have to continually be jumping off cliffs and developing our wings on the way down.

–KURT VONNEGUT

——

Contact Information: