Category Archives: Show Notes

Episode 96: Pigskin Preview + Stash Dash Glory!

Thank you for tuning in to Episode 96  of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. This week’s segments included:
  • Off the Needles
  • Brainstorming
  • Knitting in Passing
  • In my Travels
  • Events
  • Contest, News & Notes
  • On a Happy Note
  • There is some bonus audio of my niece Millie and I chatting at the end! Enjoy!

Off the Needles

 
  • Yarn: Knits4Comfort Merino/Silk in the Beach Shade Colorway (438 yards of fingering)- used 80 grams
  • Yarn: Valley Yarns Huntington- used 42 grams in a medium gray
  • Needles: US 6 (4.0 mm)
  • Pattern: a new, original design that will be called the Emelyn Mae shawl after my niece who goes to knitting festivals with me and helped me pick out this skein of yarn from Knits4Comfortimage image
 
  • Yarn: Knitting Fever KFI Luxury Collection Indulgence Cashmere Colorway- 602
  • Needles: US 2 (2.75mm)
  • OMG Heel by Megan Williamsimage
  • Yarn: Koigu KPPPM in Color 6156 & Louet Gems Gingering Weight (burnt orange)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • OMG Heel by Megan Williamsimage
  • Yarn: leftover fingering weight yarn from sock
  • Hook Size: D 3.0 mm & H 5.0 mm
  • Pattern: Double Crochet Granny Square
  • Some Notes:
    • Each square has 3 rounds with sock yarn (2 grams each) & a border of Plymouth Select DK in white (1 round= 2 grams)
    • I purchased 16 skeins of the Plymouth DK.  3 full skeins plus almost another full skein in scraps remain.
    • Final size- 10 squares by 16. Single crocheted together. 3 rounds of DC edging. Specific notes about how I did the corners are in my project page linked above.
    • Fingering for squares: 1280 yards  | White for squares: 832 yards  | White for seaming: 327.6 yards  | TOTAL: 2439 yards (2230 meters)image image
  • Yarn: Mirasol Tuhu- DK weight yarn
  • Needles: US 5
  • Provisionally cast on 60 stitches, knitting in the round. long tube that kitchener together to make a long infinity cowl.
  • Random striping- gray, aquamarine, chartreuse, cream, hot pink and tangerine
  • Kitchener in the Round Tutorial: I used this video to help me kitchener this cowl together.
  • Final result: 54 inches long and 5.5 inches wideimage
Frankensocks #2 and #3
  • Yarn: Knit Picks Felici in Kaleidescope colorway
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams (knit cuff down)
  • First Knit Picks experience- this yarn had 3 knots between the two 50 g skeins. Not the ideal first time around, especially for self striping. I did my own color management and made this best of it. I’m still totally happy with these, the yarn is super soft. I think it is great for gifts.image
  • Yarn: Cascade Eco Alpaca (worsted) in Nature & Burgundy
  • Needles: US 6: 4.0 mm
  • Pattern: Santa’s Ho-Ho Hat by Jacquelynn Vance-Kuss (free)
  • Saw this at knit night, friend Jenn Sheelen knit one and I wanted one! So happy to have this finished
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Stash Dash 2016 Total: 11,351 meters in 40 FOs (16 started before Stash Dash)image
  • 1 blanket
  • 1 doll blanket
  • 1 hat
  • socks- 15 pair
  • legwarmers- 1 pair
  • cowl- 1
  • shawl- 4
  • sweater- 1
  • candle cozy- 1
  • doll dress-1
  • dishcloth- 13

Brainstorming 

  • I want to knit a week’s worth of Christmas socks. Do you have ideas of yarn I could buy? Tell me about it in the Ravelry Group.
  • My next scrap yarn blanket will be with Crochet Hexagons. Maybe with a gradiating gray border. What do you think of that idea? Here’s a tutorial I found on the crocheted hexagons in case you’re interested: Tutorial that might help.

Knitting In Passing 

My 4 year old niece, Millie, loves the bunny I knit for her she was little. She calls it Hoppy. Pattern from Susan B Anderson: Mini-Sock Yarn Bunny pattern. She wants a friend for Hoppy in Purple!
Aila at Williamsburg – where she encountered and participating in knitting.

In My Travels 

Red Sox Stitch and Pitch: super hot but we had a lot of fun!image image image
Fiber Revival in Newbury MA on Saturday 8/13.image
I drove up with Lisa and Emilia. We met up with Mara & Erika.
Cool stuff I bought:
Mara learned some spinning from the lovely, talented and very funny Kathy and her husband David from The Merlin Tree.

Events

12 Months to Christmas KAL– Winners Announced this Episode

Pigskin Party ’16 KAL

  • Tune in to hear a review of the Rules and Details of the Pigskin Party ’16 KAL. The KAL runs from September 8, 2016- February 6, 2017.
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  •  Check out the Prize Thread in the Ravelry Group.image
  • Our list of Sponsors is almost finalized. Click here for a link but check back soon for the FINAL list.
  • Some of our amazing sponsors have offered up Coupon Codes. Check them out before you start shopping!
  • image The Pre-Season chat thread has already started. Want to strategize, meet some new friends and catch up with the ones you made last year– click here!

On a Happy Note 

  • Custom orthotics might be the answer to my heel problems! Fingers crossed
  • Lisa & I went to a Jazz concert by a Berklee Student at the Boston Public Library for knit night a few weeks ago! SO fun!image image
  • Family time! Sleepovers & my grandmother’s birthday. Always makes me happy!image image image image
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Contact Information:

Episode 95: Adding up the Meters

Thank you for tuning in to Episode 95 of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. This week’s segments included:
  • Off the Needles
  • On the Needles
  • Brainstorming
  • From the Armchair
  • Crafty Adventures
  • Knitting in Passing
  • Events
  • Contest, News & Notes
  • Ask Me Anything
  • On a Happy Note

Off the Needles

  • Yarn: KnitCircus Yarn- Greatest of Ease Base- Gradient Stripes Set in the Pool Party Colorway- exclusive for Splash Pad Party 16
  • Needles: US 1 & 1.5 (2.25 & 2.5 mm)
  • OMG Heel by Megan Williams- top downimage
  • Needle: US 3/ 3.25mm
  • Yarn: Holiday Yarn Flocksock in Peachy Keen Colorway
  • Pattern: Boxy by Joji Locatelli
  • Size: X-Small
  • Click on link above to my project page for detailed notesimage imageimage
  • Yarn: Patons Kroy Stripes in Blue Brown Marl colorway
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • OMG Heel by Megan Williams- top downimage
  • Yarn: Quaere Fibre Sock Blank
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • OMG Heel by Megan Williams- top downimage

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On the Needles

  • Yarn: leftover fingering weight yarn from sock
  • Hook Size: D 3.0 mm & H 5.0 mm
  • Pattern: Double Crochet Granny Square
  • 3 rounds with sock yarn, 1 round with Plymouth Select DK in white
  • Going to finish seaming this summer. That’s my new goal!image

Brainstorming

Want to hit 10k in stash dash. As of this recording I’m at 6,545 meters. Click this link to see all of my Stash Dash 2016 Projects!
Stash Dash runs until Sunday August 21

From the Armchair

Review: Colorworks by Debi Yarn
Podcast Episode: Elise Gets Crafty: E102 On “Being Busy”
  • iOS App for podcasts
  • I highly recommend this app. It’s free and contains a lot of cool features over the iOS native app.

Events

12 Months to Christmas KAL

New Prizes- will giveaway in Episode 96

Looking for gift knit/crochet ideas- check out the Splash Pad Party Golf Tournament Team Threads & Mini Golf Threads for small project ideas.

Splash Pad Party ’16Artwork - Tattoo Splash - BLUE

The big bash wrapped up 7/31! What a great time it was!

Tune in to hear if you won a prize! If you did, be sure to contact me via email or Ravelry PM. Click here for reminder of the amazing prizes we have for this KAL! 

Still waiting to hear from winners announced on last episode for the participation prizes so if you haven’t tuned in yet, please check out Episode 94.
Thank you to Lisa for coming up with most of the amazing ideas behind this KAL, to Designs of Acadia for creating our amazing logo and to our pool boys Greg and Joey from the Unraveling with Greg & Joey podcast for keeping things interesting.
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The Pigskin Party KAL will be kicking off with the NFL Football season in September. I still have just a few spots left. Click here for details, and fill out the form today if you’re interested in signing on as a sponsor.

Fiber Events

Contest News & Notes

I pulled winners for the Phoenix Hat by Sally Cameron. Thanks Emilia for offering up this wonderful prize!
I am currently accepting sponsor applications for the 2016-2017 Pigskin Party KAL. Click on this link for more details.
 

Ask Me Anything

  • I answered a question from cynalune on Ravelry about my dream knitting bag.

On a Happy Noteimage

  • My cousin’s bachelorette party in Provincetown (Cape Cod). Favorite places: Patio (went to lunch with Mom), Boat Slip Beach Club Tea Dance (4-7p)image image
  • MGH Diversity Statement- came through on my work email and I was so touched by it.
    • Because of diversity we will excel.   We think broadly about diversity and everything that makes us unique.  It is core to our mission. Our differences make the MGH a more interesting and distinctive environment in which to work and are an important means of providing the very best care to every one of our patients, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, religion, age, sexual orientation, disabilities, life experiences, geographic backgrounds, skills and talents among others. We will not excel without recognizing and appreciating everyone’s perspectives.
    • Through inclusion we will respect.  Together we work hard to make this hospital a diverse and inclusive place of healing. Encouraging a broad range of opinions, ideas and perspectives drives creativity, innovation and excellence. Our continued engagement in our nationally recognized initiatives and programs highlights our commitment to diversity and inclusion. But this ongoing work will not be complete until every employee, every patient, every family member, every visitor feels safe, respected, welcome, comfortable, supported and accepted within our walls.
    • Focused on equity we will serve, heal, educate and innovate.  Our job is to improve health and save lives, regardless of what our patients or colleagues look like, where they come from, what they believe, or who they love. Issues of equity and justice are not separate but rather intertwined with patient care, education, research, and community health. Targeting inequality enhances the quality of care for all. We believe in treating our patients and each other with the dignity that every human being deserves.
  • Meeting up with new friends at Gather Here in Cambridge, MA for knit night.
  • Bathing suits that fit from Athleta. Rash guard love. Pacifica (long sleeved version)
  • Not so happy- water in our well is low because of the summer drought. Good news is that we’re finding ways to conserve water and hopefully are building in some better long-term routines.

Episode 94: Of Crochet & Giraffes

Thank you for tuning in to Episode 94 of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. This week’s segments included:
  • Off the Needles
  • On the Needles
  • From the Armchair
  • Crafty Adventures
  • In my Travels
  • Events
  • Contest, News & Notes
  • On a Happy Note
Thank you to this week’s sponsors: Little Skein in the Big Wool & Fair Winds Farm

Off the Needles

  • Hook: US H/ 5.0mm
  • Yarn: Lily Sugar and Cream in Black Currant Colorway and a little white for trim
  • No pattern.image
  • Hook: US H/ 5.0mm
  • Yarn: Lily Sugar and Cream in Black Currant and scraps from a blue/green/purple/white striping
  • Pattern: Hexagon from this tutorialimage
  • Hook: I/ 5.5 mm
  • Yarn:
  • Pattern: Used this tutorial to learn how to make a hexagon.IMG_3295
  • Hook: unsure
  • Yarn: Infinite Twist Helix and Cascade 220 Superwash leftovers
  • Pattern: double crochet granny squares
  • Idea from Susan B Anderson in this blog post.
  • Needles: US 1.5/ 2.5 mm
  • Yarn: Berry Colorful Yarning in the Pats Colorway
  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan WilliamsIMG_3463 IMG_3322
  • Yarn: One Twisted Tree Prime Fingering Base. Color A (light coral is called Seashell). Color B (dark coral is called Reef Coral) and Color C (aqua blue is called Gulf)
  • Needles: US 6 (4.0 mm)
  • Pattern: Riley Rose Shawl IMG_4459-2
Stash Dash Total (so far): 4,537 meters

On the Needles

  • Yarn: KnitCircus Yarn- Greatest of Ease Base- Gradient Stripes Set in the Pool Party Colorway- exclusive for Splash Pad Party 16
  • Needles: US 1 & 1.5 (2.25 & 2.5 mm)
  • OMG Heel by Megan Williams- top downimage
  • Needle: US 3/ 3.25mm
  • Yarn: Holiday Yarn Flocksock
  • Pattern: Boxy by Joji LocatelliIMG_3217 IMG_3294

From the Armchair 

Dave The Sheep Dog? Written and Photographed by Carrie McKie
$10.99 online or in store at The Yarn Sellar in York, ME
Really cute book. I encourage you to go check it out!

Crafty Adventures

Tie dye project with kids!

In My Travels 

image

The owner: Betty!

Events

12 Months to Christmas KAL
Splash Pad PartyArtwork - Tattoo Splash - BLUE
  • See official rules for all of the details
  • Tune in to Episode 91 to hear about all of the amazing prizes from our Sponsors.
  • Golf Tournament is underway! Our first team has finished but there are still lots of prizes up for grabs so keep on knitting. Prizes will be announced in future episodes.
    • I announced prizes for our first team to finish the tournament; more prizes will be announced in Episode 95.
  • We also have a round of Mini Golf going on. Check it out here and enter your FOs in this thread.
  • Tune in to hear if you won a prize in the Splash Pad Party for Instagram or chatting in one of our various chatter threads. I’ll announce the rest of the winners in Episode 95.
  • Even though the KAL ends on 7/31 there is still plenty of time for summer knitting. Feel free to continue to use the #splashpadparty16 so others can see your projects. Chat threads will still be open.
Be sure to check out our Splash Pad Party Pro Shop Sponsors:
Fiber Events
  • Stitch and Pitch Boston 2016 Thursday August 11 at 7:10p $45 per ticket. Purchase online, gets you voucher then you meet up outside Gate K with the group to get your actual ticket for entry. Lisa and I are going. If you’re local you should join us.
  • Fiber Revival Saturday, August 13, 2016  9am to 4pm Spencer Peirce Little Farm on 5 Little’s Lane Newbury, Massachusetts
    • $6 entrance fee ($4 children) to the property
    • Lisa and I will be there and are planning to claim a spot and sit and knit for the day, weather permitting. Hope you’ll join us- let us know in this thread on Ravelry.
  • Indie Untangled Trunk Show October 14, 2016 from 5p-8p at the  The Best Western Plus, 503 Washington Ave., Kingston, N.Y.
  • New York Sheep and Wool Oct 15-16, 2015 at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds, Rhinebeck, NY

Contest News & Notes

  • My new design, the Riley Rose pattern is now available. Riley Rose
    • There is a coupon code available for podcast listeners. Tune in for details.
    • If knit and finish by August 6th. Post project page and PM me. Pick one of my patterns free for yourself and a friend of your choice.

On a Happy Note

  • I went to see Vertical Horizon’s free concert in the Boston Common with Lisa, and her son and daughter. Really fun night. It was hot but the show was great, forgot how much I loved their music. And we knit!image
  • Aila and Will slept over the weekend of the 16-17th so parents can finish some renovation work at their house. Pool day Sat and Sunday!IMG_3349 IMG_3370 IMG_3427
  • Sunday afternoon went to a cookout at my Nana’s assisted living facility. Knit and listened to the music. Fun! Knitting definitely helped what could have been an otherwise boring function.IMG_3447
  • Aila left Giraffe Mommy- her prized possession- at our house. I came home and found her. Told Kris I’d send lots of photos of GM and me having fun so A would know she was ok. Dinner, showers, reading, made her a tent to sleep in, snuggles, riding the train, going to work. set up her own little office. Went to the craft store and then taught her to crochet so she could make a dress. Aila called Monday night when she got back from a trip with her grandmother, sad about it. Told me all of Giraffe Mommy’s favorite things so I’d know. Very sweet. Brought her back on Tuesday.image
  • Wednesday night I went to Will and Aila’s track meet where we did a mini birthday celebration for Will before they left for vacation. I gave him the Rhino I had intended for Christmas!image
  • Finally scored a sock blank from Andre Sue Knits on Etsy
  • Mom found a photo of a dress she made when she was in her early 20’s that she wore to her Bridal Shower. She handed it down to me and its my favorite item of clothing! Was fun to have a photo of her wearing it.image
Thank you for tuning in!
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