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Episode 251: Spinning ’round

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Thank you for tuning in to Episode 251 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
  • Crafty Adventures
  • Knitting in Passing
  • KAL News
  • Events
  • Contest, News & Notes
  • Life in Focus
  • Ask Me Anything
  • On a Happy Note
  • Quote of the Week

Shout out to Ultimate Insider Patrons: Aggie, Alexis, Alicia, Beth, Erica, Haidi, Kristina, Rachel, Rachel and Steph

Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Grammy’s 2nd Jean Marie Shawl

  • Pattern: Jean Marie by Jennifer Lassonde ($6 knitting pattern available on Ravelry & LoveCrafts).
  • Needles: US 9 (5.5 mm)
  • Yarn: Plymouth Yarn DK Merino Superwash in Black, Light Gray and White (2 skeins each)
  • Ravelry Project Page

Own Two Feet Socks

  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry )
  • Yarn: Cloudborn Fibers Merino Superwash Sock Twist Tiny Stripe in the Own Two Feet Colorway
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • 56 stitches. Cuff Down.
  • About the yarn: 2 round stripes of plum, lavender, brown and gray

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Musselburgh Hat

  • Pattern: Musselburgh by Ysolda Teague ($7.77 US/ 6 GBP knitting pattern available on Ravelry or on Ysolda’s website)
  • Yarn: fingering weight yarn from stash in a denim blue (can’t find the ballband)
  • Needles: US 2 (2.75) circular- 32 in (magic loop for beginning & end of project & US 2 (also called US 2.5) 3.0 mm 16-inch circular for the body of the hat
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Size: Adult Medium
  • Plan: Switch colors half way through. I have a lighter blue skein from On the Round that I purchased at Wicked Good Yarns in Rockland, MA that I want to use to make it a reversible hat.

Ninja Turtle Socks

  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry )
  • Yarn: Qing Fibre Dashing Fingering Yarn in the Ninja Turtle Colorway
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • 56 stitches. Cuff Down.
  • Laura chose this yarn when we were shopping at Loop London in the Fall of 2022.
  • About the yarn: it is the brightest, most neon yellow/green.
  • Progress: Sock #1 is most of the way through the foot.
  • Knit on this twice, on Monday nights at the Irish pub for dinner and live music with Dan, Megg and Tom.
  • Qing (pronounced Shing)

Carmen Socks

  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry )
  • Yarn: Gusto Wool Carmen Sock Weight Yarn (80/20 Merino/Nylon) in Colorway 1402
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page

Cloudy + Rainbows Spinning Project

  • Fiber: 4oz braid of BFL from Frabjous Fibers in the Rainy Day Rainbows Colorway
  • Description- long stretches of light gray punctuated with shorter blips of rainbow colors
  • Twist direction: singles = Z plied = S
    • This means when I’m spinning, my wheel is spinning clockwise and when plying my wheel is moving counter-clockwise.
  • I bought a new poly drive band for my Kromski Minstrel from Spinning Bunny on Etsy that I heard about on a Kromski Spinning Wheel Owners message board on Ravelry.
  • Finished spinning all 4 ounces. I would like to ply with other gray fiber.

Wild Air Farm Fiber

  • Fiber: 3.9 ounces of Shetland & Pygora from Wild Air Farm. Tag indicates “Melody & Cadence” which I presume are the animal names. 1 bump in green, 1 bump in blue
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Twist direction: singles = Z plied = S
    • This means when I’m spinning, my wheel is spinning clockwise and when plying my wheel is moving counter-clockwise.
  • According to Wikipedia- The Pygora goat is a breed of goat that originated from crossing the registered NPGA Pygmy goat and the white AAGBA Angora goat. Pygoras, along with the Angora goat and Cashmere goat, are fiber goats (goats bred for their wool).
  • I decided to spin them together, randomly grabbing from each batt.
  • I finished spinning  all of it within a couple days.

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.

Crafty Adventures

  • I finally got around to hanging up items to create a collage wall in the Down Cellar Studio.

Knitting in Passing

  • While knitting on my Musselburgh Hat at Oisin’s show, the women behind me asked me at Intermission what I was making because she’s a “big knitter.” I explained about the hat and what a sensation the pattern was. It was nice chatting with her.

KAL News

  • The Annual Splash Pad Party is ON for this summer. Save the dates for virtual kick off events Friday & Saturday May 26-27th
  • Call for sponsors going out soon. Sign up for my email newsletter & check the box for getting Sponsor emails if you want to be the first to know about available sponsor spots. 
  • Participant sign-ups will start in May.

Events

Contest, News & Notes

  • I will have a new shawl pattern ready for test knitters soon. I think I will run the test on Ravelry because it’s what I know and is easiest and life is still a little challenging for me right now, so thank you for giving me a little grace.

Life in Focus

Tune in for my update on 23 in 2023.

  • Any tips for brands/types of fake eyelashes to try?
  • Skiing didn’t happen this year. Sigh.
  • I’m making good progress of reading, going to musicals, sending cards and going to the movies!

I celebrated the 11 year anniversary of the Podcast with a quick look back at Episode 1!

On a Happy Note

  • Follow-up after Mom’s recent scans show things look good. She & Dad headed off to Florida for vacation.
  • Dan & I helped Dad replace their broken TV and we had a nice dinner together.
  • My cousin Susan’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Party with birthday cake for my cousin Christopher whose baby I met for the first time that day and a Bailey’s toast to my dear Aunt Florence.
  • Picked up Riley and Millie to go meet Mom & Trish for mani pedis before Mom & Dad headed to Florida on Vacation.
  • Seeing Oisin play Shrek in Shrek Jr. at his Middle School.
  • Girls Game Night at my cousin Joanie’s house
  • Going back to Zumba before my old gym closes.
  • I had my annual mammogram and thought there was cause for concern but ultrasound proved everything is normal! PSA: Get those boobies checked!! It’s important.

Quote of the Week

I realized I was as happy as I’d ever been in my life. It was the happiness of the right-before, when everything is potential and no branch on the tree of possibility has yet been closed off by action.–Dawn Drzal

Thank you for tuning in!
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Episode 250: Cake & Ice Cream

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Thank you for tuning in to Episode 250 of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. Full show notes with photos can be found on my website.

This week’s segments included:

  • Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbin
  • On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins
  • Brainstorming
  • From the Armchair
  • Crafty Adventures
  • Knitting in Passing
  • In my Travels
  • KAL News
  • Events
  • On a Happy Note
  • Quote of the Week

Thank you to this episode’s sponsor: The Yarn Sellar and be sure to check out their annual Fiber Marketplace Saturday April 1 2023, 10-3 pm  at the Union Bluff in York Beach,Maine.

Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Hattie’s Ice Cream

  • Pattern: Ice Cream Cone by Shannon Holding. Free Crochet Pattern available on the LoopholeFox website & on Ravelry
  • Hook: C (2.75)
  • Yarn: Knit Picks Brava in Cotton Candy (pink), Blush (pink), White. Loops & Threads Impeccable in Soft Taupe (cone)
  • 2 scoops of ice cream (instructions include option for 3 scoops).
  • 1st scoop is pink, 2nd scoop is white. Pink and purple sprinkles
  • Ravelry Project Page

Hattie’s Cupcake

  • Pattern: Cupcake by Stitch11. Free crochet pattern available on this website & on Ravelry.
  • Hook: C (2.75)
  • Yarn: Knit Picks Brava in White. Loops & Threads Impeccable in Soft Taupe (cake), Big Twist Twinkle in Gray (wrapper)
  • Silver sparkle yarn for cupcake wrapper, taupe for cupcake, white frosting with pink and purple sprinkles to match ice cream.
  • Ravelry Project Page

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins


Mini Skein Hexagon Blanket

  • Pattern: Basic Crochet Hexagon Pattern & Tips from Make Do and Crew Website & YouTube Tutorial
  • Hook: F (3.75 mm)
  • Yarn: Mini skeins from 2022 agirlandherwool Advent Calendar, 24 Days of Cheer Swap minis + other scraps/swap yarn
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • I’ve been closing the end of each hexagon with this join- link to Instagram post
  • 4 rounds per hexagon.
  • 3.75 inches each. Likely need over 300
    • Twin sized blanket is 60×80 inches. 17×22 hexis- 374.
  • Over 160 full hexagons done now.
  • I washed all of my finished hexis (that already had ends woven in), in the washing machine on delicate inside a lingerie bag. The lingerie bag is important because with small pieces, you can lose pieces into your machine and cause problems.
  • Results:
    • 5 of them came apart at the join on the final round.
    • No bleeding or fading.
    • No shrinking.
    • I’m glad I did this so I could get the bad ones out of the mix before I seam them.
  • Learned double magic circle from this YouTube video. The trick is to know how to pull both loops to tighten the loop.

Ninja Turtle Socks

  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry )
  • Yarn: Qing Fibre Dashing Fingering Yarn in the Ninja Turtle Colorway
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • 56 stitches. Cuff Down.
  • About the yarn: it is the brightest, most neon yellow/green. Laura chose this yarn when we were shopping at Loop London in the Fall of 2022.
  • Progress: Sock #1 is beyond the heel.

Own Two Feet Socks

  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry )
  • Yarn: Cloudborn Fibers Merino Superwash Sock Twist Tiny Stripe in the Own Two Feet Colorway
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • 56 stitches. Cuff Down.
  • About the yarn: 2 round stripes of plum, lavender, brown and gray
  • Progress: Just finished the heel of the second sock.

Benjamin’s Christmas Stocking

Grammy’s 2nd Jean Marie Shawl

  • Pattern: Jean Marie by Jennifer Lassonde ($6 knitting pattern available on Ravelry & LoveCrafts).
  • Needles: US 9 (5.5 mm)
  • Yarn: Plymouth Yarn DK Merino Superwash in Black, Light Gray and White (2 skeins each)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Just finished Section 2 of 3.

Brainstorming

I charted out elongated shawl design idea which feels really good.

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.

Crafty Adventures

  • I finished my January-June Covid Photo Book/Scrapbook that I made in Shutterfly and ordered it!
  • I started working on second half of the year. I have notes about each day of the year that I’m mostly copying/pasting into Shutterfly and adding photos from Google Photos which makes it easier. So grateful I journaled during 2020 as it will likely end up being one of the wildest year of our lives.

Knitting in Passing

In My Travels

  • Mom, Millie & I went to Russell’s Garden Center for Farm Fiber Days Event.
  • Blue Heron Farm set-up table for people to learn Needle Felting. Millie made a butterfly and then a bunny. We purchased a needle felting kit from them. Later Mom found cookie cutters.
  • Millie got lots of snuggle time with 2 French Angora Rabbits that she wants to convince her dad to adopt. Thank you, Jessica.
  • I purchased two batts of Shetland from Wild Air Farm in Bolton, MA.
  • I also chose 3 minis from Sassy Black Yarns.
  • Millie chose a skein of Making Tracks from Junction Fiber Mill
    • Our marled variegated 2 ply yarn. Hand-dyed in small limited-edition batches. Made with 100% American wool.

KAL News

  • I emailed all Grand Prize Winners and the sponsors who donated their prizes. Check your email if you haven’t already.
  • Splash Pad preliminary prep underway

Events

On a Happy Note

  • Getting more minis from Nicole in the mail!
  • Met up with my friend Gary from college for coffee while he was in Boston.
  • Hattie’s first ever birthday sleepover for her 5th Birthday. I picked her up and then we picked up Millie, at Hattie’s request. We had a low key night at home, and went to the Children’s Museum the next morning. Hattie was overtired, so we drove her home and then Millie and I met up with my parents to head back into Boston for Riley’s dance competition. Mom, Dad, Jeff, Millie, Garret and I all went to an early dinner between her performances.
  • Monday night at a local Irish pub listening to live music for Megg’s birthday.
  • Last Saturday, Megg dropped off Oisín to work with Dan, and we all had breakfast before Megg and I went off for a hike. We got back to the car just as the rain started.
  • Millie’s Bucket List with a Twist item was to ride horses with Grammy in the snow. It nearly snowed on Saturday May 11, but it was too warm. Thankfully, the rain stopped while we were inside the barn at Nancy & Roger’s house, meeting the animals. Our friend Terri is friends with Nancy and Roger who kindly and enthusiastically agreed to help make Millie check off her bucket list item. We met all of the animals, most of whom were rescued. They have a very silly goat, some miniature horses (Goliath, Delilah & Princess Buttercup), 2 Gypsy Vanners (Zoe & her mother Dulcie) and another large horse, Scooter. Mom and I each rode Zoe and Millie rode Dulcie.
  • Garret’s 13th birthday sleepover. We went to Altitude to jump on the trampolines, to Panera for dinner and then he taught me how to edit videos using the CapCut app.

Quote of the Week

In our concern for others, we worry less about ourselves. When we worry less about ourselves an experience of our own suffering is less intense.
–DALAI LAMA


——Thank you for tuning in!


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Episode 249: Winners!

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Thank you for tuning in to Episode 249 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
  • Knitting in Passing
  • In my Travels
  • KAL News
  • Events
  • Contest, News & Notes
  • Ask Me Anything
  • On a Happy Note
  • Quote of the Week

Thank you to this episode’s sponsors: The Yarn Sellar

The Yarn Sellar is hosting the annual Fiber Marketplace Saturday April 1 2023, from 10-3 pm at the Union Bluff in York Beach Maine. Local vendors will be selling hand dyed yarns, roving, buttons, bags, and  notions. $5 gets you in the door, a 15% off coupon to The Yarn Sellar and a chance to win prizes. Grab your fiber friends and make it a fun filled weekend! Make room reservation by calling 207-363-1333 and visit www.Yarnsellar.com for details.

Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Cloudy Rainbow Socks

  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry )
  • Yarn: Yarn Cafe Creations Biscotti Yarn (85% SW Merino/15% Nylon 4 ply) in the Thestrals Colorway (gray with blips of rainbow colors
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Cast on 60 stitches and worked 1/1 rib for 14 rounds. Knit about 2 inches and then reduced to 56 stitches (decreases like a toe- done at the beginning and end of each half of the sock).
  • The leg is 10.25 inches before the heel flap.
  • My friend Jen from JLsCreativeShop on Etsy sent me new, laser cut bamboo stitch markers that I started using with this project! They each have a knitting related thing on them. Lightweight, easy to take on and off. $14.99 for set of 5. Get 10% off her shop with code BOSTONJEN.

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Mini Skein Hexagon Blanket

  • Pattern: Basic Crochet Hexagon Pattern & Tips from Make Do and Crew Website & YouTube Tutorial
  • Hook: F (3.75 mm)
  • Yarn: Mini skeins from 2022 agirlandherwool Advent Calendar, 24 Days of Cheer Swap minis + other scraps/swap yarn
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • I’ve been closing the end of each hexagon with this join- link to Instagram post
  • 4 rounds per hexagon. 142 hexagons done as of now. 5 half hexagons. 3 pointy ones.
  • 3.75 inches each. Likely need over 300
    • Twin sized blanket is 60×80 inches. 17×22 hexis- 374.
  • Natalie, Knitty Natty, shared on Instagram that she had an issue with centers of her granny squares opening up in the wash. I’ve had issues with this too. My plan for this blanket is to wash all of the hexagons first before seaming together to try to weed out anything that’s not secure. I’ve also thought of a new idea for knotting mine closed because I’m holding yarn double. I’ll share a video for that soon!

Ninja Turtle Socks

  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry )
  • Yarn: Qing Fibre Dashing Fingering Yarn in the Ninja Turtle Colorway
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • 56 stitches. Cuff Down.
  • Laura chose this yarn when we were shopping at Loop London in the Fall of 2022.
  • About the yarn: it is the brightest, most neon yellow/green.
  • Progress: I’m maybe an inch past the first cuff.

Own Two Feet Socks

  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry )
  • Yarn: Cloudborn Fibers Merino Superwash Sock Twist Tiny Stripe in the Own Two Feet Colorway
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • 56 stitches. Cuff Down.
  • About the yarn: 2 round stripes of plum, lavender, brown and gray
  • Progress: I’ve turned the first heel.

Benjamin’s Christmas Stocking

From the Armchair

Movies

Books

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

  • Riley finished the Reinpack Bag (free Ravelry Download she was knitting for my Mom, her grandmother. We bought yarn at Staci’s Stitches. The yarn is a super bulky t-shirt yarn from Hoooked Zpaghetti. She did most of the bag in a white with black polka dots and then black towards the bottom. The black yarn was definitely thinner, which wasn’t ideal but as long as Mom doesn’t use it to store small buttons or screws, it should be just fine.
  • I gave Riley a very brief kitchener stitch overview and she flew through the rest of it to close up this bag. I’m so proud of her.

In My Travels

  • I visited with Laura in Orleans over the last two weekends. We went to a movie theater to see A Man Called Otto.
  • We browsed Provincetown, which is a bit sleepy in the offseason. We had fun browsing a few shops.
  • We did a taste test of 3 peanut butter cups. Of the three milk chocolate peanut butter cups, Hilliard’s Candy was our favorite followed by The Providence Fudge Factory and then Hot Chocolate Sparrow. 
  • I taught Laura how to make homemade stovetop popcorn and that nearly turned into a disaster when we thought we ruined the bottom of a Les Creuset but were able to clean/remove the stain with vinegar and baking soda.
  • We also visited the Antique Center & Cape Abilities Thrift Store in Yarmouth, MA.
  • I made a quick trip to Adventures in Knitting in Harwich on Saturday. I bought 2 skeins of yarn and a set of Addi sock needles.

KAL News

Pigskin Party’22: The Official Hashtag is #DCSPigskinParty22

  • Pigskin Landing Page on the Down Cellar Studio Website.
  • Start Here Thread in the Ravelry Group
  • Link to the Official Rules
  • Player Registration- 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. Google Doc.
    • Check out the Pigskin Exclusive Items in this Ravelry Thread
  • Important Updates in this Episode
    • Tune in to hear if you’re one of our 10 Grand Prize Winners

Pigskin ’22 Wrap-up & Highlights.

  • 1030 on Roster this Season
    • 189 people earned 1-25 entries
    • 45 people earned 26-50 entries
    • 17 people got between 51-100 entries
    • 7 of you earned more than 100 entries or more entries towards grand prizes.
  • 4,143 entries for Finished Projects
  • 693 entries for non-project points
  • 2,578 posts on Instagram using #DCSPigskinParty22
  • Special Challenges & Bonuses
    • Talkgate Talk
    • Fistbumps and Fives
    • Creepy WIP challenge
    • Night Bright challenge
    • Gratitude WIP Bonus
    • Spread the Warmth challenge
    • Plus 4 Interceptions!
  • Our Teams were Part of 3 Conferences this year- Alpaca Conference (Commissioner: Alicia) & Llama Conference (Commissioner: Emily) & Sheep Conference(Commissioner: Heather)
    • Llama Conference won for the 2nd year in a row with over 211k points
    • Sheep took second this year with over 188k points
    • Alpaca Conference had a strong showing with over 161k points
  • Highest scoring Team was also in the Llama conference- Team 10 Wildcard WIPers with 67,452 points
    • 2nd Place goes to: Team 7- Garter Guards- 62,789 points
    • In 3rd Place from the Sheep Conference is: Team 12 Sprinting Steekers- 58,213
  • Top Players
    • Julia Wagner, Team 11: 22,514 points
    • KathyG, Team 12: 19, 868 points
    • EyeNowHour, Team 3: 19,732 points
    • Kathleen_Ducharme, Team 7: 19,094

Events

Contest, News & Notes

  • If you check out JLsCreativeShop on Etsy & would like to purchase laser cut bamboo stitch markers or other items- you can use coupon code BOSTONJEN for 10% off.
    • The progress keeper I shared is a set of 5 for $14.99.
  • Conshy Connects Resale Therapy Live Sale on Thursday 3/2 at 7p Eastern on Facebook. Proceeds to benefit the FearLESS Living Fund to benefit the Blind Center of Nevada. Check out this YouTube Video where Mom & I talk more about this event and the Blind Center.

Ask Me Anything

Tune in to hear my answers to these questions

  • Aggie asked: “How are you doing?”
  • Cher asked: “Project progress please”
  • Brittany asked: “When you went to overseas I saw you had a tiny bag attached to your cross body bag for your knitting.”
  • Frances asked: “all about those hexies”

On a Happy Note

  • Mom’s friend Vikki came for a visit. Dan and I met Mom, Trish and Vikki for dinner and then they came back to our house for a drink.
  • I shared about Mom’s Bucket List with a Twist. Riley’s item was a massive girls party/sleepover. She had an ice cream bar and a popcorn bar, lots of food and other desserts. We played silly games and had a blast!
  • Dan & I bought a new washer and dryer to replace our broken one; Dan was so excited to try it out he did a ton of laundry including our sheets, which is my least favorite thing to do!
  • Mom successfully completed her last 3-day set of chemotherapy! Her record for keeping nausea and vomiting at bay stands! We are very excited about that. I got to visit with my cousins Susan and Joanie who drove Mom in on the second and third days because my dad had vertigo.
  • 90 minute massage, which was even better in the midst of a very busy work week.
  • My time with Laura down in Orleans. Lots of talking, movies, & shopping.

Quote of the Week

Any self-prompt that reminds you to focus on flow not ebb, contributes to your greater sense of abundance. – Sarah Breathnach


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