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Episode 283: PUMPKINS!

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Thank you for tuning in to Episode 283 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
  • Contest, News & Notes
  • Life in Focus
  • On a Happy Note
  • Quote of the Week

Thank you to this episode’s sponsors: Stitchin with Yarn, winemakerssister, Yumi Yarns & Fibernymph Dye Works

Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

LFA Helical Socks

  • Yarn: Legacy Fiber Artz Steel Toes in the Portal Colorway & a Mystery Colorway (both 50g skeins: 75% SW Merino, 25% Nylon). Knit Picks Felici in the Beatnik Colorway
  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Cast on in June 2023. Finished September 5. Forgot to share in the last episode.

Frozen Shake Cozy

  • Pattern: Ball Band with a Twist by Jennifer Lassonde. $2 crochet pattern available on Ravelry | LoveCrafts
  • Yarn: worsted crochet cotton
  • Hooks: F (3.75mm) & G (4.0mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Yarn- mystery blue cotton on a cone that was from Aunt Rachel’s stash.
  • Made for mom during September hospital stay when the dietitians started making frozen shakes to get nutrients into her.

Ribbed Bobble Pumpkin

  • Pattern: Ribbed Bobble Pumpkin by Breann Mauldin. $3 crochet pattern available on Ravelry. Free version available here.
  • Yarn: KnitKraft Wintuk Yarn in the Tangerine Colorway
  • Hook: F (3.75 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Yarn gifted to me by my friend Heather. We became friends through the dancing school we went to. Her mother was the stage manager and my mom was the house manager for our recitals. We’ve all know each other since I was 12. Heather’s mother Rita passed away a few years ago. When Heather heard my mom was in the hospital she dropped off a care package at the dancing school- chemo caps for Mom and yarn from her mom’s stash for me!

Rita’s pumpkins

  • Pattern: Pumpkin by June Gilbank. Free crochet pattern available on Ravelry. Free version available here.
  • Yarn: KnitKraft Wintuk Yarn in the Tangerine Colorway
  • Hook: F (3.75 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • 5 finished
  • Yarn is definitely 1970s/1980s squeeky acrylic, so not my favorite to work with, but it feels great to put it to good use and to bring a bit of life to Rita’s old stash.

Farmhouse Pumpkin

  • Pattern: Farmhouse Pumpkins by More Dreams Less Life. $4.25 crochet pattern available on Ravelry.
  • Yarn: KnitKraft Wintuk Yarn in the Tangerine Colorway
  • Hook: F (3.75 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Worked in the round. Does use FP & BP HDC which I learned in my crochet cables class at Staci’s! Love the look of this. Worked up in an evening of TV.

Pumpkin Patch Cup Cozy

  • Pattern: Pumpkin Patch Cup Cozy by Kylee Keller. Free crochet pattern available on Ravelry & this blog.
  • Yarn: KnitKraft Wintuk Yarn in the Tangerine Colorway, Knit Picks Brava Worsed in the Dublin colorway (green) & mystery brown acrylic yarn from stash.
  • Hook: F (3.75 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • The pattern calls for thicker yarn and a larger hook than I had. It also calls for what’s essentially a 1×1 ribbed look, but I liked the look of the ribbing from the front/back post crochets on the Farmhouse Pumpkins, so I used that pattern instead. I used the stitch count from my Ball Band with a Twist pattern (available on Ravelry | LoveCrafts).

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Farmhouse Pumpkin

  • Pattern: Farmhouse Pumpkins by More Dreams Less Life. $4.25 crochet pattern available on Ravelry.
  • Yarn: KnitKraft Wintuk Yarn in the Rust Colorway
  • Hook: F (3.75 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • I initially grabbed the yarn from Heather and threw some in my bag for the hospital and rest (still in its plastic Thom McCann shoe store bag lol into my craft room). I though the other skein of Wintuk was red- but when I went down there again, I realized it was rust! and the pumpkin madness continued!
  • Cast on Saturday 9/28 watching Season 2 of the OA with Dan on Netflix.

Static Musselburgh

  • Pattern: Musselburgh Hat by Ysolda Teague (7 GBP Knitting Pattern available on Ravelry & 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
  • Note- the pattern just got some updates
  • About the yarn: blues, grays, cream and a bit of a salmony orange. Self patterning yarn.
  • Progress: 15 inches. I will plan to add one more inch and then work the decreases.

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.
  • Progress: I finished 9 my July squares & seamed them. I started my August squares and have 1 package waiting for me to open- the last batch.

Stranger Things 2 Socks

  • Yarn: Desert Vista Dyeworks Viso base (75% SW Merino/25% Nylon) in the Stranger Things 2 Self Striping Colorway
  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Cast on the morning of Thursday 9/5 for the Pigskin Party. I didn’t get to join in the round until that night, but now its well underway.
  • About the colorway- stripes of: orange, hot pink, purple, navy blue, medium blue and red.
  • Progress- My first Pigskin Cast on using Snack Shack Sponsor yarn. I’m almost to heel of the first sock.

Rest Relax Recharge Socks

  • Yarn: Hypnotic Yarn: Plush Sock in the Rest Relax Recharge Colorway (from the March 2023 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
  • Cast on both cuffs so I can try to work these up quickly. They’ll match some of Mom’s go-to pjs.
  • Cute acrylic Pigskin markers from Twin Mountain Handcrafts on them. Thanks ladies for sending them to me. I love them.

Brainstorming

  • Making the pumpkins has me itching to make toys. It would be great to make some for the little kiddos for Christmas.
  • I need to start the Christmas stocking for my cousin Colleen’s little boy Owen so I have that ready for Thanksgiving.
  • The pumpkins also have me longing to crochet some hats.

From the Armchair

  1. Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link.
  2. Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead by Elle Cosimano. 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

  • Talked to several nurses and other staff about my knitting and crochet while in with Mom. One PCA learned to knit before but said she never really full understood it. I told her I’d be happy to meet her for coffee and a lesson anytime.
  • The staff all oooh and ahhh over Mom’s handknit socks.
  • One morning when Mom was really out of it from anesthesia the day before, I was putting on her handknit socks and I had them totally crooked, heel on the side, and she was busting my chops. I told her “hey, I said I was good at knitting them, not putting them on!” and she insisted on taking a photo for me to share! Little glimpses of her coming back to her real self were great- even if it was going to be a bit more time before she was back to normal.
  • I recently saw a notice in my town’s Facebook page that the senior center is looking for yarn they can use to make things to sell at holiday’s craft fairs. PSA: even if your community hasn’t reached out- see if they need yarn so you can clear out anything you don’t need and know it will go to good use.

KAL News

Pigskin Party ’24 #DCSPigskinParty24

  • Event Dates: Thursday September 5, 2024- Monday February 10, 2025
  • Find everything you need in the Start Here Thread in the Ravelry Group
  • Official Rules
  • Registration Form  (you must be Registered to be eligible for prizes)
  • Enter your projects using the Point Tally Form
  • Find the full list of Sponsors in this Google Doc.
  • Questions-  ask them in this Ravelry Thread or email Jen at downcellarstudio @ gmail.com
  • Tailgate Talk Challenge– Click here for Ravelry Link
    • Great way to get to know your team. There will be daily prompts from 9/5 through 9/16. Answer them in your Team thread in the Ravelry Group. If you answer them all, no more than 2 per day, you’ll get 150 points (as long as you enter them on the Points Tally form by 10/1). 
  • Our Official Sponsor for Q1 (October) is The Little Wolf Knits. This means you’ve got a challenge that can earn you more points and entry towards a cool prize. Check out the challenge details in this Ravelry post
  • Commentator Mary Klute’s report- One of the best things about the pigskin party is the community!  It is so much fun to get to know other players and the annual Tailgate Talk is a great way to do that. It looks like this year’s Tailgate Talk was a great success–at the time of this report nearly 200 players had submitted for their Tailgate Talk points! But players aren’t just chatting–they are also finishing projects!  So far there are 307 finished projects on the scoreboard, including 10 blitzes!  And it looks like players are really using sponsor products to rack up some extra points.  So far, finished projects have earned over 50 points on average by using sponsor products!  Symama09 is a great example of how to really maximize those sponsor points.  She earned 280 sponsor points on her recently finished gnome by using 2 proshop exclusive products, three proshop non-exclusive products, and two products from snack shack sponsors!  Her gnome is super cute too- check out the Ravelry Project Page here! Finally, don’t forget to spread the word about the PSP!  You can join 14 players who have been earning points by drafting players!
  • Tune in to hear if you’re a September Participation Prize winner. I will be in touch with all winners via email.

Events

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

Contest, News & Notes

My friend Linda is looking for donations of warm handknit/crocheted items for adult and youth homeless in Massachusetts. They set up tables on Thanksgiving and put all of the handmade items on the fence outside the First Church in Woburn, MA. Calling for all makers who want to donate. PM me on Ravelry or email me at downcellarstudio at gmail.com and I’ll give you the address to send them to. Any fiber type welcome. Hats, scarves, mitts, shawls, blankets. Anything warm is welcome!

Life in Focus

Update on Mom: Diane is still in the hospital after being admitted on 9/12.

  • Attempts at the bedside to put filler into her right vocal cord to bring back her voice didn’t work, so they brought her down to the OR and did the procedure there. She has so much more volume now! She doesn’t notice a huge difference but we all do.
  • We thought about 2 weeks in that she’d be going home, bags were all packed and they decided to do a last minute CT which showed spots in her lungs. We were told it wasn’t cancer but it took until Thursday to do a Bronchoscopy to reveal the cause of that issue- 2 different bacterial infections. Of course at first we were told it was just 1 and she could go home on oral antibiotics. 10 minutes later the other was found and now she has to stay for at least a few days of IV antibiotics.

How to make it fun in the hospital

  • Get to know your caregivers; find out what you have in common. It makes it more interesting if you can actually have a bond with the people you’re interacting with on a regular basis.
  • Get some new pajamas- especially if that’s all you get to wear. If your family can stay over with you- get matching PJs. It’s a little thing but it can make it feel a bit more special.
  • Find ways to make the little things into bigger things. Our first matching PJ night, we wore flamingo pajamas. In advance of that, I purchased flamingo decorations at the party store and bought light up necklaces, straws & ice cubes to turn the evening into a party.
  • The next night, we planned to have an ice cream sundae party. The unit always has ice cream on hand. Mom ordered a peach puree from the daily menu and I saved M&Ms that my cousin Jenny brought and we had an ice cream party. As it turns out, I spotted fireworks out the windows of the elevator lobby that night and was able to bring Mom over to see. Made what could have been an average night – or a depressign one because we thought she’d be home, more entertaining.
  • Have folks send in mail and bring it to the patient! Chellescraps- Michelle, sent a bouquet of paper flowers (I believe they’re from freshcutpaper)- my brother’s family also got her one early on in her stay (these are great because, you may not know this but some patients cannot have fresh cut flowers- burn patients, some immunocompromised patients etc); Sewrunknit, Suzanne, sent a funny card, ElsaandEm, Emily, sent a handknit/embroidered flower pin, my cousin Jenny brought a WonderWoman balloon and ironically on the same day, a friend dropped off a Wonder Woman pillow at the house (great to use to push into Mom’s side when she had pain)
  • Ask friends and family to text photos and videos! Hattie sent Mom the cutest video of a little dance/kartwheel which was so fun. 

On a Happy Note

  • Sharpie Rollerball Pens (.5mm)- available on Amazon. The only thing that would make it better is if it was a click top, but I’m totally willing to live without the convenience.
  • Trader Joe’s Honey Hydration Day & Night Cream Duo. $7.99 (dupe for Farmacy Honey Halo, which I’ve never tried)
  • One day when my SIL brought Riley, Garret and Millie in to see Mom at the hospital, Millie said she wanted to see my office, so since Mom was still at her MRI, we took a detour. Millie did a full on simulation of me at work, drinking selzter, typing on my computer etc.
  • My parents celebrated their 47th Wedding Anniversary. Thankfully Dan had more brain cells and time than the rest of us and got Mom flowers on his way in to visit.
  • I picked up my grandmother to bring her in for a visit with my Mom. We had a lovely visit.
  • My cousin Sabrina came up from Tennessee with her girlfriend Maria for a visit with my Mom. It was so great catching up with them.
  • Watching The American President. I love that movie. Mom and I had been talking about it in the hospital that day- specifically the line from Michael J. Fox (as Lewis Rothschild) “I tell any girl I’m going out with to assume that all plans are soft until she receives confirmation from me thirty minutes beforehand.” Robin McCall: “And they find this romantic?” Lewis Rothschild: “Well, I say it with a great deal of charm.”
  • I was able to use our John Deere tractor/backhoe to free myself when a tree fell in our driveway and I was trapped. Dan was in Vermont and I thought I’d have to call my nephew Oisin but it didn’t come to that!
  • I scored a $300 ski bag with a charging set-up for boot warmers for $15 at a yard sale this weekend.
  • Trader Joe’s pumpkin Kringle! with Cinnamon coffee.

Quote of the Week

Strive to be whole, not perfect, for in wholeness we embrace both our strengths and our flaws, while in perfection, we lose the beauty of our true selves. -Unknown

——

Contact Information:

Episode 282: Every Room is the Craft Room

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Thank you for tuning in to Episode 282 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
  • 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 this episode’s sponsors: Imagined Landscapes, Fibernymph Dye Works, BellaFio Yarn

Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Wool Ease Hexagon Blanket

  • Pattern: Basic Crochet Hexagon Pattern & Tips from Make Do and Crew Website & YouTube Tutorial
  • Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick. Centers in colorways- Fern, Coney Island, Seaglass, Slate. Borders- Wheat & Oatmeal
  • Hook: 10mm (N/P)
  • 96 total hexagons + half hexies to square off the edges.
  • Border: 1 round of sc (used nearly 1 skein of yarn), 2 rounds of hdc, 2 rounds of Dc on short sides and sc on long sides
  • 4,499 grams used
  • 1,728 grams of multi color yarns / around 10 skeins
  • 2,771 grams wheat used. / around 16 skeins used
  • Total for Stash Dash: 2,567.6 meters

Berry Bliss Socks

  • Yarn: Hypnotic Yarn Plush Sock (75% SW Merino/25% Nylon) in the Berry Bliss Colorway (May 2024 Yarnable Box) & Legacy Fiber Artz Glitzy Toes (pink mini from 2023 Advent Calendar)
  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Cast on July 12
  • About the yarn- lemon yellow, sherbet orange and pink. I worked the first heel in a pink sparkle yarn from Legacy Fiber Artz because I have some spiral striping going on and didn’t want to disrupt it.

Stash Dash Update

  • Jasmin (of the Knitmore Girls Podcast) & I competed again this year. Check out my Stash Dash Spreadsheet here. Here’s Jasmin’s Spreadsheet.
  • My 2024 Stash Dash Total: 12,088
    • 26 projects- 16 knit, 8 crochet, 2 spinning
    • 2 blankets, a cowl, 3 hats, a book holder, a pair of mitts, 11 pairs of socks, 1 Christmas stocking, 2 tops and 4 skeins of yarn
  • Jasmin’s total: 29,811 with the meters for a finished spinning project not yet on her spreadsheet. I always knew if she buckled down and finished one of her massive spinning projects she’d annihilate me and she finally did! One of her spinning projects was 23k! Nicely done, friend!! My hat is off to you.

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Static Musselburgh

  • Pattern: Musselburgh Hat by Ysolda Teague (7 GBP Knitting Pattern available on Ravelry & 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
  • Note- the pattern just got some updates
  • About the yarn: blues, grays, cream and a bit of a salmony orange. Self patterning yarn. I’m loving how its working up so far.

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.
  • Progress: I finished 9 my July squares & seamed them. I started my August squares and have 1 package waiting for me to open- the last batch.

Stranger Things 2 Socks

  • Yarn: Desert Vista Dyeworks Viso base (75% SW Merino/25% Nylon) in the Stranger Things 2 Self Striping Colorway
  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Cast on the morning of Thursday 9/5 for the Pigskin Party. I didn’t get to join in the round until that night, but now its well underway.
  • About the colorway- stripes of: orange, hot pink, purple, navy blue, medium blue and red.
  • Progress- almost to heel of the first sock.

Brainstorming

Autumn Doodle Cup Cozy by Jamie Lomax ($2 knitting pattern- Ravelry) . Quick  fall colorwork project with DK yarn.

From the Armchair

Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah.  Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link.

Listened to this because I want to watch the Netflix series based on this starring Sarah Chalke & Katherine Heigl

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

During Marta’s visit, the kids turned the living room at my parents’ into a craft room. Millie knit on the hat she’s making for her dad. Riley worked on crochet hexagons for our matching blankets. Roc crocheted on a crab and eventually started a giraffe amigurumi and a baby hat. Riley taught Roc to make a crochet hexagon. Even Max & Garret got in on the action and did some drawing.

One of the first afternoons, we were sitting at the bar at my parents’ pool. Marta was sewing up a hole in Max’s shirt, I was finishing some socks and Roc was crocheting his crab.

Throughout the trip, Roc (age 12) was crocheting constantly- in the car, at the table, at the park, anytime he had a few free minutes. He was incredibly adept at chatting and keeping up with his pattern working in increases and decreases.

We ended up going to 6 craft stores- Plymouth Harbor Knits, Michaels, Joann, The Craft Loft, Hobby Lobby, Gather Here. Roc also got a crochet kit at Dollar Tree (the same dinoaur my niece Aila bought earlier this summer).

We had a campfire at my house one night. Roc, Millie and Hattie spent most of the night crafting in my studio.

We visited my house after kayaking & ice cream one afternoon- Hattie also did a bit of knitting on my Musselburgh hat. I found a few dropped stitches the next time I picked it up but that’s ok.

Crafty Adventures

Marta, Roc and I did some resin projects while they were visiting. Roc put resin in the bottom of a small wooden crate and then we worked together on a pumpkin lazy susan.

KAL News

Pigskin Party ’24 #DCSPigskinParty24

  • Playoff Prediction Contest:  Check this Ravelry Thread on 9/4 for post. Choose the NFL team you think will win the Super Bowl this year (before the thread closes on 9/19). Correct guesses will get you extra points.
  • Tailgate Talk Challenge– Click here for Ravelry Link
    • Great way to get to know your team. There will be daily prompts from 9/5 through 9/16. Answer them in your Team thread in the Ravelry Group. If you answer them all, no more than 2 per day, you’ll get 150 points (as long as you enter them on the Points Tally form by 10/1). 

Stay Tuned for our October Challenge hosted by The Little Wolf Knits.

Update from Commentator Mary:

  • The season is off to a great start! The first Monday Night Football game was still on and there were already 18 projects in the end zone dance thread! There were lots of hats and dishcloths, of course, as these are often quick projects. But one player went above and beyond! Shellylynnknits already completed a blitz in 4 days!  She crocheted a scrap yarn basket that is super cool! Check out her Ravelry Project Page.  That pattern looks like a really fun idea for using up scraps!
  • The September chat thread is in full swing. There are lots of old friends reconnecting after some months away and new players introducing themselves and getting warm welcomes.  There is a lot of chatter about life events, plans for pigskin, and an interesting discussion about why people like knitting socks. In addition, if you are a reader or a cook, be sure to check out that Pigskin Book Talk (Ravelry Link) and Pigskin Recipe Ideas (Ravelry Link)! threads as they are quite lively too!  Don’t be worried about falling behind on any of these threads…you can jump in at any time!

Events

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

Contest, News & Notes

My friend Linda is looking for donations of warm handknit/crocheted items for adult and youth homeless in Massachusetts. They set up tables on Thanksgiving and put all of the handmade items on the fence outside the First Church in Woburn, MA. Calling for all makers who want to donate. PM me on Ravelry or email me at downcellarstudio at gmail.com and I’ll give you the address to send them to. Any fiber type welcome. Hats, scarves, mitts, shawls, blankets. Anything warm is welcome! This year they’re especially looking for men’s things.

Life in Focus

2024 Word of the Year- Heart

Thank you Emily for sending me a knit & embroidered heart pin! Its so beautiful and it made my day!

Update on Mom:

Mom had a couple good days while Marta was visiting. Grateful we were able to spend time together even when she couldn’t leave the house. The sound of the boys laughing brought her joy.

She had the catheter removed from her lung. Began having throat issues that worsened day after day. On Thursday 9/12 came for scans and chemo, but only had scans and then was admitted. She’s had a whole slew of tests and so far they haven’t found anything wrong which is good news, but we still need to get to the bottom of things.

One bit of good news, she should be having an injection of filler into her paralyzed right vocal cord that will allow her voice to come back.

Ask Me Anything

Herdofhills asked about: fall project plans, books, favorite fall recipes

  • I am looking forward to: apple picking, apple sauce, wood chopping weekend, oven baked oatmeal (here’s a recipe I like to use), a Better Off Dead movie party,
  • I’ve already enjoyed watching Hocus Pocus (1 & 2), pulling out the wool socks and wearing those at night, decorating, overnight oats for breakfast which I tend to eat more in fall/winter. Even better for fall is warm.

Deborahjay- Love is blind UK

  • I was watching but got sidetracked with Marta’s visit. For the first time, I found myself fast forwarding through the pre-wedding stuff to hear yes/no. Liked that it seemed like folks were actually there for love and that the cast was far less dramatic than the US participants.

kjkcrochet- I’d love to know a little bit more about your job

  • I’m a Project Manager in the Nursing Dept of a big boston hospital, supporting a communication system and other projects thank involve communication, responsiveness (to patients) and technology). Tune in to hear more.

On a Happy Note

  • Max’s reaction to Plymouth Rock!
  • Teaching Roc some new crochet stitches and seeing his enthusiasm. He’s definitely my new buddy. My heart almost burst when he sent me a screenshot of his Home Screen- photo of us outside the Craft Loft in Cambridge.
  • Handpicked sunflowers from my friend Eileen’s garden.
  • Laser tag
  • Going on a Duck Tour
  • 2 whole weeks with Marta. We haven’t been together that long since 1998! And all of the funny moments and inside jokes that come from it.
  • Connections at work making tough days a little easier.

Quote of the Week

Summer ends, and Autumn comes, and he who would have it otherwise would have high tide always and a full moon every night.

~ Hal Borland

——

Thank you for tuning in!

Contact Information:

Episode 280: Ring the Bell!

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Thank you for tuning in to Episode 280 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
  • Crafty Adventures
  • Knitting in Passing
  • 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

Silver Spoon Socks

  • Yarn: A Whimsical Wood Yarn Company Pixie Toes Socks in the Silver Spoon Up My A$$ colorway
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry )
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • About the yarn: peaches and pinks with gray/taupe. At my gauge it is striping (~2 rounds per color). I purchased this yarn at Yarncentric event in Maryland.
  • Started in May 2023. Finished on June 28, 2024
  • Total for Stash Dash: 262 meters

Baby James’ 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 Slush Colorway (purchased 3). 1 skein of Loops & Threads Impeccable in Colorway 01110 [Navy] for the border
  • Hook: I (5.5 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Bobble Border instructions from this blog
  • Finished size- 30.5 inches wide by 38.8 inches tall (not including the bobbles)
  • Finished on July 2
  • Total for Stash Dash: 1,010 meters (833 meters Caron Cakes [2.25 skeins] – 178 meters Loops & Threads- less than 1 skein)

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.
  • Finished on July 3
  • Total for Stash Dash: 259 meters

American Ewe Turn a Square Hat

  • Yarn: American Ewe Worsted Tweed in the Terrace Mountain Colorway
  • Pattern: Turn a Square by Jared Flood ($5 pattern available on Ravelry & Brooklyn Tweed website)
  • Needles: US 5 (3.75 mm) & US 7 (4.5 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • About the yarn: 3 ply Merino/Rambouillet Shaniko Wool (89%) with 6% acrylic and 5% rayon flecks. The colorway is a natural with brownish tweedy bits.
  • I purchased the yarn for $15 at Adventures in Knitting in Harwich, MA on the way to visit friends who were staying in Wellfleet. They had a cool display of “used needles” for $4 each. I bought bamboo US.
  • Modifications: I use worsted weight yarn and knit the smallest size, omitting the increases after the ribbing. I knit 6 inches before the crown decreases.
  • Total for Stash Dash: 99.8 meters (109.2 yards), 51 grams

Portland Socks

  • Yarn: Urth Yarns Uneek Fingering in Colorway 3024
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry )
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • About the yarn: self striping yarn- cornflower blue, dusty orange, yellowy green, peach, magenta and purple. I purchased the yarn at Knit Wit Yarn Shop in Portland, Maine. You can purchase the same yarn online from them.
  • I held a strand of navy blue nylon thread along with yarn for the heel flap and gusset to give more strength to the heel.
  • I used the Lemonwood Mini Minder (also purchased at Knit Wit) and knit the vast majority of this pair of socks in 2 days walking around Portland, visiting breweries and hanging out with friends. You can see a video I made of this project on Instagram.
  • Total for Stash Dash: 254.7 meters

Welcome to Litchfield Spinning Project

  • Fiber: I purchased two 4oz braid of fiber from Into the Whirled in the Welcome to Litchfield colorway (1 braid Texel & 1 braid BFL Tussah Silk) along with 1 gray  (The Traveler on Cheviot base) braid to ply them together.
  • 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.
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • I didn’t fully spin the gray Traveler colorway braid.
  • Finished Project- 3 braids of 3 ply yarn: 184g= 252.2 meters (275.9 yards) ~Aran weight
  • Total for Stash Dash= 252.2 meters x 4= 1,008.8 meters

Book Holder

  • Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease Roving Stripes in Daisy & 1 other mystery colorway (lost the ball band), Premier Yarns Parfait Chunky (mustard) & Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Worsted
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Hook: 9.0 mm (M/N)
  • I took inspiration from this pattern on Ravelry. (Boho Book Nook crochet pattern- but I was using MUCH chunkier yarn and I didn’t want to use the same textured stitches)
  • I chained 21 sts and worked with 20 hdcs across each row- working in the third loop after the first row. I wasn’t going to have enough of the Lion Brand Roving to make the whole thing, so I held the Wool of the Andes double for the part that would be covered. I worked a single crochet around the edges, and then sewed the front to back in just 1 spot on either side. I used a chain for the loop to tack it up on the wall.
  • Total for Stash Dash: 128.1 meters

Declan’s Adrift Socks

  • Yarn: Patons Kroy Stripes in the Adrift colorway
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry )
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • About the colorway- short stripes (about 3 rounds each) with 3 shades of blue- navy, denim and cornflower plus orange and brown.
  • Total for Stash Dash: 278.2 meters

Deschain

  • Pattern Deschain by Leila Raven
  • Needles: US 9 (5.5 mm)
  • Yarn. Rowan Creative Linen. Colorway 00624-   Gray.
    • Worsted weight 50% Linen / Flax, 50% Cotton. 200 meters / 100 grams. Bought 4 skeins. Used a little more than 2
  • Size: Smallest (54 1/4 in bust) Calls for 16-22″ positive ease. I should have around 19″
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Originally finished July 10, 2021. I ripped out in 2024 because the back was far too short. I ripped out the sleeves (tossed) and unseamed the back and front. The instructions call for the back to be 12 inches but the front falls about 17 inches from collarbone to the bottom hem. I knit about 14 inches on the back and then worked a few sets of German Short Rows before the bottom hem instructions.
  • I tried a few options for sleeves and then decided I”d just sew up the ends in a way to tuck/hem the ends under and I love that.
  • In the end I made the body longer and the sleeves shorter
  • Total for Stash Dash: 424.0 meters (463.7 yards), 212 grams

First Point of Libra Cowl

  • Pattern: First Point of Libra Cowl by Laura Aylor
  • Needles: US 3 (3.25 mm)
  • Yarn: Barnyard Knits, Fuse Fiber Studio, One Twisted Tree (shop formerly own Prairie Girl Danie) + other leftover sock yarn
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Yarn purchased at Vogue Knitting Live January 2020 with Lauren. Planned to make a 2 color shawl. Cast on My Cryptonite by Melanie Berg and never got more than a couple inches in. Here’s the Ravelry Project Page for the shawl that’s now frogged.
  • I started in October 2022. My November 2022 notes say- I’m losing mojo on this and I don’t think it has to do w/ the pattern or my yarn. I like it… but its not getting finished before my trip to the UK so I will need to find other wooly accessories to bring with me.
  • I picked up again July 2024 and it flew off the needles!
  • Modifications: In Section 4, I skipped adding color 4 & 5 (1-3 only). Skipped Section 5.
  • Finished size: 21 inches around. 15 inches tall.
  • Total for Stash Dash: 406 meters

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
  • Total for Stash Dash: 456.5 meters

8,353 meters for Stash Dash

Over 4,500 meters added since the last episode!

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Wool Ease Hexagon Blanket

  • Pattern: Basic Crochet Hexagon Pattern & Tips from Make Do and Crew Website & YouTube Tutorial
  • Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick. Centers in colorways- Fern, Coney Island, Seaglass, Slate. Borders- Wheat & Oatmeal
  • Hook: 10mm (N/P)
  • Notes: started in April 2022. I never talked about it on the podcast.  Inspired by an instagram post from Lion Brand. This WIP has been taking up a ton of space in my craft room ever since. When the pump in my dehumidifer went and we had to move some things to get at it, I decided I had to get this WIP done.
  • 2 rounds of color- 1 round of wheat or oatmeal
  • 18 were done. 30 finished now

Berry Bliss Socks

  • Yarn: Hypnotic Yarn Plush Sock (75% SW Merino/25% Nylon) in the Berry Bliss Colorway (May 2024 Yarnable Box) & Legacy Fiber Artz Glitzy Toes (pink mini from 2023 Advent Calendar)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • About the yarn- lemon yellow, sherbet orange and pink. I worked the first heel in a pink sparkle yarn from Legacy Fiber Artz because I have some spiral striping going on and didn’t want to disrupt it.
  • Progress: I’ve finished the heel on the first sock.

Rafa’s Hat

  • Yarn: Malabrigo Rios in the Cielo y Tierra colorway
  • Needles: US 5 (3.75 mm)
  • Pattern: Rafa’s Hat by Joji Locatelli (free knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Ravelry Project Page:
  • About the yarn: blues/tans that is almost striping at my gauge. The hat is a 1×1 rib that has a cool purl ridge detail.
  • Progress: I’ve worked two repeats of the pattern

Cold Goat Farm Spinning

  • Fiber: Cold Goat Farm Batt- I believe its Merino/Mohair but there are no details on the business card in my bag. I think I purchased it at Rhinebeck 2023.
  • 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.
  • Ravelry Project Page

Brainstorming

Connections socks! Have you heard about them? You take your Daily NY Times Game- Connections Results and put them into colorwork socks. Suzanne told me about them- and recently saw and loved Wendy’s!

Here’s a link to Wendy’s Connection Socks Ravelry Project Page.

From the Armchair

  1. Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto. Bookshop Affiliate Link.Amazon Affiliate Link.
  2. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link.
  3. I’ll Just Be Five More Minutes (and other tales from my ADHD brain) by Emily Farris. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link.
  4. We Were Never Here by Andrea Bartz. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link.
  5. Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link.
  6. Feed by M.T. Anderson. Bookshop Affiliate Link (not available). Amazon Affiliate Link.
  7. Briefly Perfectly Human by Alua Arthur. 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.

Crafty Adventures

  • I found a small hole in my Mabel Style cross body sling bag and decided to use embroidery floss for a better hold and to add a bit of visible mending color. I received great customer service when I reached out to them!
  • I’m in the midst of a massive studio clean out. It started w/ issues with my dehumidifier and it’s really spiraled from there. I’m excited to see how it all comes back together.

Knitting in Passing

Aila FaceTimed me from a friend’s house after buying a crochet dinosaur kit at the dollar store. The next day after pool day and dinner we practiced chain and single crochet.

In My Travels

  • Dan and I spent a long weekend in Portland, Maine to celebrate our 20th Anniversary.
  • I was able to go up a night early to attend the knit night at Rising Tide Brewery. I loved meeting Heather from Rising Tide and Jenn & her husband Chuck from Knit Wit.
  • Friday morning, I visited Knit Wit Yarn Shop‘s new location and then walked around. Dan, Dana and Sheri arrived and we met at Duck Fat for lunch before showing them around to some of our favorite breweries.
  • Saturday we visited local shops and more breweries before going to see comedian Kathleen Madigan.
  • Sunday, I did some shopping while Dan watched soccer then we enjoyed some drinks together and ended up back at Rising Tide where there was a 6p Burlesque show so Dan got us tickets. Really fun end to an awesome weekend.

KAL News

Pigskin Party ’24 will kick off in the fall (specific date TBD). We’re looking for Sponsors for this season. Interested or know someone who is?

Sign up for my email newsletter and click the box saying you’re potentially interested in sponsoring events and you’ll get first dibs on spots.

And/or email me for details!

Other current & upcoming events:

Events

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

Life in Focus

Tune in for a health Update on BostonJensMom

On a Happy Note

  • Dan and I took vacation the first week of July. Monday after Portland we just chilled. Tuesday I took Mom for whole brain radiation, then to visit my grandmother (her mother) and out for lunch. Wednesday/Thursday we visited friends renting a house in Wellfleet (Cape Cod) and Thursday/Friday we visited friends in Falmouth. Friday morning we picked up Riley from Camp and brought her to our house before she and I headed to Hornstra to get ice cream for lunch (because that’s what vacation is for!) and over to my parents to the pool for the day.
  • Monday 7/8- I met up with my friend Megg to do a 5+ mile beach walk before she headed out to Ireland for the month.
  • Wed 7/10  Mom and I stayed in Boston to save her the back & forth daily for treatment. We met her friend Jacky for lunch. I went back to work in the afternoon. After work, we cooled off in the hotel pool and then had dinner, played Uno and bar trivia at The Hill. We stunk but it was fun!
  • Sunday July 14th pool day at my parents. Jenna, Dave, Gabriella and Zach came over. Within a few hours they were both jumping off the diving board!
  • July 17-18th Mom and I stayed in Boston again after her Radiation treatment. We hit the pool and fared slightly better at trivia but it was hard to be out as long. Mom’s energy was much lower, she was coughing more and couldn’t speak above a whisper.
  • July 21st we had a pool day at my parents. Jeff, Millie and Garret, Jenna, and the 2 kiddos, Kris, Will, Aila and Matt. We celebrated Will’s 17th birthday. Mom’s hair had started falling out and the blank spots at the back of her head looked like a butterfly! Mom told us to go find some Sharpies and color it in! It was a hard day for her and by extension us, but this added a bit of fun and whimsy to it! Millie even attached little plastic gems to parts of the butterfly. After the “temporary tattooing” we shaved off the rest of her hair to help w/ the shedding.
  • July 23rd- Mom’s last day of Whole Brain Radiation!
  • Coming home to a beautiful bouquet of flowers from Dan.
  • Getting 2 massages this month after missing my scheduled on in June for our Portland trip! I always feel like I need it but I’ve been going up on weights at the gym and my upper body was screaming!

Quote of the Week

“I know nothing in the world that has as much power as a word. Sometimes I write one, and I look at it, until it begins to shine.”

-Emily Dickinson

——

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