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 281: Ready to PARTY!

Leave a reply

Thank you for tuning in to Episode 281 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
  • Life in Focus
  • Ask Me Anything
  • On a Happy Note
  • Quote of the Week

Thank you to this episode’s sponsors:

Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Declan’s 70s Socks

  • Yarn: Patons Kroy Stripes in the Seventies Stripes Colorway
  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Finished August 3rd
  • Total for Stash Dash: 278.2 meters (304.2 yards)

Log Cabin Mitts

  • Pattern: Log Cabin Mitts by Karen Templar (free knitting pattern available on Ravelry & on this site)
  • Yarn: Barnyard Knits, Fuse Fiber Studio, One Twisted Tree (shop formerly own Prairie Girl Danie) + other leftover sock yarn
  • Needles: US 6 (4.0 mm)
  • 9 sections of garter stitch log cabin. I decided to knit the 2 squares concurrently so I’d remember which yarns I used for each section, not reading ahead enough to know that you were supposed to work them slightly differently to make matching mitts, but that doesn’t bother me at all, so I just went with it and mine are opposites. I like that I can see all of the colors on the top or bottoms of my hands. 
  • 60g fingering weight yarn (held double)
  • 253.8 meters for Stash Dash

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:
  • Started July 9. Finished August 7th.
  • Total for Stash Dash: 115.2 meters

Laura’s London Socks

  • Yarn: Qing Fibre Dashing Fingering Base in the Salt colorway (cream with blips of neons & gray) & a 50g Legacy Fiber Artz Steel Toes Micro Skein in a Mystery Colorway (gray)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Bought the Qing Fibres Yarn in London in November 2022 with Laura. She chose this skein from my stash in 2023 not realizing we bought it when we were together.
  • Total for Stash Dash: 272 meters

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)
  • 2 rounds of color- 1 round of wheat or oatmeal
  • 30 done in July. 47 done by August 7th. Had to order more yarn (twice) and ended up with 96 hexagons. The blanket is nearly the size of a full sized comforter.
    • Last summer’s hexi blanket was fingering held double- 60×84 inches and took about 300 hexis which were 4 rounds each (these have only 3). (Check out the Ravelry Project Page here)

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
  • Progress: I’ve finished the heel on the second sock.

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 the first sock and am nearly to the heel on the second sock. I’m helical striping the LFA yarn and used leftover Knit Picks Felici Self Striping Yarn (purple, blue and a pumpkin orange) for the heel and toes.
    • You can’t tell its striped at all. Looks like 1 cohesive colorway.
  • Progress: first sock finished, nearly to the heel on the second sock.

Brainstorming

  • I’m debating starting my first Woolens and Nosh advent sock early since December is hectic I never get as far as I’d like.
  • I thought I could make a sweater from me with the leftovers of Mom’s Rhinebeck Sweater yarn, but it doesn’t look like I’ll have enough yarn, so that project is on hold. Perhaps I’ll look for more yarn to add to it and save it for that.
  • Dan’s Litchfield Hat with Welcome to Litchfield Handspun (Ravelry Project Page)
  • I’m planning to knit socks for my friend Sheri.
  • My niece Aila asked for socks for Christmas. She’d like these Daisy Socks- pattern on Ravelry.

From the Armchair

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Knitting in Passing

Last Saturday, Oisin came here to Work with Dan. When Megg, Tom and Hattie came to pick him up they stayed for a chat. Hattie got out the ponies and Barbies, then she abandoned that to knit on my Berry Lemonade socks with me. She did fantastic after a quick reminder of the stitches and even took my feedback about putting her left index finger on the second stitch on the needle to prevent that from falling off while slipping the stitch she just worked, off the left needle.

Hattie asked to start her own pair of socks (ambitious) and tried on scrappy helical socks I started in November (Ravelry Project Page)

She tried on the scrappy helical socks I started in November and they fit. I need about 1.5 inches before toe on the first sock, so I should pick those back up soon.

KAL News

Pigskin Party ’24 #DCSPigskinParty24

A special THANK YOU to our team

  • Umpire- Wendy- socalknitgirl
  • Commissioners
    • Emily- (ElsaandEm)- Llama Conference
    • Alicia (almariecraft)- Alpaca Conference
    • Nicole (KnitterNicole)- Sheep Conference
  • Commentator- Mary (Maryklute)
  • Playoff Prediction Contest:  Check the Ravelry Group 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). 
  • This year, we’ll have 4 primary challenges during the full months of the event- Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan. Stay tuned for those details. The sponsors are:
    • October: Thelittlewolfknits
    • November: Twin Mountain Handcrafts
    • December: Fangirl Fibers
    • January: Fibernymph Dye Works

Other current & upcoming events:

I have 9,273 meters as of August 25. Jasmin is on the board with 5,910 meters

Sending much love to Jasmin & Gigi after hearing about Gigi’s recent stroke. 

Events

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

Life in Focus

Mom Update: After Whole Brain Radiation, Mom went right into 5 targeted radiation treatments to help reduce the size of the cancer in a lymph node that was pressing on nerves that then get in the way of her right vocal cord. As of about mid-July, she didn’t have any voice, and they hoped to correct that. On her last day of that radiation, she also had a PleureX cathetered installed in her right lung to allow regular at-home drainage to keep that pressure off her lung. The day after that- Dad and I tested positive for Covid and by Monday Mom had too. Thankfully Dad and I had only mild symptoms and Mom had none- which was a blessing because the insertion of that port left her riddled with pain for days.

Now she’s coming out of that but starting a new chemo. We’re hopeful that this will take away some of her pain and its already meant she doesn’t need her lung drained as frequently. Hoping September will be a better month for her than the last couple.

Ask Me Anything

NDoyle asks: What has been your favorite item you’ve made this year and why?

Marilynknits- What gauge do you knit your socks at?

  • 8-8.5 sts per inch.
  • 56 sts on US 1.5 needles= 6.5 to 7 inch circumference

On a Happy Note

  • I am very relieved that Covid was mild for us, especially for my Mom. Also very grateful that my brother who was on vacation in Virginia just as we came down with Covid, ended up having a bicycle accident that left him with bruises all over and a broken rib- but is going to be OK. I made everyone promise we’d all stay out of the hospital for one full week!
  • Visits with my cousin Jenny and her daughter Vera who often come over to see my Mom.
  • Weekend pool time, especially with our youngest niece and nephew who are absolute fishies!
  • My dear friend Nathan (only a couple years older than me) had a successful heart and kidney transplant only 1 day apart from each other but is recovering well. Our family all bought t-shirts and made donations to help his family and got a great photo to send him poolside one afternoon!
  • My Mom wanted to get eyelash extensions so she, my cousin Jenny and I all went and it was a lovely experience.
  • Dan and I picked up my grandmother and we all went to my cousin Nancy’s Surprise 60th birthday. Mom and Gram both had a great day that. Beautiful sunny poolday with all the kiddos swimming, I caught up with many of my cousins who I don’t get to see all the time, learned there’s another new baby coming in January and enjoyed fresh pizza from a woodfired oven. We also sang to my grandmother.
  • From there, we headed to Terri’s Graduation Party. She runs the dancing school where I met Kris & Megg, two of my best friends who have 5 of our niblings. Dan’s younger brother Dave played in the band, the kids all played together. We got to see Terri’s brother who came up from FL, and Conor, Carly and baby Miles after they were in Nantucket for a couple weeks.
  • Dinner & Les Mis with Kris, Aila and Megg.
  • At Mom’s chemo treatment, we got to see my friend Waveney who was my officemate in my first job at the hospital 22 years ago and her son, Tighe, checked us in at the Infusion Clinic. As soon as I said hello, his whole face lit up with a smile and he came around and immediately hugged us all. It was pure joy! He’ll be back off to college soon.
  • We hosted a 90th birthday party for my grandmother at The Tavern in her assisted living facility. I put together all sorts of cool photo decorations & used some of her old picture frames for the tables and guests could take them as favors. Dan DJed, and my Dad, our friend Sharon & cousin Susan prepared the food) and the kiddos all acted as bartenders. Hattie even went around and took photos.
  • All of the joy and hope coming out of Democratic party with coverage of the DNC. It feels great to have a candidate I’m truly joyful about supporting.
  • A quieter weekend- getting ready for my friend Marta to arrive from Barcelona (if I’m a bit MIA that’s why)

Quote of the Week

One evening in August, you have an errand outdoors, and all of a sudden, it’s pitch-black. It is still summer, but the summer is no longer alive.

~ Tove Jansson

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Thank you for tuning in!

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