Episode 274: Fun, Sun & Chickens

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Thank you for tuning in to Episode 274 of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. This week’s segments included:

  • Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins
  • On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins
  • From the Armchair
  • In my Travels
  • Events
  • Contest, News & Notes
  • On a Happy Note
  • Quote of the Week

Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

FearLESS Socks (DK)

  • Yarn: Legacy Fiber Artz DK (75% Merino, 25% Nylon) in the FearLESS Colorway
  • Needles: US 3 (3.25 mm)
  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Size: XS
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • About the Colorway- FearLESS is a special colorway by Legacy Fiber Artz for our February Fiber Community FearLESS Living Fund Fundraiser.
  • Made for Mom

FearLESS Socks (Steel Toes)

  • Yarn: Legacy Fiber Artz DK Steel Toes (75% Merino, 25% Nylon) in the FearLESS Colorway
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Size: M
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • About the Colorway- FearLESS is a special colorway by Legacy Fiber Artz for our February Fiber Community FearLESS Living Fund Fundraiser.
  • Made for my Mom’s chemo nurse, Nicole, who also cared for my Aunt Florence.

Greyhaven Hat

  • Pattern: Greyhaven hat by Robin Ulrich ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Needles: US 5 (3.75 mm) & US 7 (4.5 mm)
  • Yarn: Berocco Ultra Alpaca in the Avocado Colorway
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Made for my niece’s Aila’s 15th birthday after she saw and like the grey one I wear a lot.

Emotional Support Chicken

  • Pattern: Emotional Support Chicken by Annette Corsino ($6.50 US Knitting Pattern available on Ravelry & this website)
  • Yarn: Various DK scraps
  • Needles: US 6 (4.0 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Modern Classic Baby Blanket

  • Pattern: Modern Classic Baby Blanket by Kristin Holloway ($8 crochet pattern available on Ravelry: free version w/ ads available on this website)
  • Hook: I (5.5)
  • Yarn: Big Twist Tweed in White (7 skeins)
  • Size: Crib Blanket: 36 x 50”
  • The blanket is worked in 2 halves that you seam together at the center to make it symmetrical. The pattern features some crochet cables.

Let the Mystery Unravel 2023 Blanket of Calm

  • Pattern: Blanket of Calm by Casapinka (free crochet pattern)
  • Yarn: Woolen Women Fibers- Let the Mystery Unravel subscription + Cascade Heritage Sock yarn in the Forged Iron Colorway
  • Hook: 3.25 mm (D)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • You can find my Let the Mystery Unravel Unboxing Video on YouTube in this Playlist
  • This subscription is not available to new subscribers but I hope you’ll watch each month and see how my blanket comes along. Stay tuned to Woolen Women for all of the fun kits they have!

LFA Mystery Shortie Socks

  • Yarn: Legacy Fiber Artz Steel Toes
  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • About 12 rounds of ribbing. 1 round of knitting before starting the heel
  • Progress: Finished first sock and beyond the heel on the second sock.

From the Armchair

Note: Some links are listed as Amazon Affiliate Links. If you click those, please know that I am an Amazon Associate and I earn money from qualifying purchases.

In My Travels

  • I traveled to Orlando with my friend Megg who was going there for a conference. We stayed at the Gaylord Palms, visited Epcot one evening and had a great time.
  • I had a couple interesting conversations with people at the pool. One lady was fascinated by my knitting and we had a rather awkward chat when I told her I was knitting a chicken.
  • My poolside waiter told me he lived in NYC for a couple years with grandmother was a prolific knitter and he always enjoyed watching her knit.
  • Celebrated Megg’s birthday while we were there with a delicious dinner, room decorations and of course some handknit socks (Ravelry Project Page)

Events

Contest, News & Notes

  • I announced the winners of the prizes I offered up for February FearLESS Living Fund Fundraiser.
  • Total raised during the event: $6,627. 67

Stitched by Jessalu is coming out with bags with the FearLESS Living Fund logo w/ a fibery twist. Check it out

Life in Focus

Health Update on Mom: March scans showed growth including in her brain. Radiation likely coming soon, but they’re waiting until she’s done with this round of chemo (hoping for 6 cycles)

On a Happy Note

  • Impromptu sleepover with Riley. We started a new secret project I’ll tell you about in an upcoming episode. We also started a blanket for my cousin Joe who is expecting a baby boy in the summer. Riley chose a granny square that has a heart at the center. We each made just 1 to try it out and to make sure our squares would come out the same size. More on that in a future episode.
  • Riley and I went to Garret’s hockey game. He got 2 goal but they ended up tying. That weekend, they did well enough to get to the next round of the playoffs.
  • My parents went to St. Maarten with 5 of my mom’s first cousins and their spouses! She, Riley and I shared pics and videos of our daily outfits via text or Snapchat which is always fun.
  • Suzanne (SewRunKnit) turned me onto a new NY Times Game that’s in beta: Strands.
  • My friend Marta messaged me to show me that her eldest son, Roc, has taken up crochet and made a little stuffed animal. Had planned to make a circle but he decided to free form it and it turned into a pear! Adorable!
  • Running around with Megg at Epcot like we were kids!
  • We even got our photo taken with Mickey. They got some candids as we were hugging him, and it looks like I’m bracing for an assault! Check out the hilarious photo.
  • I finished up my 4 part sock class at Staci’s Stitches.

Quote of the Week

“It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.”

–Charles Dickens, Great Expectations 

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Thank you for tuning in!

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Episode 273: Prizes Galore!

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Thank you for tuning in to Episode 273 of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. This week’s segments included:

  • Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins
  • On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins
  • From the Armchair
  • KAL News
  • Contest, News & Notes
  • Life in Focus
  • On a Happy Note
  • Quote of the Week

Thank you to this episode’s sponsor: Stitched by Jessalu

Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Jenny’s Blanket

  • Pattern: Modified Sedge Stitch Blanket by Nicole Mansfield ($2 crochet pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Yarn: Big Twist Value Solids in Sky Blue, Teal, Mint, Cyan, Jade Green and Aqua
  • Hook: I (5.5 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • I first used this border on a Cozy Clusters Blanket  (Ravelry project page here). I learned about this edge technique on this website.

Millie’s 2nd Squishmallow

  • Pattern: None. I did base some of the basic shaping on this pattern on Etsy
  • Hook: D (3.25 mm)
  • Yarn: worsted weight acrylic yarn in brown, tan, white & pink
  • I worked bottom up with the brown, adding in a patch of white at the belly. I created the face out of tan/white and added safety eyes and sewed it on. I added 2 brown ears and a pink and white headband like this Squishmallow: Andres the Sheltie Dog (Amazon Affiliate Link)

Declan’s 2nd Socks

  • Yarn: Patons Kroy in the Greener Pastures Colorway
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry )
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Green, black, gray, cream, mustard stripes + gray/green/white self patterning stripe.
  • Thanks for all the tips for his care package! Definitely taking some of those into account.

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

FearLESS Socks (DK)

  • Yarn: Legacy Fiber Artz DK (75% Merino, 25% Nylon) in the FearLESS Colorway
  • Needles: US 3 (3.25 mm)
  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry )
  • Size: XS
  • About the Colorway- FearLESS is a special colorway by Legacy Fiber Artz for our February Fiber Community FearLESS Living Fund Fundraiser. Special Colorway “FearLESS” available in DK, Steel Toes (sock) and Cozy Toes (sock)
  • Progress: 1st sock is finished. I’m knitting on the foot of the second sock.

FearLESS Socks (Cozy Toes)

  • Yarn: Legacy Fiber Artz DK (75% Merino, 25% Nylon) in the FearLESS Colorway
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry )
  • Size: M
  • About the Colorway- FearLESS is a special colorway by Legacy Fiber Artz for our February Fiber Community FearLESS Living Fund Fundraiser. Special Colorway “FearLESS” available in DK, Steel Toes (sock) and Cozy Toes (sock)
  • Progress: Finished the first sock and the cuff of the second. These socks will be gifted to my Mom’s chemo nurse, Nicole, who also cared for my Aunt Florence.

Modern Classic Baby Blanket

  • Pattern: Modern Classic Baby Blanket by Kristin Holloway ($8 crochet pattern available on Ravelry: free version w/ ads available on this website)
  • Hook: I (5.5)
  • Yarn: Big Twist Tweed in White (7 skeins)
  • Size: Crib Blanket: 36 x 50”
  • The blanket is worked in 2 halves that you seam together at the center to make it symmetrical. The pattern features some crochet cables.

Let the Mystery Unravel 2023 Blanket of Calm

  • Pattern: Blanket of Calm by Casapinka (free crochet pattern)
  • Yarn: Woolen Women Fibers- Let the Mystery Unravel subscription + Cascade Heritage Sock yarn in the Forged Iron Colorway
  • Hook: 3.25 mm (D)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • You can find my Let the Mystery Unravel Unboxing Video on YouTube in this Playlist
  • This subscription is not available to new subscribers but I hope you’ll watch each month and see how my blanket comes along. Stay tuned to Woolen Women for all of the fun kits they have! Don’t forget, they’re Pro Shop Sponsors.
  • Progress Notes- I finished the 3 round DC border to my December squares. My January squares done and seamed. I need to add the border to that.

From the Armchair

Reading

Watching:

  • Dan and I recently watched all 4 seasons of Jack Ryan on Prime. We also loved Jury Duty (also on Prime).
  • I’m thoroughly enjoying Love is Blind Season 6 & chatting about it with my friend Laura.

Note: Some links are listed as Amazon Affiliate Links. If you click those, please know that I am an Amazon Associate and I earn money from qualifying purchases.

KAL News

Pigskin Party ’23: tune in to hear if you’re a January Participation Winner and/or a Grand Prize Winner!

Contest, News & Notes

Check out all of the details about our Fiber Community February FearLESS Living Fundraiser including the participating makers.

To make a personal donation, you can use this link

  • Please use the option to “Add a Public Comment” to let us know you’re part of this Fiber Community Fundraiser. 
  • I recommend including your Instagram/Ravelry user name so sponsors doing prize drawings and confirm/find you.

Life in Focus

I gave updates on a few of my 24 for 2024 items

  • #4- Read more books than you did in 2023 (50) well on my way with 10 books in first 2 months of the year.
  • #10- Publish at least one new pattern redid the math and proportions for a shawl I came up with last year. talked to an indie dyer about yarn support
  • #16- go skiing

6 of 24 completely done!

On a Happy Note

  • Valentine’s Day software upgrade at work went well. I was awake at 2:30a so it was a long day and nothing festive really but it was a good day!
  • We hosted Millie and Hattie for their birthday sleepovers. I took them to the Altitude trampoline park and Panera on Friday night. Saturday morning: Millie and I hiked while Hattie and Dan did a dump run and rode around in the tractor. We all did some crafts together before heading to the movies to see Migration.
  • I tried a new OPI nail color and loved it. It’s called “Pink in Bio”
  • I’ve completed teaching 2 of 4 classes on the OMG Heel at my LYS and we’ve already got more than half of the class successfully turning heels.
  • I enjoyed a movie night at my Mom’s to watch Wonka.
  • Dan and I did a 1000 piece Ford puzzle.
  • I went skiing at Crotched Mountain. Tune in to hear a funny story about Megg’s fall.
  • We all had a fabulous time at my cousin Jenny’s baby shower. She loved her crochet blanket.
  • I had a lovely visit with my middle-school best friend Maribeth who is very sick. She was inpatient at the hospital where I work and I was able to go up and see her and catch up.
  • I love the daily puzzles from the New York Times- especially Spelling Bee. On the 21st I got every possible word earning me Queen Bee status!
  • My friend Trish gave me a souvenir from a trip she took to New Orleans; she went to a local yarn shop and bought yarn from Louisiana- which I’ll definitely knit into socks for her. Cat Tails yarn dyed exclusively for the Quarter Stitch Colorway Christmas Bonfires

Quote of the Week

It is hard, so terribly hard, to please yourself. Far from being the easy thing that it sounds like, it is almost the hardest thing in the world, because we are not always comfortable with that true self that lies deep within us.

–Christopher Alexander

——

Thank you for tuning in!

Contact Information:

Episode 272: Birthday Bonanza!

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Thank you for tuning in to Episode 272 of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. This week’s segments included:

  • Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins
  • On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins
  • Brainstorming
  • Knitting in Passing
  • From the Armchair
  • KAL News
  • Events
  • Contest, News & Notes
  • Life in Focus
  • On a Happy Note
  • Quote of the Week

Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Same as It Ever Was Hat

  • Pattern: Same as It Ever Was by Sarah Jordan ($6 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Yarn: Knit Picks Felici in the Beatnik colorway
  • Needles: US 2 (2.75 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page

Nimbus Vest

  • Pattern: Nimbus by Berrocco Design Team (free knitting pattern)
  • Yarn: Worsted Weight 100% Wool (from Rhinebeck 2022) held double
  • Needles:  US 10 (6.0mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Notes: I added length to the body before the underarms. I worked 13 inches before the sleeves (4 inches longer than called for)
  • Goofed up working on front left.  Didn’t read the instructions well and I bound off stitches for the underarm on the RS of the piece instead of the WS. Thankfully the rows were very short after that, so ripped back and was able to fix it in less than an hour.
  • Seaming- I seamed the shoulders and then the sides before setting in the sleeve. I should have done it in this order 1) shoulders 2) sleeves, 3) sides. This post from Amy Herzog was helpful re: Setting in Sleeves.
  • Collar- added a row of SC around the collar to make it look a little neater.
  • Finished Project 700g.

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Jenny’s Blanket

  • Pattern: Modified Sedge Stitch Blanket by Nicole Mansfield ($2 crochet pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Yarn: Big Twist Value Solids in Sky Blue, Teal, Mint, Cyan, Jade Green and Aqua
  • Hook: I (5.5 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Progress: Finished all 5 color-block sections. I am using the 6th color for the border because the blanket was already long enough with 5 colors. The pattern has 2 border options, a scalloped edge & a modified picot edge. The latter is what I was planning but I think instead I’ll use a bobble edging.
    • I first used this border on a Cozy Clusters Blanket  (Ravelry project page here). I learned about this edge technique on this website.

Same as It Ever Was Hat #2

  • Pattern: Same as It Ever Was by Sarah Jordan ($6 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Yarn: Kingdom Fleece and Fiberworks. No colorway listed.
  • Needles: US 2 (2.75 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • About the colorway- pink/mauve base with taupes, blues, greens and other pinks/maroons.

Declan’s 2nd Socks

  • Yarn: Patons Kroy in the Greener Pastures Colorway
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry )
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Green, black, gray, cream, mustard stripes + gray/green/white self patterning stripe.
  • Progress- I finished the first sock and turned the heel on the second sock this weekend.

FearLESS Socks

  • Yarn: Legacy Fiber Artz DK (75% Merino, 25% Nylon) in the FearLESS Colorway
  • Needles: US 3 (3.25 mm)
  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry )
  • Cast on for the smallest size and that fits well.
  • About the Colorway- Special Colorway “FearLESS” available in DK, Steel Toes (sock) and Cozy Toes (sock). Sue & Chelsea are donating 50% of sales to our FearLESS Living Fund.
  • Progress: Leg of the first sock is almost done!.

Brainstorming

Knitting in Passing

  • Millie finished the headband she’d started for Mom.
  • Riley made Mom a chemo hat on a knitting loom in craft class at school.
  • I cast on for a hat with the Plied Yarn we bought for Millie at the Farm Fiber Days event in January and handed it off to Millie to knit a hat for her Dad.

From the Armchair

  1. Bad Mormon by Heather Gay. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link.
  2. Spare by Prince Harry. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link.
  3. Maybe Once, Maybe Twice by Alison Rose Greenberg. 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.

KAL News

Pigskin Party ’23

Tune in to hear about:

  • Quarter 4 Challenge: Cable It Up winners
  • Participation Prize Winners
  • Commentator Update

The mad dash to get all those points entered was in full swing on Saturday night (superbowl eve).  As of the time I looked, players had entered 299 projects since the start of February!  

On the boards, HikesandBikes (Nikii) shared their experience with a new approach to the tubular cast on where you use Judy’s Magic Cast On.  I’d seen this on Patty Lyon’s instagram and was intrigued so I was super interested in what Nikii thought of it (as were others).

There’s also been some talk of knitting and walking. Loonyhiker shared that when she knits and walks she has a lot of interesting conversations because people are fascinated that she can do it.  Deafelis shared the hot tip that Lowes or Home Depot are great places to practice because the aisles are wide and the floors are smooth (so fewer tripping hazards).  Azknitwit noted that an indoor mall might be a great place to practice too!

Finally, continuing with a recent theme about how yarn and how many projects to bring when traveling, Socalknit girl shared a sad cautionary tale of how to recover when disaster strikes the one and only project you brought on vacation.

Thanks for a fun season! Mary

Events

Check out all of the details about our Fiber Community February FearLESS Living Fundraiser including the participating makers.

To make a personal donation, you can use this link 

  • Please use the option to “Add a Public Comment” to let us know you’re part of this Fiber Community Fundraiser. 
  • I recommend including your Instagram/Ravelry user name so sponsors doing prize drawings and confirm/find you.

More About This Project:

February 9th is my mom, Diane Lassonde’s, birthday. Diane came up with the idea for the FearLESS Living Fund when she was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer in December 2021. Since then, each birthday we celebrate with her is precious and this year, with your help, I want to make her birthday month even MORE special by raising funds for this charity she’s created.

The FearLESS Living Fund picks up where the Blind Center of Nevada’s services leave off, helping their outstanding clients to live more fearlessly in pursuit of their dreams. In 2023, we gave out over $9,000 in scholarships. You can watch a video of the event here. With your help, we can raise even more.

Contest, News & Notes

New Videos on the Down Cellar Studio YouTube Channel

  • Let the Mystery Unravel February Box
  • Yarnable Unboxing– February 2024
  • Diane Lassonde Health Update #10 including more background on the FearLESS Living Fund inspiration with videos from the Blind Center of Nevada and more information about our February Fundraiser.
  • Check out this video with Lisa from Fibernymph Dyeworks about the FearLESS Living Fund and her custom colorway- Dream Big
  • Check out this video with Sue from Legacy Fiber Artz about the FearLESS Living Fund and their custom colorway- FearLESS

Life in Focus

2024 Word of the Year- Heart

  • In sorting jewelry with Mom, I found a pair of gold earrings and a necklace that coordinate; both have hearts on them. I’ve been wearing them most of the time and loving them. Connection to her and to my word, which is a million times better than any of the items I was looking at on Etsy.
  • I hung the heart collage photo poster in the dining room with painters tape! Let’s not overcomplicate things!

24 for 2024 list

  1. Get 2 massages beyond the one per month at Massage Envy
  2. End the year with more money in the bank than when I started in January.
  3. Make & assess goals each month of the year – Jan done
  4. Read more books than you did in 2023 (50)
  5. Organize a fundraiser for the FearLESS Living Fund
  6. Come up with better temporary & more permanent storage for memory items. Bought a beautiful box to put items in. Store in hutch in diningroom where I work most days.
  7. Visit 1 new (to me) museum or historical site
  8. Add one new indoor plant to my collection
  9. Buy/make/work with Dan/Oisin on at least 1 plant stand for the living or dining room
  10. Publish at least one new pattern
  11. Knit at least 1 finished project with handspun
  12. Knit/crochet myself a new sweater
  13. Make a Christmas afghan for the living room
  14. Take a class
  15. Purge at least 20 items from my wardrobe
  16. Go skiing
  17. Watch at least 5 of the movies on the Jen/Liz movie list
  18. Do something special for our Anniversary in May
  19. Do a regular (ideally monthly) review of Dropbox Camera Uploads to delete unnecessary items
  20. Buy a new quilt and/or duvet cover for our bed
  21. Buy a new blow dryer.
  22. Get my car detailed
  23. Buy new curtains for living room Ordered 3. We picked one! I ordered more, they arrived and we hung them up! YAY!
  24. Try a new local restaurant

On a Happy Note

  • The whole family went to Garret’s hockey game and out for dinner after.
  • I’ve been trying out Dinnerly meal kit delivery service. So far, I’m really enjoying the 2 meals a week I’m getting. The food is fresh and the portions are generous. If you’d like to try it, you can use this link to get a free box. There is a limit, so don’t wait. If the link doesn’t work, please email me and I can get a unique offer sent to your email address.
  • Birthday dinner at Mom’s on her actual birthday with Mom, Dad, Jeff and the kids + Dan.
  • Dad & Riley lipsyncing to Taylor Swift. Hilarious!
  • Birthday dinner for birthday twins, Diane & Hattie. Karaoke, hair shaving, presents, cake and lots of silliness.
  • I planted amaryllis from a bulb that was gifted to me and its flowering beautifully! I’m so excited.

Quote of the Week

Kindness eases change / Love quiets fear

–OCTAVIA E. BUTLER

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Thank you for tuning in!

Contact Information: