Author Archives: downcellarstudio@gmail.com

Episode 235: I’ve Got It Covered

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Thank you for tuning in to Episode 235 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

Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Felici Socks (2 finished)

  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams ($5 Knitting Pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Desert Rose (Ravelry Page), Bayou Colorway (Ravelry Page) 
  • Bayou (greens and grays). 292.5 meters (10.5 inch foot and leg)
  • Desert Rose- (pinks, purple, dusty mustard/orange).  230.8 meters (8-9 in leg and 9.5 inch foot)

Marled Felici Cozy Clusters Baby Blanket

  • Pattern: Cozy Clusters Baby Blanket by Leelee Knits (free & paid options available on the LeeLeeKnits website) 
  • Yarn: Knit Picks Brava 500 in White held double with Knit Picks Felici in the Bookshop, Rustic Cabin & Friendly Skies colorways
  • Hooks: 5.5mm (J) for the body 
  • 6 skeins Felici + 12g of another to finish border. 634g of Brava worsted.
  • Border: sc around. hdc around. hdc through 3rd loop around. 
  • 32 inches wide x 48 inches long.
  • 2,505 Meters for Stash Dash

Mom’s Breezy Cover-Up

  • Pattern: Easy Breezy Swim Cover by Megan Shaimes (free on the Meg Made with Love Blog or ad-free for $3.50 on Etsy).
  • Yarn: Wool & The Gang Shiny Happy Cotton in the Turquoise Waters Colorway (~8.4 skeins used)
  • Hook: F (3.75 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Knit i-cord for belt. 3 sts with US 8 DPNs.
  • 1195.6 meters for Stash Dash

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Malabrigo Nube Roving

  • 113g combed top Merino wool
  • Colorway: 870 Candombe
  • Pre-drafting really helps. darkest dye sections are usually the most condensed. 

Scrappy Hexagon Blanket

  • Pattern: Basic Crochet Hexagon Pattern & Tips from Make Do and Crew Website & YouTube Tutorial
  • Hook: F (3.75 mm)
  • Yarn: Knit Picks Hawthorne Marl Sock Lab in the Grey White Marl Colorway, Patons Kroy in the Gentry Colorway + fingering weight scraps
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • *7/14 update- 99 light gray. 80 dark gray- 179 total (of 260)- 81 left

Woolen Women Splash Pad Socks

  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams ($5 Knitting Pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Yarn: Woolen Women Fibers 80/20 SW Merino/Nylon Blend. Colorway: Into the Deep
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Cast on Sunday July 10th beginning of Knitty Natty’s Sock Week. Check out her YouTube Channel if you haven’t already
  • Finished heel on Wednesday. Into the foot on Thursday.
  • You can still get your official logo bag and sock set on the Woolen Women Website

Brainstorming

Pattern: Recollection by Deanne Ramsay. Ravelry Link to Pattern. Blog Link. $6 US
“Designed to utilise all those leftovers that seem too small to be useful, but too precious to throw away, this blanket can be made in any size and with any yarn weight.Use your chosen

 From the Armchair

This Is My Brain In Love by I.W. Gregorio 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

  • A lady asked what I was knitting during the opening act of The Chicks concert. She said she’s an avid knitter too.
  • Helped a new hat knitter find needles in Michaels 
  • I received a text from my friend Laura’s pilates client, David, of his bright Felici Socks in his work pants/shoes in a conference room in summer. 

KAL News

#SplashPadParty22

  • Link to the 2022 Splash Pad Party Rules.docx
  • Participant Sign Up- Google Form
  • Check out our amazing Sponsors! Click here for the Google doc with their websites and Instagram profiles.
    • Check out the list of available Coupons from our amazing sponsors: Ravelry link
    • Check out the Splash Pad Exclusive Items here
  • Enter your FOs using this Splash Pad Summer Celebration Form to be eligible for prizes (not a Ravelry link).
  • View all the Entries and the Leaderboard here -> Splash Pad Party Player Stats
  • Need help with an entry submission? -> Splash Pad Support Request Form
  • Questions- check out this Ravelry Thread or email Jen.

Events

Life in Focus

I reviewed my: Word of the Year: Pause

Primary Goals:

  1. Move your body 4 days a week. Any movement for 15 minutes or more counts. 
    • January: 19 workouts/4 weeks= 4.75 times per week.
    • February: 12 workouts/ 4 weeks= 3 per week
    • March: 13 workouts
    • April: 13 workouts
    • May: 8 workouts
    • June- 21 workouts
    • 86= divide by 26 weeks of the years- 3.3 
  2. Say Yes to time spent with Mom – that’s going well!
  3. Journaling. Major fail on journal except for tracking mom’s important health details, taking as many photos as I can, and doing my 1 line a day journal.

Ask Me Anything

Val asked if I’d seen any interesting wildlife on my walks lately. We have a new fawn in the yard. The hawks are especially loud! I found some interesting information on the Mass Audubon website. I think the ones near us are the Red-tailed hawks.

On a Happy Note

  • Laura’s visit. Pool day. Heidi’s for ice cream. Consignment shopping- where we scored, clothes, jewelry and a new/old mirror for our guest room which Dan hung this week. 
  • Zero Refills No waste store in Cohasset, MA.
  • Laura left Sunday of July 4th weekend. Dan and I worked around house Monday morning then enjoy the pool in the afternoon & dinner with fresh local corn with Mom and Dad. 
  • The Chicks concert with Mom, Dad, Jeff and Riley- tailgaiting, sneaking in my knitting & singing our lungs out! 
  • Trish’s 50th birthday at the Japanese Hibachi and pool day.
  • Dinner and pool night with Mom, Dad and Millie. Millie and I picked wild blueberries. I found necklaces that say Fearless for Mom, Riley, Millie and Me. 

Quote of the Week

One discovers the light in darkness, that is what darkness is for; but everything in our lives depends on how we bear the light. –JAMES BALDWIN

Thank you for tuning in!


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Episode 234: Blankets & Bobbins

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Thank you for tuning in to Episode 234 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
  • Some Years Later
  • Knitting in Passing
  • KAL News
  • Events
  • Life in Focus
  • On a Happy Note
  • Quote of the Week

Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Love Letters Socks

  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams ($5 Knitting Pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Yarn: Fibernymph Dye Works Mountain Tweed BFL in the Love Letters Colorway
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Meters for Stash Dash= 232.6

Blue/Green/Yellow 3 ply handspun

  • Three Waters farm Fiber- Forested Hills Colorway (blues & greens). Three Waters Farm Corriedale- pulled out the blues/greens and yellows pulled from the Quintessence colorway.  Rhapsody Fiber Arts- 2oz 50% Angora/50% merino no colorway- lighter blue.  
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Meters for Stash Dash= 464 

Cozy Clusters Baby Blanket

  • Pattern: Cozy Clusters Baby Blanket by Leelee Knits (free & paid options available on the LeeLeeKnits website) 
  • Yarn: Knit Picks Brava 500 in the Peacock colorway (Main), Brava in the Dove Heather Colorway (gray), and Craft Smart Value Yarn in the Neon Yellow Colorway
  • Hooks: 5.5mm (J) for the cast on & 6.0mm (I) for the body
  • I wanted a bobble edging (inspired by this blanket). I used this free blog tutorial for the bobble border.
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Stash Dash Meters- 1,095.2

Psychedelic Sunset Felici Socks

  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams ($5 Knitting Pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Yarn: Knit Picks Felici in the Psychedelic Rainbow Colorway
  • Ravelry Page
  • Stash Dash Meters: 252.7

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Shawl Design 

  • Yarn: 150g skein of fingering weight from  agirlandherwool in the On the Boardwalk.
  • Pattern: in progress 
  • Update: I am not happy with how decreases are laying on the decrease side so I’ll rip back and redo.

Felici Socks (3 in progress) 

  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams ($5 Knitting Pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Baker Street Colorway (Ravelry Page), Desert Rose (Ravelry Page), Bayou Colorway (Ravelry Page) 

Scrappy Hexagon Blanket

  • Pattern: Basic Crochet Hexagon Pattern & Tips from Make Do and Crew Website & YouTube Tutorial
  • Hook: F (3.75 mm)
  • Yarn: Knit Picks Hawthorne Marl Sock Lab in the Grey White Marl Colorway, Patons Kroy in the Gentry Colorway + fingering weight scraps
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • 162 done of 260= 62% done. 

Malabrigo Nube Roving- Spinning Project

  • 113g combed top Merino wool
  • Colorway: 870 Candombe

Marled Felici Cozy Clusters Baby Blanket

  • Pattern: Cozy Clusters Baby Blanket by Leelee Knits (free & paid options available on the LeeLeeKnits website) 
  • Yarn: Knit Picks Brava 500 in White held double with Knit Picks Felici in the Bookshop, Rustic Cabin & Friendly Skies colorways
  • Hooks: 5.5mm (J) for the body 
  • Ravelry Project Page

Brainstorming

  • Acquiring 2 bags of yarn from a friend moving on from knitting into quilting. Not sure what I can make out of her stash, but very much looking forward to giving that a go. 
  • I have all sorts of blanket mojo. If you do too, check out some of these charities excepting donations.

From the Armchair

The Long Weekend by Gilly Macmillan. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link.

The Mother-In-Law by Sally Hepworth. 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.

Some Years Later

I crocheted in 2018. Check out my Ravelry Project Page here. Pattern is the Easy Breezy Swim Cover by Megan Shaimes (free on the Meg Made with Love Blog or ad-free for $3.50 on Etsy).

Knitting in Passing

  • Millie called me to re-learn the purl but she knew how to do it after all.
  • While waiting for a train, a lady sat down and asked if this was the knitting bench. She pulled out a lime green dish cloth she brought with her to knit on while waiting for an appointment.
  • As I was getting off train the other day, a man asked when I was done crocheting what was my project going to be. He said he looked forward to seeing my progress if he sees me again. 

KAL News

#SplashPadParty22

  • Link to the 2022 Splash Pad Party Rules.docx
  • Participant Sign Up- Google Form
  • Check out our amazing Sponsors! Click here for the Google doc with their websites and Instagram profiles.
    • Check out the list of available Coupons from our amazing sponsors: Ravelry link
    • Check out the Splash Pad Exclusive Items here
  • Enter your FOs using this Splash Pad Summer Celebration Form to be eligible for prizes (not a Ravelry link).
  • View all the Entries and the Leaderboard here -> Splash Pad Party Player Stats
  • Need help with an entry submission? -> Splash Pad Support Request Form
  • Questions- check out this Ravelry Thread or email Jen.

Tune in to hear if you won a June Participation Prize!

Events

Stash Dash Update:

  • Jen’s Stash Dash Spreadsheet Tracker- Google Doc
  • Jasmin’s Stash Dash Spreadsheet Tracker- Google Doc
  • Jasmin is 1700 meters ahead, but we still have 2 full months! I am planning to go to Rhinebeck and look forward to the satisfcation of having her hand over our Sash!

Life in Focus

  • Furious about the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe versus Wade? Check out this website Action For All (choice.crd.co). It is really easy to navigate website that gives options for where to donate, volunteer, protest, and to find access to healthcare including abortion including region specific links. 
  • I also invite you to check out the Earbuds Collective recommendations for podcasts on the topic of Abortion.

On a Happy Note

  • Dancing in the 40th Anniversary Recital & a fun after party.
  • Millie’s impromptu sleepover. pancakes and hike before heading to dad’s for Father’s Day
  • Father’s Day- too cold for a pool day, but we had fun inside playing games.
  • Carly’s bridal shower
  • Riley graduated 8th grade!.
  • Pool Day with Mom’s eBay friends + a few of our friends too.

Quote of the Week

Beauty is as much about how and whether you look as what you see. –JOHN GREEN

Thank you for tuning in!

Episode 233: Europe, Socks & Crops

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Thank you for tuning in to Episode 233 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
  • In my Travels
  • KAL News
  • Events
  • On a Happy Note
  • Quote of the Week

Thank you to this episode’s sponsors:

Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Oisin’s alien

  • Pattern: Tripod Visitor by Alison Grenier (free crochet pattern available through this web archive link & linked from Ravelry)
  • My Ravelry Project Page
  • Yarn: leftover fingering weight yarn in green, white and black.
  • Hook: 2.25 mm (B)

Double Dog Dare Socks

  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams ($5 Knitting Pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Yarn: Knit Picks Felici in the Double Dog Dare Colorway
  • Ravelry Project Page

Marta’s Socks

  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams ($5 Knitting Pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Yarn: Patons Kroy Socks FX in the Geranium Colors Colorway
  • First Stash Dash Finish- 253.8 meters
  • Ravelry Project Page

Pumpkin Patch Socks

  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams ($5 Knitting Pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Yarn: Hypnotic Yarn Plush Sock in the Pumpkin Patch colorway (October Yarnable Subscription Box Colorway). Click here for my YouTube Unboxing Video.
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • 264.0 meters for Stash Dash
  • Curious about Yarnable? Consider checking out my Yarnable Subscription Box Affiliate Link. Use Coupon Code BOSTONJEN for $5 off your first box.
  • Don’t forget- Yarnable/Hypnotic Yarn is a Snack Shack Sponsor

Mr. Fezziwig Socks

  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams
  • Yarn: Woolens & Nosh Corriedale Sock in the Mr. Fezziwig Colorway
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • My Ravelry Project Page
  •  238.0 meters for Stash Dash

Rainbow Crochet Crop

  • Pattern: 100% improvised.
  • Yarn: Lion Brand Re-up. Colors: Ecru, Red, Orange, Sunflower, Lime, Aqua, Lilac and Raspberry
  • Hook: E (3.5 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • 482 g used. 719.7 meters for Stash Dash. 

3 ply yarn in Blues & Greens

  • Wool of the Andes Unspun Roving. Colorway: Delft Heather (100 grams) 100% Peruvian Highland Wool. 
  • Malabrigo Nube. 113 grames Combed Top 100% Merino Wool in Colorway 809 Solis. 
  •  Rhapsody Fiber Arts- 2oz 50% Angora/50% merino no colorway- lighter blues.
  • This 3 ply skein is 31 inches long from end to end, or 62 inches per wrap of the noddy noddy. 106 wraps= 6,572 inches or 166.9 meters for Stash Dash (because the fiber went through the orifice 4 times)

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Shawl Design 

  • I shared some preliminary details about a new design idea using a 150g skein of fingering weight from  agirlandherwool in the On the Boardwalk colorway.

Meggsie/Marta Scrappy Socks

  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams ($5 Knitting Pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Yarn: Patons Kroy Socks FX in the Geranium Colors Colorway (leftover from Marta’s Socks) & Yarn: Knit Picks Felici in the Double Dog Dare Colorway (leftover from Meggsie’s socks) + also added yarn from Aila’s dance socks.
  • Ravelry Project Page

Love Letters Socks

  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams ($5 Knitting Pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Yarn: Fibernymph Dye Works Mountain Tweed BFL in the Love Letters Colorway
  • Ravelry Project Page

Felici Socks (4 in progress) 

  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams ($5 Knitting Pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Baker Street Colorway (Ravelry Page), Desert Rose (Ravelry Page), Bayou Colorway (Ravelry Page) Psychedelic Rainbow (Ravelry Page- used a Lemonade Shop yarn for heel) 

Scrappy Hexagon Blanket

  • Pattern: Basic Crochet Hexagon Pattern & Tips from Make Do and Crew Website & YouTube Tutorial
  • Hook: F (3.75 mm)
  • Yarn: Knit Picks Hawthorne Marl Sock Lab in the Grey White Marl Colorway, Patons Kroy in the Gentry Colorway + fingering weight scraps
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • As of 6/14: 95 light gray, 27 dark gray – 112 total

Brainstorming

Stash Dash Planning

I’m brainstorming baby blanket options

  • Snuggle Bean Blanket by Little Duck Crochet available on Etsy & Ravelry Link ($5 US)
  • Abacus Blanket by Susan Carlson available on LoveCrafts & Ravelry & Etsy ($6 US)
  • or maybe a simple corner to corner (C2C) crochet blanket?

From the Armchair

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson. 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

Kris’ Felici sock (Ravelry Project Page) blew out after just more than a year but keep in mind that Kris wears her socks daily from October- May and teaches dance in them.

In My Travels

I shared some stories about my recent trip to Ireland, Scotland and Spain. Patrons, don’t forget to check out the Patreon feed for blog posts, photos and a Google Album of my trip pictures.

KAL News

#SplashPadParty22

  • Link to the 2022 Splash Pad Party Rules.docx
  • Participant Sign Up- Google Form
  • Check out our amazing Sponsors! Click here for the Google doc with their websites and Instagram profiles.
    • Check out the list of available Coupons from our amazing sponsors: Ravelry link
    • Check out the Splash Pad Exclusive Items here
  • Enter your FOs using this Splash Pad Summer Celebration Form to be eligible for prizes (not a Ravelry link).
  • View all the Entries and the Leaderboard here -> Splash Pad Party Player Stats
  • Need help with an entry submission? -> Splash Pad Support Request Form
  • Questions- check out this Ravelry Thread or email Jen.

On this episode I talked about:

  • Thanks to everyone who joined our May 30th Kick Off.
  • Thursday June 23rd at 8p Eastern we’re doing another Zoom hangout for Patrons at the$5 level and up. Check out the details here.
  • Splash Pad ’22 logo bags are available from Woolen Women Fibers. Check out their knit kits here or sock sets here.  

Events

  • Sock Week with Knitty Natty. July 10-17th. I’ll be co-hosting an event with Natalie on Tuesday July 12th at 8p Eastern!
  • Summer Sock Camp hosted by Kay of The Crazy Sock Lady YouTube Channel. The KAL runs 5/28/22 – 8/31/22 this year!
  • Irocknitters KAL hosted by Cori (Irocknits Designs, also a Splash Pad Sponsor). Check out this post in her Ravelry Group. KAL runs from April 25th through June 30, 2022.
  • Woolen Women Fibers Rock It Tee KAL. Check out this post on Instagram for details. Runs May 7-July 30th.
  • Two Ewes Fiber Adventures Summer Spin In. June 1-September 5th. Find their Ravelry Group thread here. #SummerSpinIn2022
  • Stash Dash (Hosted by The Knit Girllls) will be hosted on Discord again and will be from May 27th-end of August.

Stash Dash Update:

  • Jen’s Stash Dash Spreadsheet Tracker- Google Doc
  • Jasmin’s Stash Dash Spreadsheet Tracker- Google Doc

On a Happy Note

  • Girls weekend with Kris and Laura. Got a cool embroidered art piece for our guest room which Mom and Dad got me for my birthday.
  • Birthday celebrations. Friday- kayaking with Mom, Dad and Dan. Beer out on the sandbar, local brewery, then ice cream and dinner with RGM. Sleepover at Mom’s. Pool day, lobsters. Kids bouncing on air mattress. Fake out with a small ice cream cake- which I have VERY strong feelings about. Kara’s kids- Emelie and Teddy. Em asked me if she could lick my cake. I thought she said Look AT my cake and I said SURE!

Quote of the Week

One does not ‘find oneself’ by pursuing one’s self, but on the contrary by pursuing something else and learning through some discipline or routine (even the routine of making beds) who one is and wants to be.

–May Sarton

Thank you for tuning in!

Contact Information: