• In My Travels
• KAL News
• Contests, News & Notes
• Quote of the Week

In My Travels

Tune in to hear my Rhinebeck recap with Mom

• When we picked up Megan at Hudson train station and met Stephen West!
• Indie Untangled
  • Loved seeing and chatting with Pigskin Sponsors- Leading Men Fiber Arts, Woodsy and Wild. Cori aka Irocknits

• Mom bought a “this is my Rhinebeck sweater” enamel pin from Shelli Can
• I bought mom some beautiful yarn from Brooke of Fully Spun 

• Mom bought me the one thing I really wanted to find— a Stitch Marker Necklace in the Paige the Framer Booth. The maker is Heidi and Lana. I got the 36″ inch silver chain with the Pewter Stitch Markers.
• Thank you Sue and Chelsea of Legacy Fiber Artz for joining up as a Pigskin Party Sponsor and for the beautiful donation of sock sets for prizes
  
• I bought a skein of self-striping from Fibernymph Dye Works for socks for Mom. It was great seeing Lisa’s rainbow version of Tan House Brook shawl in the FIbernymph Booth! 

• Sweitzer’s Fiber Mill
• I bought a beautiful basket
• Barn 31= the magical barn
  • Loved the Stowe Away sweater by Rose Beck & was so happy to meet the ladies behind Nomadic Knits. Tune in to episode 173 for a review.
• We found Laura who brought her Grace & Frankie shawl to show me.
• Ran into Lisa and Anne!
• We saw some llamas. 
• No line at Kettle Corn! Bought 2 bags!
• Podcaster Meet-up at 1p on the hill. It was so great seeing and chatting with so many of you.
  
• After the meet-up we headed to the beer garden to catch up with friends. We ran into Melissa- Progress Keepers by Meliabella, cute project bag tag with Pigskin Theme. Progress Keepers- 2. Mom stole one immediately and put it on her bracelet.

• Check out the Episode 172 Thread to guess what progress keeper Mom stole looks like? I’ll pull a random winner on November 8th.

• Loved seeing Shelly and Judy- wearing their World of Difference and Emelyn Mae Shawls & my friends from Gather Here.
• We did some more afternoon shopping in barns. We always love visiting the Ross Farm booth to see Sarah Jordan- PAKnitWit– Pigskin Sponsor and of course Amy & Scooterpie. 
• Mom loved petting bunnies
• Mom bought sweater quantity- Battenkill Fiber Mill in NY. $10/skein 
• Mom enjoyed apple crisp and ice cream. We sat and knit with Ryan and Nicki before we left the fairgrounds.
• We enjoyed dinner (and/or beer and kettlecorn) and then did show and tell. So funny! 

• Got some photos with the year’s festival logo and the yarn bombing installation on the way in. They were made by the talented London Kaye
• Tried on some samples. One pattern that was neat was the Love Note done without mohair and modified sleeves.
• Mom got to show Crispina Ffrench the jacket she made.
• We ran into group of friends outside buildings on way over to see my friend Mara at Beer Garden and I finally got to meet the dyer behind Lavender Lune– Sam. 
• Mara brought her beautiful boys and her finished Riley Rose Shawl to show me. 
• We ended the day in Building E (the food building) I bought 2 kinds of jam for Dan. We had a lovely chat with the ladies of Coyote Kitchen 
• Nicki and Amy stayed at my house. Tried out Nicki’s new Electric Eel Wheel Nanoe-spinner. Frustrated but intrigued. 

KAL News

Slay the Stash 2019

• Each month you can declare a skein of yarn to knit/crochet/weave to its very end. Let’s use up those older special skeins (purchased before 2019) – and maybe win a new beautiful skein of yarn from one of our sponsors along the way! 
• Check out the November Post
• Use and follow #slaythestash2019 on Social Media

Slay the Stash Sponsor List- 2019

Official Rules for 2019 

• January- Fish Belly Fiber Works
• February- KnitCircus Yarns
• March- Holly Press Fibers
• April- Fibernymph Dye Works
• May – Another Crafty Girl 
• June- Flying Finn Yarns
• July- Sponsored by WindsweptMonique
• August- Knit Style Yarns
• September- Artistic Lilly 
• October – Infinite Twist 
• November- 716 Knit 
• December –  Hypnotic Yarn

Pigskin Party ‘19

Not familiar? It’s a ridiculously fun make-a-long that runs all through the NFL football season. We typically have a couple hundred participants each year. For each FO you finish, you earn touchdown & field goal points. You also earn points for using sponsor products & fulfilling other challenges. For every 100 points earned, you get an entry into our Grand Prize drawing. We also have lots of prizes reserved for participation on Ravelry and Instagram to keep it fun and light.

 

It is an annual knit, crochet, weaving and spin along.Cast on anytime On/after September 5, 2019- February 3, 2020

 

Everything you need to know is linked in theStart Here Threadin the Down Cellar Studio Podcast Ravelry Group including theRules,Questions Thread,End Zone Dance Threadwhere you post your FOs,Coupon Code Thread,List of Prizes,Exclusive Items from our Sponsors!

 

Pro Shop Sponsors 

2 Guys Yarn Company

Abstract Fiber

AdoreKnit

agirlandherwool

Designs of Acadia (Pigskin Logo Bag)

Fibernymph Dye Works

Holly Press Fibers

Imagined Landscapes Designs

Infinite Twist

JDStudios480

Jennifer Lassonde Designs

Knitosophy Designs

Knitters Brewing Company

Knit Style Yarns

Prairie Bag Works

Progress Keepers by Meliabella

Sunsoaked Yarns

Yarn Love

 

 

Snack Shack Sponsors 

Anomalous Mind

Anne Beady Designs

APLCrafts

Birch Hollow Fibers

Brenda Castiel Designs

Designs by Meliabella

Fish Belly Fiber Works

Geektastic Fibers

IrocKnits Designs

Kino Knits

Kitchen Counter Crafter

Knit/Wit Designs

Leading Men Fiber Arts

Legacy Fiber Artz

Lilliput Yarn

Lolodidit

Love in Stitches

Mint Rain Hand Dyed Yarns

Nicole Simmons Designs

Queen City Yarn

Remade By Hand Designs

Shanalines Designs

Tangerine Designs

Teal Torch Knits

The Project Bag

UNICORN CLEAN

Wild Branch Design

Windswept Designs

Woodsy and Wild

 

We have 3 new Snack Shack sponsors- Legacy Fiber Artz, Fish Belly Fiber Works, Mint Rain Hand Dyed Yarns & Anomalous Mind

 

Tune in to hear the details of the November Interception sponsored by Queen City Yarn

Put in Your Back-up Quarterback- details can be found here. 

Contests, News and Notes 

My latest pattern will be available soon! Sign up for my email newsletter to make sure you’re the first to know when my  Thumper Hat is available and to get the best intro code.

Quote of the Week

“No effort is required to define or even attain happiness, but enormous concentration is needed to abandon everything else.”

— Quentin Crisp

 

• Ravelry: BostonJen & Down Cellar Studio Podcast Ravelry Group
• Twitter: Instagram:BostonJen1
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/downcellarstudio
• Sign up for my email newsletterto get the latest on everything happening in the Down Cellar Studio!

• Off the Needles
• On the Needles
• Brainstorming
• From the Armchair
• Knitting in Passing
• KAL News
• Events
• Contest, News & Notes
• Ask Me Anything
• On a Happy Note
• Quote of the Week

Off the Needles

• Yarn: Knit Picks Felici in the Lasso color way
• Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)

• Pattern: Watayuki by Natsuko Iida
• Yarn: Sweitzer Fiber Mill
• Needles: US 9 (5.5 mm)
• Yarn: bought in bargain bin at Rhinebeck.
• #myRHINEbipoc sweater #2 for me. #BIPOCMAL2019
• Matches perfectly with my OPI Nail polish- Berlin There Done That

On the Needles

• Pattern: Dragon Belly Shawl by Johanna Lindahl
• Yarn: Knit Picks
• Hook: J
• Melville – City Tweed DK Value Pack.

• Pattern: Crayons Amigurumi by StringyDingDing
• Yarn: Plymouth DK
• Hook: D (3.25 mm) I may go down a hook size the body of the crayon.

• Yarn: Wisdom Yarns Pix in the Cake Party Colorway
• Pattern: TBD
• Needles: US 1 (2.25 mm)
• 56 stitches, cuff down.

• Yarn: Knit Picks Felici in the Playhouse colorway
• Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)

Brainstorming

• I’d like to start a pair of socks for my friend, Laura. Last night I wound up a skein of the color way “The Huddle is Real” a Pigskin Party Exclusive from 2018 by Queen City Yarn 
• Rhinebeck packing- at least 2 pair of socks (maybe 3) Maybe another Dragon Belly shawl?
• Friday, I think I’ll wear my Sandbar Cardi by Toni Lipsey
• Saturday, if its cool enough and initial forecasts indicate it will be, I’ll wear my new Watayuki pullover
• Sunday I may wear my Grace & Frankie Shawl
• I’ll be packing my Ice Time Hat & Cowl for sure.

From the Armchair

• Share your packing and your tips with #RhinebeckReady on Instagram.
• If you’re coming to Rhinebeck, bring me a swatch! My friend Beverly is working on an art project with the theme “connection.” She wants to work with swatches from knitters all over the world into one piece.
  Details:
  • Swatches DO NOT need to be blocked, or be from any particular type of fiber, color, or weight.
  • Please attach the following info (if you bring your swatch in a plastic bag you can slip a note in it or just safety pin to it): Where are you from? (City, country) What did you swatch this for? (it’s ok to say just for fun or for this project)
  • If you want me to send you a photo of the finished project, please include some sort of contact info – even just a ravelry name.

Knitting in Passing

Riley took the sock I was knitting on at my Dad’s birthday dinner. Millie asked to knit in the car on the way home but I had to tell her no.

KAL News

Slay the Stash 2019

• Each month you can declare a skein of yarn to knit/crochet/weave to its very end. Let’s use up those older special skeins (purchased before 2019) – and maybe win a new beautiful skein of yarn from one of our sponsors along the way!
• Check out the October Post
• Use and follow #slaythestash2019 on Social Media
• Tune in to see if you’re the September winner

Slay the Stash Sponsor List- 2019

Official Rules for 2019 

• January- Fish Belly Fiber Works
• February- KnitCircus Yarns
• March- Holly Press Fibers
• April- Fibernymph Dye Works
• May – Another Crafty Girl 
• June- Flying Finn Yarns
• July- Sponsored by WindsweptMonique– yarn TBD
• August- Knit Style Yarns
• September- Artistic Lilly 
• October – Infinite Twist 
• November- 716 Knit 
• December –  Hypnotic Yarn

Pigskin Party ‘19

Not familiar? It’s a ridiculously fun make-a-long that runs all through the NFL football season. We typically have a couple hundred participants each year. For each FO you finish, you earn touchdown & field goal points. You also earn points for using sponsor products & fulfilling other challenges. For every 100 points earned, you get an entry into our Grand Prize drawing. We also have lots of prizes reserved for participation on Ravelry and Instagram to keep it fun and light.

It is an annual knit, crochet, weaving and spin along.Cast on anytime On/after September 5, 2019- February 3, 2020

Everything you need to know is linked in the Start Here Thread in the Down Cellar Studio Podcast Ravelry Group including the Rules, Questions Thread, End Zone Dance Thread where you post your FOs, Coupon Code Thread, List of Prizes, Exclusive Items from our Sponsors!

• September Interception Winner Announced
• October Interception sponsored by IrocKnits!

Pro Shop Sponsors

2 Guys Yarn Company

Abstract Fiber

AdoreKnit

agirlandherwool

Designs of Acadia (Pigskin Logo Bag)

Fibernymph Dye Works

Holly Press Fibers

Imagined Landscapes Designs

Infinite Twist

JDStudios480

Jennifer Lassonde Designs

Knitosophy Designs

Knitters Brewing Company

Knit Style Yarns

Prairie Bag Works

Progress Keepers by Meliabella

Sunsoaked Yarns

Yarn Love

Snack Shack Sponsors

Anne Beady Designs

APLCrafts

Birch Hollow Fibers

Brenda Castiel Designs

Designs by Meliabella

Geektastic Fibers

IrocKnits Designs

Kino Knits

Kitchen Counter Crafter

Knit/Wit Designs

Leading Men Fiber Arts

Lilliput Yarn

Lolodidit

Love in Stitches

Nicole Simmons Designs

Queen City Yarn

Remade By Hand Designs

Shanalines Designs

Tangerine Designs

Teal Torch Knits

The Project Bag

UNICORN CLEAN

Wild Branch Design

Windswept Designs

Woodsy and Wild

Events

• Indie Untangled I’ll be attending in the 12-2p time slot.
• Needles Up! Friday October 18, 2019. General admission 1-6p  Best Western Plus Kingston Hotel and Conference Center. I’m planning to attend after Indie Untangled.
• Rhinebeck Yarn Bazaar : Friday October 18 from 2-6p in Rhinebeck. Knit night event at 7:30p (must buy ticket). I am not planning to attend.
• NY Sheep & Wool Festival (aka Rhinebeck)- October 19 & 20 (new hours Sat 9-5 and Sunday 9-4). I’ll be there both days! Come say hi.
• Whinebeck Bingo– for those who can’t attend but want something fun to do that weekend- check out Whinebeck Bingo by the Knitmore Girls. This year there’s a printable Bingo card. Check off the things you do and share on social media!
• Fiber Festival of New England– November 2 & 3 in Springfield, MA (I cannot attend this year).

Contest, News & Notes

• Check out the #BIPOCMAL2019 started by DesamourDesigns on Instagram.Click here for a link to her website with all the details.
• If you want to do some charity knitting and crochet- consider making Refugee hats for those having to flee their homes in Congo and Angola: Maine Access Immigrant Network, 237 Oxford St. Suite 25A, Portland, ME 04101

Ask Me Anything

I answered two questions from Instagram users.

• What are you most looking forward to at Rhinebeck? What’s on your wishlist?
• Knitting for the body one has now, rather than waiting until one loses/gains enough weight?

On a Happy Note

• I got to see my nephew Will’s footsol game last Friday which totally cheered me up after a tough day.
• I received some beautiful flowers from Dan (to my office) while I was at conference.
• I attended the yarn bombing event I participated in with my family last Saturday.
• Dinner for Dad’s birthday- Millie (7) talked us into a sleepover. Highlights: snuggles before bed, holding hands, reading Polar Express, building her a sleeping fort next to the guest bed in what she calls “her room.” Pancakes in the morning. Craft project.
• My niece Aila (9) will be performing with Boston Ballet in the Nutcracker in Boston this winter. She’ll be a mouse and a polichinelle!
• BONUS AUDIO at the end with Millie

Quote of the Week

“It is all a question of weeding out what you yourself like best to do, so that you can live most agreeably in a world full of an increasing number of disagreeable surprises.”

— M.F.K. Fisher

• Ravelry: BostonJen & Down Cellar Studio Podcast Ravelry Group
  
• Twitter: Instagram:BostonJen1
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/downcellarstudio
• Sign up for my email newsletter to get the latest on everything happening in the Down Cellar Studio!

• Off the Needles
• On the Needles
• Crafty Adventures
• Knitting in Passing
• In my Travels
• KAL News
• Events
• Contest, News & Notes
• Life in Focus
• On a Happy Note
• Quote of the Week

Off the Needles

• Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams
• Yarn: West Yorkshire Spinners in the Fairy Lights colorway
• Needles: US 1 (2.25 mm)

• Improvised pattern influenced by the Pig Miniature Amigurumi pattern and some counts from the Cuddle Bunny pattern (both linked on my Ravelry Project Page).
• Hook: C (2.75 mm)
• Yarn: Knit Picks Brava minis- 2 colors of pink.
• Eyes from 6060 on Etsy

• Improvised pattern influenced by the Buddy Bunny in the 4 Seasons Easter pattern and some counts from the Cuddle Bunny pattern (both linked on my Ravelry Project Page).
• Hook: C (2.75 mm)
• Yarn: Knit Picks Brava minis
• Eyes & nose from 6060 on Etsy

• Will be on display at the Mansfield, MA Fall Festival at Fulton Pond October 4 + 5, 2019

On the Needles

• Pattern: Watayuki by Natsuko Iida $6.34 US at time of checking
• Yarn: Sweitzer Fiber Mill
• Needles: US 9 (5.5 mm)
• Yarn: bought in bargain bin at Rhinebeck.
• #myRHINEbipoc sweater #2 for me

• Yarn: Unknown
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
• Pattern: Non-Euclidian Heel by Sarah Jordan (Knit-Wit Designs— Pigskin Sponsor)

• Yarn: Holly Press Fibers Sheepish base in the To Knit or to Hike Colorway
• Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)

• Yarn: Knit Picks Felici in the Lasso color way
• Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
• Knitting in tandem

Crafty Adventures

• Tune in to hear about how I used an old swatch to cover up a conference logo and epicycle a tote bag!
• I used a Fiskars Perforating blade for my rotary trimmer to make the holes into which I could sew on the swatch.
• I single crocheted around the outside edge (after sewing on the swatch- probably not the ideal order of operations), then steam blocked it.
• Wins: Great use of swatch. Great place to put buttons and enamel pins. Great way to get more life out of a bag I may have donated but is certainly still useful to me.

Knitting In Passing 

• In visiting friends this weekend two brothers told me stories about their mother’s quilting and knitting, the things she made for them and the memories they still cherish.
• I used my half-knit sock as a beer koozie when my hand was too cold and I couldn’t find the one I packed.

In my Travels

• Thursday- Yarns in the Square
• Friday I hosted an event at Yarn’s End
  • People I mentioned: I got to meet Maureen Clarke of Green Mountain Spinnery, Ann of Alice & Ann– who runs Sewing Classes inside the shop. Kate Jones and Walshcentral (Maryann) from our podcast community stopped in.
• Saturday: I visited Staci’s Stitches to meet Cheryl of Hypnotic Yarn & her friend and helper, Jess.
  • I’m excited about her new Yarnable Subscription Box! If you’re interested, I am an affiliate. Click here for a $5 off coupon code using code BOSTONJEN. More to come soon!
• Sunday
  • A Great Yarn in Chatham
  • Adventures in Knitting in Harwich
  • Salt Yarn Studio in Dennis
    • It was lovely meeting Julie, the owner, and Nancy Richard- Iyanough Farm– who dyes yarn that she sells at the shop. Enjoyed her dyeing demonstration.
  • Who Gives a Stitch in West Yarmouth.
  • Black Purls Yarn Shop in Sandwich. I was short on time but look forward to going back for a dyeing workshop.
  • Plymouth Harbor Knits. Lovely chat with owner Jenn and her husband!

KAL News

• Ravelry: BostonJen & Down Cellar Studio Podcast Ravelry Group
• Twitter: Instagram:BostonJen1
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/downcellarstudio
• Sign up for my email newsletterto get the latest on everything happening in the Down Cellar Studio!