Thank you for tuning in to Episode 319 of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. Full show notes with photos can be found on my website. This week’s segments included:
- On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins
- Brainstorming
- From the Armchair
- Knitting in Passing
- In my Travels
- KAL News
- Events
- Life in Focus
- On a Happy Note
- Quote of the Week
Thank you to this episode’s sponsors: Stitched by Jessalu– Check out all of Jessalu’s bags and accessories at NH Sheep and Wool – May 9 & 10 in Deerfield NH & at the Webs Tent Sale– May 15-17 in Northampton, MA, Massachusetts Sheep & Wool– May 23 & 24 in Cummington, MA
On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins
Log Cabin Blanket
- Pattern: Log Cabin Square by Julie Harrison. Free crochet pattern available on Ravelry. Video tutorial available on the Little Woollie Makes YouTube Channel
- Yarn: Legacy Fiber Artz Minis (mostly from Advent calendars 2023 & 2024)
- Hook: I (5.5 mm)
- Ravelry Project Page
- Inspired by Rachel (treehousefiberarts on Instagram) and Sue & Chelsea (Legacy Fiber Artz on Instagram). Check out the Floss Toss Ravelry Group for details on their Scrappy Blanket CAL. Ends December 21st (but you don’t have to finish. 2 prize drawings will be done).
- My color placement is inspired by this project/pattern available on Ravelry.
- Inspired to pick it back up after see Sue (from Legacy Fiber Artz)’s version on their latest podcast episode. She bordered with cream before seaming. I love it. You can see a peek in this Instagram post.
- I bordered one square with a worsted weight Cascade 220 black yarn which I didn’t like. Tune in to hear my tale of woe after I decided to machine wash squares before weaving in all of the ends.
- 23 squares (I think)
Jelly Roll Blanket
- Pattern: Crocheted Jelly Roll Blanket by Kay F Jones
- Hook: H (5.0 mm)
- Yarn: Legacy Fiber Artz Steel Toes Mini Skeins + other minis from stash
- Ravelry Project Page
- I was inspired by KnitwithNat’s blanket- check it out on Instagram.
- Progress: I finished 2 columns and nearly done with the third
Inclinations Cowl
- Inclinations Cowl by Andrea Mowry ($7.00 Knitting Pattern available on Ravelry & her website.
- Needles: US 2 (2.75 mm)
- Yarn: 2 skeins of handspun Color A: Fiber Addict Designs 100% Merino in the Wild Plum Colorway- Ravelry link. Color B: Candombe, I think the fiber is from Malabrigo- Ravelry link.
- My Ravelry Project Page
- Progress, I am finally onto the decrease section.
Pucker Brush Farm BFL Sweater Spin
- Fiber: 16 oz of multi colored BFL roving from Pucker Brush Farm (purchased at Rhinebeck 2025), 4 oz Merino in a mustard color & 20 ounces of Grey Shetland from Forever in Fiber on Etsy
- Ravelry Project Page
- I am planning to knit a Traveler sweater inspired by Emily Curtis’ handmade version- click here for her Ravelry Project Page. I was thrilled to see a recent post on Emily’s Instagram that she made a YouTube video about this spin/knit.
- Finished spinning the first 4 oz of Shetland and started spinning another.
- I wound off 2 bobbins of the Pucker Brush onto storage bobbins and then wound off the Shetland onto storage bobbins.
Midnight Orchid Socks
- Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
- Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
- Yarn: Patons Kroy Stripes in the Midnight Orchid colorway
- Ravelry Project Page
- About the yarn: skinny stripes of cream with contrast colors- greens, ochre and mauvy purples.
- Progress: Cast on both socks on two separate needles.
Sunday Brunch Socks
- Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
- Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
- Yarn: Woolens & Nosh Targhee Sock in the Sunday Brunch at the Breakfast Club colorway; club colorway
- Ravelry Project Page
- About the yarn: mini skein in a medium denim blue. Self striping- tan, navy, mustard, pink, coffee w/ milk brown.
- Progress: several inches into the first sock’s foot
Merry Christmas Kevin
- Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
- Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
- Yarn: Legacy Fiber Artz, Steel Toes in the Merry Christmas, Kevin colorway
- Ravelry Project Page
- Progress: a few inches to the first leg. Knit on these in Saturday in NYC, during Book of Mormon.
Brainstorming
I knit a swatch out of DK cream yarn I had in stash with colorwork in handspun. I haven’t taken the time to check gauge after washing it, but that may be my next colorwork yoke sweater. I love using the Ravelry advanced search to search by gauge.
DK Tank & similar fingering weight version
- (DK) Top Sol by Mochi Knits $9.77 US knitting pattern available on Ravelry or the designer’s website.
- (Fingering weight yarn) the Claire vest- available on Ravelry or the designer’s website.
Summer Raffia Clutch Bag by Anna Ushakova -$4 crochet pattern available on Ravelry or $7.50 on Etsy
From the Armchair
Books
- Good People by Patmeena Sabit. Amazon Affiliate Link.
- Buckeye by Patrick Ryan. Amazon Affiliate Link.
- River is Waiting by Wally Lamb. Amazon Affiliate Link.
Musicals
- Beauty and the Beast- this show is touring through next November.
- Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York– check out our video set to the opening song.
- Book of Mormon (this show is also touring if you want to see it in a city near you)
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
- I had a nice chat with a little boy and his grandmother on the train during MA school vacation week. He was absolutely mesmerized.
In My Travels
We went to NYC for Riley & Aila’s birthday sleepover!
- Friday: Thrifting, shopping, coffee, FAO Schwartz (for JellyCat Cafe but they didn’t have any openings). We met Laura for dinner at Serendipity in Times Square.
- Saturday: we scored Rush tickets for Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York, did a little more shopping and eating (got in some NYC pizza of course) then to see the show at 2p which Laura joined us for. Then we all had dinner at Dos Caminos before our 7p Book of Mormon Show. At home, we heated up a cinnamon roll Laura went all the way downtown to get us from Losers.
- Sunday: we got bagels and then coffee, finished the TikTok video to the Two Strangers opening song and then hit the road.
- Stay tuned for a YouTube video of our adventures.
KAL News
Splash Pad Party ’26 Details
- Event runs 5/22-7/31
- Splash Pad Party Registration is open as of 5/1
- View Stats and/or Verify Registration here.
- Check out our Sponsor List
- Splash Pad ’26 Official Rules
- Enter your FOs using the Summer Celebration Form. Then come over to this Ravelry Thread to share pics and let us ooh and ahh with you!
- Submit something incorrectly? Need help? Fill out this Support Form & we’ll be in touch.
- Find official SPP’26 images you can use on social media in this Google folder.
Splash Pad RAVELRY Links
Events
- NH Sheep and Wool – May 9 & 10 in Deerfield NH
- Coggeshall Farm Fiber Festival– May 16 in Bristol, RI
- Webs Tent Sale– May 15-17 in Northampton, MA
- Massachusetts Sheep & Wool– May 23 & 24 in Cummington, MA
Life in Focus
26 in 2026 List
- E- Events- go to at least 26 ticketed events (17 as of 4/25!)
- L- Literary pursuit- read at least 65 books (24 as of 4/27)
- N- NYC- go visit Laura at least once (scheduled for April)
- Q-Quarterly review of calendar/photos & goals (to make Year in Review easier and faster)- calendar it! March done
- S- Socks- knit 26 pair- 6 done so far.
- W- Wheel- sit down at my spinning wheel every month (put reminders on my calendar at the beginning of each month to help remind me) Jan, Feb, March, April done
On a Happy Note
- During a short spell of what actually felt like Spring weather, Dan and I went to our friend’s daughter’s high school lacrosse game and then out for dinner after.
- I joined Dan for his weekly card game. We played Five Crowns, which I really enjoy.
- We had dinner with Dan’s cousins who we don’t see often and then with an old high school friend of Dan’s who he hasn’t seen in over 25 years! He and his wife were lovely. Fun chat.
- We brought Hattie to Beauty and the Beast, looking all beautiful in her Belle dress. She had an absolute blast.
- My work friends were reminiscing about this funny old cell phone commercial video we used to love watching it. Check out show notes for link to the video
Quote of the Week
“ I think one of the things that makes theater special is first of all, it’s one of the last places you put your phone away.“
– Lin-Manuel Miranda
“ I know the world is filled with troubles and many injustices. But reality is as beautiful as it is ugly. I think it is just as important to sing about beautiful mornings as it is to talk about slums. I just couldn’t write anything without hope in it.“
– Oscar Hammerstein
——
Thank you for tuning in!
Contact Information:
- Check out the Down Cellar Studio Patreon!
- Ravelry: BostonJen & Down Cellar Studio Podcast Ravelry Group
- Instagram: BostonJen1
- YouTube: Down Cellar Studio
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/downcellarstudio
- Sign up for my email newsletter to get the latest on everything happening in the Down Cellar Studio
- Check out myDown Cellar Studio YouTube Channel
- Knit Picks Affiliate Link
- Bookshop Affiliate Link
- Yarnable Subscription Box Affiliate Link
- FearLESS Living Fund to benefit the Blind Center of Nevada
- Music -“Soft Orange Glow” by Josh Woodward. Free download: http://joshwoodward.com/
- 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.
