Episode 279: Makes, Milestones & Memories

Down Cellar Studio Podcast

Thank you for tuning in to Episode 279 of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. Full show notes with photos can be found on my website.

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
• On a Happy Note
• Quote of the Week

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

Announcement- I’ll be putting out only 1 episode per month through the summer to keep things manageable.

Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Julia’s Cozy Clusters Blanket

• Pattern: Cozy Clusters Baby Blanket by Leelee Knits (free & paid options available on the LeeLeeKnits website)
• Yarn: Caron Cinnamon Swirl Cakes in the Hibiscus Colorway (purchased 3). 1 skein of Loops & Threads Impeccable in Orange for the border)
• Hooks: H (5.0 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• Bobble Border instructions came from this blog
• Caron Cakes – 1054.6 meters
• Loops & Threads – 130.5 meters
• Meters for Stash Dash- 1,185.10

My Little Unicorn Socks

• Yarn: Andre Sue Knits Sock Blank in the My Little Unicorn colorway
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
• Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry )
• Ravelry Project Page
• Gray background with white and pink unicorns that look like My Little Pony. My inner 80’s child loved this one.
• Meters for Stash Dash: 286.3

4 Bowl Savers for Mom

• Pattern: None
• Yarn: Lion Brand Re-Up in the Seaglass colorway
• Hook: 5.0 mm (H)
• Ravelry Project Page
• I crocheted 2 circles and 2 hexagons for Mom to put between her Pyrex bowls.
• Meters for Stash Dash: 119

Riley’s 16th Birthday Flower Top

• Pattern: Riley found in this TikTok video
• Hook: G (4.0 mm)
• Yarn: Caron Skinny Cakes in the Grape Raisin UVA colorway (purchased 3)
• Ravelry Project Page
• YouTube Video
  • Linked instructions
• Meters for Stash Dash: 872.4 (1.2 skeins)
• I am calling it done but I need Riley to try it on and may need to adjust the neck.

Children of Time 2 Ply Yarn

• Fiber: Into the Whirled Cheviot in the Children of Time colorway
• Ravelry Project Page
• About: I originally spun this last summer and plied 1 ply of Into the Whirled with 2 plies of Knit Picks Wool of the Andes fiber (Ravelry Project Page here). I had two bobbins of leftovers and I needed the bobbins so I plied those up. The result was much more yarn than I expected.
• Total= 116 Meters
• 2 ply: which means things went through the oriface of the wheel 3 times= Stash Dash Meters- 116.5 x3= 349.5

Woolens & Nosh 2023 Advent Socks

• Yarn: Woolens & Nosh Targhee Sock. 2023 Advent Set
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
• Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
• Ravelry Project Page
• Meters for Stash Dash: 285.8

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Welcome to Litchfield Spinning Project

• 4 oz of Texel from Into the Whirled- Welcome to Litchfield
• Ravelry Project Page
• Progress: finished the second braid- 4 oz in the Welcome to Litchfield Colorway in 70/30 BFL/Tussah Silk
• Up next: spinning 3rd braid- Into the Whirled- The Traveler colorway (medium gray). 4 oz Cheviot

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.
  • The patterns for this kit will be the Northeasterly Blanket by Melissa Alexander-Loomis (knit version) and the Northeasterly blanket by Katy Stevens (crochet version).
• Progress: I finished 9 my May squares but haven’t seamed them yet.

Vera’s Christmas Stocking

• Pattern: Christmas Stockings to Knit and Crochet from Family Circle Magazine. Available in this web archive link. I’ve also saved it to my podcast Gmail Google Drive in case it disappears!
• Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in Red, Everglade Heather and White
• Hook: F (3.75 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• Progress: Stocking and cuff are finished and ironed. I crocheted the three circles for the snowman, made the scarf and earmuffs and ironed those too. I still need to crochet a carrot nose, sew on the snowman and add the name to the cuff. Nearly done!

Trish’s New Orleans Socks

• Yarn- Cat Tails Yarn in the Chartreux Base (75% Superwash Merino, 15% Nylon, 10% Silver Stellina) in the Christmas Bonfires Colorway (part of the Down in New Orleans Collection)
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
• Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry )
• Trish purchased in New Orleans in 2024 (exclusive colorway for the Quarter Stitch). $34.
• Progress: Friday night we hung out with friends and I finished the leg of the second sock, and turned the heel on a rainy Saturday.

Baby James’ Cozy Clusters Blanket

• Pattern: Cozy Clusters Baby Blanket by Leelee Knits (free & paid options available on the LeeLeeKnits website)
• Yarn: Caron Cinnamon Swirl Cakes in the Slush Colorway (purchased 3). 1 skein of Loops & Threads Impeccable in Colorway 01110 [Navy] for the border)
• Hook: I (5.5 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• Progress: Nearly done w/ the second Caron cake.
• Bobble Border instructions from this blog

Silver Spoon Socks

• Yarn: A Whimsical Wood Yarn Company Pixie Toes Socks in the Silver Spoon Up My A$$ colorway
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
• Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry )
• Ravelry Project Page
• About the yarn: peaches and pinks with gray/taupe. At my gauge it is striping (~2 rounds per color). I purchased this yarn at Yarncentric event in Maryland.
• Started in May 2023
• Progress: nearly to the toe on the second sock.

Brainstorming

• Socks for Dan
• Christmas stocking for my cousin Colleen’s son, Owen
• At least another pair of socks.
• I really want to crochet a summer top but I can’t find anything that’s really exciting me… Ideas welcome!

From the Armchair

1. The Nix by Nathan Hill. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link.
2. Such a Bad Influence by Olivia Muenter. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link.
3. One Last Summer by Kate Spencer. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link.
4. Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan. Bookshop Affiliate Link.Amazon Affiliate Link.
5. Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto. 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

I was crocheting on Riley’s top on the T. Man told me about how he crocheted as a kid in Cape Verde and Holland. He had nothing to do. No tv. Needed something to entertain himself so he taught himself. Sister knew but couldn’t teach him. It wasn’t a normal thing for boys in holland. Or girls as far as he knew and they didn’t teach it in school but he had fond memories of it. Great chat learning about his travels and his work as a union carpenter now.

KAL News

Pigskin Party ’24 will kick off in the fall (specific date TBD). I will be sending out an email to sponsors in the next 2-3 weeks asking folks to sign up. Interested or know someone who is? Sign up for my email newsletter and click the box saying you’re potentially interested in sponsoring events and you’ll get first dibs on spots.

• Summer Bingo with Monica & Cortney of the Craft Cook Read Repeat Podcast
• Tour de Fleece- check out this Ravelry Group for official details. Saturday, June 29, 2024 through Sunday, July 21, 2024. Rest Days: Monday, July 8 and Monday, July 15. There are challenge days, Teams and prizes.
• Colors of Fall with the Yarniacs Podcast Group. June 20- September 22
• Summer Spin In with the Two Ewes Fiber Adventures Podcast Group- May 27 – September 2
• Summer Sock Camp with the Crazy Sock Lady
• The Knit Girllls are hosting their annual Stash Dash Event from May 24-August 31,2024.
  • Here’s a chatter thread for stash dash 2024! Stash Dash will run from May 24th-the end of August. Craft all the things and see how your FO pile grows! This is a competition only against yourself.
    • Discord link: knit girllls discord
    • Jasmin (of the Knitmore Girls Podcast) & I are competing again this year. Check out my Stash Dash Spreadsheet here

My total as of this episode: 3,765.2 meters

Events

• Flock Fiber Festival– August 9-11 in Seattle, WA
• FIber Revival: August 10 in Newbury, MA
• Adirondack Wool & Arts Festival; September 21 & 22, 2024 in Greenwich, NY (GREEN-Witch)
• Vermont Sheep & Wool: October 1 & 2, 2024 in Tunnebridge, VT
• NY Sheep & Wool Festival (aka Rhinebeck): October 19 & 20, 2024 in Rhinebeck, NY
• For more West Coast (US) event- check out the Seattle Knitters Guild Site.

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

Life in Focus

24 for 2024 list

• #1-Get 2 massages beyond the one per month at Massage Envy (1 and the guy was GREAT)
• #4- Read more books than you did in 2023 (50) 31 as of June 24
• #7-Visit 1 new (to me) museum or historical site. Going to Portland- maybe will look there.

Health Update– BostonJensMom begins whole brain radiation on July 1. Every weekday (except July 4) through July 22. Keep those prayers and good vibes coming. We recorded a very long health update video that will go up in 2 parts on the YouTube Channel. It takes a bit of time to edit because I like to add in photos/videos of the fun life stuff we chat about to make it more fun. Keep an eye out for that if you want the full story of my parents car accident and April and everything that’s happened since our last recording in February.

Health Update Video Part 1

Health Update Video Part 2

On a Happy Note

• Mom, Megg, Kris and I went to see Come From Away in Boston
• I helped Dan build a shed for his brother and then relaxed in the pool at my parents once we were done (and good and sweaty).
• I pressure washed the house and the deck- it’s currently covered in pollen but at least I got the worst of it off. It’s such a satisfying chore!
• Mom and I went to Aila’s voice recital and out for drinks after.
• I brought my grandmother to my cousin Jenny’s daughter Vera’s Baptism Party. Beautiful day!
• Celebrated my birthday at a local Irish Pub for live Irish music. Dan treated us all for dinner. My parents, Megg, Tom (who is from Ireland) and their friend David (visiting from Ireland), Megg’s Mom Terri, Trish and Liz. Very fun, silly night as usual. Megg and I weren’t doing gifts this year because of our Opera House season tickets but I made her socks in March and she brought me a beautiful plant! We all went back to Megg and Tom’s after which was fun because I got to see Eme, Oisin and Hattie too. The boys made lobster for David who hadn’t tried New England Lobster before.
• After the most stressful and hellish week at work I’ve had in 22 years, I convinced the directors in charge of my Nurse Call Integration project that it was too unstable and had to be shut down so while it was awful, it was done in little more than 3 days. Thankfully, none of the blame was on me (didn’t make it feel that much better). Vendor was woefully unprepared and mismanaged things. On that Friday, my boss told me to leave early. I met up with Dan for lunch at The Galley in Scituate. Sitting in the window/door until a huge storm blew in and they had to close it up.
• June 11th- my cousin Colleen had her baby boy- Owen (not on my birthday but soo close)
• June 12th- my nephew Garret graduated from 8th Grade and my Mom (and Dad) were there for it!
• June 14th- Conor and Carly welcomed their baby boy Miles.
• I did the stage decorations and played house manager in the last ever Terri’s School of Dance recital. We had a party at Kris’ house after.
• Father’s Day Pool Party- Dan taught Garret and his friend Terry how to properly shuck a lobster. We played games and swam a little in the pool.
• My cousin Gayle flew in from FL and joined us for the recital and Father’s Day fun. I had Monday off and headed over to Mom and Dad’s. Jenny and Vera were there, and Millie never left. We swam, played Tock, and went to Heidi’s for an ice cream.
• On Juneteenth- I hit the gym then took Millie and Riley to get their nails done, then took Gayle to Athleta, swam a bit. Dan, Jeff and Melissa came over and we all had dinner together by the pool.

Quote of the Week

As soon as I have a deadline, I work much better. Time unbounded is hard to handle.

–May Sarton

——

Thank you for tuning in!

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• 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.