Episode 290: Welcome

Thank you for tuning in to Episode 290 of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. Find full show ntoes with photos on my website: www.downcellarstudio.com 

 

This week's segments included:

 

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

 

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

Next month you can find Stitched by JessaLu bags in her online shop, and in person at NETA Spa in Freeport, Maine from February 28-March 2. NETA Spa is a great midwinter weekend gathering for fiber enthusiasts - check out the event page on Facebook at https://facebook.com/events/s/netaspa2025/

 

Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

 

Woolens & Nosh 2024 Advent Socks

• Yarn: Woolens & Nosh SW Targhee Sock
• Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page

 

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

 

Freckled Whimsy 2024 Advent Socks

• Yarn: Freckled Whimsy
• Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page

 

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
• Living in my FearLESS Living Fund bag from Stitched by Jessalu. She's filling pre-orders from last year first and then will put new listings up for sale so stay tuned.

 

Aurealis

• Pattern: Aurealis by Jennifer Steingass
• Needles: US 6 (4.0 mm)
• Yarn: Cloudborn Fibers Highland DK in the Gray Heather colorway (MC) & Junction Fiber Mill Making Tracks DK in the Vermont Vice colorway (CC)
• Size: C
• My washed swatch was closer to 17/18 sts over 4 inches instead of the 20 it calls for so I'm knitting a different size to accommodate.

 

Stranger Things 2 Socks

• Yarn: Desert Vista Dyeworks Viso base (75% SW Merino/25% Nylon) in the Stranger Things 2 Self Striping Colorway
• Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• Cast on the morning of Thursday 9/5 for the Pigskin Party using Snack Shack Sponsor yarn.
• About the colorway- stripes of: orange, hot pink, purple, navy blue, medium blue and red.
• Progress- first sock is done. Second sock is a few stripes from the heel.

 

Woolens & Nosh 2024 Advent Socks #2

• Yarn: Woolens & Nosh SW Targhee Sock
• Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page

 

Cold Goat Farm Spinning Project

• Fiber: Cold Goats Farm; believe it is a merino/mohair batt (8oz) in a natural, undyed cream color
• Ravelry Project Page
• Twist direction: singles = Z plied = S
• This means when I'm spinning, my wheel is spinning clockwise and when plying my wheel is moving counter-clockwise.
• Progress: Nearly finished with my second bobbin of fiber

 

Calendula Christmas Quilt

• Pattern: Calendula Quilt by Elena Fedotova available on Ravelry for $7.50 US.
• Yarn: Big Twist Value Solids in Ivory, Deep Red, Varsity Green, Aqua, Medium Rose
• Hook:  G (4.0 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• granny squares- 1 color or 2 (colors on each half a diagonal)
• I used Canva to help me figure out color placement to extend out the quilt pattern.
• I am seaming squares using the Mattress Stitch.
• I started working on this after being inspired by NDJen04's video about her scrappy blanket- you can find that find on YouTube.
• I had the 2 color (on the diagonal) granny square memorized but totally forgot how to do those. Here's a helpful video I found that helped refresh my memory.

 

From the Armchair

 

One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London. 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.

 

In My Travels

 

My 12 year old niece, Millie, joined me to do a little recap of our visit to Wayland Winter Farmers' Market- Farm Fiber Days at Russell's Garden Center in Wayland, MA.

 

The sample we saw in the Plied booth is called Super Serene- available on Ravelry.

 

KAL News

Pigskin Party '24 #DCSPigskinParty24

• Event Dates: Thursday September 5, 2024- Monday February 10, 2025
• Find everything you need in the Start Here Thread in the Ravelry Group
• Official Rules
• Registration Form  (you must be Registered to be eligible for prizes)
• Enter your projects using the Point Tally Form
• Find the full list of Sponsors in this Google Doc.
• Coupon Codes are listed in this Ravelry Thread
• Exclusive Items from our Pro Shop Sponsors are listed in this Ravelry Thread
• Questions-  ask them in this Ravelry Thread or email Jen at downcellarstudio @ gmail.com
• Official Sponsor for Q4: Fibernymph Dye Works- Small Gains Challenge (January 2025). Check out this Ravelry Thread for details.
• Commentator Mary Klute's report-

 

It had been very cold lately in North America, even in places that are typically pretty warm in the winter (like Florida getting snow!). This has been no problem for pigskin partiers! The cold weather creates the perfect conditions for cozying up and finishing projects!  In the huddle, there has been lots of discussion about what folks can reasonably finish before the end of the party. There was also an interesting discussion about how many WIPs folks can manage at one time. Unsurprisingly, there are a lot of different opinions on that. 

Earlier this month, 43 players submitted for points as part of the Wild Card WIP challenge! Head on over to that thread to see pictures of projects that players had let languish or even forgot about--butnow they are finished!  

• ladida2u finished some beautiful colorwork mittens just in time for some snow:  https://www.ravelry.com/discuss/down-cellar-studio-podcast/4344427/1-25#16
• plumunou finished a pair of socks.  She'd abandoned the project because the first sock came out too short in the foot--let's face it, we've all been in this sort of situation--this challenge motivated her to finish the second sock and rip out the toe of the first one to lengthen the foot. Now she has a super cute pair of socks:  https://www.ravelry.com/discuss/down-cellar-studio-podcast/4344427/26-50#34
• histoknitter finished a pair of socks that were started in 2007!  Way to go!  https://www.ravelry.com/discuss/down-cellar-studio-podcast/4344427/26-50#37
• hikesandbikes finished a fantastic sweater that is made up of mitered squares.  It's amazing!   https://www.ravelry.com/discuss/down-cellar-studio-podcast/4344427/51-75#58
• and speaking of mitred squares, knitternicole finished a blanket!  She planned out how much of the icord border she needed to do each day to finish and got it done during wild card week:  https://www.ravelry.com/discuss/down-cellar-studio-podcast/4344427/51-75#67

 

Events

• New England Farm & Fiber Festival: February 2 from 11a-5p at the Cyclorama in Boston
• Wayland Winter Farmers' Market- Farm Fiber Days: March 9, 2025 at Russell's Garden Center in Wayland, MA
• Knit North Yarn Crawl: March 13-16.
• Boston Public Market Fiber Fest- Sunday March 23 from 10a-5p. Free Admission
• Knit for Food a thon April 5th  http://www.nelkindesigns.com/index.cfm/page/knitathon/knitathon25.htm  sign up the first weekend in February.
• Fiber Witch Festival: April 11-13 in Salem, MA.
• Gore Place Sheep Sheering Festival- Saturday April 26 from 10a-5p in Waltham, MA.
• Connecticut Sheep & Wool: Saturday April 26 from 9a-4p in North Haven, CT
• Yarncentrick: May 2 in Fredrick, MD
• Maryland Sheep & Wool: May 3 & 4 in West Friendship, MD
• Sheep & Wool Festival at Coggeshall Farm: May 17 in Bristol, RI
• Massachusetts Sheep & Wool Festival- May 24 & 25 in Cummington, MA

 

Contest, News & Notes

 

• Stitched by Jessalu FearLESS Living Fund bags are going out this week and next! 30% going to FearLESS Living Fund. More bags will be listed soon on her website so stay tuned.
• You can buy the FearLESS Living Fund fabric that Jess designed on Spoonflower.
• I don't think I shared but Mom opened hers right before Christmas and cried. It was really beautiful. You can find on my Day 24 Vlogmas video- click here to go right to that part of the video.
• Check out the Millie Makes section on the Down Cellar Studio YouTube Channel. Video 1 is up!
• I've joined Bluesky. I'm Bostonjen1 over there. Come follow-me. Not leaving Instagram, at least not yet, but I'm checking it out.

 

Thank you to KnittyELF40, Erika, who kindly gifted me her new bundle of patterns- Seasonal Blooms on Ravelry.

 

Life in Focus

 

My Word of the Year for 2025: Welcome

Verb: to greet hospitably and with courtesy or cordiality

Verb: to accept with pleasure the occurrence or presence of

Adjective: giving pleasure: received with gladness or delight especially in response to a need (A welcome addition)

 

Why I need this word:

• This year will be a year filled with first after Mom's passing on January 1st. I need to welcome in the new year even when it feels hard, and welcome in whatever emotions come up as I make my way through 2025.
• I've spent much time in the last few years focused on my mom (and I'm so glad I could do that), but now I'll have free time to welcome in new things. I want to be thoughtful about my time, but also open to welcoming in new things that will bring me joy.
• My mother made everyone feel welcome and at home whether physically in her home or just with her as a person. I strive to make people feel welcome in my presence too and to use that to continue to strengthen the bonds of friendship and connection. I hope that this will help me keep alive the many relationships that Mom was able to maintain.
• I am an introvert by nature and love the prospect of staying hour with hours of myself to plot out- but I know that I am happier and more fulfilled when I stay connected with those I love, so this year when I'm tempted to say "no thanks" I will try, when possible, to instead say "we'll come" a variation on welcome.

 

On a Happy Note

• About 20 people showed up for one of Garret's hockey games that was nearby! Beautiful show of support and a fun night out.
• I found the jewelry Mom gave me for Christmas! Surprise surprise, it was in a bag of knitting stuff that was brought home and put down cellar.
• While I missed auditions as we prepped for the funeral, I got a dancing role in Kiss Me Kate with Meg. The show is the last week of April/first weekend in May.
• Millie came for a 2 night sleepover during MLK weekend. She made us pancakes!
• Organizing my mom's things. Eme came over and we look through craft supplies for a new project they want to do. I found a few things for me (mostly scissors and crochet hooks) and I purged some.
• I put away the Christmas tree and put my new plant stand in place! I love it. Dan was going to order me a plant subscription, but instead we'll go together to a local place a few times a year and try to learn a little more about houseplants.
• Dinner with my cousins at local Mexican restaurant.
• I received a beautiful package of watercolor supplies in the mail from Rachel! Thank you so much. I can't wait to dive in.
• I received many cards and notes from several of you. Thank you!!!
• Millie, Ryan and I ran into listener, Donna, at Russell's. So lovely to see you!
• Last weekend Riley came for a sleepover Saturday night. On Sunday, we picked up Aila and checked out one of her favorite antique stores and had a lot of fun browsing.
• Dan invited my Dad, Tom and Oisin for dinner at The Snug.
• Megg, Hattie and I went to see Peter Pan in Boston.

 

Quote of the Week

“Departure of a year welcomes so many new memories” ― Munia Khan

 

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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
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• 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.