Episode 296: Another Openin'

 

Thank you for tuning in to Episode 296 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 (2nd Episode of the Month)

 

Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

 

Pop Tart

• Pattern: None
• Yarn: Knit Picks Brava & Joann Big Twist Value Solids in Natural Colorway + variegated yarn (fingering weight held double)
• Hook:C (2.75 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• Made for Eme's birthday as a cute something to open. Gifted with a box of edible poptarts.

 

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: All of the spinning of the singles is done- finally.

 

David... Fold in the cheese socks

• Yarn: Legacy Fiber Artz in the David...Fold in the cheese!!!! colorway (with cream/gray mini skein)
• Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• About the yarn- cream, pink and blue to match rose apron David wears in this episode of Schitt's Creek.
• I did a shorter than usual leg- 5.25 inches and 9.5 inch foot. The first sock 28 grams, using CC for toe and cuff, so I should have enough for a second pair of socks with this yarn.

 

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

 

Hot pink spinning

• Fiber: Mountain Vewe Coopworths Fiber in hot pink (no specific colorway name)- three 4oz bumps
• 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: ~1/2 way through first bump. 1st bobbin nearly full.

 

Granny Square Tan Top

• Yarn: MC- Cloudbourn Fibers Wool Fingering Twist in Natural (1 skeins), Advent Mini Skeins from Legacy Fiber Artz (Steel Toes Base) & Fibernymph Dye Works (Bounce Base)- both from 2024.
• Hook: D (3.25 mm)
• Pattern: none
• Ravelry Project Page
• 3 round granny squares: Round 1= more tonal color, Round 2= speckled, Round 3= natural
• Yarn organization: I put 2 sets of colors in each mostly clear zippered pouch from my Yarnable Subscription kits. It keeps the yarn from the mini skeins from getting tangled.
• Progress: Squares to date: 25 squares.

 

Boss A$$ B|tc# Socks

• Yarn: Woolens & Nosh Superwash Targhee Fingering in the Boss A$$ B|tc# Colorway (purposely not spelled out here, though it is on the label)
• Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• 90g of yarn to start
• About the Yarn: Self striping with yellow, tan, peach, pink, light aqua, teal & navy
• Progress: cast on 1st sock. Finished cuff and an inch or two into leg.

 

Dinosaur T-Rex and Pterodactyl

• Pattern: Dinosaur T-Rex and Pterodactyl by Anita Suriaa- $5.99 crochet pattern on Ravelry
• Yarn: Knit Picks Brava Worsted
• Hook: 2.5 mm
• Progress: I've made T-Rex head and body. Thought I'd run out the yarn for the body (25g mini).

 

Brainstorming

Advent brainstorm- Granny Wrap available on Ravelry. Kristina- foryouandyarn- reminded me that I love Ali's Starryeyesali's Ravelry Project Page.

 

From the Armchair

• The Crow Trap by Ann Cleves.  Amazon Affiliate Link.
• A Window Opens by Elisabeth Egan. Amazon Affiliate Link.
• Annie Bot by Sierra Greer.  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

My cousin Ava knit the Storm Sweater by Petite Knit for her boyfriend Luke.

• Pattern available on Ravelry & the Petite Knit Website (~$8 knitting pattern)

 

KAL News

• The Splash Pad Party celebrates its 10th year and officially opens on June 1st. Save the date for some fun kick off events that day!
• Interested in sponsoring? Check out this link for details.

 

Events

• New Hampshire Sheep and Wool:  May 10-11 in Deerfield, NH
• Webs Tent Sale: May 16-17 in Northhampton, MA
• Sheep & Wool Festival at Coggeshall Farm: May 17 in Bristol, RI
• Massachusetts Sheep & Wool: May 24 & 25- Cummington, MA
• Flock Fiber Festival in Seattle, WA August 8-10

 

 

Life in Focus

• I shared an update on my Word of the Year for 2025: Welcome & some 25 in 2025 list.

 

25 in 2025 list

• 1) Donate Blood at least 4 times (January, March)
• 4) Go camping (scheduled for June)
• 10) Record 2-5 things I'm grateful for each day before bed (more days than not counts)
• 13) Get at least 2 massages at Oasis (1 in April)
• 17) Crochet at least 5 toys (1: hedgehog 2&3: Love Bugs, 4 pop-tart, 5 butterfly. WIPs-Another butterfly & TRex)
• 18) Use my spinning wheel at least once a month (Done monthly so far)
• 23) Buy a firebox and put important papers inside (working with Dan on list of things to put in it)
• https://www.thenokbox.com (Debbie, deafelis recommended)
• 25) Purge at least 20 items of clothing/accessories/shoes
• Probably have at least this much done

 

On a Happy Note

• Shucked musical. We had dinner at Democracy Brewing beforehand. Delicious tacos and good beer.
• Celebrating April Birthdays
• Decorating for Easter with Dad, Millie and Garret
• Celebrating Easter with the family!
• The Pulse on Netflix- my cousin Michael William Freeman was in the last few episodes.
• I survived tech week and had the forethought to take off Friday before opening weekend.
• Laura came in from NYC for my show.
• Opening of Kiss Me Kate!

 

Quote of the Week

“Because the birdsong might be pretty,

But it's not for you they sing,

And if you think my winter is too cold,

You don't deserve my spring.”

― Erin Hanson

 

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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 my Down 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.