Thank you for tuning in to Episode 249 of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. Full show notes and photos can be found on my website.

This week’s segments included:

• Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins
• On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins
• From the Armchair
• Knitting in Passing
• In my Travels
• KAL News
• Events
• Contest, News & Notes
• Ask Me Anything
• On a Happy Note
• Quote of the Week

Thank you to this episode’s sponsors: The Yarn Sellar

The Yarn Sellar is hosting the annual Fiber Marketplace Saturday April 1 2023, from 10-3 pm at the Union Bluff in York Beach Maine. Local vendors will be selling hand dyed yarns, roving, buttons, bags, and  notions. $5 gets you in the door, a 15% off coupon to The Yarn Sellar and a chance to win prizes. Grab your fiber friends and make it a fun filled weekend! Make room reservation by calling 207-363-1333 and visit www.Yarnsellar.com for details.

Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Cloudy Rainbow Socks

• Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry )
• Yarn: Yarn Cafe Creations Biscotti Yarn (85% SW Merino/15% Nylon 4 ply) in the Thestrals Colorway (gray with blips of rainbow colors
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
• Cast on 60 stitches and worked 1/1 rib for 14 rounds. Knit about 2 inches and then reduced to 56 stitches (decreases like a toe- done at the beginning and end of each half of the sock).
• The leg is 10.25 inches before the heel flap.
• My friend Jen from JLsCreativeShop on Etsy sent me new, laser cut bamboo stitch markers that I started using with this project! They each have a knitting related thing on them. Lightweight, easy to take on and off. $14.99 for set of 5. Get 10% off her shop with code BOSTONJEN.

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Mini Skein Hexagon Blanket

• Pattern: Basic Crochet Hexagon Pattern & Tips from Make Do and Crew Website & YouTube Tutorial
• Hook: F (3.75 mm)
• Yarn: Mini skeins from 2022 agirlandherwool Advent Calendar, 24 Days of Cheer Swap minis + other scraps/swap yarn
• Ravelry Project Page
• I’ve been closing the end of each hexagon with this join- link to Instagram post
• 4 rounds per hexagon. 142 hexagons done as of now. 5 half hexagons. 3 pointy ones.
• 3.75 inches each. Likely need over 300
  • Twin sized blanket is 60×80 inches. 17×22 hexis- 374.
• Natalie, Knitty Natty, shared on Instagram that she had an issue with centers of her granny squares opening up in the wash. I’ve had issues with this too. My plan for this blanket is to wash all of the hexagons first before seaming together to try to weed out anything that’s not secure. I’ve also thought of a new idea for knotting mine closed because I’m holding yarn double. I’ll share a video for that soon!

Ninja Turtle Socks

• Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry )
• Yarn: Qing Fibre Dashing Fingering Yarn in the Ninja Turtle Colorway
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• 56 stitches. Cuff Down.
• Laura chose this yarn when we were shopping at Loop London in the Fall of 2022.
• About the yarn: it is the brightest, most neon yellow/green.
• Progress: I’m maybe an inch past the first cuff.

Own Two Feet Socks

• Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry )
• Yarn: Cloudborn Fibers Merino Superwash Sock Twist Tiny Stripe in the Own Two Feet Colorway
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• 56 stitches. Cuff Down.
• About the yarn: 2 round stripes of plum, lavender, brown and gray
• Progress: I’ve turned the first heel.

Benjamin’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! web.archive.org-Christmas Stockings to Knit and Crochet from Our Archives.pdf
• Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver in Cherry Red, Hunter Green and White
• Hook: G (4.0 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page

From the Armchair

Movies

• A Man Called Otto (2022)
• Till (2022)
• The Fabelmans (2022)

Books

• The Measure by Nikki Erlick. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link.
• The Betrayal of Anne Frank; A Cold Case Investigation by Rosemary Sullivan. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link.
• Book Lovers by Emily Henry. 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

• Riley finished the Reinpack Bag (free Ravelry Download she was knitting for my Mom, her grandmother. We bought yarn at Staci’s Stitches. The yarn is a super bulky t-shirt yarn from Hoooked Zpaghetti. She did most of the bag in a white with black polka dots and then black towards the bottom. The black yarn was definitely thinner, which wasn’t ideal but as long as Mom doesn’t use it to store small buttons or screws, it should be just fine.
• I gave Riley a very brief kitchener stitch overview and she flew through the rest of it to close up this bag. I’m so proud of her.

In My Travels

• I visited with Laura in Orleans over the last two weekends. We went to a movie theater to see A Man Called Otto.
• We browsed Provincetown, which is a bit sleepy in the offseason. We had fun browsing a few shops.
• We did a taste test of 3 peanut butter cups. Of the three milk chocolate peanut butter cups, Hilliard’s Candy was our favorite followed by The Providence Fudge Factory and then Hot Chocolate Sparrow. 
• I taught Laura how to make homemade stovetop popcorn and that nearly turned into a disaster when we thought we ruined the bottom of a Les Creuset but were able to clean/remove the stain with vinegar and baking soda.
• We also visited the Antique Center & Cape Abilities Thrift Store in Yarmouth, MA.
• I made a quick trip to Adventures in Knitting in Harwich on Saturday. I bought 2 skeins of yarn and a set of Addi sock needles.
  • Gusto Wool, Carmen in color 1402
  • Edelweiss Fibres Standard Sock in the Hillside Heather colorway (UK company)

KAL News

Pigskin Party’22: The Official Hashtag is #DCSPigskinParty22

• Pigskin Landing Page on the Down Cellar Studio Website.
• Start Here Thread in the Ravelry Group
• Link to the Official Rules
• Player Registration- Google Form
• Check out our amazing Sponsors! Click here for the Google doc with their websites and Instagram profiles.
  • Check out the list of available Coupons from our amazing sponsors- Ravelry Link. Google Doc.
  • Check out the Pigskin Exclusive Items in this Ravelry Thread
• Important Updates in this Episode
  • Tune in to hear if you’re one of our 10 Grand Prize Winners

Pigskin ’22 Wrap-up & Highlights.

• 1030 on Roster this Season
  • 189 people earned 1-25 entries
  • 45 people earned 26-50 entries
  • 17 people got between 51-100 entries
  • 7 of you earned more than 100 entries or more entries towards grand prizes.
• 4,143 entries for Finished Projects
• 693 entries for non-project points
• 2,578 posts on Instagram using #DCSPigskinParty22
• Special Challenges & Bonuses
  • Talkgate Talk
  • Fistbumps and Fives
  • Creepy WIP challenge
  • Night Bright challenge
  • Gratitude WIP Bonus
  • Spread the Warmth challenge
  • Plus 4 Interceptions!
• Our Teams were Part of 3 Conferences this year- Alpaca Conference (Commissioner: Alicia) & Llama Conference (Commissioner: Emily) & Sheep Conference(Commissioner: Heather)
  • Llama Conference won for the 2nd year in a row with over 211k points
  • Sheep took second this year with over 188k points
  • Alpaca Conference had a strong showing with over 161k points
• Highest scoring Team was also in the Llama conference- Team 10 Wildcard WIPers with 67,452 points
  • 2nd Place goes to: Team 7- Garter Guards- 62,789 points
  • In 3rd Place from the Sheep Conference is: Team 12 Sprinting Steekers- 58,213
• Top Players
  • Julia Wagner, Team 11: 22,514 points
  • KathyG, Team 12: 19, 868 points
  • EyeNowHour, Team 3: 19,732 points
  • Kathleen_Ducharme, Team 7: 19,094

Events

• Sunday March 5 from 10:30a-3:00p Farm Fiber Days at Russell’s Garden Center in Wayland, MA Check out this year’s vendors on this page.
• Knit for Food Knit-a-thon 2023 Event: a Fundraiser for Feeding America, World Central Kitchen, No Kid Hungry and Meals on Wheels organized by Laura Nelkin is happening on March 26, 2023
• Saturday April 1 from 10a-3p: The Yarn Seller’s 10th Annual Fiber Marketplace in York, Maine. Click here for details.
• Saturday April 22 from 10a-5p Gore Place Annual Sheepshearing Festival in Waltham, MA. Click here for details.
• Connecticut Sheep & Wool: April 29, 2023 at the North Haven Fairgrounds
• Maryland Sheep & Wool: May 6 & 7th at the Howard County Fairgrounds
• Massachusetts Sheep & Wool: May 27 & 28th at the Cummington Fairgrounds
• Vermont Sheep & Wool: Sept 30 & Oct 1 at the Tunbridge Fairgrounds

Contest, News & Notes

• If you check out JLsCreativeShop on Etsy & would like to purchase laser cut bamboo stitch markers or other items- you can use coupon code BOSTONJEN for 10% off.
  • The progress keeper I shared is a set of 5 for $14.99.
• Conshy Connects Resale Therapy Live Sale on Thursday 3/2 at 7p Eastern on Facebook. Proceeds to benefit the FearLESS Living Fund to benefit the Blind Center of Nevada. Check out this YouTube Video where Mom & I talk more about this event and the Blind Center.

Ask Me Anything

Tune in to hear my answers to these questions

• Aggie asked: “How are you doing?”
• Cher asked: “Project progress please”
• Brittany asked: “When you went to overseas I saw you had a tiny bag attached to your cross body bag for your knitting.”
  • Purse is the Liberty Sling Bag from Anthropologie
  • Smaller bag that I attached with a carabiner was a ball holder from Pearl & Plum Etsy Shop. I believe it was a prototype, drawstring bag. Very lightweight. Not sure if they were ever sold.
• Frances asked: “all about those hexies”

On a Happy Note

• Mom’s friend Vikki came for a visit. Dan and I met Mom, Trish and Vikki for dinner and then they came back to our house for a drink.
• I shared about Mom’s Bucket List with a Twist. Riley’s item was a massive girls party/sleepover. She had an ice cream bar and a popcorn bar, lots of food and other desserts. We played silly games and had a blast!
• Dan & I bought a new washer and dryer to replace our broken one; Dan was so excited to try it out he did a ton of laundry including our sheets, which is my least favorite thing to do!
• Mom successfully completed her last 3-day set of chemotherapy! Her record for keeping nausea and vomiting at bay stands! We are very excited about that. I got to visit with my cousins Susan and Joanie who drove Mom in on the second and third days because my dad had vertigo.
• 90 minute massage, which was even better in the midst of a very busy work week.
• My time with Laura down in Orleans. Lots of talking, movies, & shopping.

Quote of the Week

Any self-prompt that reminds you to focus on flow not ebb, contributes to your greater sense of abundance. – Sarah Breathnach

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
• 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.

• Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins
• On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins
• Brainstorming
• From the Armchair
• Crafty Adventures
• KAL News
• Events
• On a Happy Note
• Quote of the Week

• Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry )
• Yarn: Cascade Heritage Prints in Colorway 111 Aqua
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
• I finished these before the last episode, but I didn't talk about the colorwork I did before each toe. One sock says "just" and the other says "breathe."

• Pattern: Jean Marie by Jennifer Lassonde ($6 knitting pattern available on Ravelry & LoveCrafts).
• Needles: US 9 (5.5 mm)
• Yarn: Section 1: Dirty Water Dyeworks Lillian in Sea Breeze with Knit PIcks Capretta in Colorway 27636. Section 2: Dirty Water Dyeworks Lillian in Mediterranean & Hypnotic Yarn Plush Sock in Clair de Lune. Section 3: Hypnotic Yarn Plush Sock in Clair de Lune with Art by Ewe Signature Yarn in the Sapphire Colorway (70% Baby Alpaca/ 30% Silk). Bind Off: Art by Ewe Signature Yarn in the Sapphire Colorway with a 20g mini of a teal fingering weight yarn (no ball band).
• Ravelry Project Page
• Held fingering yarn doubled and went up a needle size from what pattern calls for. Result is a slightly larger size than the original which was exactly what I wanted.
• Cast on February 1. Finished on February 7. Blocked it, dry in time for Mom's birthday on the 9th.

• Pattern: Jean Marie by Jennifer Lassonde ($6 knitting pattern available on Ravelry & LoveCrafts).
• Needles: US 9 (5.5 mm)
• Yarn: Plymouth Yarn DK Merino Superwash in Black, Light Gray and White (2 skeins each)
• Ravelry Project Page
• Nearly done with Section 1.

• Pattern: Basic Crochet Hexagon Pattern & Tips from Make Do and Crew Website & YouTube Tutorial
• Hook: F (3.75 mm)
• Yarn: Mini skeins from 2022 agirlandherwool Advent Calendar, 24 Days of Cheer Swap minis + other scraps/swap yarn
• Ravelry Project Page
• Check out this Instagram post that talks about the join I've been using for the end of each hex
• 4 rounds per hexagon
• 62 hexagons done as of now

• Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry )
• Yarn: Yarn Cafe Creations Biscotti Yarn (85% SW Merino/15% Nylon 4 ply) in the Thestrals Colorway (gray with blips of rainbow colors
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
• Cast on 60 stitches and worked 1/1 rib for 14 rounds. Knit about 2 inches and then reduced to 56 stitches (decreases like a toe- done at the beginning and end of each half of the sock).
• I am working on the 2 of them in tandem. Each on their own magic loop.

• Tár
• The Banshees of Inisherin
• Check out these articles that talk about the handknits in this movie- Vanity Fair & Esquire.
• All Quiet on the Western Front (German)
• The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse (2022)
• Master (2022)

• West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link.

• I worked with Millie on handmade Valentine cards for her classmates and teachers.
• Millie also made a cute Flamingo from a Plush Craft kit we purchased at Michael's. Here's an affiliate link to a similar one available on Amazon.
• I finished most of the border for the sheep punch needle project that I haven't picked up in more than a year.

• Kit with pattern by Teresa Kogut
• Pattern: PN165- For Ewe
• Link to purchase pattern only on Etsy for $12.
• I purchased my complete kit from Tree House Fiber Arts. Click here for their website.
• Kit included: 7"/9" Morgan hoop, weavers cloth, floss, Ultra Punch Needle, Needle threaders, pattern, instructions.
• Kits no longer available but Rachel may have the other supplies available.
• Helpful resources:
• YouTube Videos by the Woolery & Kate Gillery

• Pigskin Landing Page on the Down Cellar Studio Website.
• Start Here Thread in the Ravelry Group
• Link to the Official Rules
• Player Registration- Google Form
• Check out our amazing Sponsors! Click here for the Google doc with their websites and Instagram profiles.
• Check out the list of available Coupons from our amazing sponsors- Ravelry Link. Google Doc.
• Check out the Pigskin Exclusive Items in this Ravelry Thread
• Important Updates in this Episode
• Tune in to hear if you won a January participation prize
• January Interception: Self Care Bingo by Fitness by Mara. Winner announced!

• Sunday March 5 from 10:30a-3:00p Farm Fiber Days at Russell's Garden Center in Wayland, MA Check out this year's vendors on this page.
• Saturday April 1 from 10a-3p: The Yarn Seller's 10th Annual Fiber Marketplace in York, Maine. Click here for details.
• Saturday April 22 from 10a-5p Gore Place Annual Sheepshearing Festival in Waltham, MA. Click here for details.

• Lunch with the girls, sundaes and popcorn and Tar at Mom's.
• Mom completed another 3 day round of chemo. We got good news that her January scans show the cancer remains the same. No new growth!
• My friend Laura came to visit for the weekend. We spent Friday night at my parents' hanging out and watching movies. We briefly lost power but it came back; cable did not, so thankfully we still had some more screener DVDs. Saturday, we hit some secondhand stores before going back over to Mom's for dinner with my parents, my brother and nieces Riley and Millie. The next day we visited Dan's friend Perry who was recently hospitalized and then to see his youngest brother Dave & our niece Gabriella and nephew Zachary.
• Mom & I each got a haircut (real hair for me, wig for Mom).
• On Thursday 2/9, we had dinner at Maggiano's for Mom & Hattie's birthdays before going to see Hamilton at the Boston Opera House.
• Millie came for her 11th Birthday Sleepover (even though her birthday isn't until 2/20). She wanted to record some videos to share, so look for that on the Down Cellar Studio YouTube Channel soon.

• 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
• 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.