Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

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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

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)

56 stitches. Cuff Down.

About the yarn: 2 round stripes of plum, lavender, brown and gray

Pattern: Musselburgh by Ysolda Teague ($7.77 US/ 6 GBP knitting pattern available on Ravelry or on Ysolda's website)

Yarn: fingering weight yarn from stash in a denim blue (can't find the ballband)

Needles: US 2 (2.75) circular- 32 in (magic loop for beginning & end of project & US 2 (also called US 2.5) 3.0 mm 16-inch circular for the body of the hat

Ravelry Project Page

Size: Adult Medium

Plan: Switch colors half way through. I have a lighter blue skein from On the Round that I purchased at Wicked Good Yarns in Rockland, MA that I want to use to make it a reversible hat.

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)

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: Sock #1 is most of the way through the foot.

Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry )

Yarn: Gusto Wool Carmen Sock Weight Yarn (80/20 Merino/Nylon) in Colorway 1402

Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)

Fiber: 4oz braid of BFL from Frabjous Fibers in the Rainy Day Rainbows Colorway

Description- long stretches of light gray punctuated with shorter blips of rainbow colors

Twist direction: singles = Z plied = S

I bought a new poly drive band for my Kromski Minstrel from Spinning Bunny on Etsy that I heard about on a Kromski Spinning Wheel Owners message board on Ravelry.

Finished spinning all 4 ounces. I would like to ply with other gray fiber.

Fiber: 3.9 ounces of Shetland & Pygora from Wild Air Farm. Tag indicates "Melody & Cadence" which I presume are the animal names. 1 bump in green, 1 bump in blue

Ravelry Project Page

Twist direction: singles = Z plied = S

Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link.

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link.

The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link.

Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link.

I finally got around to hanging up items to create a collage wall in the Down Cellar Studio.

While knitting on my Musselburgh Hat at Oisin's show, the women behind me asked me at Intermission what I was making because she's a "big knitter." I explained about the hat and what a sensation the pattern was. It was nice chatting with her.

The Annual Splash Pad Party is ON for this summer. Save the dates for virtual kick off events Friday & Saturday May 26-27th

Call for sponsors going out soon. Sign up for my email newsletter & check the box for getting Sponsor emails if you want to be the first to know about available sponsor spots. 

Participant sign-ups will start in May.

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

NH Sheep & Wool: May 13 & 14 in Deerfield, NH

Massachusetts Sheep & Wool: May 27 & 28th at the Cummington Fairgrounds

Vermont Sheep & Wool: Sept 30 & Oct 1 at the Tunbridge Fairgrounds

Check out some West Coast (US) Events on the Seattle Knitters Guild site (thanks Kristen- kips206)

I will have a new shawl pattern ready for test knitters soon. I think I will run the test on Ravelry because it's what I know and is easiest and life is still a little challenging for me right now, so thank you for giving me a little grace.

Any tips for brands/types of fake eyelashes to try?

Skiing didn't happen this year. Sigh.

I'm making good progress of reading, going to musicals, sending cards and going to the movies!

Follow-up after Mom's recent scans show things look good. She & Dad headed off to Florida for vacation.

Dan & I helped Dad replace their broken TV and we had a nice dinner together.

My cousin Susan's annual St. Patrick's Day Party with birthday cake for my cousin Christopher whose baby I met for the first time that day and a Bailey's toast to my dear Aunt Florence.

Picked up Riley and Millie to go meet Mom & Trish for mani pedis before Mom & Dad headed to Florida on Vacation.

Seeing Oisin play Shrek in Shrek Jr. at his Middle School.

Girls Game Night at my cousin Joanie's house

Going back to Zumba before my old gym closes.

I had my annual mammogram and thought there was cause for concern but ultrasound proved everything is normal! PSA: Get those boobies checked!! It's important.

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

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 Bobbin

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Brainstorming

From the Armchair

Crafty Adventures

Knitting in Passing

In my Travels

KAL News

Events

On a Happy Note

Quote of the Week

Pattern: Ice Cream Cone by Shannon Holding. Free Crochet Pattern available on the LoopholeFox website & on Ravelry

Hook: C (2.75)

Yarn: Knit Picks Brava in Cotton Candy (pink), Blush (pink), White. Loops & Threads Impeccable in Soft Taupe (cone)

2 scoops of ice cream (instructions include option for 3 scoops).

1st scoop is pink, 2nd scoop is white. Pink and purple sprinkles

Pattern: Cupcake by Stitch11. Free crochet pattern available on this website & on Ravelry.

Hook: C (2.75)

Yarn: Knit Picks Brava in White. Loops & Threads Impeccable in Soft Taupe (cake), Big Twist Twinkle in Gray (wrapper)

Silver sparkle yarn for cupcake wrapper, taupe for cupcake, white frosting with pink and purple sprinkles to match ice cream.

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.

3.75 inches each. Likely need over 300

Over 160 full hexagons done now.

I washed all of my finished hexis (that already had ends woven in), in the washing machine on delicate inside a lingerie bag. The lingerie bag is important because with small pieces, you can lose pieces into your machine and cause problems.

Results:

Learned double magic circle from this YouTube video. The trick is to know how to pull both loops to tighten the loop.

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)

56 stitches. Cuff Down.

About the yarn: it is the brightest, most neon yellow/green. Laura chose this yarn when we were shopping at Loop London in the Fall of 2022.

Progress: Sock #1 is beyond the heel.

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)

56 stitches. Cuff Down.

About the yarn: 2 round stripes of plum, lavender, brown and gray

Progress: Just finished the heel of the second sock.

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)

Progress: finished green panel. Almost done w/ the red.

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

Just finished Section 2 of 3.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link.

Modern Loss: Candid Conversations about Grief. Beginners Welcome. by Rebecca Soffer and Gabrielle Birkner. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link.

Part of your World by Abby Jimenez. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link.

I finished my January-June Covid Photo Book/Scrapbook that I made in Shutterfly and ordered it!

I started working on second half of the year. I have notes about each day of the year that I'm mostly copying/pasting into Shutterfly and adding photos from Google Photos which makes it easier. So grateful I journaled during 2020 as it will likely end up being one of the wildest year of our lives.

Riley texted me that she's ready for her next knitting project. We purchased some Goosey Fibers yarn at Yarn's End during the Cape & South Shore Yarn Haul so she can knit the Riley Rose Cowl, which, yes, is named after her. You can find my pattern on Ravelry & LoveCrafts.

Mom, Millie & I went to Russell's Garden Center for Farm Fiber Days Event.

Blue Heron Farm set-up table for people to learn Needle Felting. Millie made a butterfly and then a bunny. We purchased a needle felting kit from them. Later Mom found cookie cutters.

Millie got lots of snuggle time with 2 French Angora Rabbits that she wants to convince her dad to adopt. Thank you, Jessica.

I purchased two batts of Shetland from Wild Air Farm in Bolton, MA.

I also chose 3 minis from Sassy Black Yarns.

Millie chose a skein of Making Tracks from Junction Fiber Mill

I emailed all Grand Prize Winners and the sponsors who donated their prizes. Check your email if you haven't already.

Splash Pad preliminary prep underway

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

Getting more minis from Nicole in the mail!

Met up with my friend Gary from college for coffee while he was in Boston.

Hattie's first ever birthday sleepover for her 5th Birthday. I picked her up and then we picked up Millie, at Hattie's request. We had a low key night at home, and went to the Children's Museum the next morning. Hattie was overtired, so we drove her home and then Millie and I met up with my parents to head back into Boston for Riley's dance competition. Mom, Dad, Jeff, Millie, Garret and I all went to an early dinner between her performances.

Monday night at a local Irish pub listening to live music for Megg's birthday.

Last Saturday, Megg dropped off Oisín to work with Dan, and we all had breakfast before Megg and I went off for a hike. We got back to the car just as the rain started.

Millie's Bucket List with a Twist item was to ride horses with Grammy in the snow. It nearly snowed on Saturday May 11, but it was too warm. Thankfully, the rain stopped while we were inside the barn at Nancy & Roger's house, meeting the animals. Our friend Terri is friends with Nancy and Roger who kindly and enthusiastically agreed to help make Millie check off her bucket list item. We met all of the animals, most of whom were rescued. They have a very silly goat, some miniature horses (Goliath, Delilah & Princess Buttercup), 2 Gypsy Vanners (Zoe & her mother Dulcie) and another large horse, Scooter. Mom and I each rode Zoe and Millie rode Dulcie.

Garret's 13th birthday sleepover. We went to Altitude to jump on the trampolines, to Panera for dinner and then he taught me how to edit videos using the CapCut app.

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

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.