Episode 262: Mojo

Down Cellar Studio Podcast

Thank you for tuning in to Episode 262 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
• KAL News
• Events
• Ask Me Anything
• On a Happy Note
• Quote of the Week

Thank you to this episode's sponsors: Stitched by Jessalu, Bella Fio & Mandis Makings Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins Wild Air Farm Spinning

• I am spinning a 4 oz braid of Polwarth/Silk (85/15) from Jakira Farms to ply with Wild Air Farm Shetland & Pygora- Melody & Cadence (dyed in blues and greens)
• 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.
• Ravelry Project Page
• Skein 1: 60" loop. 94 wraps= 5640 inches/156 yards. 92g
• Skein 2: 59" loop. 95 wraps= 5605 inches/155 yards. 96g
• Skein 3: 60" loop. 116 wraps= 6960 inches/193 yards. 96 g
• Total: 284 grams- 504 yards/ 460.9 meters
• Meters for Stash Dash= 4x 460.9 (for a 3 ply)= 1843.6 meters

My total for Stash Dash 2023= 22,908.44 You can check out my Stash Dash 2023 Progress on this Google Sheet. Petrichor Socks

• Yarn: Oink Pigments Targhee Sock in the Petrichor Colorway (90% Targhee, 10% Nylon)
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
• Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry )
• Ravelry Project Page
• I used 74 grams of yarn.

Shock Star Hat #2

• Yarn: Spun Right Round Squish DK in the Shock Star colorway
• Needles: US 5 (3.75 mm) & US 7 (4.5 mm)
• Pattern: none
• Ravelry Project Page
• 92 sts. 2x2 rib with the US 5 needles. Switched to US 7 needles after the brim. I was running out of yarn as I got close to the crown so I striped in 3 rounds of neon coral and neon blue with the Shock Star color in between.
• 52g of yarn used.

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins Bedside Pocket

• Pattern: None
• Yarn: Kindful Yarn, Swish DK, Kenzie Yarn, Cape Cod Yarn Co
• Hook: 6.5 mm (K)
• Ravelry Project Page
• I started this project on 9/4.
• 75 sts across. Single crochet.
• First section- Kindful yarn with Swish DK in Mimic
• Second section- Kenzie Yarn with Cape Cod Yarn Co

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
• Progress: Past the cuff of the second sock (not the heel as I mentioned last time).

Space Daddy Socks

• Yarn: Fan Girl Fibers Fingering in the Space Daddy Colorway (80% Superwash Merino, 20% Nylon)
• 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 colorway- blues with pink, neon yellow, purple.
• I bought this yarn at the Yarncentric event before the Maryland Sheep & Wool festival this year. I bought it with my friend Laura in mind. During her last visit, I asked her to pick out new yarn for socks. She picked out three skeins and decided this should be #1.
• Progress: I'm in a couple inches beyond the first cuff.
• Don't forget, Fan Girl Fibers is a Pro Shop sponsor. This project is living in a wedge bag from Snack Shack Sponsor Stitched by Jessalu.

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
• Hook: 3.25 mm (D)
• Ravelry Project Page
• Progress: 9 squares for September complete. I'm planning to buy a neutral sock yarn to seam and border them with. Each month's 3x3 square will have a border around it and then be seamed with the other 11 for the year.
• You can find my September 2023 Let the Mystery Unravel Unboxing Video on YouTube.
• This subscription is not available to new subscribers but I hope you'll watch each month and see how my blanket comes along. Stay tuned to Woolen Women for all of the fun kits they have! Don't forget, they're Pro Shop Sponsors.

Strathcona Sweater

• Pattern: Strathacona Sweater by Tara-Lynn Morrison ($6.50 knitting pattern available on Ravelry or on the Good Night, Day website)
• Yarn: 3 yarns 1) handspun, 2) Lion Brand Fisherman's Wool in the Birch Tweed Colorway 3) Aisling Yarns BFL in the Hurry Sundown Colorway
• Needles: US 13 (9.0 mm) (neck), US 19 (15 mm) (body)
• I'm knitting Size S/M (pattern offers sizing from 38"- 53" bust)
• Ravelry Project Page

Drawn Together Cowl

• Pattern: Drawn Together by Shana Cohen ($7 knitting pattern available on Ravelry & Payhip)
• Needles: US 6 (4.0 mm) and a 3.75 mm (F) crochet hook for the provisional cast on
• Yarn: neon coral DK yarn (lost ball band; believe its from Spun Right Round)
• Provisional cast on using this Purl Soho video.
• I flew through the rolled top, ripped out provisional cast on and joined it together on the train which, I must say made me feel like a wizard!

Brainstorming Patterns from our Pigskin Bundle on Ravelry

• Wear it with Pride Hat by Cori Eichelberger ($10 pattern available on Ravelry. Proceeds go to the Trevor Project. There is a coupon code available if you want/need to pay less). It uses worsted weight self striping with a contrast color and corrugated ribbing to create a nice pattern.
• Easy Striped Men's Beanie by Lena Mathisson ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry). Worsted weight, striped beanie.
• Shave Ice Beanie (worsted weight garter stitch hat) by @hookmountainhandmade- $5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry.⁣⁣
• Gandy Dancer Mitts (star stitch textured mittens) by @chitchatknits ⁣$4 knitting pattern available on Ravelry (great for variegated or tonals)
• Lucky Break (garter shawl using minis where you bind off/cast back on to create large eyelets) by @paperdaisycreations $7 knitting pattern available on Ravelry.

From the Armchair

• Verity by Colleen Hoover. 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. KAL News Pigskin Party '23

• #DCSPigskinParty23
• Official Rules
• Find everything you need on my website or in the Start Here Thread in the Ravelry Group
• Register using this Google 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 Google Doc & 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
• Tailgate Talk Challenge (September 7-21. Enter for points by September 30). Check out the details in this Google Doc or in this Ravelry Thread.
• Playoff Prediction starts 9/6. Who will win the Super Bowl? Submit your guess by 9/20. Find all the details in this thread. Thanks Nicole for the idea!
• Official Sponsors of the Quarter: There will be a special point-earning challenge issued for this "Quarter"- Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan. We won't reveal all of the challenges ahead of time, but you will find out about them in the days leading up to that month. You can assume, correctly, that you will get more points for using products from that Official Sponsor.
• October: Paper Daisy Creations
• November: Bella Fio
• December: Mandi's Makings
• January: Lolodidit
• Welcome aboard to our 2 Commentators- Mary (Maryklute) and Kristen (Kips206)! THis episode I shared Mary's first report.
• Pigskin started with a bang! Over 1000 posts before the Sunday football games even started! One topic of the chatter has been that it has been so chatty, with lots of folks offering the advice to just jump in and not worry about what you missed!
• People are all over the place in terms of projects. 38 people already had points on the board by midday Sunday! 16 of those people got points for drafting other players!
• Erica -- Esalaza has already completed two projects that used over 600 yards each! She’s been making crochet scrap yarn baskets that are super cute! You can find her Ravelry Project Pages here & here (both are Ravelry links)
• There’s lots of chatter in the team threads as people complete the Tailgate Talk challenge.
• Some folks (like me” are working on finishing up pre-PSP WIPs There’s still plenty of time to play so no worries if you haven’t even cast on a PSP eligible project yet. To quote imaginedlandscapes, “This knitalong is definitely a marathon and not a sprint.”

Events

• Vermont Sheep & Wool: Sept 30 & Oct 1 at the Tunbridge Fairgrounds
• NY Sheep & Wool Festival in Rhinebeck - October 21 & 22, 2023
• Indie Untangled: Friday October 20 from 10a-4p in Saugerties. Tickets for 1, 2:30p and 4p still available.
• Cakepalooza: Friday October 20 from 10a-5p in Saugerties. Tickets for the 2p & 4p entries are still available
• Wool & Folk: Friday October 20 from 12-7p in Stoneridge, NY
• Fiber Festival of New England: November 4 & 5 in West Springfield, MA
• Check out some West Coast (US) Events on the Seattle Knitters Guild site (thanks Kristen- kips206)

Ask Me Anything

• Shana asked to hear about "Savers!"
• Rachel asked for a wildlife update.
• Anita asked "Ideas for getting ready for the holidays- decorations and gifts. Check out links to some of the things I discussed:
• Decor
• Christmas Balls Ornament Set- knitting pattern by Amy Gaines. $4 knitting pattern available on Ravelry.
• Triangle Santa Ornament- free knitting pattern available on this blog.
• Sarah's (of Imagined Landscapes) gnomes
• I've crocheted triangles and seamed together, put stuffing in between and attached to a twig glued to a ring of wood as the base to make a tree- similar to this Pin. You could do the same thing with knitted fabric.
• Crochet star ornaments (could also be used as garland). I used cream sparkle yarn and used mod podge stiffener on them.
• Knitted Christmas garland ideas can be found here.
• Gifts
• Heart Garland (crochet) free pattern from Skip to my Lou (great to get ready for Valentine's Day- I also printed small photos & gifted them with mini clothespins from craft store)
• Nanaimo Cardigan by Tara-Lynn Morrison
• Moonrise Necklace by Sivia Harding. You can find my Ravelry Project Page here.
• DK weight socks
• Baskets- there are tons of patterns for crochet baskets. Useful + cute! You could use them as the container for other gifts too.
• Cup cozy (great to pair with a gift certificate to your favorite local coffee place)
• Fingerless mitts. Sizing is easier to guess on, aim for a ribbed pattern if you're really unsure about sizing.
• Toys!

On a Happy Note

• Labor Day weekend fun. Laura was in visiting from NY. Friday we scored big at the local second hand shops. We had an epic pool day at my parents' on Saturday. Sunday we hit the local dairy for ice cream with the girls then went to Megg's for dinner before seeing a Queen Cover Band at night.
• Pigskin Kick Off & getting to spend so much time with you.
• The New York Times Games App: Wordle, Spelling Bee, Connections, Daily Mini are my favorites
• Decorating for fall!
• I scored a Luke's Diner tee from the clearance section at Target after Aila suggested it.
• Stretching & Theragunning on a regular basis now that Liz and I text to check in on each other.
• Liz took a picture of Millie's creepy baby doll which I later found on my phone and laughed myself silly over. Then Riley found the photo and made it one of my scrolling background/screensaver photos! Hijinx for the win!

Quote of the Week Each of us is born with a box of matches inside us but we can't strike them all by ourselves. –LAURA ESQUIVEL 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
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• 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.