Thank you for tuning in to Episode 306 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
• Some Years Later
• In my Travels
• KAL News
• Events
• Ask Me Anything
• On a Happy Note
• Quote of the Week

  Thank you to this episode's sponsors: Stitched by Jessalu, Fibernymph Dye Works & AdoreKnit   Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins   Mayor of Halloween Town Socks

• Yarn: Woolens & Nosh Targhee Sock in the Mayor of Halloween Town colorway
• 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   Sweetly Striped Hat

• Pattern: Sweetly Striped Hat by Chit Chat Knits. $4.50 knitting pattern available on Ravelry
• Yarn: Berroco Vintage in colorway 5185 Tide Pool
• Needles: US 6 (4.0 mm) & US 8 (5.0 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• Pattern: Snack Shack Sponsor- Chit Chat Knits- 20 points
• Project Bag & Notions Pouch- Pro Shop Sponsor The Huckleberry Girl- 40 pts each= 80 points
• Check out this video on how to do a 1x1 left & right cross without a cable needle from my YouTube Channel
• Progress: I need one more repeat & will begin crown decreases

  Traveler Sweater

• Pattern: The Traveler by Andrea Mowry ($9 pattern available on Ravelry & the designer's website)
• Yarn: Hazel Knits Small Batch Sport (90/10 SW/Nylon)
• Needles: US 3 (3.25 mm) & US 4 (3.5 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• Progress: 18 purl ridges done; blocking to see if I have enough of the body knit or if I want to add more length.

  Born to Be Mild Socks

• Yarn: Hypnotic Yarn Plush Sock in the Born to Be Mild Colorway
• Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• Progress- Part of the way through the cuff on sock #2.
• About the yarn: tan base with browns and robin's egg. It reminds me of a robin's nest.

  Game Day Party Socks

• Yarn: Mandi's Makings SW Merino Fingering Weight Yarn in the Pigskin '25 Exclusive Game Day Party Colorway. Green mini skein for heel from Goosey Fibers (Wizard of Oz Advent Calendar yarn)
• Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
• Ravelry Project Page
• Yarn: Pigskin '25 Exclusive- 60 points
• Progress: just beyond the heel on the first sock

  Log Cabin Blanket

• Pattern: Log Cabin Square by Julie Harrison. Free crochet pattern available on Ravelry. Video tutorial available on the Little Woollie Makes YouTube Channel
• Yarn: Legacy Fiber Artz Minis (mostly from Advent calendars 2023 & 2024)
• Hook: I (5.5 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• Inspired by Rachel (treehousefiberarts on Instagram) and Sue & Chelsea (Legacy Fiber Artz on Instagram). Check out the Floss Toss Ravelry Group for details on their Scrappy Blanket CAL; you do not have to use this pattern. Any scrappy crochet blanket counts.
• My color placement is inspired by this project/pattern available on Ravelry. The basic idea is that you use 1 main color for Rounds 1 & 3 (center and outer square), and then 4 separate colors for the 4 sides of the middle square)
• Round 1 & Round 3 done using same colors (2 sock yarns held together)- totals about 22g (11g of each colorway)
• Contrast Colors: total weight of yarns used (reminder- yarns are held double so I only need half the weight listed for each mini). CC 1 & 2: 2g needed. CC 3 & 4: 4g needed
• Progress: 9 so far - 2 new ones this month

  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: ~3/4 way through first bump. 1st bobbin full and the second is well underway

  Brainstorming

• Check out these designs by our Pigskin Sponsors that call for Super Bulky Yarn- Ravelry Link
• I may try the Fabled Hat pattern by Maggie of Yarnaceous Fibers-$6 Ravelry pattern or the Copper Foxes Super Bulky cowl by Kacey Knits, a $7 Ravelry Pattern
• Tiny scarf like the Sophie Scarf (Ravelry Pattern) but I likely won't use a pattern since many of my shawls that are knit side to side start off similarly.
• Christmas gifts- toys for the littlest of the nieces/nephews. More to come on the next episode. 
• The Love in Stitches Membership is working on colorwork sweaters and cozies.

  From the Armchair

• The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. Amazon Affiliate Link.
• Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. Amazon Affiliate Link.
• Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green. Amazon Affiliate Link.
• The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand & Shelby Cunningham. Amazon Affiliate Link.
• The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell. 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.   Some Years Later   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
• Learned double magic circle from this YouTube video.
• Update: I took this blanket camping in Vermont, washed it when it came home and many of the centers burst open. So frustrating. I thought the double magic circle was the key but no, perhaps not. I will do a chain/slip stitch beginning moving forward.

  In My Travels I shared a bit about our recent trip to Vermont.   KAL News   Pigskin Party '25

• Event Dates: KAL Dates- Thursday September 4, 2025- Monday February 9, 2026
• 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
• Check out this Ravelry Thread with helpful tips for the event, crowd sourced from our incredible players.

  Updates In This Episode

• Our first Official Sponsor of the Quarter is Love in Stitches with Knitty Natty is hosting a Cozy Up Challenge! Check out all of the details in this Ravelry Post. Join Knitty Natty & me for a special zoom hangout Thursday 10/2 at 8p Eastern. Cast on, chat, learn about some of Natalie's cool cozy patterns and have some fun. Use code "PIGSKINPARTY" to save 10% on Natalie's cozy patterns. Details in the Start Here Thread.
• Official Sponsor for Quarter 2 (November)- Twice Sheared Sheep
• Official Sponsor for Quarter 3 (December)- Suburban Stitcher
• Official Sponsor for Quarter 4 (January)- Yarnaceous Fibers
• The Pink Challenge also kicks off 10/1/25. Check out the challenge details in this Ravelry Thread & don't forget to make an appointment if you're due for a mammogram or other screening.
• The Charity Challenge is also ready- check out the details in this Ravelry Thread.

  Events

• Vermont Sheep & Wool. October 4 & 5
• Indie Untangled. October 17
• CAKEpalooza. October 17
• A Woolen Affair. October 17
• NY Sheep & Wool (aka Rhinebeck). October 18 & 19.
• Down Cellar Studio Meet up at Saturday 2p at the Pavilion to the left of the beer tent! Come and say hi.
• The Fiber Festival of New England. November 1 & 2
• Sunkissed Fiber Festival: January 24-25, 2026- just outside Tampa, FL

  Ask Me Anything  

• Tune in to hear answers MikkaelaB asked about the Pigskin Party. 
• Check out the Ask Me Anything Thread in Ravelry to ask a question and hear my answer on an upcoming episode.

  On a Happy Note

• Dinner in Plymouth with my Mom's cousins
• Adult Ballet Class
• Vermont Trip
• Seeing the Mrs. Doubtfire musical
• Finding out my niece Hattie was cast as Gretl in a local production of The Sound of Music
• Going to the movies! Laura & I saw The Long Walk, based on a 1979 Stephen King novel
• Participating in a Clothing Swap & doing second-hand shopping with friends.
• Raffa Life in Cranston, RI- saunas, steam rooms & cold plunge

  Quote of the Week "With every choice, you create the life you'll live; with every decision you design it." Mollie Marti   ------   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
• 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.