Thank you for tuning in to Episode 251 of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. Full show notes with photos can be found on my website. Click here. This week's segments included:

Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins
On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins
From the Armchair
Crafty Adventures
Knitting in Passing
KAL News
Events
Contest, News & Notes
Life in Focus
Ask Me Anything
On a Happy Note
Quote of the Week

Shout out to Ultimate Insider Patrons: Aggie, Alexis, Alicia, Beth, Erica, Haidi, Kristina, Rachel, Rachel and Steph Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins Grammy's 2nd Jean Marie Shawl

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

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

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins Musselburgh Hat

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.

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

Carmen Socks

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)
Ravelry Project Page

Cloudy + Rainbows Spinning Project

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

This means when I'm spinning, my wheel is spinning clockwise and when plying my wheel is moving counter-clockwise.

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.

Wild Air Farm 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

This means when I'm spinning, my wheel is spinning clockwise and when plying my wheel is moving counter-clockwise.

From the Armchair

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.

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. Crafty Adventures

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

Knitting in Passing

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.

KAL News

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.

Events

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

Mom & I are planning to attend

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)

Contest, News & Notes

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.

Life in Focus Tune in for my update on 23 in 2023.

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!

I celebrated the 11 year anniversary of the Podcast with a quick look back at Episode 1! On a Happy Note

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 cak...