Episode 310: Of Goose & Turkey

 

Thank you for tuning in to Episode 310 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
• From the Armchair
• KAL News
• Contest, News & Notes
• Life in Focus
• Ask Me Anything
• On a Happy Note
• Quote of the Week

 

Thank you to this episode's sponsors: Stitched by Jessalu

 

Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

 

Dan's Birthday Hat

• Pattern: Turn a Square by Jared Flood. $5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry & Brooklyn Tweed Site
• Yarn: Yarnbaker DK ((75% SW Merino/25% Nylon) in the Burnt Indigo Colorway (dusty navy blue with black
• Needles: US 5 (3.75 mm) & US 7 (4.5 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• I used 54g of yarn and have 52g left.
• It was living in my Stitched by Jessalu Rhinebeck bag which is, for now, my hat bag.

 

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 heels/toes 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
• 62g used

 

Aila's Goose Bag

• Pattern: None. Using this Ravelry Project Page as a guide
• Yarn: Loops & Threads Impeccable in the Aran colorway (~400g skein)
• Hooks: G (4.0 mm) & H (5.0 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• Started at the bottom with smaller hook and holding yarn double. ch31 work both sides of that to create the base. increased up to 62 stitches. larger hook. SC around for sides.
• 7 sts for handle (smaller hook) with the goose head at end of handle which is attached to other side of the bag. Then I added feet at the bottom.

 

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

 

Kris' Christmas Socks

• Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
• Yarn: West Yorkshire Spinners in the Fairy Lights colorway 
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• I knit pair of socks out of this same colorway for Mom in 2019- Ravelry Project Page here. That was my 100th pair of OMG Heel socks.
• Progress: I am almost to the toe of sock 1.

 

Over the Rainbow Socks

• Yarn: Cashmere & Coconuts MCN Sock yarn in the Somewhere Over the Rainbow colorway
• Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• About the colorway:
• Yarn was gift from Kris on Mom's 1st heavenly birthday. I decided these will be for Hattie (my niece who is Mom's birthday twin).
• Progress: I'm on the leg of sock 2.

 

Zoe Hat

• Pattern: Zoe Hat by Alexandra Davidoff- $6 knitting pattern available on Ravelry
• Yarn: Berrocco Vintage in a teal color
• Needles: US 5 (3.75 mm) & US 7 (4.5 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• Laura picked out this yarn at Knitty City in NY
• Progress: I am still on the ribbing.

 

Elsa

• Pattern: Queen Elsa Amigurumi by Chiara Cremon (free crochet pattern available on Ravelry)
• Yarn: Knit Picks Brava (worsted weight acrylic yarn)
• Hook: D (3.25 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• Progress: just barely started the legs.

 

From the Armchair

 

Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah. Amazon Affiliate Link.

Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld. 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 '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

• Count On It Challenge hosted by Twice Sheared Sheep, Official Sponsor for Quarter 2 (November). Details in this Ravelry thread.
• Official Sponsor for Quarter 3 (December)- Suburban Stitcher Mini Maker's Merry Month See details in this Ravelry Thread.
• Stay tuned for more about our Official Sponsor for Quarter 4 (January)- Yarnaceous Fibers

 

Commentator Update (links in this section go to Ravelry)

Like most of the knitting internet, our November huddle has had lots of chatter about the game of wool, including tips for how to watch it if you are in the US!  This has spawned lots of conversations about:

• how long it really takes to knit something, 
• how hard on your body it can be to knit for long periods of time, and
•  whether crafting with time pressure is a fun challenge or just robs the joy out of our hobby. 

Several pigskin partiers have shared their experiences with times crafting challenges, such as the sheep to sweater challenges, sock madness, and the super sock world challenge. 

 

In other news, players are posting some amazing projects in the end zone dance thread!  A few players have completed some really intricate projects lately.  For example,

 

• Enchantingpastime recently completed an amazing C2C crochet blanket with a penguin wearing a Santa hat!  It is so cute. https://www.ravelry.com/projects/Enchantingpastime/larger-penguin-blanket
• Fgcreations completed some fabulous colorwork "spooky bogeyman mitts: https://www.ravelry.com/projects/fgcreations/spooky-bogeyman-mittens
• Adrie9 completed a lovely sunset silhouette hat https://www.ravelry.com/projects/adrie9/sunset-silhouette-hat

What a talented group of players we have! 

 

Contest, News & Notes

Check out this Gay Sheep Fashion Show article that I heard about on the 7 podcast from the Washington Post

 

Life in Focus

 

25 in 2025

1. Donate Blood at least 4 times (January, March, May, Sept) - done
2. Go shopping for plants with Dan 4 times in the year
3. Buy new ski boots- done
4. Go camping (scheduled for June)- done
5. Kayak 2-5 times (Saco- 2 days)- done
6. Do at least 5 walks with others- done
7. Take 2-5 yoga classes- will not complete
8. Do at least 30 lessons in Mondly- will still try
9. Spend a day at Raffa Life-  done
10. Record 2-5 things I'm grateful for each day before bed (more days than not counts)- I've fallen off.
11. Read all of Simple Abundance- gave up. Got too religious for me.
12. Read at least 60 books- - 58 books as 11/29
13. Get at least 2 massages at Oasis- done
14. See 2-5 movies in the theater- done
15. Knit 2-5 garments for me- done
16. Finish and enjoy my Christmas Granny Square Blanket- not happening this year.
17. Crochet at least 5 toys- done
18. Use my spinning wheel at least once a month- all but May & June! Calling this a win
19. Have a crafty day with Emelie- done
20. Knit a slouchy hat for myself-  not yet but it could still happen.
21. Try out 3 new to me podcasts- done
22. Watch White Christmas with Jenny & Kara- its on the calendar
23. Buy a firebox and put important papers inside- working with Dan on finding the right one.
24. Create a list of things to pack in case of an evacuation- not done yet
25. Purge at least 20 items of clothing/accessories/shoes- done

 

Ask Me Anything

 

Tune in to hear my answer to this question:

Hi,

I'm a newer listener to your podcast and really enjoy it.  But just how fast do you knit?

It seems you have a job (in addition to the podcast), have time to be in a musical, family,,...yet your projects seem to fly off the needles.  How do you get it all done?  Are you knitting constantly??

Slow at knitting,

Cathleen

 

On a Happy Note

• My cousin Jenny hosted a girls/cousins game night. We had a lot of fun!
• Dad, Jeff, Riley, Millie & I started decorating at Dad's and then had a big Wicked (part 1) watch party in the evening. Megg, Eme, Ois, Hattie, Kris, Aila, Riley, Millie, Kara and Emelie all came. Only 3 of them had seen it before.
• Laura's visit- our craft fair tradition, lots of laughter with Megg and some great second-hand finds to add to my winter wardrobe
• Seeing Cabaret with Megg and Terri
• A surprise 4 Sundays advent box delivery from Legacy Fiber Artz- thanks Sue & Chelsea!!
• Fiber Club at my local library
• Thanksgiving with the family! 
• My cousin Joanie gifted Dad, Jeff and me each an ornament with flowers from mom's funeral made into beads and put together with crystals into a beautiful snowflake ornament
• Wicked For Good!

 

Quote of the Week

"Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received. Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling. Thanksgiving is the following of that impulse."

— Henry Van Dyke

 

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• Ravelry: BostonJen & Down Cellar Studio Podcast Ravelry Group
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• 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.