Episode 320: Venom, Inclinations & More

Thank you for tuning in to Episode 320 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
• On a Happy Note
• Quote of the Week

Thank you to this episode's sponsors: Heart & Squirrel & AdoreKnit Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins Venom

• Pattern: Venom Keychain crochet pattern available on Ravelry for $5 & on Etsy (on sale for $1.50 in May 2026).
• Yarn: Vanna's Choice in Black, Knit Picks Brava (red) & white felt for eyes and mouth
• Hook: C (2.75 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• Glue used: Aleene's Fabric Fusion

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins Inclinations Cowl

• Inclinations Cowl by Andrea Mowry ($7.00 Knitting Pattern available on Ravelry & her website.
• Needles: US 2 (2.75 mm)
• Yarn: 2 skeins of handspun Color A: Fiber Addict Designs 100% Merino in the Wild Plum Colorway- Ravelry link. Color B: Candombe, I think the fiber is from Malabrigo- Ravelry link.
• My Ravelry Project Page

Jelly Roll Blanket

• Pattern: Crocheted Jelly Roll Blanket by Kay F Jones ($6.70 US on Ravelry)
• Hook: H (5.0 mm)
• Yarn: Legacy Fiber Artz Steel Toes Mini Skeins + other minis from stash
• Ravelry Project Page
• I was inspired by KnitwithNat's blanket- check it out on Instagram.
• Progress: on my 6th strip

Midnight Orchid Socks

• Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
• Yarn: Patons Kroy Stripes in the Midnight Orchid colorway
• Ravelry Project Page
• About the yarn: skinny stripes of cream with contrast colors- greens, ochre and mauvy purples.
• Progress: Cast on both socks on two separate needles. First sock is finished. The second is just beyond the heel.

Merry Christmas Kevin

• Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
• Yarn: Legacy Fiber Artz, Steel Toes in the Merry Christmas, Kevin colorway
• Ravelry Project Page
• Progress: turned the heel on the first sock over the weekend.

Brainstorming

• Granny Square Muff by Allyson Dykhuizen- free pattern available on Ravelry
• Nautilus, The Submarine- Ravelry Pattern by Paola Navarro for $4.20 on Etsy
• Ace the Airplane- $5.20 on Etsy (view on Ravelry)
• Airplane by Joyce Overheul- $4.99 Ravelry & Etsy

From the Armchair Books

• Sea Wife by Amity Gaige. Amazon Affiliate Link
• Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke. Amazon Affiliate Link.
• Diabolical Lies Podcast (a long-form culture and politics podcast by Katie Gatti Tassin and Caro Claire Burke). Check out their Substack. I enjoyed this episode- Is there a Skinny Apocalypse in Hollywood?
• A Summer Affair by Elin Hilderbrand. Amazon Affiliate Link

2 Plays

• It's a Madhouse! by Todd Wallinger.
• Faust by the Embody Project Theatre
• If you heard me mention the Suffs musical in Episode 317 it's now available on PBS until July 31, 2026!

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 I've rotated out our couch blankets and I'm loving my Recollections Throw (check out my Ravelry Project Page- from September 2022). Recollection Blanket

• Pattern: Recollection by Deanne Ramsay ($6 crochet pattern available on Ravelry & Etsy- written in both US & UK Crochet terms)
• Yarn: Various full skeins and 20+ gram fingering weight yarn stash.
• Hook: J (6.0 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• All yarn held triple
• MC- 3 strands of gray.- separates each row of colorful yarns
• Blanket is 56 inches wide (not including the fringe).
• LOVED working on this project.
• Great end of stash dash project. no finishing required. no borders. no weaving in ends. finish twisting fringe and its done!
• 6,576 meters for Stash Dash

In My Travels NH Sheep and Wool with Ryan

• We had a great time catching up with Jess & Anne in the Stitched by Jessalu booth. Fearless Living Fund fabric design is part of the Stitched by Jessalu banner! Anne and I geeked out over musicals and theater stuff!
• I bought a large bag with deer and foxes and other animals all dressed up for winter
• Got to see Stephanie from Dirty Water Dyeworks and got some gray yarn DK to border my jellyroll blanket.
• I bought some minis for my jellyroll blanket from a new to me dyer Appena Fiber
• I wore Mom's Dotted Rays shawl (Ravelry Project Page)
• Brown Bunny pottery had a chicken soap dispenser and a spotted chicken bowl I couldn't resist!

KAL News Splash Pad Party '26 Details

• Event runs 5/22-7/31
• Splash Pad Party Registration is open as of 5/1
• View Stats and/or Verify Registration here.
• Check out our Sponsor List
• Splash Pad '26 Official Rules
• Enter your FOs using the Summer Celebration Form. Then come over to this Ravelry Thread to share pics and let us ooh and ahh with you!
• Submit something incorrectly? Need help? Fill out this Support Form & we'll be in touch.
• Find official SPP'26 images you can use on social media in this Google folder.

Splash Pad RAVELRY Links

• Start Here Thread
• Pro Shop Exclusive Items Thread
• Coupon Codes Thread
• Questions Thread

Splash Pad '26 Official Logo Bags & Stitch Markers I've partnered up with Steph from AdoreKnit on official SPP '26 logo bags and stitch markers. Full disclosure, I do earn a small affiliate fee for all products sold (for the use of the artwork). Check them out here. Other Things from the Ravelry Board

• Sweater MAL Chat- thanks Danielle for starting the chat. If you want to make a sweater in 2026, check it out, chat it up and get some encouragement.

On a Happy Note

• Longer, warmer days!
• We had our niece & nephew, Gabriella & Zach over for a sleepover. We went on deer walks, watched The Wizard of Oz, made pancakes, and took turns on the mower and backhoe.
• Aila's birthday dinner which ended with an impromptu dance show by Hattie and a not-so-subtle take over by almost 2 year old Miles
• Zach's birthday party had animals- they had the most gorgeous rooster I've ever seen.
• After looking at machines for years, I finally bought an espresso maker.
• The girls Im going to Rhinebeck with this year started a Marco Polo group chat.
• Woke up early before NH Sheep and Wool- so I got a car wash and came with 10 min of vacuuming. I got that done and it felt SO good.
• Took a little field trip to the Beacon Hill Bookstore on Charles St with my co-workers. Lovely to get out, talk books, connect.

Quote of the Week "Everybody has a little bit of the sun and moon in them. Everybody has a little bit of man, woman, and animal in them. Darks and lights in them. Everyone is part of a connected cosmic system. Part earth and sea, wind and fire, with some salt and dust swimming in them. We have a universe within ourselves that mimics the universe outside. None of us are just black or white, or never wrong and always right. No one. No one exists without polarities. Everybody has good and bad forces working with them, against them, and within them. From- PART SUN AND MOON by Suzy Kassem" ------ 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.