Author Archives: downcellarstudio@gmail.com

Episode 248: Birthday Month

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Thank you for tuning in to Episode 248 of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. This week’s segments included:

  • Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins
  • On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins
  • Brainstorming
  • From the Armchair
  • Crafty Adventures
  • KAL News
  • Events
  • On a Happy Note
  • Quote of the Week

Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Cascade Heritage Socks 

  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry ) 
  • Yarn: Cascade Heritage Prints in Colorway 111 Aqua
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm) 
  • I finished these before the last episode, but I didn’t talk about the colorwork I did before each toe. One sock says “just” and the other says “breathe.”

Mom’s Jean Marie Shawl

  • Pattern: Jean Marie by Jennifer Lassonde ($6 knitting pattern available on Ravelry & LoveCrafts).
  • Needles: US 9 (5.5 mm)
  • Yarn: Section 1: Dirty Water Dyeworks Lillian in Sea Breeze with Knit PIcks Capretta in Colorway 27636. Section 2: Dirty Water Dyeworks Lillian in Mediterranean & Hypnotic Yarn Plush Sock in Clair de Lune. Section 3: Hypnotic Yarn Plush Sock in Clair de Lune with Art by Ewe Signature Yarn in the Sapphire Colorway (70% Baby Alpaca/ 30% Silk). Bind Off: Art by Ewe Signature Yarn in the Sapphire Colorway with a 20g mini of a teal fingering weight yarn (no ball band). 
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Held fingering yarn doubled and went up a needle size from what pattern calls for. Result is a slightly larger size than the original which was exactly what I wanted. 
  • Cast on February 1. Finished on February 7. Blocked it, dry in time for Mom’s birthday on the 9th. 

On 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
  • Nearly done with Section 1. 

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
  • Check out this Instagram post that talks about the join I’ve been using for the end of each hex
  • 4 rounds per hexagon
  • 62 hexagons done as of now 

Cloudy Rainbow Socks

  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry ) 
  • Yarn: Yarn Cafe Creations Biscotti Yarn (85% SW Merino/15% Nylon 4 ply) in the Thestrals Colorway (gray with blips of rainbow colors
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm) 
  • Cast on 60 stitches and worked 1/1 rib for 14 rounds. Knit about 2 inches and then reduced to 56 stitches (decreases like a toe- done at the beginning and end of each half of the sock). 
  • I am working on the 2 of them in tandem. Each on their own magic loop. 

Brainstorming

  • No-Purl Ribbed Blanket by Purl Soho. Click here for the Ravelry Pattern or here for the Purl Soho website. I heard about this on the Knit Ink Podcast/YouTube Channel hosted by Natasha and her mother Petra.
  • I’ve been very tempted by the Leah Cowl by Susy Knotsosquare. Granny Stripe Crochet cowl with triangle point on front. Calls for DK weight yarn.  Crochet pattern available for a little more than $5 US. Check it out on Ravelry or Etsy. You can also check out her Padme Cowl which is similar but different. Details available on Susy’s website.   
  • Generally just thinking about how when a project doesn’t have an imminent deadline, I’m far less motivated to pick it up. “What’s the point?” is often what comes to mind. It’s an interesting thing to consider because the very same project, given a due-date will often excite me to pick up. Does this happen to you? 

From the Armchair

Movies

Books

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 worked with Millie on handmade Valentine cards for her classmates and teachers. 
  • Millie also made a cute Flamingo from a Plush Craft kit we purchased at Michael’s. Here’s an affiliate link to a similar one available on Amazon.
  • I finished most of the border for the sheep punch needle project that I haven’t picked up in more than a year. 

Punch Needle Project Details

KAL News

Pigskin Party’22: The Official Hashtag is #DCSPigskinParty22

  • Pigskin Landing Page on the Down Cellar Studio Website.
  • Start Here Thread in the Ravelry Group
  • Link to the Official Rules
  • Player Registration- Google Form
  • Check out our amazing Sponsors! Click here for the Google doc with their websites and Instagram profiles. 
    • Check out the list of available Coupons from our amazing sponsors- Ravelry Link. Google Doc.
    • Check out the Pigskin Exclusive Items in this Ravelry Thread
  • Important Updates in this Episode
    • Important Updates in this Episode
      • Tune in to hear if you won a January participation prize
      • January Interception: Self Care Bingo by Fitness by Mara. Winner announced!

Events

On a Happy Note

  • Lunch with the girls, sundaes and popcorn and Tar at Mom’s. 
  • Mom completed another 3 day round of chemo. We got good news that her January scans show the cancer remains the same. No new growth!
  • My friend Laura came to visit for the weekend. We spent Friday night at my parents’ hanging out and watching movies. We briefly lost power but it came back; cable did not, so thankfully we still had some more screener DVDs. Saturday, we hit some secondhand stores before going back over to Mom’s for dinner with my parents, my brother and nieces Riley and Millie. The next day we visited Dan’s friend Perry who was recently hospitalized and then to see his youngest brother Dave & our niece Gabriella and nephew Zachary. 
  • Mom & I each got a haircut (real hair for me, wig for Mom). 
  • On Thursday 2/9, we had dinner at Maggiano’s for Mom & Hattie’s birthdays before going to see Hamilton at the Boston Opera House. 
  • Millie came for her 11th Birthday Sleepover (even though her birthday isn’t until 2/20). She wanted to record some videos to share, so look for that on the Down Cellar Studio YouTube Channel soon.

Quote of the Week

If you have a good idea, use it so that you will not only accomplish something, but so that you can make room for new ones to flow into you.

-Deng Ming-Dao

——Thank you for tuning in!

Episode 247: Socks & Scraps

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Thank you for tuning in to Episode 247 of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. This week’s segments included:

  • Off the Needles
  • On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins
  • Brainstorming
  • From the Armchair
  • Some Years Later
  • Knitting in Passing
  • KAL News
  • Events
  • Contest, News & Notes
  • Life in Focus
  • On a Happy Note
  • Quote of the Week

Off the Needles 

Cascade Heritage Socks 

  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry ) 
  • Yarn: Cascade Heritage Prints in Colorway 111 Aqua
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm) 
  • Contrast heel- mini skein in a beautiful solid teal. I did a little colorwork on the foot that I’ll share more later.

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

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
  • 4 rounds per hexagon
  • 51+ hexagons done now. All ends woven in!

Chevron Scrap Blanket

  • Pattern: Chevron Scrap Blanket by Maria’s Blue Crayon (free crochet pattern) available on Ravelry & the Maria’s Blue Crayon Website.
    • This pattern presumes you already know the c2c crochet technique. 
  • Yarn: Knit Picks Brava Worsted in White & Tranquil (light green), Lion Brand Pound of Love in Pastel Pink and Loops & Threads Snuggly Wuggly Big! in colorway Soft Lilac
  • Hook: J (6.0 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page (I crocheted one of these in summer 2020- click here for that Ravelry Project Page)
  • For help learning the Corner to Corner Crochet method you could check out this free Ravelry Download from Lauri Bolland or this video tutorial from Lion Brand on YouTube.
  • 1st Strip is finished progress. 11 squares wide. Each section is 11 squares tall. Green, white, pink, white, purple, white. 
  • Some of this is spirit yarn from my friend Kim’s SIL’s stash that I received after she passed away (purple). I’m not sure where the pink yarn came from, but it might have been my Nana’s stash. It feels great to put it to good use. 

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
  • I found that I liked working this hat in the round. Purchased Addi Rocket Lace Turbo 16 inch needles in US 2 (but it turns out its technically a US 2.5 or a 3.0 mm needle- not a 2.75 mm needle like I use for the cast on). The difference isn’t all that noticeable but it was a little frustrating.  
  • Progress check- I have finished the increases and have knit about 4 inches.
  • 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. 

Solstice Socks

  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry ) 
  • Yarn: Knit Picks Felici in the Solstice colorway
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm) 
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Progress- turned heel on first sock. Cast on the second sock.

Brainstorming

My Grandmother called to ask me to knit her another Jean Marie Shawl (named for her). You can find this knitting pattern for $6 on Ravelry & LoveCrafts.Here’s the story:

  • My grandmother called me in mid-January 2023 saying she needed to place an order. I thought she wanted something from Amazon. 
  • She told me very time she wears her Jean Marie Shawl to dinner at her residence she gets tons of compliments. All of her friends love it. Its the right size and it just stays in place perfectly.
  • I published this pattern in 2018 to suit the request that she have a slightly bigger shawl that would stay in place. Half hexagon shape is perfect for this. It is knit in 3 sections, originally done in sport/dk natural yarns from Ross Farm in browns/tans. For this one, she wants white/black to wear with different outfits.

From the Armchair

Books

Movies

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

Wearing lately:

  • Felicity Hat  by Wanett Clyde: Aran weight slouchy hat knit in Duck Duck Wool. Ravelry Project Page. Free pattern available only on Ravelry.
  • Sagamore Flyover Slouch Hat: chunky weight hat. Ravelry Project Page. Yarn: Sugarbush Dawson in Colorway- Wild Willow, a great mustard color. 50/50 llama/wool blend

Knitting in Passing

  • Sunday night hang. Taught megg single and hdc. Knit a little with Hattie while Dan untangled Hattie’s yarn again. Untangled same ball in Ireland. She’d been using it to create a laser course. 

KAL News

Pigskin Party’22: The Official Hashtag is #DCSPigskinParty22

  • Pigskin Landing Page on the Down Cellar Studio Website.
  • Start Here Thread in the Ravelry Group
  • Link to the Official Rules
  • Player Registration- Google Form
  • Check out our amazing Sponsors! Click here for the Google doc with their websites and Instagram profiles. 
    • Check out the list of available Coupons from our amazing sponsors- Ravelry Link. Google Doc.
    • Check out the Pigskin Exclusive Items in this Ravelry Thread
  • Important Updates in this Episode
    • January Self Care Interception: hosted by Fitness by Mara. Get your Bingo Card PDF Here or the JPG here. Find all of the details in this Google Doc or in this Ravelry Thread.
    • Spread the Warmth Challenge; runs through the end of the Pigskin Party. Get details in this Google doc or this Ravelry Thread.
    • Pigskin Ends on Monday February 13, 2023. Get those projects entered. Don’t wait until the last day to get everything entered on the Google Form! 

Events

Fiberuary Challenge on Instagram hosted by CreativeCeci

Contest, News & Notes

  • My college roommate and friend Jen opened an Etsy Shop called JLSCreative Shop. Check it out 
  • Mom & I recorded an update video that went up on the Down Cellar Studio YouTube Channel in the Just Breathe Playlist. You can find that video here. Right now, scans show things are going well and the combination of chemo and gene therapy is keeping the cancer at bay.

Life in Focus

23 for 2023 List

  1. Read 23 books
  2. Try at least one pair of fake eyelashes 
  3. Print and hang at least 1 of our new family photos 
  4. Kayak in one new place 
  5. Hike in one new place 
  6. See 4 plays/musicals
  7. Give blood at least 3 times
  8. Knit myself a pair of mittens 
  9. Knit/crochet at least one project with handspun
  10. Watch 3 movies in one day – done!
  11. See a movie in the theater 
  12. Go to a museum 
  13. Finish 1 punch needle project 
  14. Ski at least 1 day (ideally 2-4) 
  15. Try at least 1 new gym/in person fitness option 
  16. Make at least 1 new financial investment 
  17. Purge at least 23 items from the house. Ideally 46. 
  18. Publish 1 knitting pattern
  19. Send 5 cards to friends/family just because
  20. Go Camping
  21. Participate in the Fiberuary Challenge on Instagram
  22. Take a class (in person or virtual)
  23. Create a new music playlist

Word of the Year- Flow

Definitions:

  • to proceed smoothly and readily to issue or move in a stream
  • To exist in abundance
  • the continuous movement of a liquid in one direction
  • to hang loose and billowing
  • To move or proceed with a given movement or momentum
  • To pass or move by
  • a supply of something that continues without stopping
  • a way of talking or thinking in an easy natural way, without any pauses or difficulties
  • a  smooth uninterrupted movement or progress
  • Smoothness or fluidity in one’s movement
  • A strong, regular repeated pattern of movement or sound
  • I want to be able to go with the Flow no matter what this year brings.
  • I want to remember my dear Aunt Florence and remind myself what she would do. She was smart, caring, generous and strong. Her presence will be a good guide when things get tough.
  • I want to find projects, especially creatively that I can keep up the flow with… that I can get into a flow state with. To zen/bliss out and enjoy.
  • I want to keep my body strong and stretched so that I can move fluidly through the year without things getting in the way of my body’s flow. 

On a Happy Note

  • Playing the sock game during our visit to the Rowan’s. UK/European game. Fun for all ages.
  • Surprise package from Nicole with mini skeins.
  • Snow! Not a lot for as late into the season as we are, but I enjoy it.
  • Visit from family friends who came down from NH. We played games at my parents’ house!
  • January Zoom with my Patrons! I had a blast catching up with you.
  • 3 movies in 1 day- checked off my 23 for 23 list. Homemade popcorn. Lots of knitting and crochet time. Fixed dropped sts in Megg’s socks.
  • Drag show and dinner with Megg and Kris.

Quote of the Week

Everything and everyone at their own pace. Flow with not against yourself.-Akiroq Brost

Thank you for tuning in!

Contact Information:

Episode 246: Cleaning off the Needles

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Thank you for tuning in to Episode 246 of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. This week’s segments included:

  • Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins
  • On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins
  • From the Armchair
  • Knitting in Passing
  • KAL News
  • Life in Focus
  • On a Happy Note
  • Quote of the Week

Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

  • Perry’s Socks
  • Yarn: Patons Kroy FX 
  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams ($5 Knitting Pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page

Megg’s 2nd Nanaimo Cardigan

  • Pattern: Nanaimo Cardigan by by Tara-Lynn Morrison
  • Yarn:  Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick in Colorway: Abalone  (5 skeins)
  • Needles: US 13 – 9.0 mm, US 15 – 10.0 mm, US 19 – 15.0 mm (body)
  • Size XS/S 
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • I added 2 sets of short rows before the bottom ribbing.

Hattie’s Cat Amigurumi

  • Pattern: Siamese Cat Amigurumi by Mareeva Olga available on Ravelry, FireflyCrochet website & Etsy $6.40
  • Hook: C (2.75 mm)
  • Yarn: Worsted Weight Acrylic from stash: Magenta with sparkle, Silver with sparkle, Purple.
  • Ravelry Project Page

Friends in Fiber Socks

  • Yarn: Friends in Fiber Superwash Merino Nylon (75/25) in the Fibery Jewels Teal Speckle Colorway
  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams ($5 Knitting Pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • These were my New Year’s Cast on socks.
  • 56 sts. 8.5 inches of knitting before starting the toe.

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

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

From the Armchair

Watching:

Reading:

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.

Knitting in Passing

  • One of my OMG sock students Karen reached out via email with a photo of the 8 pairs of socks she knit and gifted for Christmas after taking my class at the beginning of the year!! 
  • Suzanne, SewRunKnit, sent chemo caps for Mom. She chose one and donated the others to the MGH Cancer Center; the next day they were gone.

KAL News

Pigskin Party’22: The Official Hashtag is #DCSPigskinParty22

  • Pigskin Landing Page on the Down Cellar Studio Website.
  • Start Here Thread in the Ravelry Group
  • Link to the Official Rules
  • Player Registration- Google Form
  • Check out our amazing Sponsors! Click here for the Google doc with their websites and Instagram profiles. 
    • Check out the list of available Coupons from our amazing sponsors- Ravelry Link. Google Doc.
    • Check out the Pigskin Exclusive Items in this Ravelry Thread
  • Important Updates in this Episode
    • Tune in to hear if you’re a December interception winner of a December participation prize winner.

Life in Focus

I enjoy doing a look back at the end of each year. You can see the video I made about Reviewing My Year/Goal Setting in this video on my YouTube Channel.

  • Knitting/Crochet/Spinning
    • 70 Knitting/Crochet Finished Projects in 2022
      • 41 knitting 
      • 29 crochet
      • 53 of 70 are gifts
    • Spinning- 4 finished projects. 872 meters of yarn. 
  • Released 0 new patterns but completed the writing and prototype for 2 designs- a shawl & cowl
  • Sagamore Flyover Hat was my best seller this year.

Tune in to hear a recap of my Word of the Year & Goals for 2022. We’ll talk more about plans and goals in the next episode.

On a Happy Note

  • Going to my cousin Amanda’s book party in Plymouth and out to dinner after with family and friends. Musical bingo!
  • 105 people at my parents’ Open House on January 7th, including my friend Laura who came in from NYC for the weekend.
  • Starting process to kick off the Fearless Living Fund in my mom’s name that will benefit blind population through the Blind Center of Nevada. Friends and family surprised Mom with over $1500 in initial donations. Mom’s friend Katy shaved her head in solidarity (check out the YouTube video here) and is raising money. 
  • While my aunt’s passing has been incredibly difficult, there is still a happy note there in that many of us were able to go visit the Sunday before she passed. Dan and I picked up my grandmother and my parents met us at my cousin’s house armed with leftover trays of food from the Open House. Earlier in the day I was able to help transfer Florence into the guest room bed while Dan and some of the guys disassembled her bed to ready her room for a hospital bed. Then we took turns visiting with her, saying our goodbyes, eating dinner and being together. very time the door to her bedroom opened she smiled and said “I love that sound!” and then “I want you to keep doing that. Even after.” I reminded her its not like we could stop it. It was a hard day but made easier being all together. She passed on Wednesday. 
  • Came home that day to flowers and a beautiful from card that in my daze, I never even saw until he came home and pointed them out!
  • Mom made it through another 3 day round of Chemo. 2 more to go (one in late January & one in February)
  • Getting back into yoga. 
  • Date night with Dan. We hit the local brewery and then onto the tavern for dinner. Just what we needed. 
  • Sleeping in! 

Quote of the Week

It is amateurs who have one big bright beautiful idea that they can never abandon. Professionals know that they have to produce theory after theory before they are likely to hit the jackpot.

– Francis Crick

——

Thank you for tuning in!
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