Author Archives: downcellarstudio@gmail.com

Episode 175: Sock Take Over

Thank you for tuning in to Episode 175 of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. This week’s segments included:

  • Off the Needles
  • On the Needles
  • Brainstorming
  • Crafty Adventures
  • Knitting in Passing
  • KAL News
  • Events
  • Contest, News & Notes
  • Life in Focus
  • On a Happy Note
  • Quote of the Week


Thank you to this episode’s sponsor: Imagined Landscapes

Off the Needles

Ribbit Socks

  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams
  • Yarn: Knit Picks Felici in the Ribbit Colorway
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)

Mystery Spirit Yarn Christmas Socks

  • Yarn: Unknown
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Pattern: Non-Euclidian Heel by Sarah Jordan

Velvet Bear

  • Pattern: Velvet Valentine Crochet Bear by Sarah Zimmerman
  • Yarn: Bernat Velvet in the Burgundy Plum & Blush Pink colorways
  • Hook: H
  • Used eyes and nose from 6060 on Etsy. 

Beanie for Bernie

  • Pattern: improvised based on Gina’s Messy Bun Hat
  • Hook: H (5.0mm)
  • Yarn: Bernat Velvet in the Burgundy Plum color way

On the Needles

Hattie’s Hedgehog 

  • Pattern: Hedley the Hedgehog by by Moji-Moji Design
  • Hook: B
  • Yarn- Mystery yarn from stash (maybe wool/alpaca from Long Island Livestock co)

Dragon Belly

  • Pattern: Dragon Belly by Johanna Lindahl 
  • Hook: J (6.0 mm)
  • Yarn: Berocco Ultra Wool in Heather (purple) and Charcoal gray. 

Cadet Colors Socks

  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams
  • Yarn: Patons Kroy FX in the Cadet Colors Colorway
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm) 

Gram’s 2019 Christmas Socks

  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams
  • Yarn: Patons Kroy FX in the Green Striped Ragg Colorway
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)

Brooklyn’s TeenyBeanie

  • Pattern: The TeenyBeanie by Vanessa Smith (Hooked on Sunshine Crochet) -free crochet pattern
  • Yarn: Sirdar Snuggly Crofter Baby Fair Isle Effect (DK)
  • Hook: E (3.5 mm)

Millie’s Lipsticks

  • Yarn: leftover fingering weight
  • Hook: Unsure- it was handed down to me. Says 0
  • Pattern: made up as I went.

Soccer Ball

  • Pattern: Football (Soccer Ball) by Emma Moss ($2 GBP) 
  • Hook: F (3.75 mm)
  • Yarn: Loops & Threads Impeccable in White and Black
  • 12 pentagons. 20 hexagons. 

Brainstorming

  • Before Christmas: Red Hat for Garret, 2 lipsticks for Millie, Hat and booties for Brooklyn (coming for sleepover this weekend). Ideally a hat for my dad, and a shawl for my grandmother (Dragon’s belly)
  • Before New Year’s: hedgehog for Hattie. 2 more toys for our friends’ daughters.

Crafty Adventures

  • I enjoyed a crafty day Thanksgiving Weekend with Megg. She got all of the fabric cut for the front of a quilt for her youngest daughter Hattie. Helped her with that while I started some projects.

Knitting in Passing

I shared stories of Millie spending lots of time on our recent trip to NH, knitting on “socks for Uncle Dan” which she proudly told anyone who inquired.

Enjoyed some fiber chat with my cousin Chris’ wife Leah.

 
I met a lovely lady on the train who talked about caring for someone with special needs who would sometimes crochet a chain for hours. Other times she’d make a blanket. She still brings her friend yarn when she goes to visit.


KAL News

Slay the Stash 2019

  • Each month you can declare a skein of yarn to knit/crochet/weave to its very end. Let’s use up those older special skeins (purchased before 2019) – and maybe win a new beautiful skein of yarn from one of our sponsors along the way! 
  • Check out the December Post
  • Use and follow #slaythestash2019 on Social Media

Slay the Stash Sponsor List- 2019 Official Rules for 2019 

We are not bringing Slay the Stash back as is in 2020:  Instead we’ll have a new quarterly challenge called the Quarterly Quests

  1. sQuelch the Queue
  2. Lessen the Library 
  3. Free the Favorites
  4. Slay the Stash

Pigskin Party ‘19

Not familiar? It is an annual knit, crochet, weaving and spin along. Cast on anytime On/after September 5, 2019- February 3, 2020

Everything you need to know is linked in the Start Here Thread in the Down Cellar Studio Podcast Ravelry Group including the Rules, Questions Thread, End Zone Dance Thread where you post your FOs, Coupon Code Thread, List of Prizes, Exclusive Items from our Sponsors!

Pro Shop Sponsors 

Snack Shack Sponsors

Updates this episode

  • November Participation Winners
  • November Interception Winner
  • The WIPs interception runs through end of KAL. Check out the details The WIPs Interception is POSTED!
  • Team Check In

Events


Contest, News & Notes 

I shared the sad news of Scott (Scooterpie) Manko’s passing 

Tune in to Episode 56 (Down Cellar Studio Podcast episode from 2014) where I told the story about first meeting Scooterpie and the running joke that ensued.

Look for a new design from me on December 28th as part of the December of Designers hosted by Christy Houghton of Yarn Cafe Creations

Life in Focus

Plastic-free July Update
What’s working well? 

  • Bamboo toothbrush 
  • Tooth soap from the Hippie Farmer 
  • Bar soap in shower and sink 
  • Charcoal bar soap for face 
  • Coconut oil for eye make up remover  
  • Argan oil from Trader Joe’s comes in glass 
  • Misfit box every two weeks.  If you think you might like it, check out this link to get 25% off your first order
  • Seltzer in can. Pour small amount into each glass or bottle of water for day 
  • Hot and iced coffee cup with me. 
  • Silverware and napkin and straw in purse and set in car. 
  • Using my 24oz wide mouth Ball Jar at work and home. Fits in my cup holder in the car. I do have a plastic cover but its made from recycled plastic and I use a metal straw with it.  Was a gift from my best friend. Link to Cuppow Lid that I use  
  • Made wash cloths for work- dishes. I already have cups, plates, silverware that stays at work and I was there. Was using paper towel. Cotton wash cloth dries quickly enough overnight its not a problem.
  • Continue to use my reusable mug for coffee with metal straw. 

Harder 

  • Still buying the occasional plastic seltzer bottle or soda on the go. 
  • Shampoo bar from Whole Foods + 1 from Hippie farmer. Neither worked.
  • Ordered Crush & Brush Toothpaste tabs. They don’t foam up enough for my liking.
  • Peanut butter- can buy in bulk w/ my jars only at one store locally and its not in my path. Haven’t been going back. Would like to make a point to go with 2-3 jars and refill.
  • Berries and tomatoes in plastic containers.  Try to limit when I can, but I also value getting in whole foods- different nutrients etc. 

On a Happy Note

  • Aila in the Nutcracker
  • Crafty day with Megg
  • Spotify for Christmas music
  • Yoga by the Christmas Tree
  • New glasses! 2 existing pairs with new lenses. 2 new pair.

Quote of the Week

For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.

–Audrey Hepburn

Thank you for tuning in!
Contact Information:

Episode 174: Florida + FOs!

Thank you for tuning in to Episode 174 of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. This week’s segments included:
  • Off the Needles
  • On the Needles
  • From the Armchair
  • Knitting in Passing
  • In my Travels
  • KAL News
  • Events
  • Life in Focus
  • On a Happy Note
  • Quote of the Week

Off the Needles

  • Yarn: Fibernymph Dye Works Bounce base in The Darker Side of Pi(e) colorway
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams
  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams
  • Yarn: Queen City Yarn NODA Sock (75 Merino/25 nylon) in the Huddle is Real Colorway (Pigskin Party ’18 Exclusive colorway)
  • Needle: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Pattern:Alan the Alien & his Flying Saucer by Moji-Moji Design
  • Yarn: leftover DK/worsted weight scraps
  • Hook: C (2.75 mm)
  • Pattern: Christmas Stockings to Knit and Crochet from Family Circle Magazine
  • Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in Red, Everglade Heather and White
  • Hook: F (3.75 mm)
  • Pattern: None. Details on how I made it listed in project page notes.
  • Hook: C (2.75 mm)
  • Yarn: Lion Brand Re-Up cotton
  • Pattern: Dragon Belly by Johanna Lindahl
  • Aussi Wool Worsted
  • Hook: I (5.25 mm)

On the Needles

  • Pattern: Hedley the Hedgehog by by Moji-Moji Design
  • Hook: B
  • Yarn- Mystery yarn from stash (maybe wool/alpaca from Long Island Livestock co)
  • Pattern: Dragon Belly by Johanna Lindahl
  • Hook: J (6.0 mm)
  • Yarn: Berocco Ultra Wool in Heather (purple) and Charcoal gray.
  • Yarn: Unknown
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Pattern: Non-Euclidian Heel by Sarah Jordan (Knit-Wit Designs— Pigskin Sponsor)

From the Armchair

Podcasts:

Knitting in Passing

I explained to my Aunt Florence what blocking is and got to see the beautiful projects she’s knitting for her granddaughters for Christmas.

In My Travels

KAL News

Slay the Stash 2019
  • Each month you can declare a skein of yarn to knit/crochet/weave to its very end. Let’s use up those older special skeins (purchased before 2019) – and maybe win a new beautiful skein of yarn from one of our sponsors along the way!
  • Check out the December post 
  • Use and follow #slaythestash2019 on Social Media
Slay the Stash Sponsor List- 2019
Pigskin Party ‘19
Not familiar? It’s a ridiculously fun make-a-long that runs all through the NFL football season. We typically have a couple hundred participants each year. For each FO you finish, you earn touchdown & field goal points. You also earn points for using sponsor products & fulfilling other challenges. For every 100 points earned, you get an entry into our Grand Prize drawing. We also have lots of prizes reserved for participation on Ravelry and Instagram to keep it fun and light.
It is an annual knit, crochet, weaving and spin along.Cast on anytime On/after September 5, 2019- February 3, 2020
Everything you need to know is linked in the Start Here Thread in the Down Cellar Studio Podcast Ravelry Group including the Rules, Questions ThreadEnd Zone Dance Thread where you post your FOs, Coupon Code ThreadList of PrizesExclusive Items from our Sponsors!
Pro Shop Sponsors
Snack Shack Sponsors
Indie Design GAL
  • I am prticipating in Indie GAL this year. Check out the Ravelry Group for the KAL.
  • The KAL kicks off with a sale of 25% off with code giftalong2019 from Tuesday, November 26th 8pm (US-EST) through Monday, December 2nd at 11:59 pm (US-EST). Designers can discount 10-20 patterns. All of my paid for patterns are eligible for the sale.
  • Click here for the bundle of all of the sale patterns. Here is the bundle of all of the participating designers; all of their patterns count towards the KAL,

Events

Kick off to Lady Dye’s Be The Change Tour at Gather Here on Sunday 11/17/19.

Life in Focus

Next month, by popular request, I’ll be doing an update on my Plastic Free July Challenge. If you have questions for me, please post them in this thread.

On a Happy Note

  • I can’t believe I forgot to share with you my Stash Dash Champion Sash
  • Dave and Jenna’s Wedding!
  • Lovely prayer service for my grandmother who passed away peacefully at the age of 95.
  • Survived another overnight upgrade.
  • Yoga.
Quote of the Week
 

“I love repetition. Repetitions turn time into a place, turns the days into a house, where the repetitions form the walls, floor, and ceiling.”

— Karl Ove Knausgaard

——
Thank you for tuning in!
Contact Information:

Episode 173: Scrunchies, Socks & Spinning

Thank you for tuning in to Episode 173 of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. This week’s segments included:

  • Off the Needles
  • On the Needles
  • Brainstorming
  • From the Armchair
  • Crafty Adventures
  • KAL News
  • Life in Focus
  • Ask Me Anything
  • On a Happy Note
  • Quote of the Week
Thank you to this episode’s sponsors: Fibernymph Dye Works & JDStudios480 

Off the Needles

  • Pattern: Dragon Belly Shawl by Jo
  • Yarn: Knit Picks
  • Hook: J
  • Melville – City Tweed DK Value Pack.  Needs to be blocked.A352DDE8-44EA-4EEB-B15B-4BF45F83CC6A
  • Pattern: Crayons Amigurumi by StringyDingDing
  • Yarn: Plymouth DK?
  • Hook: D (3.25 mm) Start at top. Moved down to a C Hook.
  • Thanks to  SaraKnitsKC for mentioning this pattern2F2B7A99-48D1-46E7-9B46-768DE85DCCA5

On the Needles

  • Yarn: Fibernymph Dye Works Bounce base in The Darker Side of Pi(e) colorway
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams9D760A39-B8BB-4AD3-8D7F-9A66513D0B05
  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams
  • Yarn: Queen City Yarn NODA Sock (75 Merino/25 nylon) in the Huddle is Real Colorway (Pigskin Party ’18 Exclusive colorway)
  • Needle: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)E85B56B1-970E-4922-A2C7-BA3CF91B702B
  • Pattern:Alan the Alien & his Flying Saucer by Moji-Moji Design
  • Yarn: leftover DK/worsted weight scraps
  • Hook: C (2.75 mm)BF9AADBE-0C81-447C-8447-7E46D0C354A2
  • Pattern: Perfectly Ruffled Scrunchies by Miranda Dielsen
  • Yarn: Bernat Velvet in the Spruce and Mulled Rose Colorways
  • Hook: J (6 mm)
  • Thanks Melissa for tip on free pattern for Velvet Ruffled scrunchieA2B079FF-9A70-4850-B8EB-27B103C2A2E3
  • Pattern: Dragon Belly by Johanna Lindahl
  • Hook: G (4.25 mm)
  • Yarn: leftover sport weight yarn2566E095-9073-4F43-AE12-9C1F53BC9BB5
  • Pattern: Christmas Stockings to Knit and Crochet from Family Circle Magazine
  • Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in Red, Everglade Heather and White
  • Hook: F (3.75 mm)B59EB417-B3EE-4993-8BB4-F27E977C9BB0

Brainstorming

  • I’d like to crochet a Hedgehog for my niece Hattie to go with books her parents have been reading to her by Steve Wilson I am leaning towards Hedley the Hedgehog  by Moji-Moji Design.
  • I want to use up the Bernat Velvet Yarn I’ve purchased. Searched by the yarn name on Ravelry in the Advanced Pattern search and found the Velvet Valentine Crochet Bear by Sarah Zimmerman.

From the Armchair

Tune in to hear reviews of the following 2 items:

Crafty Adventures

Thank you Jen for gifting me this beautiful walnut stained Kromski Minstrel. I’m so excited to get spinning. If you know of any great resources for a beginning spinner please send them my way!

38172ABB-C4BD-47DA-BAF6-749F2D3B351E
B04CBDB5-C16F-47BF-A55F-9AA16292AD84

KAL News

Slay the Stash 2019
  • Each month you can declare a skein of yarn to knit/crochet/weave to its very end. Let’s use up those older special skeins (purchased before 2019) – and maybe win a new beautiful skein of yarn from one of our sponsors along the way!
  • Check out the November Post 
  • Use and follow #slaythestash2019 on Social Media
  • Tune in to see if you’re the October Slay the Stash Winner.
Slay the Stash Sponsor List- 2019
Pigskin Party ‘19
Pro Shop Sponsors
Snack Shack Sponsors
Tune in to hear the October Interception Winner & the October participation winners.
  • The November Interception is sponsored by Queen City Yarn. The theme this month is to Put in Your Back-up Quarterback. Find all of the details in the thread linked above.
  • Tune in to hear the Pigskin Party 19 Grand Prize Details!!

Life in Focus

  • I shared the blackberry dressing recipe I use sometimes for salad.
  • I’ve been enjoying doing weekly meal prep for both Mom and me. Proud of myself for being able to flip the 215 pound tire at Tabata class.

Ask Me Anything

Thanks JenKPhillips on IG for reaching out to ask what knitting audio podcasts I listen to
List of knitting podcasts I listen to (thought of a couple after I recorded so I’ve added them here too)
2 Knit Lit Chicks
Backstage Knitting
Bede Sisters Podcast
BHooked
Collage Knits with Amy Small
Cook Craft Read Repeat
Doubleknit
F This Knit
Fiber Knitche
Imagined Landscapes
Keep a calm and Carry Yarn
Knit Picks’ Podcast
Kino Knits
Knitmore Girls
The Knitting Hook-Up
Knitting on the Run
Knitting Pipeline
Knitty McPurly Podcast
Maine Yarn
Just One More Row
Prairie Girls Knit and Spin
Salty Jo Knits
Skein Enable Podcast
Spin Control Podcast
Stash and Burn
The SweetGeorgia Show
Teaching your Brain to Knit
Traveling Stitches POdcast
Two Ewes Fiber Adventures
The Unraveling Podcast
VeryPink Knits
The Woolly Thistle Podcast
The Yarniacs
Question for YOU!
Do you have thoughts on whether you’d be interested in joining as a patron (though Patreon) if I started one? Come share in the Down Cellar Studio Ravelry Group.

On a Happy Note

  • Lots of family fun at my cousin Mike’s wedding – got a red, lace Ann Klein dress for $18 at a consignment shop!7D4B8B67-F27F-41CE-A2D3-43FDABB0E243

195BDA81-0EE9-4E13-8D57-B46AD1B4C0C0

  • Atticus birthday Party- sat with a couple whose youngest child has the same parts in the Nutcracker as Aila!03E609B5-FFDF-48AA-9F72-629DDA1D27BA
  • Went to see Oisin perform in Seussical. He did a great job as Thing 2 and when Hattie saw him on stage, she lit up!4C19CF32-D3D1-4443-BABD-4A264C3A9647 44530C8E-7B17-4353-B0F0-1531A46258B3
  • Halloween- my friends and I dressed up at gym (as our trainer) for a contest. At night I went out to Trick or Treat with Will, Aila, Oisin and Hattie.3970E37D-F3DF-4177-9D0C-F98F33434FF8 C99608A5-65F2-4D93-8059-6DDE7419CF52 C1C7A3E9-C057-4741-8C12-E33397868F23

Quote of the Week

“Perhaps it is the simplest and most popular truths which are also the deepest after all.” – Thomas Merton

——
Thank you for tuning in!
Contact Information: