Category Archives: Show Notes

Episode 176: Christmas Catch-up

Thank you for tuning in to Episode 176 of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. This week’s segments included:

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

Off the Needles

Dragon Belly

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

Ball Band with a Twist

  • Pattern: Ball Band with a Twist by Jennifer Lassonde
  • Yarn: Lion Brand Re-Up in Denim and Gray
  • Hooks: F (3.7 mm) and G (4.0 mm)

Garret’s 2019 Christmas Hat

  • Pattern: Bankhead Hat by Susie Gorley (free knitting pattern)
  • Yarn: Knitters Brewing Co Sock-aholic Brewski (worsted)
  • Needles: US 5 (3.75mm) and US 7 (4.5 mm)

Dad’s 2019 Christmas Hat

  • Pattern: prototype for new hat design
  • Yarn: Patons Classic Worsted (black)
  • Needles: US 5 & 7

Soccer Ball

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

Millie’s Lipsticks

  • Pattern: none.  Improvised crochet
  • Hook: Says 0 but not sure what that means.
  • Yarn. Leftover fingering.

Gram’s 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)

Scrappy Sock Yarn Hat

  • Pattern: Scrappy Sock Yarn Preemie Hat by Greg Cohoon
  • Yarn: leftover fingering weight yarn (from Savers)
  • Needles: US 2 (2.75mm) & US 3 (3.25 mm)
  • Cast on 64 because made one before that was 60 stitches and fit but was a little too small

The Parker Baby Booties

  • Pattern: The Parker Baby Booties by Ashleigh Kiser (free crochet pattern)
  • Yarn: Sirdar Snuggly Crofter DK Baby Fair Isle Effect
  • Hook: D (3.25 mm)

Crafty Adventures

  • I mentioned last episode my Nana passed away age of 95. Left behind a great legacy of her beautiful crocheted blankets. My cousin Megan came up with a wonderful idea. She printed photos of many of my Nana’s projects and used a heart punch to cut them into heart shape. Pasted them to a plain background and framed them!
  • I made homemade banana ice cream for Mom and Jeff and my grandfather’s family’s eggplant recipe for Christmas dinner.

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
  • In 2020 we’ll be switching to Quarterly Challenges

Slay the Stash Sponsor List- 2019

Official Rules for 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 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

January Interception posted & is kindly sponsored by designer Windswept Designs (Monique Leonard)!

To be eligible to win

  • Complete a project of at least 100 yards that does not contain any sheep’s wool.
  • Project must have been cast on on/after 1/1/20 and completed by 1/31/20
  • Post your FO in this thread with a description and/or photo that shows how you’re meeting the challenge.

Entries:

  • 1 entry for your FO (max of 1 per person)
  • 1 additional entry if you use a pattern by Windswept Designs

Prize:

  • Will be posted soon!

Contest, News & Notes

103 Hat is available on Ravelry for $5. It is a DK weight textured hat that features purl rows and 1×1 cables. It includes a tutorial for how to do it without a cable needle and without having dangling stitches. Instructions are written and charted. It has been tech edited and test knit. 

  • 4 sizes
    • Finished sizes: 15.75 in/40 cm, 17.75 in/ 45 cm, 20.25 in/ 51.5 cm and 22.5 in/ 57 cm.
    • Finished height: 7.5 in/ 19 cm 
Get your copy of the 103 Hat today!

 Life in Focus

A little behind in reviewing my 2019. Last year I reviewed by theme : work, personal, podcast/design, finances, health + fitness. I asked myself the following:

  • What am I most proud of?
  • What results did I get?
  • New Skills or Knowledge?
  • Things and People that brought me happiness
  • Top 5 things I’m grateful for
  • Habits + improvements I’ve incorporated

My 2 goals for 2019 were to build muscle & publish 10 designs and I’m thrilled to have accomplished both.

On a Happy Note

  • 7 kid Christmas sleepover. Will rubbing Millie’s feet. R &M to gymnastics and lunch. Eme in Funky Nutcracker. Watched newer grinch cartoon and had hot cocoa. 
  • Dan helped me with wrapping. All done in about 2.5 hour.
  • Untold and dinner with Gen and John. 
  • Christmas

Quote of the Week

“Nothing is so exhausting as indecision, and nothing is so futile.”

— Bertrand Russell

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: