Episode 203: Flattering Knits & Tapping Horses

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Thank you for tuning in to Episode 203 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
  • Contest, News & Notes
  • Life in Focus
  • Ask Me Anything
  • On a Happy Note
  • Quote of the Week

Thank you for the recent rates & reviews in Apple Podcasts. I’d love to get the number of ratings up to 300! Want to help? Check out the article for step-by-step instructions.

Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Crochet Heart Garland

Heidi the Horse

  • Pattern: Heidi the Horse by Jess Huff (free crochet pattern). Direct link to pattern website.
  • Hook: C (2.75 mm)
  • Yarn: Loops & Threads Impeccable in the Soft Taupe Colorway (body). Mystery brown acrylic worsted weight yarn for hooves, tail, mane. Mystery cream acrylic for nose & ears. 
  • Ravelry Project Page

Ursa

  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Pattern: Ursa by Jacqueline Cieslak ($8 knitting pattern)- pattern also available on PayHip
  • Needle: US 11 (8.0 mm)
  • Yarn: Kraemer Yarns Mauch Chunky in the Juju Fruit Colorway. Retails for $8.50 per ball. (Yarn provided free of charge for me to review)
  • Finished sweater used 472 grams/ 519 meters, 567 yards.
  • Tune in to hear my thoughts on how we see ourselves and decide what’s flattering or not. Remember a photo is just one angle of you. Everyone in real life sees you as a dynamic moving person, not just one static image. See examples of what I’d consider good/bad or flattering/unflattering photos below. Bottom line: I do love the sweater and have worn it several times already! Really enjoyed knitting with this Kraemer Yarn and can definitely see myself using it again for future projects.

Juju Fruit Headband

  • Yarn: Kraemer Yarns Mauch Chunky in the Juju Fruit Colorway
  • Needles: US 8 (5.0 mm)
  • Pattern: new design. Release TBD.

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Wound Up Fiber Arts 3 Ply Spin

  • Fiber: Wound Up Fiber Arts Corriedale, 100 grams. Colorway 1: Prim (finished 1/12). Colorway 2: Fall Vibes finished 2/2. Colorway 3
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • No color management. Going to add other 2 braids. 3 ply.
  • 15 min per day in Feb
  • I have about 1/4 of the third braid, Honey Pie, left to go.

Fifties Stripes Socks

  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams
  • Yarn: Patrons Kroy Stripes in the Fifities Stripes Colorway
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm) 

Brainstorming

  • Garret asked for a dog that looks like their French Bulldog, Yadi, for his birthday. I purchased a pattern from BlackBird Pattern on Etsy.  $8.49 Contains patterns for both a Frenchie and a Pug.  Most realistic of all the patterns I could find on Ravelry and Etsy. 
  • I bought a black dog nose and replenished some safety eyes from 6060 on Etsy.
  • I bought removable wallpaper samples from Etsy. We liked this one, but Dan suggested I paint it instead and get the kids involved.

From the Armchair

  • Books I’ve Finished (listened to each of these on the Hoopla app): 
    • A Tale of Magic by Chris Colfer, so I got it from the library.  Amazon Affiliate Link.
    • You Are Not So Smart: Why You Have Too Many Friends on Facebook, Why Your Memory is Mostly Fiction by David McRaney- Amazon Affiliate Link 

Crafty Adventures

  • Riley taught me how to make Disney ears using a headband, cardboard shapes for the ears, polyfill, material, ribbons and a glue gun. No sewing required. We filmed a video that will be up on the Down Cellar Studio YouTube Channel soon. 

KAL News

Pigskin Party wrapped up. If you won a prize and haven’t already reached out already please get in touch before March 10th.

Events

  • Virtual Vogue Knitting Live- March 18-21- Workshops posted
    • Check out friend of pod, Mara Smith’s class on  Saturday March 21 12:30p-1:30p. Lecture: Sit Right and Knit All Night: How Proper Ergonomics Can Increase Productivity
  • Carolina FiberFest (virtual): March 11-14. . Workshops March 11-14, with vendors, free talks and demonstrations on the 12-14th.

Contest, News & Notes

  • Let’s welcome Jen from the Commuter Knitter Podcast back to the Podcasting world! She uploaded a new episode for the first time after 4 years. Great episode, fun audio from her 4 year old twins at the end. Find Jen on Instagram as NDJen04
  • Check out the AndersMill Knits Podcast on YouTube.  I joined Emily & Stephanie. Episode 57.1 & 57.2 
  • Check out my Thrift Haul Video
  • Weekend Crafty Vlog– February 14th & 15th : You’ll get weekend knitting, crochet and spinning. You’ll also see some yoga, snowy walks in the woods, hear an update on my experience with my 2nd Covid Vaccine, and join me (and the fam) for thrifting adventures. 
  • My Studio Redesign is complete. Check out the transformation video on YouTube. 
  • Thanks for getting me over 1,000 subscribers! I really appreciate your support. 

Life in Focus

Update: 21 for 2021 List- Completed:

  • #4- Complete Book 2 for my 2018 Album
  • #10- Hit 1,000 subscribers on YouTube
  • #11- Participate in the February Challenge on Instagram
  • #12- Read/listen to 10 books
  • #19- Submit a pattern to at least 1 publication 

Ask Me Anything

Limestone knits asked on IG- How to choose sweater patterns that integrate well with your existing wardrobe

  1. What colors do you wear? Not what’s in your closet? What do YOU WEAR? What did you wear this week? If its all blacks and reds and grays, that neutral, undyed yarn may not be the best pick. If you never wear brights, nix in the neon. If you hate stripes or patterns, that fair isle sweater or 6 color sweater may not work well. If you love crazy bright pants but think neitral look best up by your face… keep that in mind. 
  2. What type of sweater do you usually wear? Pullovers only? Don’t knit a cardigan. Baggy? fitted? take a few notes. 
  3. When you wear sweaters what are you doing and what else are you wearing? Do you only ever wear sweaters out of the house, never at home? Then they need to work with jeans or whatever you wear out. They may not need to work with your leggings. If you always wear leggings and tunics, a sweater that ends at your hip isn’t very useful. 
  4. Are you warm blooded or cold blooded? If you’re always cold, maybe don’t make a fingering weight sweater. If you hate wearing layers, a cropped sweater may not work well, unless you’re cool w/ just wearing a tank or cami underneath. If you’re always cold, maybe a worsted or bulky sweater could work for you, but if you only wear those in February- maybe don’t choose Christmas colors even if a Christmas sweater sounds like fun… 

On a Happy Note

  • Thrifting with Mom, Riley and Millie over the holiday weekend. So fun! 
  • Walking in the snow with Hattie and Megg last Saturday.
  • Visiting with Millie outside, safely and sitting fireside on her birthday. Getting to see Garret skate in the ice rink my brother made in the backyard. 
  • My BFF came for a socially distant visit- bringing fresh, local mint chip ice cream and flowers. 
  • New “bowl” in my food rotation: Black Bean Cowboy burger from Trader Joe’s, a little bit of quinoa, whatever roasted veggies are in the fridge, a little cheese and BBQ sauce. 

Quote of the Week

You make mistakes, mistakes don’t make you”― Maxwell Maltz

Thank you for tuning in!Please note: book links are all Amazon Affiliate Links. If you make a purchase (or anything else) after clicking through that link, I’ll get a small percentage. It doesn’t cost you any extra. It’s a great way to support the podcast, so thanks in advance for considering purchasing through these links. 
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Episode 202: Books, Birthdays & Prizes Galore!

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Thank you for tuning in to Episode 202 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
  • Crafty Adventures
  • KAL News
  • Events
  • Life in Focus
  • On a Happy Note
  • Quote of the Week

Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Mom’s Rhinebeck Birthday Headband

  • Yarn: Mom bought a sweater quantity at Rhinebeck 2019 from Battenkill Fiber Mill in NY. Had more than 1 full skein of the 9 she purchased leftover.
  • Needles: US 8 (5.0 mm)
  • Pattern: None
  • Ravelry Project Page

Vampire Vibes Socks (Ravelry Link)

  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams
  • Yarn: Knit Picks Felici in the Vampires Vibes colorway. Holly Press Fibers Sheepish Sock (heels)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page

Jeff’s Ice Time Hat

  • Pattern: Ice Time Hat by Jennifer Lassonde
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash (charcoal) & Leading Men Fiber Arts Dramaturg in the Sandcastle Colorway (tan).
  • Needles: US 5 (3.75mm) & US 7 (4.5 mm)

Crochet Heart Garlands

  • Pattern: Heart Garland by Sarahndipities Designs (free crochet pattern)
  • Hooks: Various sizes
  • My Ravelry Project Page– blue version
  • Yarn: Acrylic Worsted Weight yarn from stash (for hearts), wool fingering weight scraps (for garland).

3 more Garlands in red, white and silver

  • Project Pages, One, Two and Three
  • Fun with sparkle yarn
    • White: Lion Brand Wool Ease- 301- White Multi
    • Big Twist from Joann’s (Holiday- Red & Twinkle- Gray/Silver)

Hattie’s Little Unicorn

  • Pattern: Little Unicorn by Valto Ekaterina ($3.60 Etsy)
  • Hook: C (2.75 mm)
  • Yarn: White- worsted acrylic from stash. Colors from Knit Picks Brava Minis
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Pattern calls for attaching limbs as you go. Felt more fiddly than it was worth so I skipped that and sewed them on after.
  • Pattern calls for tying in yarn for hair. I used crochet chains instead.

3-Ply Shetland

  • 100% undyed Shetland
  • 100 grams,
  • Finished yarn: 98g. 256 yards- sport weight 3 ply.
  • Ravelry Page

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Ursa

Super Bulky Chevron Blanket

Wound Up Fiber Arts 3 Ply Spin

  • Fiber: Wound Up Fiber Arts Corriedale, 100 grams. Colorway 1: Prim (finished 1/12). Colorway 2: Fall Vibes (finished 2/2). Colorway 3: Honey Piet
  • Ravelry Project Page

Laura’s Cameo Socks

  • Yarn: Patons Kroy FX Yarn in the Cameo Colors Colorway
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams
  • Ravelry Project Page Link

Dan’s New Year’s Socks

  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams
  • Yarn: Goosey Fibers Squish DK
  • Needles: US 2 (2.75 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page

Whale Song Socks

  • Yarn: Knit Picks Felici in the Whale Song Colorway
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams
  • Ravelry Project Page Link

From the Armchair

I’ve recently read & enjoyed:

I Found You by Lisa Jewell. Amazon Affiliate Link

The Anatomist’s Wife by Anna Lee Huber- Amazon Affiliate Link

The Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian- Amazon Affiliate Link

Started watching HBO Max show. Very different but still really enjoyable.

My 12 year old niece, Riley is reading Tale of Magic by Chris Colfer, so I got the audiobook from the library.  Amazon Affiliate Link.

Crafty Adventures

I’ve been enjoying drawing and cooling and pasting things into a little notebook. It’s along the ideas of a Commonplace book (click here for a blog post about this type of notebook).

2nd Crafty Chat Video with Riley. Check it out the video on the Down Cellar Studio YouTube Channel. Check out the Pinterest challenge at the end of the video.

Valentine Baskets- Delighted in putting together Valentine’s surprise baskets for my family. Included in them were the handmade garlands, books, mugs, candy, edible treats. baskets and some other goodies bought second hand. Plus some paper punch hearts they can staple together to make a garland- or use in another crafty project.

I made two batches of Banana Ice Cream for Mom & Jeff, my brother. This is the recipe I use.

KAL News

Pigskin Party ’20

The Pigskin Party has officially wrapped up. Check out the End Zone Dance– come celebrate each other’s finished projects.

Tune in to hear the January/February Participation Winners, the January Stash Hat Interception Winner and the 14 Grand Prize Winners!

Events

  • Vogue Knitting is continuing their virtual classes. The next round is March 18-21. Check their website for more details about upcoming events.

Life in Focus


Word of the Year: Delight

  • I bought some stickers that say “DELIGHT” and I added a delight quote to the canvas I painted for the Pinterest Challenge.

I checked in on my 3 primary goals for 2021:

  • 3 strength/circuit/barre/yoga workouts per week (tracked in Fitbit app)– I’m easily meeting and exceeding this now that I’ve been doing 30 Day Breath Series on the Yoga with Adriene YouTube channel.
  • 8 designs published
    • 1 down 7 to go (1 through tech editing, and 2 other samples knit)
  • Make & assess goals every month in 2021
    • Did my January assessment! Didn’t take long because I have been doing weekly assessments too.

Tune in to hear some 21 for 2021 List Updates

On a Happy Note

  • On Hattie’s Birthday, I stopped by to give her her gift. She was delighted with her unicorn. Check out my Instagram feed for the video. 
  • Mom’s Birthday- Zoom Call. 
    • We made a Birthday Video for Mom using Vidday. It allows you to send out a link and folks can upload their videos. You can arrange them, pick music etc. Then they process it all for you. $24 for 10-20 minute video. Worth it for the ease of use.
  • SNOW. So much snow.
  • I was able to see my Aunt Florence during her chemo treatment. I showed her video on how to make pompoms using cardboard circles & helped her purchase Knit Picks Bulky yarn for her to make some new hats.
  • Getting my 2nd Covid Vaccine.

Quote of the Week

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight. -Khalil Gibran


Music -“Soft Orange Glow” by Josh Woodward. Free download: http://joshwoodward.com/

Thank you for tuning in!
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Episode 201: Abington Mitts

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Thank you for tuning in to Episode 201 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
  • Crafty Adventures
  • KAL News
  • Events
  • Contest, News & Notes
  • Life in Focus
  • Ask Me Anything
  • On a Happy Note
  • Quote of the Week

Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Gnome for Kris

  • Hook: C (2.75 mm)
  • Yarn: Knit Picks Brava Worsted in several shades of pinks and gray
  • Ravelry Project Page Link
  • Pattern: none, I created this as I went. Let me know if you like it and I may write up the pattern.

Crochet Lion Amigurumi

  • Pattern: Crochet Lion Amigurumi by Melanie Willis available on Ravelry & Etsy
  • Hook: C: 2.75 mm
  • Yarn:  Knit Picks Brava Sport (lost ball band- yellow), Vanna’s Choice (tweedy oatmeal).
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • I finished the lion (left photo) and wasn’t completely happy so I moved the right eye and added more mane yarn to frame the face a little more closely (right photo).
  • Ravelry user deafelis posted to say “ Jen, it sounds like you need a latch hook (Michaels link) for the lion mane! You basically described latch hook rug making, and that special hook makes things so much easier.” Thanks for the tip!

Christmas with the Gilmores Socks

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Spent most of the past 2 weeks knitting up the sample for a new shawl design and a secret project for Mom’s birthday which I am not sharing details on just yet…

Ursa

  • Ravelry Project Page.
  • Pattern: Ursa by Jacqueline Cieslak
  • Needle: US 11 (8.0 mm)
  • Yarn: Kraemer Yarns Mauch Chunky in the Juju Fruit Colorway (yarn provided to me free of charge for my review)
  • Size 3 (42 inch bust)  
  • Thanks to Ravelry user mjgnatt– MJ- who said “I believe the yarn for your Ursa pull over is Mauch Chunky. I live in Northeastern PA and there is a town called Jim Thorpe in Carbon County. The town used to be called Mauch Chunk which means Bear Place in the native Munsee-Lenape Native American language. The pronunciation of Mauch is “mock”. Just thought you might want to know how appropriate your yarn is for your Ursa pullover as Ursa Major is a constellation also known as the Great Bear.”

Super Bulky Chevron Blanket

Wound Up Fiber Arts 3 Ply Spin

  • Fiber: Wound Up Fiber Arts Corriedale, 100 grams. Colorway 1: Prim (finished 1/12). Colorway 2: Fall Vibes
  • Ravelry Project Page

Laura’s Cameo Socks

  • Yarn: Patons Kroy FX Yarn in the Cameo Colors Colorway
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams
  • Ravelry Project Page Link

Dan’s New Year’s Socks

  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams
  • Yarn: Goosey Fibers Squish DK
  • Needles: US 2 (2.75 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page

From the Armchair

Crafty Adventures

KAL News

Pigskin Party ’20

Check out all of the details you need to know either in the Start Here Thread  on Ravelry or on my website. 
Important Links:

  • Check out the January Interception: Stash Hat Scrimmage Hosted by Knitters Brewing Company. Check out the Ravelry Thread or this page on my website.
  • Pigskin Movie night hosted by VTKimmyKim:  Enola Holmes on February 6th at 8pm EST. Check out the Pop-up Events tab for details as it gets closer.
  • Thank you to Mara Smith for hosting a Pigskin Party Stretching session on January 24th! So great to see your smiling faces. I felt so great afterwards- and spent the rest of that day chasing a 3 year old, so it was good to be limber! Check out Mara’s Instagram Account for her PrecisionATPerformance business or her website. She offers Zoom stretching classes that you may enjoy Flexibility: Wednesdays at 6:30pm Stretches for Stitchers: Fridays at 6:30pm. She is running a sale on February classes but you have to sign up by 1/31. So get over there now if you’re interested.

Events

Contest, News & Notes

  • I’m excited to share the release of my Abington Mitt pattern.
  • The Abington Mitts were designed to match my Abington Hat. They use similar repeats of twisted stitches and cables as the focal point for the top of the hand.The mitts are worked from the wrist up and are customizable.  
  • 3 Sizes: Small (Medium, Large): Finished palm circumference: 6 (7, 8) in / 15.25 (17.75, 20.25) cm
    • Intended to fit with a little bit of negative ease. Select the size that is closest to your hand circumference as measured just below the knuckles and above the thumb gusset. If you are between sizes, I’d recommend going down to a smaller size.
  • Yarn: DK weight:  Yarn used in samples: 66 (70, 80) grams. 162 (172, 196) yards / 148 (157, 179) meters* If you plan to make your mitts longer in the wrist and or/hand, you will need more yarn.
  • Needles: US 4 / 3.5 mm & US 6 / 4.0 mm, 32 in / 80 cm circulars for magic loop, or your preferred needles for knitting in the round.
  • This pattern has been tech edited & test knit.Instructions are both written and charted.
  • Find the Abington Mitts Pattern for $5 on Ravelry & coming soon to LoveCrafts.
  • Newsletter subscribers, check your email for the best possible deal. The pattern will have an intro code for everyone else making the pattern just $4.

Life in Focus

Ask Me Anything


Knitgirlwagner asked. What’s the best way to teach yourself to spin? 

Mfcknits- do you have a favorite sock heel method? 

On a Happy Note

  • Splashing in the mud puddles on a recent hike with Hattie.
    • Hattie talking about coming home with me. Wanting to sleep over “when she’s little” after I insisted she can sleep over when she gets “a little bigger.”
  • Weekly check ins with Mom about our goals.
  • Crafty time with Eme and Hattie.
  • The joyous, safe Inauguration of our 46th President and first female, Asian American/African American VP. Missed watching it live, but used phone unboxing batteries at work. Had to keep myself from crying because had a feeling if I did, someone would inevitably walk in at that moment. 
    • Amanda Gorman, 1st ever youth poet laureate, shared a poem. Read the transcript. Really recommend you watch it. 
  • Bridgerton on Netflix with Dan.
  • Snow! 

Quote of the Week

“You can do so much in ten minutes’ time. Ten minutes, once gone, are gone for good. Divide your life into 10-minute units and sacrifice as few of them as possible in meaningless activity.”

– Ingvar Kamprad

Thank you for tuning in!
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