Episode 200: Lions & Socks & Sweaters Oh My!

Thank you for tuning in to Episode 200 of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. This week’s segments included:

  • On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins
  • Brainstorming
  • Crafty Adventures
  • Knitting in Passing
  • In my Travels
  • Contest, News & Notes
  • Life in Focus
  • Ask Me Anything
  • On a Happy Note
  • Quote of the Week

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

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

Christmas with the Gilmores Socks

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)

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
  • Cast on 52 sts. Thank you past Jen for that note in the project bag. 

Scrappy Sparkly Halloween Socks- Ravelry Project Page Link

  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Yarn: Some scraps. Some Knitty & Color minis 

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 

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

Brainstorming

  • Hayven Sweater by Kate Oates. Ravelry Pattern Page. Also Available on Kate’s website.
  • I’d like to make a garland (or two) for new white wall in my craft room.
  • Craving to knit/design a new hat! Slouchy style to wear with curls. I wear my Thumper Hat constantly. 

Crafty Adventures

I’m still working on my studio set up after painting a wall and re-arranging furniture. I hung up some handmade prints on an unused part of the chalkboard wall.

Knitting in Passing

I recently did a crafty chat on Zoom with Riley. Check out the video on my YouTube Channel. 

KAL News

Quarterly Quests for 2020 are Complete!

Quarter 4: October 1- December 31, 2020: Slay The Stash. Thank you Quarter 4 Sponsors: APLCrafts, AdoreKnit, Jennifer Lassonde Designs- Ravelry Link/LoveCrafts Link. Tune to hear if you’re a winner.


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:

December Interception Winner Announced! Along with December Participation Winners!

Check out the January Interception: Stash Hat Scrimmage Hosted by Knitters Brewing Company. Check out the Ravelry Thread or this page on my website.

Contest, News & Notes

Abington Mitts will be ready for test knitting soon! Get in touch if you’re interested.

Life in Focus

Check out this YouTube Video on my channel for a review of how I review the past year and plan for the next. Worksheets and printables are available in case you want to do this too!

Tune in for an overview on my 2020 review and Goals for 2021.

2021 Word of the Year: Delight
Primary Goals:

  • 3 strength/circuit/barre/yoga workouts per week (tracked in Fitbit app)
  • 8 designs published
  • Make & assess goals every month in 2021

21 for 2021 List

  1. Go to the MFA
  2. Take at least 1 trip with Dan (weekend or longer) outside MA
  3. Complete 10 pages/stories for my December Daily Album
  4. Complete Book 2 for 2018 Photo Book
  5. Finish Covid 19 scrapbook
  6. Go Skiing
  7. Knit a garment out of handspun
  8. Kayak at 1 new place
  9. Spent at least 1 weekend with Laura (in NY or MA)
  10. Hit 1,000 YouTube Followers
  11. Participate in the Fiberuary Challenge on Instagram
  12. Read/listen to 10 books
  13. Take at least 12 baths
  14. End the year with $5k more in savings($33k) 
  15. Take a trip with Mom
  16. Take at least 1 knitting/crochet/spinning class
  17. Go Apple Picking
  18. Do something spontaneous and delightful

Carry over from 2020

  1. Submit a pattern to at least 1 publication 
  2. Go camping 
  3. Do 1 in-store class or event at a local yarn shop (scheduled- didn’t happen)

Ask Me Anything

  • Tune in to hear my answers to questions asked on Instagram.
  • Boehmela asked about my knitting/crocheting plans for 2021. Some preliminary thoughts:
    • Knit with handspun
    • Spin more (not sure what that means)
    • brioche project
    • garland for my room. 
    • finish my mystery gnome
    • do another advent swap 
    • colorwork sweater for me.
    • sweater with my Rhinebeck 2019 yarn. 
  • elisa.knits: Why don’t you knit blankets?
    • Bottom line: They take too long, get heavy and hurt my hands/arms.
  • mfcKnits- Quarantine Workout Routines
    • I aim to do live workouts online through my gym: Monday 6:15a ab class. Wednesday 6:15a Circuit, Thursday 12:15 upper body, Friday 6:15a tabata. In an ideal week I do all 4 but when that’s not possible, sometimes I watch one I wanted to attend live on replay or watch something on YouTube:
    • In the morning or on the weekends I enjoy hiking alone or with friends.
    • My thoughts: start small and make it really achieveable. When possible, find something you enjoy or if you don’t enjoy it, pair your workout with music/podcast you like.
  • Rplatt- asked about my Evernote usage. I am planning to create a YouTube video for this.
  • ecbThorman wanted to know my fav winter recipe. Truth I’m not really a recipe personal. Lately my go-to comfort food has been adding veggies to Trader Joes Poblano Corn Chowder. 

On a Happy Note

  • January 6th, started with beautiful snowy walk, looking at the pink sky. Listening to updates about the Georgia Democrats winning two Senate seats. The day devolved into riots and violence but I’m glad I had that slow, beautiful start to my day.
  • Zoom chat with Melissa. Tip: Get together with a friend on Zoom where you don’t have to sit and just talk. Multi-tasking can make a Zoom call even more low-key and fun.
  • Seeing goats on my neighborhood walk!
  • Dan organized some of the unfinished side of our cellar adding a light and extended cork flooring there.
  • Trees cut down. It’s a relief to know they won’t fall on the house. Every time I take a walk and re-enter, it smells like a Christmas tree lot. Making me insanely happy. 
  • Hiking with Megg, Oisin and Hattie!

Quote of the Week

Author and speaker Jim Rohn on the best response to the disappointments of life: 
“Let’s face it … people and events are going to continue to both hurt and disappoint you. Among the people will be those you most love, as well as those you least know. Seldom is it their intent to purposely hurt you, but rather, a variety of situations mostly beyond your control will cause them to act, speak, or think in ways which can have an adverse effect upon you, your present feelings and emotions, and the way your life upholds. It has been this way through six thousand years of recorded history, and your hurt or grief is not the first time a human has been deeply hurt by the inappropriate actions of another. 
The only way to avoid being touched by life––the good as well as the bad––is to withdraw from society, and even then you will disappoint yourself, and your imagining about what is going on out there will haunt you and hurt you. Knowing this, there is but one solution that will support you when people and events hurt you, and that is to learn to work harder on your personal growth than anything else. Since you cannot control the weather, or the traffic, or the one you love, or your neighbors, or your boss, then you must learn to control you … the one whose response to the difficulties of life really counts.”

Thanks for tuning in!
Contact Information:

Episode 199: Cheers to a New Year & A New Pattern!

Thank you for tuning in to Episode 199 of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. This week’s segments included:

  • Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins
  • On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins
  • Brainstorming
  • Crafty Adventures
  • Knitting in Passing
  • KAL News
  • Contest, News & Notes
  • Life in Focus
  • Ask Me Anything
  • On a Happy Note
  • Quote of the Week

Thank you to this episode’s sponsor: Knit Wit Yarn Shop

Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Baby Yoda Amigurumi

  • Pattern: Baby Yoda Amigurumi (free crochet pattern) by LarissaMaced – @beefriendscrochet
  • Yarn: Loops & Threads Impeccable in Fern (green) and Soft Taupe (Beige)
  • Hook: D (3.25 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page

Ahsoka Tano

  • Pattern: Ahsoka Tano- Star Wars Mini Amigurumi by Lucy Collin ($4.25 US at time)
  • Yarn: Knit Picks Brava Worsted
  • Hook: C (2.75)
  • Ravelry Project Page

Nanaimo Cardigan

  • Pattern: Nanaimo Cardigan by Tara-Lynn Morrison. ($6.50 US Knitting Pattern)
  • Needles: US 19 (15 mm for body). US 15 (10 mm) and US 13 (9 mm) for ribbing.
  • Yarn: Casade Ecological Wool in Colorway 8018 (natural), Lion Brand Fishermen’s Wool in the Birch Tweed Colorway, Noro Ito in Colorway 12 Raindance
  • Ravelry Project Page

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Christmas with the Gilmores Socks

Candy Color Socks

  • Yarn: Regia 4 ply in Colorway 01160
  • Needles: US 1 (2.25 mm)
  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams
  • 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) 

ADVENTure Gnome Mystery KAL

Brainstorming

  • DK weight socks for Dan. Love the Squish Base from Goosey Fibers. 75% Superwash Merino. 25% nylon. 
  • Crochet Lion Amigurumi by Melanie Willis. Available on Ravelry and Etsy for about $4.75 US.
  • Yoga socks
  • More spinning + getting back to design projects. 

Crafty Adventures

  • Oisin and Emelyn put 3 coats of primer on the blue wall in my studio & I did 2 coats of white paint. Then I got the crazy notion to rearrange my whole studio which required taking nearly everything out of it! Dan happily obliged! Slowly bringing things back around. Yarn mostly back in place. Check out Vlogmas Days 28 & 29 Video for more.
  • Dan and I painted the bathroom.
  • Vlogmas videos have been my other crafty adventure. finding new things to record each day. I am working on my editing skills. I vlogged through the whole month of December! Check it out here.

Knitting in Passing

I shared an update about video chatting with my niece Riley to help her with her sweater project.

KAL News

  • Quarterly Quests! Get all of the details here. 
  • Quarter 4: October 1- December 31, 2020: Slay The Stash.
  • Of course we still want you to slay your stash so we added it to the very end. Use up any skein purchased prior to 2020 all the way down to the last 3 yards. Again, older than 5 years (as of the start of 2020) gains you an extra entry.
  • Check out the Ravelry Thread. 
  • Thank you Quarter 4 Sponsors: APLCrafts, AdoreKnit, Jennifer Lassonde Designs- Ravelry Link/LoveCrafts Link


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:

December Interception:  December Mini Skeins/Maximum Spirit Interception hosted by Yumi Yarns.Get your entries in. I will pull a winner in the next episode.


Check out the January Interception: Stash Hat Scrimmage Hosted by Knitters Brewing Company. Check out the Ravelry Thread or this page on my website.


Contest, News & Notes

Brew Buddy Growler Cozy (Ravelry Link)

$4 crochet pattern in Ravelry. Use coupon code “cheer” on Ravelry through 1/10/21 to get the pattern for $3.

Life in Focus

Working on my year in Review. Planning 2021. 

Ask Me Anything

I answered listener questions posted in Instagram Stories. The first was about my making in 2020. Here’s what that looks like:

  • 209 FOs. 117 of those are washcloths.
  • Toys- 36
  • Socks 19
  • Hats- 9
  • Jar cozies- 9
  • Blankets- 8
  • Sweaters- 6
  • Growler Cozies- 4
  • Stockings- 3
  • Shawls- 3
  • Cowls- 2
  • Mitts- 2
  • Baby Rompers- 2
  • Bralette- 1
  • Trim on denim skirt- 1
  • Necklace- 1
  • Trivet-1
  • Blanket Square- 1
  • Finished 8 spinning projects and have 2 in progress. 
  • Finished one weaving project. 
  • Gifts: 65 + wash cloths

On a Happy Note

  • Santa came to see kids outside at their grandparents’ house. Hattie wasn’t thrilled.
  • I got my first haircut since January.
  • We moved my grandmother to the independent living part of an assisted living facility.
  • I checked out a newly reopened Thrift store & got a great vintage sweater and some cool handmade Christmas decorations. 
  • While Eme and Oisín painted, I watched Hattie. Teddy Ruxpin. Coloring. Playing in snow. Playing barbies. 
  • I shared a bit about our altered Christmas plans to accommodate for Covid-19.

Quote of the Week

“A man is about as big as the things that make him angry.”Winston Churchill


Contact Information:

Episode 198: Boxing Day Bonus is Here!

Thank you for tuning in to Episode 198 of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. This week’s segments included:

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


Thank you to this episode’s sponsors: Knit Wit Yarn Shop & Knit Style Yarns

Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Black Chemo Cap

  • Pattern: none
  • Yarn: Bernat Velvet in Blackbird colorway
  • Hooks: F (3.75 mm) for brim and G (4.5 mm) for body
  • Ravelry Project Page Link

Rainbow Ripple Bralette

  • Pattern: Ripple Bralette by Jessie Maed Designs ($9 US knitting pattern). Click here for my Ravelry Project Page.
  • Needles: US 2 ( 2.75 mm) & US 4 (3.5 mm)
  • Yarn: Spunky Eclectic yarn purchased at MA sheep & wool (I think) 
  • Size Small

Nordic Christmas Gnome

  • Pattern: Nordic Christmas Gnome (free crochet pattern) by Ragnhild Hynne Uebler/Yarnhild. Link directly to website (not a Ravelry link)
  • Yarn: worsted weight acrylic from stash
  • Hooks: B (2.25 mm), D (3.25 mm) & J (6 mm)
  • My Ravelry Project Page

Piggie Nugget v2

Hippo Disco Socks

  • Ravelry Project Page.
  • Yarn: Lemonade Shop Simple Sock. Hippo Disco Colorway
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams

Riley’s Charcoal Afghan

Garret’s Crochet Wig

Wave of Change Jacket 

  • Pattern: Wave of Change Jacket by Denise Bayron ($9 US knitting pattern)
  • Yarn: Battenkill Fiber Mill Yarn (from Rhinebeck 2019). No label or other details available
  • Needles: US 8 (5.0 mm) for body. US 6 (4.0 mm) for ribbing.
  • Size 3
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Check out my Day 8 Vlogmas Video to see Mom try it on!

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Spinning

  • Fiber from Wound Up Fiber Arts
  • Base: Corriedale
  • Colorway: Prim
  • I have 2 other similar colorways and will ply them together. Not doing any color management.

Christmas with the Gilmores Socks

ADVENTure Gnome Mystery KAL

Signs of the Season Socks

  • Yarn: Fibernymph Dye Works Bounce base in the Signs of the Season Colorway
  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page

Baby Yoda Amigurumi

  • Pattern: Baby Yoda Amigurumi (free crochet pattern) by LarissaMaced – @beefriendscrochet
  • Yarn: Loops & Threads Impeccable in Fern (green) and Soft Taupe (Beige)
  • Hook: D (3.25 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page

Brainstorming

  • Getting back to my Ursa Cardigan and my Nanaimo Cardigan which I don’t think I even told you I cast on because I didn’t get very far.
  • I have a whole list of small Crochet projects I’d like to try out to make a Christmas garland or some small decorations. 

Crafty Adventures

  • I’ve only done 2 pages for my December Daily Album which I’m ok with. Forgot that December is not really the ideal time to do that because in addition to really enjoying my Christmas making— scrapbook stuff down cellar. Pellet stove isn’t on. Cold. 
  • Alo realizing, my goal i to document this stuff. I’m not feeling overly compelled to make every page a work of art. That’s fine. Taking pressure down a notch. 

KAL News


Quarterly Quests!

  • Get all of the details here. 
  • Quarter 4: October 1- December 31, 2020: Slay The Stash.
  • Of course we still want you to slay your stash so we added it to the very end. Use up any skein purchased prior to 2020 all the way down to the last 3 yards. Again, older than 5 years (as of the start of 2020) gains you an extra entry.
  • Check out the Ravelry Thread. 
  • Thank you Quarter 4 Sponsors: APLCrafts, AdoreKnit, Jennifer Lassonde Designs- Ravelry Link/LoveCrafts Link

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:

Tune in to hear if you won the November Interception & check out our December Mini Skeins/Maximum Spirit Interception hosted by Yumi Yarns.

I announced November Participation prizes and will soon post the details of the 14 Grand Prize Packs we have this year!

Events

Contest, News & Notes

I released my latest shawl design- the Boxing Day Bonus Shawl (Ravelry Link). It is a sideways knit garter & eyelet shawl intended to maximize the use of mini skeins, specifically an Advent Mini Skein collection! The shawl is worked with increases in garter stitch stripes up to the center panel. The triangles are formed with German Short rows, then you decrease in garter stripes to finish off. The result is a big, cozy shawl where the rows never get too long and you’re not binding off hundreds of stitches but you still get that polished edge with the mock i-cord effect I use in so many of my pattern. Best of all- the pattern includes links to video tutorials to guide you throughout. 

Check out full details on my website or on Ravelry.

Tune in for a coupon code only for podcast listeners! You won’t find it anywhere else.

 On a Happy Note

  • Monday Nov 30th- we lost power in the evening but Dan and I worked together on getting the Christmas cards addressed and ready to mail!
  • We lost power again on Sat 12/5. It didn’t last long but we listened to the My Favorite Murder Podcast and I got sleeve of mom’s cardigan done.
  • Getting back into running!
  • 2 massages recently!
  • Zoom knit hangout with my friend Emily who you may know from the Knitting Butterflies audio podcast. Emily has been posting videos on her YouTube Channel again. Check them out here.
  • All new windows installed, and our door replacements will be finished next weekend!
  • I visited with Mom for her sweater try on and to pick up garland.  Tune in to Day 8 Vlogmas Video to see Mom’s gorgeous Christmas decorations. She says they’re scaled way down, and they are, but its still more than anyone else I know!
  • We had another rainy Saturday so we watched hours of Good Girls on Netflix and wrapped all of our Christmas gifts.
  • Getting to see our nieces and nephews (safely) and seeing Hattie experience Teddy Ruxpin Singing and Reading to her for the 1st time!

Quote of the Week

I used to spend a lot of energy trying to get further. I now spend a lot of energy trying to get better. Progress is a trajectory, not just a destination.

–Web Smith


Contact Information: