Episode 245: Christmas Craziness!

Thank you for tuning in to Episode 245 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
In my Travels
KAL News
Life in Focus
Ask Me Anything
On a Happy Note
Quote of the Week

Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Lucy the Fox

Pattern: Lucy the Fox by Banga Vaicekauskienė ($3.90 crochet pattern available on Ravelry and Etsy)
Yarn: Knit Picks Brava Worsted in White, Black and Orange
Hook: C (2.75 mm)
Ravelry Project Page
Knit Picks Affiliate Link
I gifted it to Aila and she named it Ginger

Shrek

Pattern: Improvised using the basic instructions from Lucy Collin’s Han Solo pattern. Pattern no longer available for individual sale. You can find it in this book available from Amazon (affiliate link).
Yarn: Green- Spunky Eclectic Victoria in the Ginko Colorway. Cream- Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in Cloud. Brown- Cascade 220 Superwash.
Hook: B (2.25 mm)
Ravelry Project Page.
I used the basic top down instructions from Lucy Collin’s Han Solo pattern but made the face and belly bigger using increases and HDCs.

Abington Hat

Pattern: Abington Hat by Jennifer Lassonde ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry & LoveCrafts
Yarn: fingering held double. Knit Picks Capretta in the Sagebrush Colorway & Friends in Fiber sock yarn.
Needles: US 4 & US 6.
Size- Medium
Ravelry Project Page

Sugarplum Socks

Yarn: Hypnotic Yarn Plush Sock in the Sugarplum Colorway (Yarnable Subscription Box)
Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams ($5 Knitting Pattern available on Ravelry)
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
Ravelry Project Page
Yarnable Subscription Box Affiliate Link

Belt for Mom’s Wave of Change Cardigan

Yarn: Battenkill Fiber Mill Yarn (from Rhinebeck 2019). No label or other details available
Needles: US 8 (5.0 mm)
Mock i-cord edging with garter stitch for the center. Small number of increases at the beginning and decreases at the end. Will have to see if we want to add some icords onto the sweater to hold the belt or not.

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, 45” bust because it calls for 2-4 inches of positive ease.
Switch to Lykke Needles for body. Thought I was using 32”. Was maybe 24.
Ravelry Project Page

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

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

Woolens and Nosh Socks

Yarn: Woolens & Nosh Targee Socks- 2022 Advent Calendar
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

From the Armchair

Perfect Match by Jodi Picoult. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link.
Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six by Lisa Unger. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link.

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

Vlogmas 2022! 3rd year doing this project on my Down Cellar Studio YouTube Channel. You can find the playlist here.
Christmas Day video still to come!

In My Travels

I went to Las Vegas with my parents, my brother Jeff and our friends Trish and Thayer from December 13-19th.
We visited the Hoover Dam, went ziplining down Fremont Street, had a couple really swanky dinners out including one at the Paris hotel on the Vegas strip overlooking the Bellagio fountains, did a bit of gambling on the slot machines, attended a Gatsby themed wedding and my brother and I ended the trip with a heck of a Patriots/Raiders game at the new Allegiant Stadium.
We visited Blind Center of Nevada.

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
- Thanks to everyone who participated in our:
  - December Hat Interception hosted by Cori Eichelberger (irocknits) & Monique Leonard (Windswept Knits). Check out irocknits patterns on Ravelry & Windswept Monique’s patterns on Ravelry. Find all of the Challenge details in this Google Doc-December Hat Interception: Iroc Knits & Windswept Designs
  - Gratitude WIP Bonus: finish up WIPs started 9/22/22 or earlier (with a finish date of 11/24-12/31/22) and you can earn some bonus points. Check out all of the details & rules in this Doc- Gratitude WIP Bonus
  - Night Bright Challenge: ends 12/31 get your entries into the Ravelry Thread
  - 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.
- Tune in to hear if you won a participation prize for November
- THANK YOU to Wendy, our Umpire, and Alicia, Heather and Emily, our fabulous commissioners!

Life in Focus

I’m starting my year in review process. In 2020 I recorded a video about that which you can find on my YouTube Channel. Check out that video here
- Worksheets for Reviewing Your Year & Planning Your Year are available on my website: https://www.downcellarstudio.com/goals/
I shared an update on my 22 for 2022 list

Ask Me Anything

Tune in to hear the answers to these questions asked by listeners:

How is your Mom doing? I’m praying for her.
I want to hear about your advent knits
Knitting projects
What was the make you most enjoyed making? What memory makes you happiest?
Your plans for 2023, how you’re holding up with all that’s going on in your world.
New Years Cast On Plans

On a Happy Note

Going to see Six with my bestie, Kris.
My friend Liz came over on the Thursday before Christmas to help me wrap. It was a good thing we finished because that night the power went out.
Friday morning I went to the ocean to see the waves crashing in after the bombcylone blew through.
Christmas Eve at my cousin Susan’s- visit with Santa, cutting Mom’s hair and a funny exchange where Santa thought I was the mother of one of my cousin’s kids.
Sleeping over Mom’s on Christmas night, watching movies and playing Tock with Mom, Riley and Millie.
Christmas morning snuggles with my youngest nephew, Zachary. Silly Christmas games Gail set up at my parents- Cling Wrap Game and the bows game (new to us this year). Stay tuned for the video to come soon!
2 unexpected packages- one from Woolen Women Fibers and one from Suzanne, SewRunKnit, who sent three beautiful chemo caps for Mom/donation.