Episode 267: Knit, Spin, Crochet, Gift, Repeat

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Thank you for tuning in to Episode 267 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
  • Knitting in Passing
  • KAL News
  • Events
  • Contest, News & Notes
  • On a Happy Note
  • Quote of the Week

Thank you to this episode’s sponsors: Stitched by Jessalu, The Little Wolf Knits & Suburban Stitcher

Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Splash Socks

  • Yarn: Biscotte Yarn Bis Sock in the Splash Colorway (blue self-striping yarn)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry )
  • Made for David Markus as a thank you for donating to the FearLESS Living Fund in October of 2023. Finished in time for Laura to bring them back with her after her visit the weekend before Thanksgiving.
  • Length of foot- 8.5 inches before toe
  • Knit them in line at a Sample Sale Mom, Laura, Trish and I went to the Saturday morning of Laura’s visit. People in line jumped in to photo bomb so that was fun.

2 Christmas Stockings

Drawn Together Cowl

  • Pattern: Drawn Together by Shana Cohen ($7 knitting pattern available on Ravelry & Payhip)
  • Needles: US 6 (4.0 mm) and a 3.75 mm (F) crochet hook for the provisional cast on
  • Yarn: neon coral DK yarn (lost ball band; believe its from Spun Right Round)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Provisional cast on using this Purl Soho video.

Wish Star

  • Patterns: Sol Amigurumi by Vanessa Doncatto (free crochet pattern on Ravelry )
  • Hooks: B (2.25 mm), C (2.75 mm) & D (3.25 mm)
  • Yarn: Big Twist- Solids in Varsity Yellow (for the sun body) and Big Twist Twinkle in Yellow for the heart/face. Leftover red fingering yarn for the mustache.
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Made on Black Friday afternoon

Brachiosaurus

  • Pattern:  Dinosaur Jurassic World No Sew Crochet Pattern by Klein Maker on Etsy ($9.89 for 4 patterns)
  • Yarn: Loops & Threads Impeccable in the Jade colorway (body) & Knit Picks Brava Worsted in the Sky colorway
  • Hook: C (2.75 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Pattern wouldn’t be ideal for beginners. Doesn’t tell you when/where to put in Safety Eyes before closing things up. No other major issues, but just be thoughtful. I paid less than $4 for the 4 pack of dino patterns. Worth it.

Bobble pumpkin

  • Pattern: Ribbed Bobble Pumpkin by Breann Mauldin ($3 crochet pattern on Ravelry or free option on this website)
  • Hook: I (5.5 mm)
  • Yarn: Wool Ease Thick & Quick in the Succulent Colorway
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • I used nearly all 97 meters in this skein with 6 repeats of the pattern.

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Silver Spoon Socks

  • Yarn: A Whimsical Wood Yarn Company Pixie Toes Socks in the Silver Spoon Up My A$$ colorway
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry )
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • About the yarn: peaches and pinks with gray/taupe. At my gauge it is striping (~2 rounds per color). I purchased this yarn at Yarncentric event in Maryland.
  • Progress: Almost done with the first leg.

Let the Mystery Unravel 2023 Blanket of Calm

  • Pattern: Blanket of Calm by Casapinka (free crochet pattern)
  • Yarn: Woolen Women Fibers- Let the Mystery Unravel subscription + Cascade Heritage Sock yarn in the Forged Iron Colorway
  • Hook: 3.25 mm (D)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • You can find my Let the Mystery Unravel Unboxing Video on YouTube in this Playlist
  • This subscription is not available to new subscribers but I hope you’ll watch each month and see how my blanket comes along. Stay tuned to Woolen Women for all of the fun kits they have! Don’t forget, they’re Pro Shop Sponsors.
  • Progress Notes- 1st two sets of squares are done. I’ve crocheted a few from the November kit.

Hattie’s Scrappy Helical Socks

  • Yarn: Random bits & bobs of fingering weight leftovers
  • Needles: US 1 (2.25 mm)
  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry )
  • US 1 (not 1.5), 48 sts. long cuff.
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Check out my video tutorial for using Cate’s Clasp Weft Join along with Helical Knitting
  • Progress: I’m about half way through the leg of the first sock.

Woolens & Nosh 2023 Advent Socks

  • Yarn: Woolens & Nosh Targhee Sock. 2023 Advent Set
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Note- pair 199 of OMG Heel Socks!

DK Bella Fio Socks

  • Yarn: BellaFio DK Sock (75% SW Merino/ 25% recycled nylon) in the Great Gray Owl colorway.  Goosey Fibers Goosey Hefty (100% SW Merino- Worsted Weight) in Buckbeack (cuffs, heels and toes)
  • Needles: US 2 (2.75 mm)
  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • About this project: Great Gray Owl colorway is a beautiful blend of light blues with hints of green, some small bits of a yellowy green and some neutral cream/tan hues. Buckbeak is a beautiful taupe color that pairs beautifully and I love that both colorway names are based on birds. Perfect for our Q2 challenge! Thanks again to BellaFio for sponsoring this month and encouraging us to Embrace Nature!
  • Pair 200 of OMG Heel for me!

Vampires of Venice Spinning

  • Fiber: Into the Whirled. 4oz Falkland in the Vampires of Venice colorway.
  • Twist direction: singles = Z plied = S
    • This means when I’m spinning, my wheel is spinning clockwise and when plying my wheel is moving counter-clockwise.
  • Split braid in half. First half has already been spun.
  • Plan is to use the yarn to knit this Tweed Tie available on Ravelry.

Clown collar

  • Pattern: improvsing on my own. Used this free Clown Ruff pattern from Slipped Stitch Hollow as a starting point
  • Hook: H (5.0 mm)
  • Yarn: Big Twist Twinkle (Gray), Big Twist Value (Grape), Craft Smart Neon Value (neon yellow) & mystery worsted sparkle yarn in pink and white
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • I had a quick visit with Emelyn while they were home for Thanksgiving break. When I asked if there was anything on their Christmas wish list I should know about, they said they’d like a handmade clown collar! I love a good curveball!

Brainstorming

  • Millie wants a goat squishy/toy that looks like her squishmellow
  • I’d like to make toys for Hattie and Gabriella and another dinosaur for Zachary.
  • Mom picked out a skein of yarn for mitts at Rhinebeck that I’d like to knit up before Christmas.
  • I’d like to make 1 other pumpkin.

From the Armchair

Escaping Twin Flames Documentary on Netflix

Lessons in Chemistry on Apple TV

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.

Knitting in Passing

  • I shared two recent stories about meeting other knitters/talking about knitting in the wild. I met a lovely woman named Joanne at her consignment shop. She was knitting when Mom was wandering around the store so of course she struck up a conversation. Turns out, Joanne also spins too! We had a lovely chat and Mom took a photo of us.
  • I was recently waiting for my car to get it’s oil changed when a kind.79 year old woman asked about my knitting and we ended up chatting for an hour. We talked about restoration of old Victorian in my home town where she owns a condo now.

KAL News

Pigskin Party ’23

  • #DCSPigskinParty23
  • Official Rules
  • Find everything you need on my website or in the Start Here Thread in the Ravelry Group
  • Register using this Google Form (you must be Registered to be eligible for prizes)
  • Enter your projects using the Point Tally Form
  • Find the full list of Sponsors in this Google Doc.
  • Questions-  ask them in this Ravelry Thread or email Jen at downcellarstudio @ gmail.com
  • In this episode:
    • Finish up your Q2 Project by the end of November. Quarter 2 Challenge: Embrace Nature brought to you by our Official Sponsor of the Quarter Bella Fio. Runs 11/1-11/30/23. Full details can be found in this Google Doc and in this Ravelry Thread.
    • Quarter 3 Challenge: The Waymaker’s Cowl brought to you by our Official Sponsor of the Quarter Mandi’s Makings. Runs December 1-31, 2023. Full details can be found in this Google Doc and in this Ravelry Thread.
    • WIPs Challenge: Finish WIPs you started before the Pigskin Party kicked off on 9/7/23! If you finish them between 11/10/23 and 1/10/24, you’ll earn 150 points. Full details can be found in this Google Doc and in this Ravelry Thread.
    • Updates from Commentator Mary

Lots of players are talking about double-dipping in other make-alongs. A great thing about the PSP is that you can work on whatever you want so it is easy to have one project count for both PSP points and another MAL!

  • Hikesandbikes is planning an epic shawl project (the Genesis Shawl- check out her Ravelry Project Page) for the Yarniacs podcast’s self-indulgent make along. Find details in their Ravelry group.
  • Many many players are planning to participate in PSP-sponsor Imagined Landscapes’ snow matter what December mystery gnome knit along. There’s lots of chatter on the boards about what colors folks plan to use. 
  • There’s also some talk of the Indie Gift Along which is hosted on Ravelry. Several PSP sponsors are participating so this one is particularly ripe for double-dipping!
  • Some players are also planning on joining Andrea Mowry’s instafriends KAL
  • Also on the boards there is lots of chatter about holiday movies, including Emmet Otter’s Jug Band. That is a new to me Jim Henson movie that I definitely plan to check out!

Events

  • THANK YOU to everyone who donated handknit/crocheted items for adult and youth homeless in Massachusetts. They set up tables on Thanksgiving and put all of the handmade items on the fence outside their church in Woburn center. Check out these beautiful photos.
  • I’ll be participating in Vlogmas again this year. Is there anything you especially want to see? Let me know and I’ll see what I can do. Check out previous years playlists:  Vlogmas 2022 Playlist & Vlogmas 2021 Playlist
  • Advent Knitting. Check out this Ravelry Bundle put together by Knitty Natty if you need ideas for an Advent project. Thanks for including my Boxing Day Bonus Shawl- Ravelry | LoveCrafts. Don’t forget you can use coupon code 10 years for 25% off any of my patterns on Ravelry.
  • Vogue Knitting Live– New York City: January 25- 28, 2024 (not sure if I’ll be there yet. More to come)

Contest, News & Notes

What’s going on on the YouTube Channel?

  • Health Update videos with Mom (Diane Lassonde). Check out Part 1 and Part 2.
  • November Let the Mystery Unravel Video

On a Happy Note

  • My friend Laura visited from NYC the weekend before Thanksgiving! We did some consignment shopping & went out to eat with Mom on Friday. Saturday we went to a Sample sale then a couple craft fairs with Mom & Trish. We had a wuick visit to Megg and got to see my nephew Oisin.
  • We survived a big regulatory visit at the hospital I work at.
  • Thanksgiving highlights- Coloring with Gabriella, reading and making snowflakes with my cousins’ kids.
  • Black Friday shopping. No lines
  • Decorating with Mom and Dad. Oisín signing Christmas carols.
  • Decorating our tree with Liz.
  • Dan is finished a huge work project. Crazy hours over holiday but it all went well.
  • I’ll do an update on my 23 for 2023 list in the next episode but I’m feeling really good about it. If you do these kinds of lists, I’d love to crowdsource ideas in the Ravelry Group!

Quote of the Week

For nothing is fixed, forever and forever and forever, it is not fixed; the earth is always shifting, the light is always changing, the sea does not cease to grind down rock.

–James Baldwin 

Thank you for tuning in!

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