Episode 270: Heart

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Thank you for tuning in to Episode 270 of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. This week’s segments included:

  • On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins
  • Brainstorming
  • From the Armchair
  • KAL News
  • Events
  • Contest, News & Notes
  • Life in Focus
  • Ask Me Anything
  • On a Happy Note
  • Quote of the Week

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Calendula Christmas Quilt

  • Pattern: Calendula Quilt by Elena Fedotova available on Ravelry for $7.50 US.
  • Yarn: Big Twist Value Solids in Ivory, Deep Red, Varsity Green, Aqua, Medium Rose
  • Hook:  G (4.0 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • I used Canva to help me figure out color placement to extend out the quilt pattern. I am extending what is written as a square into a rectangle.
  • 64 squares now. about 24 totally seamed

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- first 3 sets of squares seamed & border added. December squares- all 9 done. not seamed.

Jen/Riley’s Matching Hexi Blankets

  • Pattern: Using this photo tutorial & this video tutorial.
  • Hook: D (3.25 mm)
  • We are making 4 round hexagons.
  • As Riley finishes one, she texts me and I work up my corresponding mini. We’ve done 14 so far. I’m making collages in Canva for each.

Same as It Ever Was Hat

  • Pattern: Same as It Ever Was by Sarah Jordan ($6 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Yarn: Knit Picks Felici in the Beatnik colorway
  • Needles: US 2 (2.75 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Knit Wit Sesigns is a Pigskin Snack Shack Sponsor.
  • Progress: around 75% done.
  • I think this pattern is a great use for Felici which I’ve found doesn’t hold up as well to hard wearing things like socks.

Nimbus Vest

  • Pattern: Nimbus by Berrocco Design Team (free knitting pattern on the Berrocco website)
  • Yarn: Worsted Weight 100% Wool (from Rhinebeck 2022) held double
  • Needles:  US 10 (6.0mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Progress: I’m currently working on the back and am almost done with the 13 inches I need before I decrease for the armholes.

Declan’s 2nd Socks

  • Yarn: Patons Kroy in the Greener Pastures Colorway
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Green, black, gray, cream, mustard stripes + gray/green/white self patterning stripe.
  • Progress- the first sock probably about ready for the toe. Second sock- cuff is done, about 3 inches into the leg.
  • I also did some darning on his first pair of handknit socks.

Brainstorming

Bought yarn for 3 blanket projects huge sale at Joann

  • Conor & Carly Baby using this crochet pattern on Ravelry.
  • Colleen & Patrick Baby Blanket using this crochet pattern on Ravelry.
  • Jenny & Manny Baby Blanket  using the Modified Sedge Stitch Baby Blanket- a $2 crochet pattern available on Ravelry.

From the Armchair

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.

KAL News

Pigskin Party ’23

Events

  • Vogue Knitting Live, New York: January 25-28th, 2024
    • I’m taking classes on Friday & then planning to go to the market 5-8p Friday.
  • I’m teaching a class on the OMG Sock Pattern at Staci’s Stitches in Scituate, MA on Sundays starting February 18th (4 classes)- the class is SOLD OUT

Contest, News & Notes

  • Yarnable Unboxing January 2024 Video posted- this kit came with stitch markers with numbers on them, 25, 50, 75, 100 intended for use when casting on a large amount of stitch. Hawkeygirl3 on YouTube suggested it would also be great for counting rows/rounds like on the leg of a sock if you want to do matching ones! Great idea
  • December 2023 Let the Mystery Unravel Unboxing + Blanket Update

Life in Focus

2023 Review:

  • Knitting/Crochet/Spinning
    • 61 Finished Projects
    • 32 knitting – 2 sweaters (1 for me, 1 for Mom). Lots of hats & socks.
    • 29 crochet (same as last year)- 9 toys
    • 43 are gifts (+ 3 charity items)
    • Spinning- 3 finished projects. 880 meters of yarn. (3 Spinning WIPs)

Favorite projects

2023 by the Numbers:

  • 50 Books read
  • 24 Podcast Episodes
  • 66 Videos on YouTube (some only available for Patrons)
  • YouTube Subscribers- 461 new subscribers, 2,578 subscribers total
  • 5 times- Donated Blood
  • 14 Massages
  • Book Signings- 1
  • Plays/Musicals/drag Shows- 12
  • Concerts- 5 (night time only in Nashville) + 1 (Kane Brown) + 1 (Lainey Wilson ) + 1 (Old Dominion)= 8
  • Birthday Sleepovers- 3
  • Fiber Events- 6 (Russells, CT sheep & Wool, Maryland, Rhinebeck, C&SSYH, Fiber Fest of NE)
  • Trips: Nashville, Maryland, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Rhinebeck.

23 for 2023 list

  1. Read 23 books (35 as of August)
  2. Try at least one pair of fake eyelashes
  3. Print and hang at least 1 of our new family photos  (ordered 8/9 from Walgreens- 8×10 for $12!)
  4. Kayak in one new place Did not complete
  5. Hike in one new place
  6. See 4 plays/musicals (Hamilton 2/9, Shrek in March twice. Secret Garden at Company in April, Matilda [Millie] in May)
  7. Give blood at least 3 times (March, May, August, October & December done)
  8. Knit myself a pair of mittens
  9. Knit/crochet at least one project with handspun (Strathcona sweater “aka my Rhinebeck sweater”
  10. Watch 3 movies in one day (1/22 w/ Mom, Terri, Megg- Everything. Everywhere, All At Once. Women Talk. Armageddon Time)
  11. See a movie in the theater (A Man Called Otto w/ Laura)
  12. Go to a museum (Liz and I went in December)
  13. Finish 1 punch needle project- Did not complete
  14. Ski at least 1 day (ideally 2-4)- Did not complete
  15. Try at least 1 new gym/in person fitness option 4/8- consult at Big Day Fitness. First class on 4/10. Signed up for a month. 
  16. Make at least 1 new financial investment (CD started in February)
  17. Purge at least 23 items from the house. Ideally 46. After a smaller clean out earlier in the year, I took a full car load to Savers in October- lots of clothes.
  18. Publish 1 knitting pattern
  19. Send 5 cards to friends/family just because- Did not complete
  20. Go Camping- Did not complete
  21. Participate in the Fiberuary Challenge on Instagram
  22. Take a class (in person or virtual)- Zumba twice.
  23. Create a new music playlist. Riley’s. Plus CMA fest artists.

2024 Word of the Year- Heart

  • Stay close to my family- which is the heart and life blood of my life.
  • Be true to my heart- what I value, what’s most important to me.
  • I won’t lose heart even when times are hard.
  • I will be true to my heart, my real nature, the heart of me.

2024 Goals:

  • Use my podcast/YouTube/Instagram following to raise money for the FearLESS Living Fund (details in the Ravelry group- and email if you’re one of our regular sponsors)
  • Make & assess goals every month in 2024
  • Monthly review of number of workouts + weigh on at least twice a month.
  • Stretch/Theragun 2-4 times a week

24 for 2024 list

  1. Get 2 massages beyond the one per month at Massage Envy
  2. End the year with more money in the bank than when I started in January.
  3. Make & assess goals each month of the year
  4. Read more books than you did in 2023 (50)
  5. Organize a fundraiser for the FearLESS Living Fund
  6. Come up with better temporary & more permanent storage for memory items.
  7. Visit 1 new (to me) museum or historical site
  8. Add one new indoor plant to my collection
  9. Buy/make/work with Dan/Oisin on at least 1 plant stand for the living or dining room
  10. Publish at least one new pattern
  11. Knit at least 1 finished project with handspun
  12. Knit/crochet myself a new sweater
  13. Make a Christmas afghan for the living room
  14. Take a class
  15. Purge at least 20 items from my wardrobe
  16. Go skiing
  17. Watch at least 5 of the movies on the Jen/Liz movie list
  18. Do something special for our Anniversary in May
  19. Do a regular (ideally monthly) review of Dropbox Camera Uploads to delete unnecessary items
  20. Buy a new quilt and/or duvet cover for our bed
  21. Buy a new blow dryer.
  22. Get my car detailed
  23. Buy new curtains for living room
  24. Try a new local restaurant

Health update on my Mom, Diane: She was hospitalized for several days because of issues with heart palpitation and then we learned her cancer is back in brain, lymph nodes, pleura (lining of lungs) and ribs. She will start with the same chemo she had last time (Oct ’22- March ’23). It’s likely she’ll also need radiation for the brain, but will do an MRI 4 weeks after chemo starts to know for sure & decide what’s best… Health update video coming soon. Keep those prayers and good wishes coming. Diane starts chemo Monday 1/22.

On a Happy Note

  • We had a great visit with my friend Laura who was here for New Year’s. We struck a great balance of lazily watching tv (The Gilded Age & Slow Horses) and getting out and about. We also went to see Boys in the Boat the movie theater.
  • My parents’ annual open house the Saturday after Christmas.
  • Mom gave the girls needle felting kits for Christmas; Millie Facetimed me several times with questions and showing me her progress!
  • Getting sick has not been fun, but the fact that it didn’t ruin my holidays and the fact that work is also still relatively quiet is a huge happy note. Dan has been taking great care of me, and we’re rewatching Hell On Wheels.
  • I spent Sunday of MLK weekend at my parents’. We played Wordle board game (Amazon affiliate link) with Mom, Riley, Millie and Aila. We visited my cousin Jenny’s new house, got our nails done, went out for Mexican, played more games! Fun impromptu sleepover.
  • Millie- All of the Jokers have been Joked! and telling Grammy to “be her best self” adorable.

Quote of the Week

Everything and everyone at their own pace. Flow with not against yourself.

-Akiroq Brost

——

Thank you for tuning in!

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