Author Archives: downcellarstudio@gmail.com

Episode 288: Makeup & Mint

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Thank you for tuning in to Episode 288 of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. This week’s segments included:

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

Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Cold, Cold Heart Socks

  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Yarn: June Pryce Fiber Arts Coventry DK in the Cold, Cold Heart Colorway
  • Needles: US 3 (3.25 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page

Hattie’s Scrappy Helical Socks

  • Yarn: Random bits & bobs of fingering weight leftovers in pinks, purples and blues
  • 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.

Millie’s Christmas Makeup

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Wintermint Socks

  • Yarn: Woolens & Nosh SW Targhee Sock in the Wintermint Colorway
  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Working on both socks. First one is beyond the heel. Second one is ready for the heel.

Moosonee Sweater

  • Pattern: Moosonee Sweater by Tara-Lynn Morrison. $6.50 knitting pattern available on Ravelry & good night, day website.
  • Yarn: Wool Ease Thick & Quick in Deep Lagoon
  • Needles: US 13, 17 & 19 (9, 12 & 15 mm)
  • Pullover sweater similar to the Nanaimo Cardigan I like to make (Here’s one of Megg’s: Ravelry link).

103 Hat

  • Pattern: 103 Hat by Jennifer Lassonde. $5 Knitting Pattern available on  Ravelry & LoveCrafts
  • Yarn: Malabrigo Rios (worsted) in 845 Cirrus Gray
  • Needles: US 5 & US 7 (3.75 & 4.5 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page

Peace & Light Mitts

  • Yarn: Woolens & Nosh SW Targhee Sock in the Peace & Light Colorway
  • Pattern: Soccer Mitts by Erica Lueder. Free Knitting Pattern available on Ravelry.
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • About the yarn: 6 stripes in blues/teals, 3 in creams/yellows
  • Cast on with 56 sts like socks.

Brainstorming

Calendula Christmas Quilt

  • Pattern: Calendula Quilt by Elena Fedotova
  • Yarn: Big Twist Value Solids in Ivory, Deep Red, Varsity Green, Aqua, Medium Rose
  • Hook:  G (4.0 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page

KAL News

Pigskin Party ’24 #DCSPigskinParty24

This week, I wandered over to the end zone dance thread to take a peek at some of the beautiful projects folks have finished in the last month or so.  Lots of players are double-dipping–that is, making projects that count for both the pigskin party and another make along!

KnitsandReads, oneyarn, Sandyrlevin all participated in the Arne & Carlos Christmas Stocking MKAL.  Their finished objects are beautiful! Sandyrlevin even completed two! 

foryouandyarn finished an amazing crochet blanket for the Scheepjes Festival of Lights CAL…it is so intricate and with a beautiful rainbow of colors. Definitely go check it out!  https://www.ravelry.com/discuss/down-cellar-studio-podcast/4327543/726-750#740

michembry finished a project for the indie gift along–the radvent cowl. It is so pretty with nice cheery warm-toned colors.  Perfect for a cold winter’s day. https://www.ravelry.com/discuss/down-cellar-studio-podcast/4327543/751-775#761

Of course, many players are participating in the December Mystery Gnome KAL from PSP-sponsor Imagined Landscapes, but we’ll have to wait a bit longer to see those FOs!

Finally, a few players are double-dipping with other KALs for the Q3 colorwork challenge–I think that would actually be a triple-dip–three ways to win prizes for one project!  

VTKimmyKim and Cherlynpickering are participating in the “A Very Merry MKAL,” which is a mystery colorwork cowl challenge.

LauraKnitsPA and tanksoup are participating in the “Step into Christmas MKAL,” which is a mystery colorwork socks challenge.

I think all this double and triple dipping is a great motivator to be extra productive during the PSP!

Events

Contest, News & Notes

Cancer unit where my mom stayed is always looking for donations of adult hats if you’re looking for a place to donate. Reach out to me and I’m happy to coordinate.

Life in Focus

24 for 2024 list updates

  • Get 2 massages beyond the one per month at Massage Envy DONE
  • Read more books than you did in 2023 (50) 53 as of 12/11
  • Knit at least 1 finished project with handspun- Dan’s Citrus hat
  • Knit/crochet myself a new sweater- Silverlining

On a Happy Note

  • Haircut & color with Erika
  • Visiting with Julie and Chris who came to visit from Ohio
  • 80 min massage and running into my trainer from my former gym
  • Visiting with my cousins- Joanie, Nancy, Paul, Colleen and Erin
  • House clean out with Aila and Ois
  • Savers with Riley and Aila.
  • Hattie in Frozen Jr- Patrons, check out your feed for a private video of all of Hattie’s highlights in the show.
  • Productive and successful software integration.

Quote of the Week

It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing. It doesn’t interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive… It doesn’t interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you, from the inside, when all else falls away.

-Oriah, The Invitation

——

Thank you for tuning in!

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Episode 287: Peace & Light

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Thank you for tuning in to Episode 287 of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. This week’s segments included:

  • Life in Focus
  • Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins
  • On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins
  • Knitting in Passing
  • KAL News
  • Events
  • On a Happy Note
  • Quote of the Week

Thank you to this episode’s sponsors: Irocknits Designs, Mandi’s Makings and Stitched by Jessalu

Life in Focus

Join in to hear the latest updates about my Mom’s cancer journey

Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Owen’s Christmas Stocking

Peace & Light Socks

  • Yarn: Woolens & Nosh SW Targhee Sock in the Peace & Light Colorway
  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • About the yarn: 6 stripes in blues/teals, 3 in creams/yellows- Pigskin Pro Shop Sponsor

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Hattie’s Scrappy Helical Socks

  • Yarn: Random bits & bobs of fingering weight leftovers in pinks, purples and blues
  • 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.

Cold, Cold Heart Socks

  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Yarn: June Pryce Fiber Arts Coventry DK in the Cold, Cold Heart Colorway
  • Needles: US 3 (3.25 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page

Bee Stacking Toy

  • Pattern: Bee Stacking Toy by Elisa Sartori. $5 crochet pattern available on Ravelry & Etsy
  • Yarn: Bernat Blanket in Black & Sunsoaked (yellow)
  • Hook: H (5.0 mm)

Wintermint Socks

  • Yarn: Woolens & Nosh SW Targhee Sock in the Wintermint Colorway
  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page

Moosonee Sweater

  • Pattern: Moosonee Sweater by Tara-Lynn Morrison. $6.50 knitting pattern available on Ravelry & good night, day website.
  • Yarn: Wool Ease Thick & Quick in Deep Lagoon
  • Needles: US 13, 17 & 19 (9, 12 & 15 mm)
  • Pullover sweater similar to the Nanaimo Cardigan I like to make (Here’s one of Megg’s: Ravelry link).

Knitting in Passing

  • Knitting in Ambulance with Mom. Nicole, EMT, learned to crochet a year ago and showed me all sorts of photos of the blankets and sweaters she’s made!
  • When we got home, Megg was there hanging out with Dan and Laura getting things ready for Mom to come home. She was tinking part of Miles’ Christmas stocking because she messed up letter. Then Riley wanted to learn colorwork, so Megg was reading the chart and Riley was knitting. Win win!
  • Megg joined our last Patreon Zoom. She was working on crafts for upcoming Frozen Jr which she’s dir/choreo. with some help from Dan- and reworking another colorwork chart for a stocking.  Riley joined for a bit too which was fun!
    • Nicole sent Riley an advent! We are SOOO grateful. Thanks again!

KAL News

Pigskin Party ’24 #DCSPigskinParty24

This month, pigskin partiers have been getting really creative with buttons, thanks to our quarter 2 challenge sponsored by twin mountain handcrafts.  I’ve seen lots of different varieties of ponytail/messy bun hats.  Our umpire socalknitgirl, was the first to post one of these in the Q2 thread and it looks great!  You can also check out some other examples by skymama09, fldhckygrl,  stitchintime82, and Aliceortega

Cowls have been another popular option.  A few people have made the supine cowl. Check out the finished projects by hawkeyegirl3, ronnale, and jeanscully. I always think it is fun to see how different a pattern can look when worked up in different color combinations.  Speaking of cowls,  kikukat‘s deco fan cowl is absolutely beautiful!  What a cool pattern and her color choices were spot on!

Players thought of a lot of other creative ways to use buttons this month!  I’ve seen two emotional support chickens so far with button embellishments (kimbuktu7 and heelsknitter). scitchr made an adorable Santa Clause Doll (with removable clothes! impressive!).  And  lmecoll and ladida2u embellished their gnomes with buttons!

I encourage you all to head on over to the Quarter 2 thread to check out these amazing finished objects along with many others!

Events

  • Wayland Winter Farmers’ Market- Farm Fiber Days: January 19 & March 9, 2025 at Russell’s Garden Center in Wayland, MA
  • New England Farm & Fiber Festival: February 2 from 11a-5p at the Cyclorama in Boston
  • I’m going to plan to record at least some Vlogmas videos, depending on how the next few weeks go. Any requests of things you want to see?

On a Happy Note

  • Megg and I went to see a local production of Cabaret.
  • Laura flew in to visit!
  • We saw Oisin in his high school’s production of Hadestown. He was fantastic! Before the show, Laura and I picked up Millie and met Megg Hattie and Eme for dinner at the Cottage.
  • Millie slept over and made us pancakes for breakfast.
  • We hit a local craft fair that’s become a tradition for us. Liz joined us too. I bought some beautiful pottery- a mug, 2 bowls and a planter.
  • I’ve been wearing my Silverlining sweater non-stop! I love that it matches earrings Eme made me.
  • Thanksgiving at my cousin Susan’s.
  • Funny story- Mom wanting to get the kids ready in the middle of the night. She just needed toilet paper and wall paper!
  • So grateful for Laura coming and just being here to support me. I have some great friends, so blessed but she’s defintely one of the best.

Quote of the Week

There are unheralded tipping points, a certain number of times that we will unlock the front door of an apartment. At some point you were closer to the last time than you were to the first time, and you didn’t even know it. You didn’t know that each time you passed the threshold you were saying good-bye.

–Colson Whitehead

Thank you for tuning in!

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Episode 286: An Actual Knitting Emergency

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Thank you for tuning in to Episode 286 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
  • Knitting in Passing
  • In My Travels
  • KAL News
  • Events
  • Contest, News & Notes
  • Life in Focus
  • On a Happy Note
  • Quote of the Week

Thank you to this episode’s sponsors: Fangirl Fibers, Love in Stitches &  Woolen Women Fibers

Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Silverlining Sweater

  • Pattern: Silverlining by Jennifer Steingass $8 pattern available on Ravelry
  • Yarn: Lion Brand Fishermen’s Wool in the Oatmeal Colorway + Junction Fiber Mill Making Tracks Yarn in the Day’s End Colorway
  • Needles: US 6 (4.0 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • Size B: 12 inches underarm to body. 40 inches around. I thought I was getting 18 sts/4 inches but I got 19, so it is 40 inches not 42 inches around.
  • I was thrilled to meet Peggy from Junction Fiber Mill at Fiber Festival of New England. They shared a clip of my video on their podcast which you can find here.

Welcome to Litchfield Hat

  • Pattern: Citrus Hat by Laura Treadway (free knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Yarn: Handspun (Ravelry Project Page)- Into the Whirled; 2 braids Texel & BFL Tussah Silk in the Welcome to Litchfield Colorway + Traveler colorway on Cheviot base to make a 3 ply yarn
  • Needles: US 4 (3.5 mm) & US 6 (4.0 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page

Vegas Baby Socks

  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Yarn: Knit Picks Felici in the Vegas Baby Colorwork
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • About the colorway- gray tinted rainbow with stripes of purple, blue, darker green, lime green, mustard/yellow, pink

Mom’s 2024 Christmas Socks

  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Yarn: Cascade Heritage Prints in the Holly Stripe Colorway
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • About the colorway- Red, white and green uneven stripes.

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Peace & Light Socks

  • Yarn: Woolens & Nosh SW Targhee Sock in the Peace & Light Colorway
  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page
  • About the yarn: 6 stripes in blues/teals, 3 in creams/yellows

Dirty Crayon Box Socks

  • Yarn: Fiber Stash Strong Toes Sock (80% SW Merino/ 20% Nylon) in the Dirty Crayon Box Colorway
  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page

Hattie’s Scrappy Helical Socks

  • Yarn: Random bits & bobs of fingering weight leftovers in pinks, purples and blues
  • 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.

Cold, Cold Heart Socks

  • Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
  • Yarn: June Pryce Fiber Arts Coventry DK in the Cold, Cold Heart Colorway
  • Needles: US 3 (3.25 mm)
  • Ravelry Project Page

From the Armchair

Watching:

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 stories of how Dan bailed me out of a knitting emergency and Riley sent me photos of her progress on her Riley Rose Cowl- a free pattern by me- available on Ravelry | LoveCrafts

In My Travels

Riley & I attended Fiber Festival of New England- check out our vlog video on the Down Cellar Studio YouTube Channel.

Met up with Michelle (chellescraps) and her friends in the morning. Great to see Lisa- who met us at Rhinebeck after following mom’s Crispina Scrapbox challenge project! Find a photo of mom in that outfit in this Instagram post.

It was great to see Jen, Carlos, Aurora and Zelda around lunch time, Amy from Ross Farm & Jess from Stitched by Jessalu .

KAL News

Pigskin Party ’24 #DCSPigskinParty24

  • Event Dates: Thursday September 5, 2024- Monday February 10, 2025
  • Find everything you need in the Start Here Thread in the Ravelry Group
  • Official Rules
  • Registration 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
  • Tune in to see if you’re the Q1 Challenge Winner (hint- the winner posted this blog post about her project) or if you won an October Participation Prize.
  • Our Official Sponsor for Q2 (November) is Twin Mountain Handcrafts. Check this Ravelry thread for details about the Button challenge!

Commentator Update

We are 10 weeks into the NFL season (and our knit a long) so I thought it would be fun to take a look at the scoreboard to see if any players had completed 10 or more projects…that is, averaging at least one project per week.  I was stunned.  Over 35 players have completed 10 or more projects!  

Leading the way is player eyenowhour who has completed 27 projects–including 5 shawls and 12 baby garments!  Impressive!  

But don’t be dismayed if you can’t imagine being as productive as eyenowhour! The great thing about the PSP is you can craft as much or as little as you want and still have a chance to win!

Events

Contest, News & Notes

My friend Linda is looking for donations of warm 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 the First Church in Woburn, MA. Calling for all makers who want to donate. PM me on Ravelry or email me at downcellarstudio at gmail.com and I’ll give you the address to send them to. Any fiber type welcome. Hats, scarves, mitts, shawls, blankets. Anything warm is welcome!

I also talked about Socks for Sam. Check out their website. You can raise awareness for VWM by knitting a sock using #SocksForSam and tagging @Knitsocksforsam. 

Life in Focus

I shared some updates about Mom’s new cancer treatments and recent hospital stays.

On a Happy Note

  • I’m finding it very hard to be happy after the US election, but I try hard to look for these happy notes. As Gretchen Rubin reminded us on a recent episode of the Happier Podcast it is not selfish or unimportant to look for ways to be happy even when and especially when life feels really hard. When we are happier, we can do more to assert our values in the world and do hard things, so I started this segment with that reminder.
  • Knitting on Hattie’s socks and Sue’s Instagram live on the day after the election helped me through a very difficult day.
  • Halloween!
  • Leaning into connecting with my people- whether that’s work, friends, family, knitting community. Its small but its powerful.
  • During Mom’s first infusion, we played UNO. Mom slaughtered us! Dad got up and jokingly said he was going to smother her with a pillow before she could beat us any further and she was laughing so hard she almost offed herself! That was a bit of levity we all needed that night.
  • We watched G&Z while their parents went out for their anniversary and again on Veteran’s Day.
  • Date night with Dan between Mom’s treatments. I had a delicious pumpkin beer- Night Shift Pumpkin Piescraper Pumpkin Pie Ale.
  • I went to see & Juliet with Megg, Terri, Liz and Riley. Then I had a sleepover at my brothers where Riley, Millie and I inadvertently had a matching PJs night.

Quote of the Week

“The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.”

― G.K. Chesterton

——

Thank you for tuning in!

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