Category Archives: PigSkinParty

Episode 96: Pigskin Preview + Stash Dash Glory!

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Thank you for tuning in to Episode 96  of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. This week’s segments included:
  • Off the Needles
  • Brainstorming
  • Knitting in Passing
  • In my Travels
  • Events
  • Contest, News & Notes
  • On a Happy Note
  • There is some bonus audio of my niece Millie and I chatting at the end! Enjoy!

Off the Needles

 
  • Yarn: Knits4Comfort Merino/Silk in the Beach Shade Colorway (438 yards of fingering)- used 80 grams
  • Yarn: Valley Yarns Huntington- used 42 grams in a medium gray
  • Needles: US 6 (4.0 mm)
  • Pattern: a new, original design that will be called the Emelyn Mae shawl after my niece who goes to knitting festivals with me and helped me pick out this skein of yarn from Knits4Comfortimage image
 
  • Yarn: Knitting Fever KFI Luxury Collection Indulgence Cashmere Colorway- 602
  • Needles: US 2 (2.75mm)
  • OMG Heel by Megan Williamsimage
  • Yarn: Koigu KPPPM in Color 6156 & Louet Gems Gingering Weight (burnt orange)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • OMG Heel by Megan Williamsimage
  • Yarn: leftover fingering weight yarn from sock
  • Hook Size: D 3.0 mm & H 5.0 mm
  • Pattern: Double Crochet Granny Square
  • Some Notes:
    • Each square has 3 rounds with sock yarn (2 grams each) & a border of Plymouth Select DK in white (1 round= 2 grams)
    • I purchased 16 skeins of the Plymouth DK.  3 full skeins plus almost another full skein in scraps remain.
    • Final size- 10 squares by 16. Single crocheted together. 3 rounds of DC edging. Specific notes about how I did the corners are in my project page linked above.
    • Fingering for squares: 1280 yards  | White for squares: 832 yards  | White for seaming: 327.6 yards  | TOTAL: 2439 yards (2230 meters)image image
  • Yarn: Mirasol Tuhu- DK weight yarn
  • Needles: US 5
  • Provisionally cast on 60 stitches, knitting in the round. long tube that kitchener together to make a long infinity cowl.
  • Random striping- gray, aquamarine, chartreuse, cream, hot pink and tangerine
  • Kitchener in the Round Tutorial: I used this video to help me kitchener this cowl together.
  • Final result: 54 inches long and 5.5 inches wideimage
Frankensocks #2 and #3
  • Yarn: Knit Picks Felici in Kaleidescope colorway
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams (knit cuff down)
  • First Knit Picks experience- this yarn had 3 knots between the two 50 g skeins. Not the ideal first time around, especially for self striping. I did my own color management and made this best of it. I’m still totally happy with these, the yarn is super soft. I think it is great for gifts.image
  • Yarn: Cascade Eco Alpaca (worsted) in Nature & Burgundy
  • Needles: US 6: 4.0 mm
  • Pattern: Santa’s Ho-Ho Hat by Jacquelynn Vance-Kuss (free)
  • Saw this at knit night, friend Jenn Sheelen knit one and I wanted one! So happy to have this finished
 image
Stash Dash 2016 Total: 11,351 meters in 40 FOs (16 started before Stash Dash)image
  • 1 blanket
  • 1 doll blanket
  • 1 hat
  • socks- 15 pair
  • legwarmers- 1 pair
  • cowl- 1
  • shawl- 4
  • sweater- 1
  • candle cozy- 1
  • doll dress-1
  • dishcloth- 13

Brainstorming 

  • I want to knit a week’s worth of Christmas socks. Do you have ideas of yarn I could buy? Tell me about it in the Ravelry Group.
  • My next scrap yarn blanket will be with Crochet Hexagons. Maybe with a gradiating gray border. What do you think of that idea? Here’s a tutorial I found on the crocheted hexagons in case you’re interested: Tutorial that might help.

Knitting In Passing 

My 4 year old niece, Millie, loves the bunny I knit for her she was little. She calls it Hoppy. Pattern from Susan B Anderson: Mini-Sock Yarn Bunny pattern. She wants a friend for Hoppy in Purple!
Aila at Williamsburg – where she encountered and participating in knitting.

In My Travels 

Red Sox Stitch and Pitch: super hot but we had a lot of fun!image image image
Fiber Revival in Newbury MA on Saturday 8/13.image
I drove up with Lisa and Emilia. We met up with Mara & Erika.
Cool stuff I bought:
Mara learned some spinning from the lovely, talented and very funny Kathy and her husband David from The Merlin Tree.

Events

12 Months to Christmas KAL– Winners Announced this Episode

Pigskin Party ’16 KAL

  • Tune in to hear a review of the Rules and Details of the Pigskin Party ’16 KAL. The KAL runs from September 8, 2016- February 6, 2017.
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  •  Check out the Prize Thread in the Ravelry Group.image
  • Our list of Sponsors is almost finalized. Click here for a link but check back soon for the FINAL list.
  • Some of our amazing sponsors have offered up Coupon Codes. Check them out before you start shopping!
  • image The Pre-Season chat thread has already started. Want to strategize, meet some new friends and catch up with the ones you made last year– click here!

On a Happy Note 

  • Custom orthotics might be the answer to my heel problems! Fingers crossed
  • Lisa & I went to a Jazz concert by a Berklee Student at the Boston Public Library for knit night a few weeks ago! SO fun!image image
  • Family time! Sleepovers & my grandmother’s birthday. Always makes me happy!image image image image
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Contact Information:

Pigskin Party 2016- Call for Sponsors!

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IMG_3671We are looking for Sponsors for the 2016-2017 Pigskin Party KAL Season. This year we will have two types of Sponsor options. Field Sponsors (unlimited availability, unpaid option) and Pro Shop Sponsors (limited availability, paid option).

Newsletter subscribers who expressed interest in sponsoring received early access to these spots. If you would like early notification for future sponsor spots, please be sure to sign up for my email newsletter and check the box to indicate you’re interested in being a sponsor.

8/31 UPDATE: All Pro Shop Spots have been filled. Field Sponsor spots still available! Please submit all applications by Friday 9/2. Thanks!

Field Sponsors

Required:

  • Donate a prize.
  • Mail prize to winner once I contact you with the details.
  • Post details of that prize in the prize thread before September 1.

Optional:

  • Provide coupon
    • Must use coupon code “pigskinparty16”
    • Must post details in the Coupon Code Thread in the Down Cellar Studio Podcast Ravelry Group. You decide the rest of the details. Please include these in the post:
      • Dollar amount or percentage of discount
      • Coupon code start & end date

What you can expect from me & the Down Cellar Studio Community:

  • All sponsors will receive at least 1 mention on the Podcast.
  • Good press from happy customers.
    • Participants will be granted 4 Special Teams Points for using a product from a Field Sponsor which should encourage them to buy, use and share your products!
    • Participants will be encouraged to share your products as they use them on social media.
  • Exposure to a new audience in an established, engaged community.
  • Link to your business’ website from the Down Cellar Studio Podcast Ravelry Group (currently over 1650 members) when prizes are announced.

Pro Shop Sponsors

Pro Shop Sponsor spots will be available on a first come-first served basis within 2 categories.

  • 7 spots will be reserved for new sponsors or Rookies. If you have never sponsored the Pigskin Party in the past, you’re eligible! If you’ve ever been a Sponsor or Headline Sponsor in the past you are not a Rookie.

  • 13 spots will be available for returning sponsors (I will keep a waitlist and if the 7 Rookie spots don’t fill up, I will contact the returning sponsors on the waitlist as those spots open up). I am so thankful to all of you who return each year and I want to encourage you to come back, however I also want to bring other, potentially new, indie businesses in front of my audience to continue to grow our community.

Keep in mind- while the Pro Shop spots are limited, there is no limit for unpaid sponsorship & there are other opportunities this year for me to spotlight your business.

Required:

  • Donate a prize to be given away during the KAL
  • Mail prize to winner once I contact you with the details.
  • Post details of that prize in the prize thread before September 1.
  • Pay $50 via PayPal to Jennifer Lassonde (2lifeinfocus@gmail.com= PayPal address).
    • Note: do not send this fee until you receive an email from me, confirming your spot.

Optional:

  • Provide coupon code for participants.
    • Must use coupon code “pigskinparty16”
    • Must post details in the Coupon Code Thread in the Down Cellar Studio Podcast Ravelry Group. You decide the rest of the details. Please include these in the post:
      • Dollar amount or percentage of discount
      • Coupon code start & end date
  • Create a custom item that relates to the Pigskin Party 2016.
    • This is certainly not required, but if you are a Pro Shop Sponsor and would like to create a Pigskin Party themed product, I’m happy to support you in that! The Down Cellar Studio Podcast community is very engaged and committed to our KALs. A good portion of the exclusive products created for the 2016 Splash Pad Party sold out eventually if not immediately. I’d love to bring my audience to your business and expand your reach.
    • If you do create a custom product for the Pigskin Party, you’ll need to post it in the appropriate thread in our Ravelry Group. This will allow me to verify which items were created for the Pigskin Party and award extra points to participants who use this item during the KAL.
    • Note: Field Sponsors are not approved to create Pigskin Party themed items, and they will not be advertised on the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. If as a Field Sponsor, you already have football related items in your shop, there is obviously no problem with that, but the option to promote and offer extra KAL points for Pigskin Party Products is reserved for Pro Shop Sponsors.

What you can expect from me & the Down Cellar Studio Community:

  • 1 advertising spot on the podcast (100-150 words)

    • You provide the content. I’ll share it on the show! Ideally it’s best if this ad is customized for my podcast to encourage listeners to listen (instead of fast forwarding) but that’s up to you.

  • Good press from happy customers.
    • Participants will be granted twice the number of Special Teams Points (8 instead of 4) for using a product from a Headline Sponsor which should encourage them to buy, use and share your products!
    • Should you create an exclusive product, we will award 16 points to each participant who uses the product as part of an FO during the KAL.
    • Participants will be encouraged to share your products as they use them on social media
  • Exposure to a new audience in an established, engaged community.
    • Your business will be featured on at least 1 post on BostonJen1’s Instagram featuring your business (current reach- over 4800 followers).
      • If you have an image(s) you prefer, I can use that- or I will find one from your shop.
      • Link to your business’ website from the Down Cellar Studio Podcast Ravelry Group (currently over 1650 members).
  • Link to your business from show notes that accompany every episode from September 2016  through February 2017.
  • If you create a custom item for Pigskin party and send me a photo, I will advertise it on Instagram for you with a minimum of 1 post on instagram.
    • You are also welcome to post anytime in the Down Cellar Studio Ravelry Group.

Optional Add-Ons

These options are available to both Field Sponsors & Pro Shop Sponsors.

Advertising Spots

  • There are 11 additional ad spots available during the course of the KAL at a rate of $20 each (first come-first served- max 2 per sponsor).
  • I limit my advertisements to 3 per episode so your ad spot will stand out.

Opportunity to Sponsor an Interception

  • We always have Interceptions during the KAL. These are mini-challenges that last anywhere from a weekend to 1 month in time. There will be 4 Interception Sponsorship Options this year.
  • If you’d like to be the primary sponsor for one of these interceptions, you’ll be announced as such on the podcast episode where the Interception is announced and any other episodes during the Interception (and your business will be linked in that episode’s show notes). I will also feature you as the Interception Sponsor on Instagram.
  • The rate for this sponsorship is $25 (limit 1 per sponsor) and the donation of an additional prize (at least a $10 value) to be given away to one of the winners of this Interception.
  • We can work together if you have an idea for an interception that might relate to your business. Or, you can rely on the Down Cellar Studio Team to do all of the work and you just provide a prize.

    • Please note: Depending on the intensity of the Interception Challenge, there may be other prizes awarded from available KAL prizes, so your prize will not be the only one available for this challenge, but your business will be the only one announced in combination and advertising of this challenge.

Interested in signing on?
Here’s what I need from you.

  1. Please click on this link which will bring you to a Google Form. Fill out all of the required fields, click submit and it will be sent to me.
  2. Look for an email from me.
    • I will be in touch after your application is completed. Please note, I am on vacation so I may not be in touch immediately but the date/time of the response will be noted.
    • If you’re looking for a paid sponsorship spot, I will be in touch to let you know your total.
    • Please do not PayPal me the fees until I have confirmed your spot(s).

2015 Pigskin Party KAL– Call for Sponsors

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We are looking for a total 10 headline sponsors for the 2015 Down Cellar Studio Pigskin Party KAL! If you didn’t hear about this fantastic contest last year, please see below for an overview of the event. Last year was a huge success and we hope to make it bigger and better every year.

A Headline Sponsor is primary participant in the Pigskin Party KAL! For a reasonable prize and monetary donation, Headline Sponsors will receive advertising via Podcast and Instagram and KAL participants will be encouraged to use your products.

Requirements
  • Must donate:
    • 1 prize/prize pack for grand prize (at least a $40 value)
    • $15 paypal donation to podcast to cover shipping and other associated cost
    • Must mail item to Jen Lassonde by September 30 or agree to mail to winner directly in February 2016 (after winners are announced)
  • Optional: donate smaller prize for participation and random giveaways during season.
  • Optional: discount code to get people ready in August
  • Headline Sponsors must commit by September 1st. The first 10 who commit are guaranteed a spot! Don’t wait! Spots are filling up quickly!

What you can expect

  • Headline Sponsors will be mentioned on every episode of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast between start and end of football season
    • Last year that was 12 episodes with an average of 3300 listeners per episode (note: there is no guarantee on the number of episodes that will be recorded in 2015).
  • All sponsors, prize details and photos will be listed in the Prize Thread in the Down Cellar Studio Ravelry Group
  • All sponsors will be featured at least once on BostonJen’s Instagram account
  • Discount codes will be listed in a thread in the Down Cellar Studio Ravelry Group
  • Participants will be granted twice the number of Special Teams Points (8 instead of 4) for using a product from a Headline Sponsor which should encourage them to buy, use and share your products!

What I need from you:

  • Please email me at 2lifeinfocus @ gmail. com with:
  • Your name
  • Your business name
  • Ravelry User Name
  • Your preferred method of communication (email or Ravelry PM)
  • Name/description of the prize(s)
    • Good quality photo of the prize to use for promotion
    • Details on whether you’re planning to send the prize to me or if you would prefer to ship directly to the winner
    • If mailing to me, please email me to ask for mailing address
  • If you choose: details about smaller prizes you’d like to contribute for other giveaways during the season (please be sure to note which these are versus the grand prize you’re contributing)
  • If you choose: A promo code that can be used wherever you sell (your site, Ravelry, Etsy), the dates for which the promo code can be used, and what the code entitles the user to (discount off product, free shipping etc)
  • Please send $15 via PayPal to the PayPal account I instruct you to.

Not ready to be a headline sponsor? That’s ok too! We are also looking for sponsors for participation prizes and random interception challenges throughout season. If you’re interested, please contact me via email at 2lifeinfocus @ gmail. com and include the following information

  • Your name
  • Your business name
  • Ravelry User Name
  • Your preferred method of communication (email or Ravelry PM)
  • Name/description of the prize(s)
  • Good quality photo of the prize to use for promotion
  • If you choose: A promo code that can be used wherever you sell (your site, Ravelry, Etsy), the dates for which the promo code can be used, and what the code entitles the user to (discount off product, free shipping etc)

Note: sponsors are responsible for shipping the prize to the winner once the drawing is announced and I contact you with the details.

What you can expect:
  • Your prize & business will be mentioned at least once on the Down Cellar Studio Podcast
  • All sponsors, prize details and photos will be listed in the Prize Thread in the Down Cellar Studio Ravelry Group
  • All sponsors will be featured at least once on BostonJen’s Instagram account
  • Discount codes will be listed in a thread in the Down Cellar Studio Ravelry Group
  • Participants will be granted  4 Special Teams Points for using a product from a sponsor which should encourage them to buy, use and share your products!
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What is the Pigskin Party KAL?

  • Virtual knit-a-long that runs along the NFL football season. For any projects you complete between Sept 10 and Feb 8th, you’ll earn points that make you eligible for fantastic prizes. There are also opportunities to get more points along the way by using products from our awesome sponsors, for posting on instagram, getting others to participate in the KAL.
  • For every 100 yards completed (in your fiber craft of choice) you earn 7 points for a touchdown
    • For all partial touchdown yardage you earn 3 points (field goal) |For any small finished project (less than 100 yards) earn 3 points
  • There are also Special Teams points available for using sponsor products and fulfilling other challenges.
  • For every 100 points you earn, you’ll be entered in the drawing for one of many grand prizes graciously donated by our Headline Sponsors
  • There are also random prizes for participating by using #DCSPigskinParty2015 on Instagram and for chatting in the Monthly Huddle Thread in the DCS Ravelry Group! Come play along.
  • It’s never too late to sign up. Join anytime during the football season (you don’t even need to be a fan to play along)