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

Off the Needles

• Needles: US 6 (4.0 mm)
• Yarn: King Cole Merino DK in the Irish Navy and Aran (cream) colorways purchased from Yarn’s End $7 for 50g skein
• Pattern: Winter Storm Hat by Gabrielle Vezina

• Pattern: Kaiya Mei by Jamie Hoffman (free knitting pattern)
• Needles: US 4 (3.5 mm) and US 6 (4.0 mm)
• Yarn: Worsted weight leftovers.
• Hat #1– baby girl hat using solid purple and speckled red/blue from Sunsoaked yarn
• Hat #2– baby boy hat using worsted weight scraps- navy and white. Colorwork patterns from Tin Can Knits Strange Brew ebook.

• Pattern: Confection Baby Shrug by Tonya Wagner (free knit pattern)
• Needles: US 8 (5 mm) for the body and US 7 (4.5 mm) for the ribbing
• Yarn: Knit Picks Felici Worsted in the Surfs Up Colorway

• Yarn:
  • KFI Luxury Indulgence Cashmere in Colors 601 + 602 ( 70% Merino, 25% Nylon, 5% Cashmere goat)- DK
    • Skacel Kenzie- worsted: 50% Wool, 25% Nylon, 10% Alpaca, 10% Angora, 5% Silk
• Needles: US 2 (2.75 mm)
• Pattern: OMG heel by Megan Williams
• Cast on 48 stitches.

On the Needles

• Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5mm)
• Yarn: Yoshi & Lucy, Isabel Base in the Commissioner color way (gray with blue flecks)

• Pattern: Frozen’s Olaf Amigurumi Doll by ChiWei Ranck (free crochet pattern)
• Yarn: leftover white worsted weight yarn from stash
• Hook: C (2.75 mm)

• Pattern: Worsted Boxy by Joji Locatelli
• Needles: US 7 (4.5mm) and US 8 (5.0 mm)
• Yarn: Holly Press Fibers – Sheepish (fingering weight) base in colorways:  Flower Petal, Rambler in the Wilderness & Seeking You & 3 skeins from stash
• Holding fingering weight double.

Brainstorming

• Yarn: Bijou Spun (75/25 Yak/merino)
• US 6 Needles
• Pattern: Autumnal Mitts by Jo Bangles
• Found 1 finished mitts. Makes to sense to finish the pair!

From the Armchair

• I reviewed the book Finish by Jon Acuff

Crafty Adventures

I made a birthday hat for my niece Hattie. A quick and satisfying project!

KAL News

• Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5mm)
• Yarn: Yoshi & Lucy, Isabel Base in the Commissioner colorway

• Pattern: Confection Baby Shrug by Tonya Wagner (free knit pattern)
• Needles: US 8 (5 mm) for the body and US 7 (4.5 mm) for the ribbing)
• Yarn: Knit Picks Felici Worsted in the Surfs Up Colorway (stripes in all blues and purples)

• Each month you can declare a skein of yarn to knit/crochet/weave to its very end. Let’s use up those older special skeins (purchased before 2019) – and maybe win a new beautiful skein of yarn from one of our sponsors along the way!
• Check out the January Post
• Use and follow #slaythestash2019 on Social Media

• Wondering what this crazy KAL is? Check out this page which gives you the best overview with all necessary links. There’s also a helpful “Start Here” Thread in the Ravelry Group
• Check out the Rules but if you still have questions, come over to the Questions thread and ask. We’re happy to help.
• Put your Name on the Roster then claim your spot in the End Zone Dance Thread where you’ll track your points. Continue to update your post with all of the points you earn during the KAL
• For every 100 points, you’ll earn an entry into the drawing for the Grand Prizes
• Check out our amazing Sponsors;if you use their products, you’ll earn more points per FO
• Some of our Pro Shop Level Sponsors will be creating exclusive items for Pigskin Party participants. They may come out at different times and will likely be limited in quantities, so keep your eyes on this Exclusive Items thread in the group for all the latest news
• Scope out the prizes! Some will be given out during the KAL; some will be part of the Grand Prizes.
• Don’t forget to use #DCSPigskinParty18 on Instagram so we check out what you’re doing and you can be eligible for participation prizes.

• The Seasonal Color Palette Natural Dye Workshop with Sasha Duerr at the Boston Public Market- February 9th4 hours class $175
• 2nd Annual Boston Farm and Fiber Festival:February 10that Boston Public Market 10a-5p
• 17th Annual New England Textile Arts Network’s Spa Knit and Spin, February 23-25thin Freeport, ME Free Admission
• Farm Fiber Days at the Wayland Winter Farmers’ Market Russell’s Garden Center in Wayland, MA (March 3)
• Knit North Yarn Crawl, North Shore, MA March 14-17

• The Box o Balls Mini Skein Swap is going around after some postal delays. If you want to participate (even if you already signed up) come back to the thread to re-confirm.
• Thank you for all of your support for my first pattern release of the year- the Go with the Flo shawl! The Cast On Party was so much fun! check out #gowiththefloshawl on Instagram to see some fun versions that have been cast on.
• Thanks to everyone who responded to the call for Test knitters for my upcoming Tan House Brook hat! Testing is going well. If you’re interested in test knitting for me in the future, feel free to PM me and I’ll keep you posted.

• I went to see Mary Poppins Returns in theaters. It was delightful.
• We had my nieces and nephews for a sleepover. My 10 year old niece Riley cast on and began knitting on cowl and became quickly obsessed!The kids are getting good at making their own pancakes! Riley made this eye + eyelashes one!

Garret brought his two-part socks and wore them all weekend!

Riley knit up a storm!

Silly kids! Most of us were ready to cheer on the Patriots. Apparently G is now an Eagles fan?! Sorry dude!

• I was fortunate to have a Google hangout with Mary (kinoknits) and Sarah (imaginedlandscapes) about design advice.
• Free week at gym! I ended up joining with a 10 class per month option!
• I bought tickets for Gretchen Rubin’s book tour for her new Outer Order Inner Calm book.
• January purge feels good!!

• Ravelry: BostonJen & Down Cellar Studio Podcast Ravelry Group
• Twitter: Instagram:BostonJen1
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/downcellarstudio
• Sign up for my email newsletter to get the latest on everything happening in the Down Cellar Studio!

• Off the Needles
• On the Needles
• From the Armchair
• KAL News
• Events
• Contest, News & Notes
• Life in Focus
• On a Happy Note
• Quote of the Week

Off the Needles

I’ve been working on some design knitting- a worsted weight Tan House Brook hat! Can’t wait to share more details soon.

On the Needles

• Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Worsted Superwash in Solstice Heather  Colorway 26300 Dark blue with tints of black
• Needles: US 7 & US 8
• Pattern: Worsted Boxy by Joji Locatelli

• Yarn: Cloudborn Wool Worsted Twist Colorway 27-003 (charcoal gray)
• Needles: US 5 (3.75mm) & 7 (4.5mm)
• Pattern: Raw Honey by Alicia Plummer $4.00 US (knit pattern)

• Pattern: Lalylala 4seasons Halloween by Lydia Tresselt- 3 pattern combo, Diego-sugar skull, Frank- Frankenstein monster (already made), Brian is a Zombie with brain exposed (haven’t made)
• Yarn: leftover worsted weight yarn
• Hook: B (2.25 mm)
• Cast on for Oisin before Christmas and completely forgot about it! 

• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
• Pattern- OMG Heel by Megan Williams
• Yarn: Knit Picks Felici in the 8 Bit Colorway

• Pattern: Winter Storm Hat by Gabrielle Vezina
• Needles: US 6 (4.0 mm)
• Yarn: King Cole Merino DK in the Irish Navy and Aran (cream) colorways

From the Armchair

• 24 episodes
• Attended Vogue Knitting Live NYC & Rhinebeck
• Designed + published 2 new patterns:
  • Jean Marie Shawl & Riley Rose Cowl
• Hosted 3 awesome KALs: Slay the Stash, Splash Pad & Pigskin Party
• Had a lot of fun with some other craft projects (detailed on the show)

KAL News

Slay the Stash 2019

• Each month you can declare a skein of yarn to knit/crochet/weave to its very end. Let’s use up those older special skeins (purchased before 2019) – and maybe win a new beautiful skein of yarn from one of our sponsors along the way!
• Official Rules for 2019 
• Check out the January Post
• Use and follow #slaythestash2019 on Social Media

Slay the Stash Sponsor List- 2019

• January- Fish Belly Fiber Works
• February- KnitCircus Yarns
• March- Holly Press Fibers
• April- Fibernymph Dye Works
• May – Another Crafty Girl 
• June- Flying Finn Yarns
• July- Sponsored by WindsweptMonique– yarn TBD
• August- Knit Style Yarns
• September- Artistic Lilly 
• October – Infinite Twist 
• November- 716 Knit 
• December –  Hypnotic Yarn

Pigskin Party

• Wondering what this crazy KAL is? Check out this page which gives you the best overview with all necessary links. There’s also a helpful “Start Here” Thread in the Ravelry Group
• Check out the Rules but if you still have questions, come over to the Questions thread and ask. We’re happy to help.
• Put your Name on the Roster then claim your spot in the End Zone Dance Thread where you’ll track your points. Continue to update your post with all of the points you earn during the KAL
• For every 100 points, you’ll earn an entry into the drawing for the Grand Prizes
• Check out our amazing Sponsors; if you use their products, you’ll earn more points per FO
• Some of our Pro Shop Level Sponsors will be creating exclusive items for Pigskin Party participants. They may come out at different times and will likely be limited in quantities, so keep your eyes on this Exclusive Items thread in the group for all the latest news
• Scope out the prizes! Some will be given out during the KAL; some will be part of the Grand Prizes.
• Don’t forget to use #DCSPigskinParty18 on Instagram so we check out what you’re doing and you can be eligible for participation prizes.

In this Episode:

• Check out Exclusive item thread!-  something you like? get it now. After Super bowl wont’ be available for 6 months.
• Tune in to see if you won a December participation or Interception prize
• WIPs Interception– details can be found here. If you have any questions, please post in the Questions Thread.

Events

Events in/around New England (or within driving distance) that you may want to check out.

• 10th Annual Slater Mill Knitting Weekend Fiber Art Marketplace– Pawtucket, RI- January 19 & 20, 10a-5p free admission
• Vogue Knitting Live New York, January 25-27, 2019
• Farm Fiber Days at the Wayland Winter Farmers’ Market January 27 at Russell’s Garden Center in Wayland, MA (March 3)
• The Seasonal Color Palette Natural Dye Workshop with Sasha Duerr at the Boston Public Market- February 9th 4 hours class $175
• 2nd Annual Boston Farm and Fiber Festival: February 10th at Boston Public Market 10a-5p
• 17th Annual New England Textile Arts Network’s Spa Knit and Spin, February 23-25th in Freeport, ME Free Admission
• Knit North Yarn Crawl, North Shore, MA March 14-17

Contest, News & Notes

News: Check out this Commuter Knitting in news  story from CNN

News: Please check out my first knitting pattern of 2019!

Go with the Flo

Use code FLO40 for 40% off through 1/22

(UNLESS you’re a newsletter subscriber- in which case, check your email for an even better deal). Not signed up yet- get signed up so you get the discount next time!

Would you like to test knit a worsted weight hat for me? PM me on Ravelry!

 Life in Focus

• I talk more about my 2019 plans, 2 major goals, and the habits I’ll be employing to help me get there.
• Other things I keep in mind:
  • Your past is your teacher not your fortune teller (what can you learn from previous attempts, failures etc)
  • What can/what do I need to cut out? We often need to prioritize our goal over other less important things. Get clear about that up front.
  • Think ahead to what challenges you’ll face and think about how to get around that.
  • Make a list of my fears. Writing them down helps!
  • Be ok with failure. Learn from it and move on. If I miss one day or one workout or one healthy meal, get right back on track at the next possible opportunity. “Growth is not in perfection, but in quickening your recovery time when you inevitably act contrary to your highest interests.” – Neil Strauss
• How I Track Progress
  • Weekly Evernote Note. List Quarterly, Monthly and Weekly Goals at the top. Then start a To-Do list for the week. The “to-do’s” I add can be removed, moved to the next week or completed as I see fit.
  • Plan each week on Sunday, look at the calendar and plot out my open time.
  • Daily journaling of progress I’m making towards my two goals- paired with my existing habit of writing down my daily plan for water/food and movement.

On a Happy Note

• Had a lovely visit with my dear friend Laura over the New Year’s Holiday weekend
• Watching: The Affair, Season 4. Escape at Dannemore. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Leah Remini; Scientology the Aftermath, Ray Donovan. The Mule (in theater)
• Purging and clean out after the holidays!
• New workout area I set up in the cellar!
• Tree still up!

Quote of the Week