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Episode 192: Pumpkins & Party Time!

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Thank you for tuning in to Episode 192 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
  • Ask Me Anything
  • On a Happy Note
  • Quote of the Week


Thank you to this episode’s sponsors: Knit Wit Yarn Shop & YumiYarns

Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins


Gno Fun Like Gnome Fun (Ravelry Link)

  • Pattern: Gno Fun Like Gnome Fun by Sarah Schira $7 Canadian knitting pattern
  • Needles: US 4 (3.5 mm)
  • Yarn: Body: Gale’s Art Super Star DK (mustard), Hat: Madeline Tosh Tosh Vintage (in a one of a kind blue/green). Beard/skin: Cascade Eco Alpaca, Natural

Flat Crocheted Pumpkin: Ravelry Project Page

  • Pattern: Special Holiday Issue of Workbasket Magazine Oct/Nov 1993
  • Hook: D (3.25 mm)
  • Yarn: Scraps DK

Pumpkin 

  • Pattern: Pumpkin Garland by Eva Polaripop (free crochet pattern). Ravelry Link, Website Link.
  • Hook: C (2.75 mm)
  • Yarn: Leftover DK weight scraps

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Spinning Shetland 4 oz

Freewheeler Sweater

  • Pattern: Freewheeler by Kristen Finlay (Ravelry Link) $11 AUD (~$8.35 US)
  • Needles: US 7 (4.5 mm)
  • Yarn (held double): Holiday Yarns (in a gray colorway); CeCe’s Wool Yarn Baby! 1120 yards fingering weight Superwash Merino in the Cherries Jubilee colorway
  • Saw this sweater on Rose Hip Knits Podcast on YouTube. The host, Hanna, was a test knitter. 

Vampire Vibes Socks (Ravelry Link)

  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams
  • Yarn: Knit Picks Felici in the Vampires Vibes colorway. Holly Press Fibers Sheepish Sock (heels)
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)

Fall Garlands

Materials:

  • Yarn: DK & Worsted scraps
  • Hook: C (2.75 mm) or D (3.25 mm)

Plan is to make a garland for my niece Emelyn who just moved away for college; and a set for myself. One might be more Halloween themed and one more fall themed.

Black is the New Orange Socks- Ravelry Project Page Link

  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Yarn: White Birch Fiber Arts 80/20 SW Merino, Nylon Self Striping in the Black is the New Orange Colorway
  • Using my handmade Hello Kitty Halloween Project bag. 

Scrappy Sparkly Halloween Socks- Ravelry Project Page Link

  • Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams
  • Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
  • Yarn: Some scraps. Some Knitty & Color minis 


Brainstorming

  • I purchased all of the new Patons Kroy colorways available from Yarnspirations website. 
  • I purchased some fiber. Some from a destash & some from Wound Up Fiber Arts. I purchased some Corriedale.
  • Shawl wearing Thanks to IG user: spincess514, Diana, who mentioned the #shawtember hashtag.
  • I want to knit all the sweaters. Colorwork. DK. Swoncho. Boxy. Browsing Ravelry, IG, Pinterest. Do you have any favorites?

From the Armchair

Knitting in Passing

Tune in to hear a review of my Virtual Vogue Knitting live classes 
1. Legin Innovation Uplifting Crochet Class with LeginKnits.

2. Josh Bennett’s Design Workshop: Building Your Design Identity- highly recommend.

3. Five Crochet Shawls: An Exploration of Shapes and Constructions Cecilia Losada

KAL News


Quarterly Quests! Get all of the details here. Quarter 3: July 1- September 30 – Lessen the Library– check out the Ravelry Thread here.

Quarter 3 Sponsors: Sunsoaked Yarns, Apple Fiber Studio, Cookie and BeesDon’t forget to post on Instagram #QuarterlyQuests you can also add one for the Quarter:#FreetheFavorites #LessentheLibrary #SlaytheStash

Check out all of the details you need to know either in the Start Here Thread  on Ravelry or on my website. 
Important Links:

Updates in this episode:

  • This year, everyone is a team to provide you a small group to chat with and get to know. The teams roll up into 3 Conferences. Wendy heads up the Alpaca Football Conference (AFC), Lisa heads up the Sheep Football Conference (SFC) and I’m heading up the Llama Football Conference (LFC).
  • Play around with the Points Tally form to practice. That will be wiped on Friday night 9/18.
  • Participants can enter any pre-game points they’re eligible for starting on Saturday 9/19 (but remember you cannot cast on until 9/25). 
  • Stay tuned for a 30 Day Challenge that will help us get to know each other.
  • Join us for our Virtual Kick Off on 9/25 & 26. Details can be found in the Ravelry Group and on my website.
  • I will be sending out an email newsletter later this week with key Pigskin reminders and links. I am also creating a PDF printable that lets you plan out your projects if you’re the paper planner type. Not on my email list yet? Sign up now and you’ll automatically have it sent to you 24 hours after you sign up. 
  • It is never too late to join in the Pigskin Party. Fill out the Sign up Form anytime. We’d love to have you.

Events

Stash Dash, hosted by the Knit Girllls, ran from May 22- August 22, 2020. Thank you to everyone who posted/commented that you enjoyed challenge between Jasmin and me. Jasmin shared the results on the Knitmore Girls Podcast Episode 593.

  • Results: Jasmin- 18,816 meters. Jen- 28,557 meters
  • Tune in to hear my breakdown by craft and project type.
  • In theory, the loser our of little private competition donates money to charity, but it’s become something we both have committed to regardless of the outcome. This year, with employer matching we were able to give $200 each to Black Lives Matter, the NAACP & ActBlue. If you’ve gotten something out of this challenge, we encourage you to donate to one of these causes or something that speaks to your values.
  • Festive Sock Along with Amy Florence of Stranded Podcast. Stay tuned to her podcast Ravelry Group for details. October 1- December 1 #Festivesockalong2020 
  • Beth MDQuilter (Instagram) and Abigail Covert_Knits (Instagram) teaming up for #gilmorealong2020 on Instagram. Begins on 9/22. I bought yarn from Area 51 Fibres. Can’t wait!

Contest, News & Notes

Ask Me Anything

  • Happyjustknitting asked: With Stash Dash over, do you still have WIPs or are you working on casting new things/spinning? Tune in to hear my answer.
  • Timenow13 on Instagram Megan asks “Hi, I have two questions. I have recently found your podcast and love it, I’ve listened to it backwards to episode 91 on Apple podcast and I would love to listen to the rest but I’m not sure if they are available anywhere? My second question is if you have any tips for being in a transitional knitting place? I have only ever done flat things mostly washcloths and baby blankets, I finally finished my first piece of lace. I want to start doing hats or mittens or maybe ever a sweater but it all seems like a big jump. Any tips?”
    • You can listen to all of my back episodes directly from my podcast host Libsyn. Click on the POD icon next to the episode name to play an episode. This should work well on mobile or desktop.
    • Taking knitting to the next step- my best advice is “Go where your interest lies.” After scarves I went to hats. I started top down with the Hill Country Hat (Ravelry Link)  by Clara Parkes, which isn’t typical but I thought that would be easy to measure. The great thing w/ hats is they don’t take long and it will fit SOMEONE. Other easy patterns I tried: Neighborly- Ravelry Link (kid’s vest) by Jennifer Casa (Free) & 5-hour baby sweater (cardigan)- Ravelry Link by Courtney Filner (free)
    • I also recommend Tin Can Knits Simple Collection- Ravelry Link.

On a Happy Note

  • Starbucks Cold Brew with Dark Cocoa Almondmilk Foam
  • Found a new longer trail local nature preserve!
  • Big upgrade at work has gone well and more importantly- its mostly behind us!
  • Dan bought me a Li’l Sebastian Mug (which he purchased online as we binged Season 7 of Parks and Recreation)
  • Great to see my cousin Gayle who came down for a visit!
  • Fridge and freezer broke (not so happy) but with a recommendation on a local repair shop, it was fixed the same day we called!
  • Cool enough weather to wear handknits- I wore to my Soldotna for visit to Staci’s Stitches. 

Quote of the Week

Humor is the antidote to overthinking. It’s a way of saying that life is paradoxical. Humor contains contradictions; it does not resolve them but revels in them. It says that the right way to exist among the contradictions, paradoxes, and absurdities of life is to cope with them through laughter. — Bob Mankoff


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