Episode 223: Finishing all the Things

Thank you for tuning in to Episode 223 of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. For full show notes and photos check out my website. www.downcellarstudio.com/223  This week's segments included: Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins Brainstorming From the Armchair Some Years Later Crafty Adventures Knitting in Passing KAL News Life in Focus Ask Me Anything On a Happy Note Quote of the Week Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins Mermaid Tail Socks Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams Yarn: Knit Picks Felici in the Mermaid Tail colorway Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm) My Ravelry Project Page Crochet Squirrel Pattern: Crochet Squirrel by Junuen Lisunia (free crochet pattern on Ravelry) Hook: C (2.75 mm) Yarn: Worsted Weight Acrylic from stash in light brown and dark brown Ravelry Project Page Among Us- Blue Pattern- Among Us Amigurumi by Tiffany Horton- free crochet pattern available on her website or $2.50 Yarn: Knit Picks Brava Hook: C (2.75 mm) Ravelry Project Page Ravelry Page shows Among Us Characters alive and dead (dead is when they have a bone exposed) and with a crown. But the "without a bone" and "crown" instructions are not actually included in the PDF. See below for option that has the bone. Among Us- Yellow with Bone Pattern- Among Us Amigurumi Dead Version by Tiffany Horton- available free on her website Yarn: Worsted Weight Acrylic Yarn from Stash- in Yellow Hook: C (2.75 mm) Ravelry Project Page Camp Out Fingerless Mitts Pattern: Camp Out Fingerless Mitts by tante ehm- Free Knitting Pattern available on Ravelry. Yarn: Fully Spun Sock Yarn in the Blue Hole Colorway (blue) with a strand of fingering weight Corriedale handspun yarn. Needles: US 7 (4.5 mm) Ravelry Project Page Mom's Christmas Headband Pattern: 108-18 Knitted Hair Band by DROPS Design. Free Pattern available from DROPS website & on Ravelry.  Yarn: Fully Spun Sock Yarn in the Blue Hole Colorway (blue) with a strand of fingering weight Corriedale handspun yarn. Needles: US 7 (4.5 mm) Ravelry Project Page Riley's Christmas Cardigan Pattern: Everyday Cardigan in Merino No. 5 by Loopy Mango Needles: US 15 (10 mm) Yarn: Bernat Blanket in Misty Green (sage color) My Ravelry Project Page Pattern calls for Seed Stitch but I'm just using the basic instructions and using cables and ribbing for the body/sleeves.  For the front bands I did HDC through back/front loop. Pink Moon Sweater Pattern: Pink Moon by This.Bird.Knits. $8 US Pattern available on Ravelry and on the This.Bird.Knits Site. Needles: US 5 & 7 (3.75 & 4.5 mm) Yarn: Sweitzer Fiber Mill unknown (gray)- Rhinebeck 2019 Lisa Daschinger Wools (mustard)- Farm Fiber Day's Russell's Market January 2020 mur yarn merino cashmere fingering (pink)- Barcelona 2019 Rowan Alpaca Classic (pink) Staci's Stitches- LYS Marroon- Handspun Ravelry Project Page Brainstorming I purchased, for the first time, the complete set of Knit Picks Felici. 10 colorways. 1 50g ball each (I subsequently ordered another set). Considering purchasing from Knit Picks? Consider using my Knit Picks Affiliate Link Designs- when I have a bit more mental bandwidth… We found my grandmothers rugmaking supplies at Mom's house. Need to do some googling!  Spinning. From the Armchair 2021 Knitting in Review 90 finished knit/crochet projects 2 cardigans 5 tops 19 toys 5 shawls 24 pairs of socks 4 headbands 1 pair of mitts 1 knitted tree decoration 1 Christmas stocking 12 hats 7 blankets 2 jar cozies 7 garlands Spinning- 4 projects, 11 skeins, 1,686 yards of Yarn (8 spinning projects in 2020 but they were smaller) Crochet- 38 projects. Knitting 52 projects Click here for a link to my 2021 Ravelry Projects Tab. Some Years Later In July, I gifted my niece Gabriella a teddy bear crochet with Bernat Velvet yarn. She bumped her lip on the way over for a Christmas visit and grabbed her bear for comfort so they brought it with them. Lots of ends sticking out. I took a cable needle and shoved them back in and she looked pretty great after that! Gabriella's Velvet Bear Pattern: Velvet Valentine Crochet Bear by Sarah Zimmerman- available on Yarnspirations website. Yarn: Bernat Velvet in the  Misty Gray Colorway Hook: G (4.0 mm) My Ravelry Project Page Crafty Adventures Making banana ice cream with Garret. We use this recipe. Making Pizzelles- tasted delicious but looked kind of crumby but confectionary sugar hides many sins.  Knitting in Passing During a recent sleepover, Millie wanted help with a knitting project and per usual she claimed she didn't remember how to knit, but when she sat down and started, she picked right up where she left off. We have learned though that she does not enjoy bamboo needles so I need to work on getting her a short circular, metal needle replacement for the cowl she's working on. Riley's current project is a cowl from Lion Brand in a fun color changing yarn. It turned out a bit too big and so instead, she wants to make it into a top for Millie. She's learned to make i-cord to use for straps and we'll sew those on when she's done. KAL News Pigskin Party '21: Official Hashtag: #DCSPigskinParty21 Important Links: Official Rules (Google Doc) Register to Play! (Google Form) Points Tally Form (Google Form) Sponsor List (Google Doc) Questions: Ask in the Ravelry Thread or email Jen (downcellarstudio @ gmail.com) Prizes- see details in this Ravelry Thread Coupon Codes: find details in this Ravelry Thread or on my website (coming soon) Pro Shop Sponsor Exclusive Items: find details as they're posted in this Ravelry Thread or on my website (coming soon) Use the Points Tally form for official entry but celebrate with everyone in the End Zone Dance Ravelry Thread and using #DCSPigskinEndZoneDance Check out your standings (and others') on the Players Stats Sheet (Google Sheet) Fumble your entry on the Points Tally form? Use this Support Form (Google Form) Pre-Game Chatter on Ravelry can be found in this Thread. Monthly Scavenger Hunt (December clues have been posted): Figure out these fun clues and earn points each month. Check out this Ravelry Thread or this Google Doc. December Interception: hosted by Knitty Natty. Find details in this Ravelry thread or in this Google Doc. Cast on 12/1/21 or later. Deadline to post 12/31/21. Check out Natalie's patterns for ideas- Ravelry Link. Life in Focus Starting my annual Year in Review process. I shared about this last year on my YouTube Channel. Check out that video here Tune in to hear how I did with my 21 for 2021 list. Hear more about these lists on the Happier Podcast w/ Gretchen Rubin I also reviewed my Word of the Year and primary goals for 2021. Ask Me Anything Shana "Savers, duh!"- Check out the Christmas Thrifting Video on my YouTube Channel. Marilynknits- "Could you talk about you learned to crochet? I think you probably already shared but I forget. Maybe you could also share a source for your favorite crochet tutorials. I am learning how to crochet!" Crochet School Videos on the Crafty Minx Website knit_read_sleep: "How the cling wrap game works. That looked so fun"- tune in to hear my description & check out our video of the Cling Wrap Game Video on the Down Cellar Studio YouTube Channel. francesgiff-knitting plans for 2022 Handspun garment A new hat for me. Spinning I want to make more garlands for my house. Christmas themed one would be fun.  Genna-with-a-gee: "What are you best methods for having a successful year? Keeping low stress?" Build habits that get you headed where you want to go. Figure out not just what you're aiming for but concrete steps of when, where, how you'll do things to move in that direction. Be grateful. Look for the good things happening around you and you'll find those. Remember that life isn't all good. It's a mix. We're supposed to be sad, angry, overwhelmed. Personally I don't find it useful to try to find a way out of that. Experience it. Lean in, and then…when it feels like it could pass, move on. Try to move back towards more positive emotions.  On a Happy Note Thank you for all of your kind notes, comments, cards etc after we announced last episode that Mom is battling lung cancer. We truly appreciate it. After a grueling experience with the special pharmacy, Mom has finally started her gene therapy treatment.  Visiting with Maria who was visiting from Barcelona. Check out the Day 17 Vlogmas Video  to see the treats my friend Marta and her sons sent over for Dan and me. Thrifting with Mom & the kids followed by a 4 kid sleepover.Check out the Day 18 & 19 Vlogmas Video for more. Patrons, check out your Patreon feed for an even longer video with lots more highlights and funny moments from the kids. In addition to fun pancakes- we also scored a sea themed waffle maker at Savers so we made Dolphin, Seahorse and Crab waffles! Babysitting my niece Gabriella. Singing Christmas Carols by the fire even if it was freezing outside!  A quieter Christmas Eve than we planned that turned into a lovely night. Christmas Day with our families. So much fun and laughter. Check out Vlogmas videos for more.   Continued adventures with Helen- the mannequin head- we discussed on the last episode. Millie and Dan got into hijinks on Christmas! Quote of the Week "Satisfaction is always available. It is just not always looked for. If, when you enter any experience, you enter with curiosity, respect and interest you will emerge enriched and with awareness you have been enriched. Awareness of enrichment is what satisfaction is."  -Ann Hastings Thank you for tuning in! Contact Information: Check out the Down Cellar Studio Patreon! Ravelry: BostonJen & Down Cellar Studio Podcast Ravelry Group Instagram: BostonJen1 YouTube: Down Cellar Studio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/downcellarstudio Sign up for my email newsletter to get the latest on everything happening in the Down Cellar Studio Check out my Down Cellar Studio YouTube Channel Knit Picks Affiliate Link Bookshop Affiliate Link Music -"Soft Orange Glow" by Josh Woodward. Free download: http://joshwoodward.com/ 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.