Thank you for tuning in to Episode 292 of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. Full show notes with photos are available on my website.    This week's segments included:  

• Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins
• On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins
• Brainstorming
• Some Years Later
• Crafty Adventures
• Knitting in Passing
• In my Travels
• KAL News
• Events
• On a Happy Note
• Quote of the Week

  Thank you to this episode's sponsors: Stitched by Jessalu . Find Jessalu at NETA Spa in Freeport, Maine from February 28-March 2:  check out the event page on Facebook at https://facebook.com/events/s/netaspa2025/. FearLESS Living Fund bags available now- click here. 30% of sales go to our FearLESS Living Fund.   Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins   Freckled Whimsy 2024 Advent Socks

• Yarn: Freckled Whimsy
• Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page

  Stranger Things 2 Socks

• Yarn: Desert Vista Dyeworks Viso base (75% SW Merino/25% Nylon) in the Stranger Things 2 Self Striping Colorway
• Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page

  On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins   Woolens & Nosh 2024 Advent Socks #2

• Yarn: Woolens & Nosh SW Targhee Sock
• Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• Progress- nearly to toe of first sock

  Ebb & Flow Socks

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

  Aurealis

• Pattern: Aurealis by Jennifer Steingass
• Needles: US 6 (4.0 mm) & US 4 (3.5 mm)
• Yarn: Cloudborn Fibers Highland DK in the Gray Heather colorway (MC) & Junction Fiber Mill Making Tracks DK in the Vermont Vice colorway (CC)
• Size: C

  Calendula Christmas Quilt

• Pattern: Calendula Quilt by Elena Fedotova available on Ravelry for $7.50 US.
• Yarn: Big Twist Value Solids in Ivory, Deep Red, Varsity Green, Aqua, Medium Rose
• Hook:  G (4.0 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• granny squares- 1 color or 2 (colors on each half a diagonal)
• I used Canva to help me figure out color placement to extend out the quilt pattern.
• I am seaming squares using the Mattress Stitch.
• I started working on this after being inspired by NDJen04's video about her scrappy blanket- you can find that find on YouTube.
• I had the 2 color (on the diagonal) granny square memorized but totally forgot how to do those. Here's a helpful video I found that helped refresh my memory.

  Brainstorming   I'd like to knit a balaclava for skiing

• Convertible Balaclava by Poppy Shop- available on Ravelry, Etsy & Poppy Shop website for $9.50 Canadian (worsted weight yarn, ribbed below nose)
• Crayon Balaclava by Mia Filisch- available on Ravelry for free. Calls for Aran weight yarn- 3 sizes. would need to gauge swatch and see if I can adjust for lighter yarn.
• Stripes Ski Mask by Leisure Arts- available on their website for $5.99. See link on Ravelry as well.

  I'm also debating something that goes over ski helmet and maybe a fair isle fingering weight sweater for me!   Some Years Later   Love the set that matches my ski coat.

• Winter Carnival Hat by Margaret Stauffacher- Ravelry Project Page (DK fair isle)
• In a Fog Mittens by Allison O'Mahony - Ravelry Project Page
• Drawn Together cowl by Shana Cohen- Ravelry Project Page

  Crafty Adventures

• Millie and Hattie wanted to get crafty during their birthday sleepover.
• We bought some supplies at the Dollar Tree & Millie brought a paper bead making kit I gave her for Christmas.
• Check out Episode 2 of Millie Makes on the Down Cellar Studio Youtube Channel.
• For fibery crafts, Millie shared some progress on her Dads hat, Hattie practiced treadling on my spinning wheel and Hattie & I made pompoms. I want to turn mine into a garland.

  Knitting in Passing I met a lovely listener named Emily in an elevator at work!   In My Travels

• Last weekend, my brother Jeff and 2 of his kids- Riley and Garret, my friend Megg, her daughter Hattie, son Oisin & Oisin's girlfriend Ginger and I all went skiing at Sunday River in Maine.

  KAL News Pigskin Party '24 #DCSPigskinParty24

• Tune in to hear if you won one of our 12 Grand Prizes. I will email winners in about a week, to give you time to tune in.  

Events

• Wayland Winter Farmers' Market- Farm Fiber Days: March 9, 2025 at Russell's Garden Center in Wayland, MA
• Knit North Yarn Crawl: March 13-16.
• Boston Public Market Fiber Fest- Sunday March 23 from 10a-5p. Free Admission
• Knit for Food a thon April 5th  http://www.nelkindesigns.com/index.cfm/page/knitathon/knitathon25.htm  sign up the first weekend in February.
• Fiber Marketplace- April 5th at the Union Bluff Hotel in York, Maine (kick off party on the 4th at the Yarn Sellar store)
• Fiber Witch Festival: April 11-13 in Salem, MA.
• Gore Place Sheep Sheering Festival- Saturday April 26 from 10a-5p in Waltham, MA.
• Connecticut Sheep & Wool: Saturday April 26 from 9a-4p in North Haven, CT
• Yarncentrick: May 2 in Fredrick, MD
• Maryland Sheep & Wool: May 3 & 4 in West Friendship, MD
• Sheep & Wool Festival at Coggeshall Farm: May 17 in Bristol, RI
• Massachusetts Sheep & Wool Festival- May 24 & 25 in Cummington, MA

  On a Happy Note

• I took Millie and Hattie to the new Paddington in Peru movie which was really cute. Using Hattie's Shadow Play Book- Wizard of Oz book before bed! Pancakes in the morning!
• We brought dinner to a friend who has been facing medical challenges (and thankful Dad let us cook at his house when we lost power)!
• Dinner with my first boss and her partner. They spoiled me rotten and it was so great catching up.
• Silly braids for skiing!
• Megg gifted me 3 skeins of alpaca yarn from her trip to the Azores! 50g skeins in white, gray and a peachy/pink! Can't wait to use them.
• New haircut!

  Quote of the Week   Sometimes you are aware when your great moments are happening and sometimes they arise from the past. Perhaps it’s the same with people. -JAMES SALTER   ------   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
• Yarnable Subscription Box Affiliate Link
• FearLESS Living Fund to benefit the Blind Center of Nevada
• 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.

Thank you for tuning in to Episode 291 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
• Life in Focus
• On a Happy Note
• Quote of the Week

  Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins   Hedgehog

• Pattern: Hedgehog with a Heart by Marina Chuchkalova
• Yarn: Big Twist Value Solids worsted acrylic yarn in Chocolate Brown & Soft Gray
• Hook: C 2.75 mm
• Ravelry Project Page

  On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins   Woolens & Nosh 2024 Advent Socks #2

• Yarn: Woolens & Nosh SW Targhee Sock
• Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• Passed heel on first sock (contrast heel)

  Aurealis

• Pattern: Aurealis by Jennifer Steingass
• Needles: US 6 (4.0 mm)
• Yarn: Cloudborn Fibers Highland DK in the Gray Heather colorway (MC) & Junction Fiber Mill Making Tracks DK in the Vermont Vice colorway (CC)
• Size: C
• Progress: Several inches into body

  Cold Goat Farm Spinning Project

• Fiber: Cold Goats Farm; believe it is a merino/mohair batt (8oz) in a natural, undyed cream color
• Ravelry Project Page
• Twist direction: singles = Z plied = S
• This means when I'm spinning, my wheel is spinning clockwise and when plying my wheel is moving counter-clockwise.
• Progress: Nearly finished with my 3rd bobbin of fiber

  Calendula Christmas Quilt

• Pattern: Calendula Quilt by Elena Fedotova available on Ravelry for $7.50 US.
• Yarn: Big Twist Value Solids in Ivory, Deep Red, Varsity Green, Aqua, Medium Rose
• Hook:  G (4.0 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• granny squares- 1 color or 2 (colors on each half a diagonal)
• I used Canva to help me figure out color placement to extend out the quilt pattern.
• I am seaming squares using the Mattress Stitch.
• I started working on this after being inspired by NDJen04's video about her scrappy blanket- you can find that find on YouTube.
• I had the 2 color (on the diagonal) granny square memorized but totally forgot how to do those. Here's a helpful video I found that helped refresh my memory.
• Progress: I've done about 14 in 2 weeks.

  Same as It Ever Was Hat

• Pattern: Same as It Ever Was by Sarah Jordan ($6 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
• Yarn: Hypnotic Yarn Plush Sock (Yarnable Box January 2024) in the Dino-Mite colorway
• Needles: US 2 (2.75 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• About the yarn: aqua, gray and purple.
• Progress: About 2 inches of straight knitting beyond the crown increases

  Brainstorming

• I think I'm going to keep the Monsoonee Sweater I started before Christmas (Ravelry Project Page). I could absolutely wear that this winter if I finish it soon.
• Almost to bottom ribbing. sleeves will be quick
• I'm debating frogging my Waverly Sweater (Ravelry Project Page). Gauge is a bit tight and its not an enjoyable knit.
• Emelyn's request for socks based on The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Any ideas for me?
• Aila still wants colorwork daisy socks that I started but need to rework.

  From the Armchair  

• One Day in December by Josie Silver. Amazon Affiliate Link.
• I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman. Amazon Affiliate Link.
• The Fury by Alex Michaelides. Amazon Affiliate Link.

  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

• Had a lovely fellow knitter say hello on the train, asking if I was going to knit fingers into my project (thinking it was mitts). I told her it was socks, but in general- I agree- knitting fingers is the worst!

  KAL News  

• Thanks for a very successful and fun 11th season!
• Tune in to see if you're a January Participation Winner or the winner of our 4th Quarter Challenge hosted by Fibernymph Dye Works- Small Gains Challenge (January 2025). Check out this Ravelry Thread for details.
• Grand Prize winners will be announced in the next episode.

  Events

• Wayland Winter Farmers' Market- Farm Fiber Days: March 9, 2025 at Russell's Garden Center in Wayland, MA
• Knit North Yarn Crawl: March 13-16.
• Boston Public Market Fiber Fest- Sunday March 23 from 10a-5p. Free Admission
• Knit for Food a thon April 5th  http://www.nelkindesigns.com/index.cfm/page/knitathon/knitathon25.htm  sign up the first weekend in February.
• Fiber Witch Festival: April 11-13 in Salem, MA.
• Gore Place Sheep Sheering Festival- Saturday April 26 from 10a-5p in Waltham, MA.
• Connecticut Sheep & Wool: Saturday April 26 from 9a-4p in North Haven, CT
• Yarncentrick: May 2 in Fredrick, MD
• Maryland Sheep & Wool: May 3 & 4 in West Friendship, MD
• Sheep & Wool Festival at Coggeshall Farm: May 17 in Bristol, RI
• Massachusetts Sheep & Wool Festival- May 24 & 25 in Cummington, MA

  Life in Focus   25 in 2025 List

1. Donate Blood at least 4 times (1 in January)
2. Go shopping for plants with Dan 4 times in the year (my Christmas gift from him)
3. Buy new ski boots- DONE
4. Go camping- scheduled for summer
5. Kayak 2-5 times- scheduled for summer
6. Do at least 5 walks with others
7. Take 2-5 yoga classes (outside of the house)
8. Do at least 30 lessons in Mondly (had 25 done in 2024)- does not include daily lessons
9. Spend a day at Raffa Life
10. Record 2-5 things I'm grateful for each day before bed (more days than not counts) doing well. pairing with next one
11. Read all of Simple Abundance (ideally daily or close to) (feels similar to artist's way- tapping into your authentic self/creative spirit)
12. Read at least 60 books- all books count (even poetry etc) - 4 to date
13. Get at least 2 massages at Oasis
14. See 2-5 movies in the theater
15. Knit 2-5 garments for me (WIPs- Aurealis & Monsoonee Sweaters)
16. Finish and enjoy my Christmas Granny Square Blanket
17. Crochet at least 5 toys (1 hedgehog)
18. Use my spinning wheel at least once a month (Jan & Feb done)
19. Have a crafty day with Emelie
20. Knit a slouchy hat for myself
21. Try out 3 new to me podcasts
22. Watch White Christmas with Jenny & Kara (bringing the tradition back)
23. Buy a firebox and put important papers inside
24. Create a list of things to pack in case of an evacuation
25. Purge at least 20 items of clothing/accessories/shoes

  On a Happy Note

• Ice skating with friends.
• Started rehearsals for Kiss Me Kate- tap dancing! GREAT for my brain.
• Seeing Millie in Pirates of Penzance
• Hattie's Surprise Wizard of Oz Party
• Laura surprised me.
• Funny Girl with Megg
• Mom's birthday just passed. Difficult day- but we were together and there was a lot of love and support. My friend Kris sent over a very thoughtful gift for me- including a skein of handdyed yarn in a Somewhere over the Rainbow colorway from Cashmere and Coconut.

  Quote of the Week To invite a person to your house is to take charge of his happiness as long as he be beneath your roof. –Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin   ------ 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
• Yarnable Subscription Box Affiliate Link
• FearLESS Living Fund to benefit the Blind Center of Nevada
• 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.

Thank you for tuning in to Episode 290 of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. Find full show ntoes with photos on my website: www.downcellarstudio.com    This week's segments included:  

• Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins
• On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins
• From the Armchair
• 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: Stitched by Jessalu Next month you can find Stitched by JessaLu bags in her online shop, and in person at NETA Spa in Freeport, Maine from February 28-March 2. NETA Spa is a great midwinter weekend gathering for fiber enthusiasts - check out the event page on Facebook at https://facebook.com/events/s/netaspa2025/   Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins   Woolens & Nosh 2024 Advent Socks

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

  On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins   Freckled Whimsy 2024 Advent Socks

• Yarn: Freckled Whimsy
• Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page

  Inclinations Cowl

• Inclinations Cowl by Andrea Mowry ($7.00 Knitting Pattern available on Ravelry & her website.
• Needles: US 2 (2.75 mm)
• Yarn: 2 skeins of handspun Color A: Fiber Addict Designs 100% Merino in the Wild Plum Colorway- Ravelry link. Color B: Candombe, I think the fiber is from Malabrigo- Ravelry link.
• My Ravelry Project Page
• Living in my FearLESS Living Fund bag from Stitched by Jessalu. She's filling pre-orders from last year first and then will put new listings up for sale so stay tuned.

  Aurealis

• Pattern: Aurealis by Jennifer Steingass
• Needles: US 6 (4.0 mm)
• Yarn: Cloudborn Fibers Highland DK in the Gray Heather colorway (MC) & Junction Fiber Mill Making Tracks DK in the Vermont Vice colorway (CC)
• Size: C
• My washed swatch was closer to 17/18 sts over 4 inches instead of the 20 it calls for so I'm knitting a different size to accommodate.

  Stranger Things 2 Socks

• Yarn: Desert Vista Dyeworks Viso base (75% SW Merino/25% Nylon) in the Stranger Things 2 Self Striping Colorway
• Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• Cast on the morning of Thursday 9/5 for the Pigskin Party using Snack Shack Sponsor yarn.
• About the colorway- stripes of: orange, hot pink, purple, navy blue, medium blue and red.
• Progress- first sock is done. Second sock is a few stripes from the heel.

  Woolens & Nosh 2024 Advent Socks #2

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

  Cold Goat Farm Spinning Project

• Fiber: Cold Goats Farm; believe it is a merino/mohair batt (8oz) in a natural, undyed cream color
• Ravelry Project Page
• Twist direction: singles = Z plied = S
• This means when I'm spinning, my wheel is spinning clockwise and when plying my wheel is moving counter-clockwise.
• Progress: Nearly finished with my second bobbin of fiber

  Calendula Christmas Quilt

• Pattern: Calendula Quilt by Elena Fedotova available on Ravelry for $7.50 US.
• Yarn: Big Twist Value Solids in Ivory, Deep Red, Varsity Green, Aqua, Medium Rose
• Hook:  G (4.0 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• granny squares- 1 color or 2 (colors on each half a diagonal)
• I used Canva to help me figure out color placement to extend out the quilt pattern.
• I am seaming squares using the Mattress Stitch.
• I started working on this after being inspired by NDJen04's video about her scrappy blanket- you can find that find on YouTube.
• I had the 2 color (on the diagonal) granny square memorized but totally forgot how to do those. Here's a helpful video I found that helped refresh my memory.

  From the Armchair   One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London. Amazon Affiliate Link.   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.   In My Travels   My 12 year old niece, Millie, joined me to do a little recap of our visit to Wayland Winter Farmers' Market- Farm Fiber Days at Russell's Garden Center in Wayland, MA.   The sample we saw in the Plied booth is called Super Serene- available on Ravelry.   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.
• Coupon Codes are listed in this Ravelry Thread
• Exclusive Items from our Pro Shop Sponsors are listed in this Ravelry Thread
• Questions-  ask them in this Ravelry Thread or email Jen at downcellarstudio @ gmail.com
• Official Sponsor for Q4: Fibernymph Dye Works- Small Gains Challenge (January 2025). Check out this Ravelry Thread for details.
• Commentator Mary Klute's report-

  It had been very cold lately in North America, even in places that are typically pretty warm in the winter (like Florida getting snow!). This has been no problem for pigskin partiers! The cold weather creates the perfect conditions for cozying up and finishing projects!  In the huddle, there has been lots of discussion about what folks can reasonably finish before the end of the party. There was also an interesting discussion about how many WIPs folks can manage at one time. Unsurprisingly, there are a lot of different opinions on that.  Earlier this month, 43 players submitted for points as part of the Wild Card WIP challenge! Head on over to that thread to see pictures of projects that players had let languish or even forgot about--butnow they are finished!  

• ladida2u finished some beautiful colorwork mittens just in time for some snow:  https://www.ravelry.com/discuss/down-cellar-studio-podcast/4344427/1-25#16
• plumunou finished a pair of socks.  She'd abandoned the project because the first sock came out too short in the foot--let's face it, we've all been in this sort of situation--this challenge motivated her to finish the second sock and rip out the toe of the first one to lengthen the foot. Now she has a super cute pair of socks:  https://www.ravelry.com/discuss/down-cellar-studio-podcast/4344427/26-50#34
• histoknitter finished a pair of socks that were started in 2007!  Way to go!  https://www.ravelry.com/discuss/down-cellar-studio-podcast/4344427/26-50#37
• hikesandbikes finished a fantastic sweater that is made up of mitered squares.  It's amazing!   https://www.ravelry.com/discuss/down-cellar-studio-podcast/4344427/51-75#58
• and speaking of mitred squares, knitternicole finished a blanket!  She planned out how much of the icord border she needed to do each day to finish and got it done during wild card week:  https://www.ravelry.com/discuss/down-cellar-studio-podcast/4344427/51-75#67

  Events

• New England Farm & Fiber Festival: February 2 from 11a-5p at the Cyclorama in Boston
• Wayland Winter Farmers' Market- Farm Fiber Days: March 9, 2025 at Russell's Garden Center in Wayland, MA
• Knit North Yarn Crawl: March 13-16.
• Boston Public Market Fiber Fest- Sunday March 23 from 10a-5p. Free Admission
• Knit for Food a thon April 5th  http://www.nelkindesigns.com/index.cfm/page/knitathon/knitathon25.htm  sign up the first weekend in February.
• Fiber Witch Festival: April 11-13 in Salem, MA.
• Gore Place Sheep Sheering Festival- Saturday April 26 from 10a-5p in Waltham, MA.
• Connecticut Sheep & Wool: Saturday April 26 from 9a-4p in North Haven, CT
• Yarncentrick: May 2 in Fredrick, MD
• Maryland Sheep & Wool: May 3 & 4 in West Friendship, MD
• Sheep & Wool Festival at Coggeshall Farm: May 17 in Bristol, RI
• Massachusetts Sheep & Wool Festival- May 24 & 25 in Cummington, MA

  Contest, News & Notes  

• Stitched by Jessalu FearLESS Living Fund bags are going out this week and next! 30% going to FearLESS Living Fund. More bags will be listed soon on her website so stay tuned.
• You can buy the FearLESS Living Fund fabric that Jess designed on Spoonflower.
• I don't think I shared but Mom opened hers right before Christmas and cried. It was really beautiful. You can find on my Day 24 Vlogmas video- click here to go right to that part of the video.
• Check out the Millie Makes section on the Down Cellar Studio YouTube Channel. Video 1 is up!
• I've joined Bluesky. I'm Bostonjen1 over there. Come follow-me. Not leaving Instagram, at least not yet, but I'm checking it out.

  Thank you to KnittyELF40, Erika, who kindly gifted me her new bundle of patterns- Seasonal Blooms on Ravelry.   Life in Focus   My Word of the Year for 2025: Welcome Verb: to greet hospitably and with courtesy or cordiality Verb: to accept with pleasure the occurrence or presence of Adjective: giving pleasure: received with gladness or delight especially in response to a need (A welcome addition)   Why I need this word:

• This year will be a year filled with first after Mom's passing on January 1st. I need to welcome in the new year even when it feels hard, and welcome in whatever emotions come up as I make my way through 2025.
• I've spent much time in the last few years focused on my mom (and I'm so glad I could do that), but now I'll have free time to welcome in new things. I want to be thoughtful about my time, but also open to welcoming in new things that will bring me joy.
• My mother made everyone feel welcome and at home whether physically in her home or just with her as a person. I strive to make people feel welcome in my presence too and to use that to continue to strengthen the bonds of friendship and connection. I hope that this will help me keep alive the many relationships that Mom was able to maintain.
• I am an introvert by nature and love the prospect of staying hour with hours of myself to plot out- but I know that I am happier and more fulfilled when I stay connected with those I love, so this year when I'm tempted to say "no thanks" I will try, when possible, to instead say "we'll come" a variation on welcome.

  On a Happy Note

• About 20 people showed up for one of Garret's hockey games that was nearby! Beautiful show of support and a fun night out.
• I found the jewelry Mom gave me for Christmas! Surprise surprise, it was in a bag of knitting stuff that was brought home and put down cellar.
• While I missed auditions as we prepped for the funeral, I got a dancing role in Kiss Me Kate with Meg. The show is the last week of April/first weekend in May.
• Millie came for a 2 night sleepover during MLK weekend. She made us pancakes!
• Organizing my mom's things. Eme came over and we look through craft supplies for a new project they want to do. I found a few things for me (mostly scissors and crochet hooks) and I purged some.
• I put away the Christmas tree and put my new plant stand in place! I love it. Dan was going to order me a plant subscription, but instead we'll go together to a local place a few times a year and try to learn a little more about houseplants.
• Dinner with my cousins at local Mexican restaurant.
• I received a beautiful package of watercolor supplies in the mail from Rachel! Thank you so much. I can't wait to dive in.
• I received many cards and notes from several of you. Thank you!!!
• Millie, Ryan and I ran into listener, Donna, at Russell's. So lovely to see you!
• Last weekend Riley came for a sleepover Saturday night. On Sunday, we picked up Aila and checked out one of her favorite antique stores and had a lot of fun browsing.
• Dan invited my Dad, Tom and Oisin for dinner at The Snug.
• Megg, Hattie and I went to see Peter Pan in Boston.

  Quote of the Week “Departure of a year welcomes so many new memories” ― Munia Khan   ------ 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
• Yarnable Subscription Box Affiliate Link
• FearLESS Living Fund to benefit the Blind Center of Nevada
• 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.

Thank you for tuning in to Episode 289 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
• Some Years Later
• Knitting in Passing
• Crafty Adventures
• KAL News
• Events
• Life in Focus
• On a Happy Note
• Quote of the Week

  Content Note: I start the episode by sharing news that most of you probably already know but in case not, will set the tone for the rest of the episode. After 3 long years battling Stage 4 Lung Cancer- we lost my Mom, Diane, on New Year's Day. I share a bit more of the story in the Life in Focus segment, but there are small moments peppered throughout so if death and loss is a difficult topic for you right now, that's ok. I just wanted to give a heads up. If this isn't the episode for you, we'll catch you in the next one.   Off 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

  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.
• Gave to Mom for Christmas. She only ended up wearing them a few times but she loved them very much.

  On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins   Woolens & Nosh 2024 Advent Socks

• Yarn: Woolens & Nosh SW Targhee Sock
• Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• Progress: 1st sock done. 2nd is beyond the heel.

  Freckled Whimsy 2024 Advent Socks

• Yarn: Freckled Whimsy
• Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• Riley knit a lot on these!
• The 1st sock is beyond the heel.

  From the Armchair The Life Impossible by Matt Haig- Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link.   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.     Some Years Later Wearing mostly Mom's handknits because I was there and didn't have all of my own to choose from.

• I wore some of her socks especially when we ended up sleeping in the family room and it was chilly and I couldn't leave her alone.
• Mom's blue Camp out fingerless mitts (Ravelry Project Page link)- 2021
• Mom's Shift Cowl out of my handspun (Ravelry Project Page link)- 2022
• Mom's Carbeth Cardigan (Ravelry Project Page link) - finished night before Rhinebeck in 2023 (while in Vegas)

  Knitting in Passing

• Millie loved her lipstick and nail polish amigurumi.
• Hattie didn't get her Christmas gifts until after Miles' Baptism on 1/12- "be off you boring socks" and threw socks across the room and immediately put them on and was showing them off. It was very dramatic and adorable.
• Laura sent me a text of her friend Arielle wearing the socks I knit her. You can find the Ravelry Project Page here.
• Laura and I went back to my house one day to collect some things and Riley asked me to bring ALL THE KNITTING, so I grabbed a ton of stuff. She opened every single project bag and in the end still decided to knit on the Freckled Whimsy advent socks

  Crafty Adventures

• We printed almost 400 photos for 11 posters for the funeral home. We broke out the scrapbook supplies and tape gun which I can't believe Laura didn't steal because after an initial skepticism she and Jenny were very into it.  Megg, Oisin and Riley were huge helps and had a lot of fun.
• Megg and Laura searched house for memoriabilia stuff to make 3 displays for funeral home- Red Sox & reselling, Christmas and Wiz of Oz. Incredible. Funeral home did it just as well or even better.
• Megg made these Sox and Bruins "tickets" on Canva

  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.
• Coupon Codes are listed in this Ravelry Thread
• Exclusive Items from our Pro Shop Sponsors are listed in this Ravelry Thread
• Questions-  ask them in this Ravelry Thread or email Jen at downcellarstudio @ gmail.com
• Tune in to see if you won our Quarter 3 Challenge sponsored by FanGirl Fibers.
• Official Sponsor for Q4: Fibernymph Dye Works- Small Gains Challenge (January 2025). Check out this Ravelry Thread for details.
• Tune in to see if you won a December participation prize.
• Mary's Commentator Updates
• I just finished a sweater--my first big project of the PSP.  It took me months and it feels like a great accomplishment. Plus it is enough yards to qualify for a blitz!  This got me thinking about blitzes and wondering how the pigskin partiers are doing with blitzes this year. When I just looked, players had already submitted for 202 blitzes this year!  Amazing!  But even more amazing are a handful of what I am calling super-blitzers!  
• 2 players have already completed 6 blitzes so far this year!  Can you believe it?
• Spottydogknits finished two sweaters, one cardigan, a vest, a shawl and a scarf.  Their Winterwald shawl is particularly pretty. It looks like a lot of fun to knit with a variety of mosaic colorwork.
• Purplemomz has completed 4 blankets!  Two were knit and two were crocheted along with two cardigans!  I really like their two rainbow ripple blankets--it is so fun to see how the same pattern works up in different yarn. https://www.ravelry.com/projects/PurpleMomz/rainbow-ripple-baby-blanket-3 https://www.ravelry.com/projects/PurpleMomz/rainbow-ripple-baby-blanket-4
• In addition to these super-blitzers, 3 players have completed 5 blitzes and 3 more have completed 3!  But don't be dismayed if you are a mere mortal like me--The best thing about the PSP is that you can make whatever you want (as much or as little as you have time for).  Wishing you all a very happy new year!

  Life in Focus   Tune in to hear the last of my Mom's story. I also reviewed my word for 2024, Heart, my goals and my 24 for 2024 list.   On a Happy Note

• Seeing a local production of Pippin and introducing it to Riley.
• Seeing Hattie in Funky Nutcracker & her winter dance recital. Check out Day 14 of Vlogmas for more.
• Riley took her first solo drive as a licensed driver, made us breakfast and braided my hair. Later that day, friends surprised my Mom by caroling. Check out this video for more. Oisin got his license the following Saturday. Mom was so proud of both of them.
• Silly moment putting TJ's gummy mustaches on our faces. Mom even got in on the action resting it on her oxygen tube and giving crazy eyes for a photo.
• The Christmas eve cling wrap game that my cousin Lea hosted. You can see it at the end of my Vlogmas Day 24 video
• Fun Christmas morning with G & Z who enjoyed the power wheels Jeep. Doing puzzles with G while Z played the piano.
• Low key Christmas afternoon at my parents'. At one point Mom got confused and said we were at a wedding so that turned into a running joke all day. My cousin Jenny, mom's Goddaughter, came over for a bit and showed Mom the video that over 40 people sent in clips for. She said it was her fav Christmas gift.
• Laura, whose timing is impeccable and who was everything I needed during the hardest time.
• Shopping with friends to find attire for Mom's funeral.
• Conor led the kids in singing Somewhere Over the Rainbow at mom's services and our friend Michael Hammond led a group singing Seasons of Love to finish the service at the Cemetery. My cousin Rita Marie sang at funeral mass.
• Folks flew in from 12 states to attend which was lovely but also it got crazy once we realized we had way more people coming than would fit in he luncheon venue we talked to. Dad said it was like the Jerry Lewis telethon w/ everyone making phone calls trying to find a new venue. By the next morning, we found a place that worked, visited and picked out the menu by that night.
• As ever, this segment is meant to focus on the highlights. Not the lowlights of which there have been many. Grief sucks. Its hard, but we also got 68 beautiful years w/ my Mom- and we lived it up royally in the last 3 since she got sick. We'll always more time but I don't have any regrets and that's something to be truly grateful for.
• Miles' Baptism. It was a beautiful service with brunch after at Conor & Carly's.
• Just before Christmas, we gave away $10k in FearLESS Living Fund scholarships to 2 gentlemen the Blind Center of Nevada. Friends attended and sent us videos. Just incredible. I hope it helps to really give them a leg up this year.

  Quote of the Week "There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, and of unspeakable love."   Washington Irving   ------ 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
• Yarnable Subscription Box Affiliate Link
• FearLESS Living Fund to benefit the Blind Center of Nevada
• 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.

Thank you for tuning in to Episode 288 of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. Show notes with photos can be found on my website.   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

• Patterns from Etsy by Tugs & Stitches: Crochet Makeup Bundle Pattern: $15 Crochet Pattern
• Yarn: Worsted Weight Acrylic Yarns
• Hooks: C & D (2.75 & 3.25 mm)

  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

• 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.
• Coupon Codes are listed in this Ravelry Thread
• Exclusive Items from our Pro Shop Sponsors are listed in this Ravelry Thread
• Questions-  ask them in this Ravelry Thread or email Jen at downcellarstudio @ gmail.com
• Our Official Sponsor for Q2 (November) was Twin Mountain Handcrafts. Check this Ravelry thread for details about the Button challenge! Tune in to see if you're the winner! Our Official Sponsor for Q3 (December) is Fangirl Fibers. Check out this Ravelry thread for details about the Colorwork challenge.
• Commentator Mary Klute's report- CONTAINS RAVELRY LINKS🙂

  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! 

• https://www.ravelry.com/discuss/down-cellar-studio-podcast/4327543/676-700#676 
• https://www.ravelry.com/discuss/down-cellar-studio-podcast/4327543/676-700#680
• https://www.ravelry.com/discuss/down-cellar-studio-podcast/4327543/701-725#713

  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

• 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
• Check out my 2024 Vlogmas Playlist on the Down Cellar Studio YouTube Channel

  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!   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
• Yarnable Subscription Box Affiliate Link
• FearLESS Living Fund to benefit the Blind Center of Nevada
• 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.

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

• Pattern: Christmas Stockings to Knit and Crochet from Family Circle Magazine. Available in this web archive link. I’ve also saved it to my podcast Gmail Google Drive in case it disappears! web.archive.org-Christmas Stockings to Knit and Crochet from Our Archives.pdf
• Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver in Cherry Red, Hunter Green and White
• Hook: G (4.0 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page

  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

• 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.
• Coupon Codes are listed in this Ravelry Thread
• Exclusive Items from our Pro Shop Sponsors are listed in this Ravelry Thread
• Questions-  ask them in this Ravelry Thread or email Jen at downcellarstudio @ gmail.com
• Our Official Sponsor for Q2 (November) is Twin Mountain Handcrafts. Check this Ravelry thread for details about the Button challenge!
• Our Official Sponsor for Q3 (December) is Fangirl Fibers. Check out this Ravelry thread for details about the Colorwork challenge.
• Commentator Mary Klute's report- CONTAINS RAVELRY LINKS🙂

  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!   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
• Yarnable Subscription Box Affiliate Link
• FearLESS Living Fund to benefit the Blind Center of Nevada
• 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.

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

• Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link. (read in paperback in 2008). I listened to this in prep for the Bad on Paper Podcast Book Club Episode
• Here One Moment by Liane Morriarty. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link.

  Watching:

• The Comeback: 2004 Boston Red Sox (Netflix)- 3 parts.
• The Diplomat (Season 2) on Netflix- 6 episodes.
• Santa Tell Me (Hallmark)

  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,vAmy 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.
• Coupon Codes are listed in this Ravelry Thread
• Exclusive Items from our Pro Shop Sponsors are listed in this Ravelry Thread
• 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

• 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

  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!   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
• Yarnable Subscription Box Affiliate Link
• FearLESS Living Fund to benefit the Blind Center of Nevada
• 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.

Thank you for tuning in to Episode 285 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
• Crafty Adventures
• KAL News
• Events
• Contest, News & Notes
• Life in Focus
• On a Happy Note
• Quote of the Week

  Thank you to this episode's sponsors: Cniotáil Láimhe Designs on Ravelry, Area 51 Fibres, Stitched by Jessalu & Paper Daisy Creations on Ravelry.   Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins Static Musselburgh

• Pattern: Musselburgh Hat by Ysolda Teague (7 GBP Knitting Pattern available on Ravelry & Ysolda's website)
• Yarn: Knit Picks Static Fingering Weight Yarn in the Peppercorn colorway
• Needles: US 2 (2.75 mm) & US 2.5 (3.0 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• Note- the pattern just got some updates
• About the yarn: blues, grays, cream and a bit of a salmony orange. Self patterning yarn.

  On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins   Owen's Christmas Stocking

• Pattern: Christmas Stockings to Knit and Crochet from Family Circle Magazine. Available in this web archive link. I’ve also saved it to my podcast Gmail Google Drive in case it disappears! web.archive.org-Christmas Stockings to Knit and Crochet from Our Archives.pdf
• Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver in Cherry Red, Hunter Green and White
• Hook: G (4.0 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• Progress: 2 pieces done, seamed up. Cuff is done and steamed. Snowman applique pieces finished.
• Sidetracked by all the mojo

  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
• Progress: cast on both socks using 2 50g cakes. Sock 2 has a heel. Sock 2 is almost ready for a heel
• 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. The first sock is finished. The second sock is beyond the heel.

  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.
• I measured Hattie's foot recently when she tried on this WIP. I need a 7-7.5 inch foot. Toe will be 12 rounds, which is about an inch of knitting, so Ii knit a little more than 6 inches before starting the toe.
• Progress: First sock finished.

  Better Waverly Cardigan

• Pattern: Better Waverly by Taylor E Owen. $8 Knitting Pattern available on Ravelry.
• Yarn: Lion Brand Fishermen's Wool in the Brown Heather Colorway
• Needles: US 5 (3.75 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• About the Pattern: I saw Taylor talk about this pattern in her recent YouTube Video.
• Progress: Still working on the raglan increases

  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 (because working with fabric that has about 18 inches over 4 inches)
• Progress: several inches into the body (put on hold) and about half way through the first sleeve.

  Brainstorming

• Bee Stacking Toy- Ravelry link for  $5 crochet pattern (also available for free on this website)

  From the Armchair

• Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun by Elle Cosimano. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link.
• The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link.
• Gilmore Girls: The Official Knitting Book: Knit Your Way Through Stars Hollow and Beyond by Tanis Gray- available on Amazon. Link to patterns on Ravelry.
• Be sure to check out: A Thousand Yellow Daisies by Beth Leath- Ravelry Pattern Link
• I also like the Daily News Hat by Alina Appasova- Ravelry Pattern Page.

  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.   Crafty Adventures

• Dan went to a Better Off Dead movie party. I helped him make pig ears to sew onto a chef's hat (he did the sewing).
• He also made slime (with raisins because "you like raisins') and lots of other props from the movie.

  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.
• Coupon Codes are listed in this Ravelry Thread
• Exclusive Items from our Pro Shop Sponsors are listed in this Ravelry Thread
• Questions-  ask them in this Ravelry Thread or email Jen at downcellarstudio @ gmail.com
• Our Official Sponsor for Q1 (October) is The Little Wolf Knits. This means you've got a challenge that can earn you more points and entry towards a cool prize. Check out the challenge details in this Ravelry post. Winner will be announced in the next episode.
• Our Official Sponsor for Q2 (November) is Twin Mountain Handcrafts. Check this Ravelry thread for details about the Button challenge!

  Events  

• Fiber Festival of New England- November 2 & 3- Mom, Riley and I are going on Sunday November 3rd
• Maryland Alpaca and Fleece Festival: November 9-10, 2024 in West Friendship, Maryland
• For more West Coast (US) event- check out the Seattle Knitters Guild Site.

  Contest, News & Notes Check out this article if you're an Apple user who plans to become a member of any new Patreon communities to avoid this 30% fee to Apple. You can check out my Patreon page here.   Life in Focus I gave a quick update on Mom who will be starting a new cancer treatment on 11/1/24. Keep her in your thoughts and prayers, please.   On a Happy Note

• Outing with Mom to get eyelash extensions & Savers.
• Laura's visit: Matching PJs- Cuddl Duds Coffee PJs from Kohls, My first trip to Costco!
• Grand Opening of Dance Legacy Arts + Hattie preview of Frozen Jr. Movies (Substance= terrible) + dinner with Megg (lovely)
• Ryan and Nicki visit with Mom, Dad and me after Rhinebeck & they brought me a skein of yarn!
• 2 massages in 1 week (24 for 2024 list)
• Dan and I went to vote together last Saturday morning, then I headed over to a local Sample Sale, knitting on my Silverlining sweater while I waited and listening to others local gossip. I got a ton of Christmas shopping done, then I met up with my mom's friends Patrick and Szymon in from Arizona. Mom, our friend Sharon (in from CT) and our cousin Linda (who I just found out listens- HI), met us for lunch!  Liz came over and we watched Little Women (2019 version) which I hadn't seen and was on our to watch list. (3 of 5 movies for my 24 in 2024 list).
• I visited my parents on Sunday. Millie and Garret were there. We took a walk to neighborhood nearby for Mom's PT for the day.
• Group text with friends who went to VT- about our sweaters and other adjacent things. Lots of fun and motivation.
• Monday night dinner with my parents, Patrick and Szymon.
• Early morning walk to local State park. beautiful sunrise and golden leaves around the reservoir. Need to do this more often.

  Quote of the Week It doesn’t matter how strong your opinions are. If you don’t use your power for positive change, you are indeed part of the problem. -Coretta Scott King   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
• Yarnable Subscription Box Affiliate Link
• FearLESS Living Fund to benefit the Blind Center of Nevada
• 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.

Thank you for tuning in to Episode 284 of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. Full show notes with photos can be found on my website.    This week's segments included:  

• Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins
• On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins
• Brainstorming
• From the Armchair
• Some Years Later
• 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: Woolen Women Fibers, Bronwyn the Brave Designs & Chit Chat Knits Designs   Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins   Farmhouse Pumpkin

• Pattern: Farmhouse Pumpkins by More Dreams Less Life. $4.25 crochet pattern available on Ravelry.
• Yarn: KnitKraft Wintuk Yarn in the Rust Colorway
• Hook: F (3.75 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page

  Rest Relax Recharge Socks

• Yarn: Hypnotic Yarn: Plush Sock in the Rest Relax Recharge Colorway (from the March 2023 Yarnable Box)
• Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• Check out my Yarnable Unboxing Playlist on YouTube
• Get $5 off with coupon code BOSTONJEN using my Affiliate Link

  Urth Yarn Turn a Square Hat

• Pattern: Turn a Square by Jared Flood ($5 pattern available on Ravelry & Brooklyn Tweed website)
• Yarn: Urth Yarn Uneek Worsted
• Needles: US 5 (3.75 mm) for ribbing. US 7 (4.5 mm) for body.
• Ravelry Project Page
• Started August 5th but never talked about on the podcast.
• Purchased during Cape and South Shore Yarn Haul a year or two ago. 
• Ended up being about 48g. Still have about 56 g leftover so I will make another.

  On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins   Owen's Christmas Stocking

• Pattern: Christmas Stockings to Knit and Crochet from Family Circle Magazine. Available in this web archive link. I’ve also saved it to my podcast Gmail Google Drive in case it disappears! web.archive.org-Christmas Stockings to Knit and Crochet from Our Archives.pdf
• Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver in Cherry Red, Hunter Green and White
• Hook: G (4.0 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• Progress: 2 pieces done, seamed up and working on the cuff. I need to finish the cuff, create the appliqué, sew on the name the hook.

  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
• Purchased from Michele at VT Sheep and Wool. Wound up the yarn on Sue’s ballwinder the next morning and knit most of the leg of the first sock on a boat on Lake Champlain with Sue & Dave Stokes, Paige and Paul Miller and Rachel!!
• Woolens & Nosh is a Pigskin Pro Shop Sponsor

  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
• I bought this yarn at a festival a long time ago. Speckly with an overall purple tone.
• Progress: cuff done and a few inches of the first leg.

  Dream Big Socks

• Yarn: Fibernymph Dye Works Strong DK (75% SW Merino/ 25% Nylon) in the Dream Big Colorway (Fundraiser for our FearLESS Living Fund)
• Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
• Needles: US 3 (3.25 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• 48 sts cuff down
• Cast on in June but haven't talked about on the pod before. leg of the first sock is nearly done:
• About the colorway: larger stripes of blue, green, orange. Smaller stripes of orange, purple, gray.  Fibernymph Dye Works is a Pigskin Pro Shop Sponsor

  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

  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

  Brainstorming  

• I fell in love with the Love Today Cowl by Knit Sisu that I saw at a VT Sheep and Wool. I found some of my handspun (Ravelry page here) that I thought would work, wound it up and then did a wraps per inch test and its too thin. I went back to the handspun bin, and found another skein (Ravelry page) and now I'm thinking they'd be nice in the Inclinations Cowl by Andrea Mowy (Ravelry | website).
• The goal of this cowl was for a potential Christmas gift even though I'd like it for me, but I think with these 2 skeins of handspun I want to keep it, so we'll see if I cast these on now or let it marinate, because I also want to cast on a sweater for me, and more socks and hats for Christmas gifts.
• I swatched for a sweater with yarn from VT Sheep and Wool. More on that next time.

  From the Armchair The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link.   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.   Some Years Later   I've been wearing lots of woolies lately as have my loved ones!

• Same as It Ever Was by Sarah Jordan (Pigskin Sponsor)- Ravelry Project Page
• Dad wore his Musselburgh to Topsfield Fair- Ravelry Project Page
• Megg also wore Nanaimo Cardigan to Mamma Mia- Ravelry Project Page
• I also have 2 Nanaimos that I've been wearing- the original one I knit is in earthy oatmealy tones and the other in gray- Ravelry Project Page 1 & Ravelry Project Page 2 here.
• I'm also wearing a lot of wool socks, especially with wool clogs. I need more supportive clogs for walking. Any suggestions for me?

  In My Travels  

• Check out my VT Sheep and Wool Vlog Video on YouTube. Patrons, check out the video linked in your feed for more photos and no ads.
• I talked about the following makers: Woolens & Nosh,  Wooly Thistle, KnitSisu, Junction Fiber Mill, Jennifer Steingass's Silverlining Sweater- available on Ravelry.

  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.
• Coupon Codes are listed in this Ravelry Thread
• Exclusive Items from our Pro Shop Sponsors are listed in this Ravelry Thread
• Questions-  ask them in this Ravelry Thread or email Jen at downcellarstudio @ gmail.com
• Our Official Sponsor for Q1 (October) is The Little Wolf Knits. This means you've got a challenge that can earn you more points and entry towards a cool prize. Check out the challenge details in this Ravelry post
• Q2- November- sneak peek- sponsor= Twin Mountain Handcrafts- using buttons!
• Commentator Mary Klute's report:
• The first quarter challenge has really inspired pigskin partiers! There has been a lot of chatter in the huddle thread about the new techniques folks are planning to meet the requirements of the challenge!  
• Some players are planning to tackle knitting techniques that they have never tried before like half fisherman's rib, colorwork, intarsia, magic loop, a new cast on or bind off, and brioche.
• Others are trying out a new tool like an i-cord maker or a new knitting app
• Others are trying new kinds of projects: a garment with lace down the side, joggers, knitting a shawl for the first time, knitting a shawl with an unusual construction, and colorwork socks
• A couple of people have mentioned joining mystery knit a longs for the challenge
• Others have mentioned using varieties of yarn they've never used before like boucle yarn or non-superwash wool.
• And a finally a bunch of players are planning crochet projects--some who have never successfully crocheted before and others who want to grow their crochet skills by moving beyond granny squares or learning how to join crocheted pieces.
• This challenge is really motivating players to step out of their comfort zones!  If you still haven't decided what to do for the quarter 1 challenge--head on over to the huddle thread for some inspiration! 

  Events

• NY Sheep & Wool Festival (aka Rhinebeck): October 19 & 20, 2024 in Rhinebeck, NY
• Fiber Festival of New England- November 2 & 3- Mom, Riley and I are going on Sunday November 3rd
• Maryland Alpaca and Fleece Festival: November 9-10, 2024 in West Friendship, Maryland
• For more West Coast (US) event- check out the Seattle Knitters Guild Site.

  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!   Life in Focus   2024 Word of the Year- Heart   2024-  Goals:

• Use my podcast/YouTube/Instagram following to raise money for the FearLESS Living Fund (details in the Ravelry group- and email if you're one of our regular sponsors)
• Make & assess goals every month in 2024
• Monthly review of number of workouts + weigh on at least twice a month.
• Stretch/Theragun 2-4 times a week

  24 for 2024 List Updates

• Get 2 massages beyond the one per month at Massage Envy (1 at Oasis in July, 1 scheduled Oct had to move. scheduled 2 more)
• Read more books than you did in 2023 (50) 45 as of now
• Knit at least 1 finished project with handspun in progress
• Knit/crochet myself a new sweater swatched
• Make a Christmas afghan for the living room- in progress
• Try a new local restaurant - Lolita (want one even MORE local)

  On a Happy Note  

• Mamma Mia + dinner at Ruka beforehand
• October 4: we celebrated my dad's birthday with an evening cookout and swim! Dad left the pool open while mom was in the hospital, and heated it back up to a warm 88 degrees for us to all enjoy one last swim.
• VT Sheep and Wool!!!
• Mom, Dad, my Uncle Bob and Aunt Wendy all went to the Topsfield Fair. Beautiful quilts, handknits, emotional support chickens. Live Laugh Love cross stitch- live, laugh, love. Mom got some blue tinsel in her hair! Adorable.
• Saw everyone's photos of the Northern Lights on Facebook on the way home so I had to take a few!
• Baby Jane- adapted for the stage by my Mom's friend Michael Hammond for Company Theatre- Marybeth in it.

  Quote of the Week   Bob Dylan on the advice his father gave him: "Even if you don't have all the things you want, be grateful for the things you don't have that you don't want."   ------ 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
• Yarnable Subscription Box Affiliate Link
• FearLESS Living Fund to benefit the Blind Center of Nevada
• 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.

Thank you for tuning in to Episode 283 of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. Full show notes with photos can be found on my website.   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
• Life in Focus
• On a Happy Note
• Quote of the Week

  Thank you to this episode's sponsors: Stitchin with Yarn, winemakerssister, Yumi Yarns & Fibernymph Dye Works   Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins LFA Helical Socks

• Yarn: Legacy Fiber Artz Steel Toes in the Portal Colorway & a Mystery Colorway (both 50g skeins: 75% SW Merino, 25% Nylon). Knit Picks Felici in the Beatnik Colorway
• Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• Cast on in June 2023. Finished September 5. Forgot to share in the last episode.

  Frozen Shake Cozy

• Pattern: Ball Band with a Twist by Jennifer Lassonde. $2 crochet pattern available on Ravelry | LoveCrafts
• Yarn: worsted crochet cotton
• Hooks: F (3.75mm) & G (4.0mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• Yarn- mystery blue cotton on a cone that was from Aunt Rachel's stash.
• Made for mom during September hospital stay when the dietitians started making frozen shakes to get nutrients into her.

  Ribbed Bobble Pumpkin

• Pattern: Ribbed Bobble Pumpkin by Breann Mauldin. $3 crochet pattern available on Ravelry. Free version available here.
• Yarn: KnitKraft Wintuk Yarn in the Tangerine Colorway
• Hook: F (3.75 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• Yarn gifted to me by my friend Heather. We became friends through the dancing school we went to. Her mother was the stage manager and my mom was the house manager for our recitals. We've all know each other since I was 12. Heather's mother Rita passed away a few years ago. When Heather heard my mom was in the hospital she dropped off a care package at the dancing school- chemo caps for Mom and yarn from her mom's stash for me!

  Rita's pumpkins

• Pattern: Pumpkin by June Gilbank. Free crochet pattern available on Ravelry. Free version available here.
• Yarn: KnitKraft Wintuk Yarn in the Tangerine Colorway
• Hook: F (3.75 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• 5 finished
• Yarn is definitely 1970s/1980s squeeky acrylic, so not my favorite to work with, but it feels great to put it to good use and to bring a bit of life to Rita's old stash.

  Farmhouse Pumpkin

• Pattern: Farmhouse Pumpkins by More Dreams Less Life. $4.25 crochet pattern available on Ravelry.
• Yarn: KnitKraft Wintuk Yarn in the Tangerine Colorway
• Hook: F (3.75 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• Worked in the round. Does use FP & BP HDC which I learned in my crochet cables class at Staci's! Love the look of this. Worked up in an evening of TV.

  Pumpkin Patch Cup Cozy

• Pattern: Pumpkin Patch Cup Cozy by Kylee Keller. Free crochet pattern available on Ravelry & this blog.
• Yarn: KnitKraft Wintuk Yarn in the Tangerine Colorway, Knit Picks Brava Worsed in the Dublin colorway (green) & mystery brown acrylic yarn from stash.
• Hook: F (3.75 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• The pattern calls for thicker yarn and a larger hook than I had. It also calls for what's essentially a 1x1 ribbed look, but I liked the look of the ribbing from the front/back post crochets on the Farmhouse Pumpkins, so I used that pattern instead. I used the stitch count from my Ball Band with a Twist pattern (available on Ravelry | LoveCrafts).

  On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins Farmhouse Pumpkin

• Pattern: Farmhouse Pumpkins by More Dreams Less Life. $4.25 crochet pattern available on Ravelry.
• Yarn: KnitKraft Wintuk Yarn in the Rust Colorway
• Hook: F (3.75 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• I initially grabbed the yarn from Heather and threw some in my bag for the hospital and rest (still in its plastic Thom McCann shoe store bag lol into my craft room). I though the other skein of Wintuk was red- but when I went down there again, I realized it was rust! and the pumpkin madness continued!
• Cast on Saturday 9/28 watching Season 2 of the OA with Dan on Netflix.

  Static Musselburgh

• Pattern: Musselburgh Hat by Ysolda Teague (7 GBP Knitting Pattern available on Ravelry & Ysolda's website)
• Yarn: Knit Picks Static Fingering Weight Yarn in the Peppercorn colorway
• Needles: US 2 (2.75 mm) & US 2.5 (3.0 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• Note- the pattern just got some updates
• About the yarn: blues, grays, cream and a bit of a salmony orange. Self patterning yarn.
• Progress: 15 inches. I will plan to add one more inch and then work the decreases.

  Let the Mystery Unravel 2023 Blanket of Calm

• Pattern: Blanket of Calm by Casapinka (free crochet pattern)
• Yarn: Woolen Women Fibers- Let the Mystery Unravel subscription + Cascade Heritage Sock yarn in the Forged Iron Colorway
• Hook: 3.25 mm (D)
• Ravelry Project Page
• You can find my Let the Mystery Unravel Unboxing Video on YouTube in this Playlist
• This subscription is not available to new subscribers but there's a new one coming in the Fall.
• Blanket Pre-Orders for the Murder She Knit club are available now! Please consider using my Affiliate Link.
• Progress: I finished 9 my July squares & seamed them. I started my August squares and have 1 package waiting for me to open- the last batch.

  Stranger Things 2 Socks

• Yarn: Desert Vista Dyeworks Viso base (75% SW Merino/25% Nylon) in the Stranger Things 2 Self Striping Colorway
• Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• Cast on the morning of Thursday 9/5 for the Pigskin Party. I didn't get to join in the round until that night, but now its well underway.
• About the colorway- stripes of: orange, hot pink, purple, navy blue, medium blue and red.
• Progress- My first Pigskin Cast on using Snack Shack Sponsor yarn. I'm almost to heel of the first sock.

  Rest Relax Recharge Socks

• Yarn: Hypnotic Yarn: Plush Sock in the Rest Relax Recharge Colorway (from the March 2023 Yarnable Box)
• Pattern: OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams ($5 knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
• Ravelry Project Page
• Cast on both cuffs so I can try to work these up quickly. They'll match some of Mom's go-to pjs.
• Cute acrylic Pigskin markers from Twin Mountain Handcrafts on them. Thanks ladies for sending them to me. I love them.

  Brainstorming

• Making the pumpkins has me itching to make toys. It would be great to make some for the little kiddos for Christmas.
• I need to start the Christmas stocking for my cousin Colleen's little boy Owen so I have that ready for Thanksgiving.
• The pumpkins also have me longing to crochet some hats.

  From the Armchair

1. Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link.
2. Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead by Elle Cosimano. Bookshop Affiliate Link. Amazon Affiliate Link.

  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

• Talked to several nurses and other staff about my knitting and crochet while in with Mom. One PCA learned to knit before but said she never really full understood it. I told her I'd be happy to meet her for coffee and a lesson anytime.
• The staff all oooh and ahhh over Mom's handknit socks.
• One morning when Mom was really out of it from anesthesia the day before, I was putting on her handknit socks and I had them totally crooked, heel on the side, and she was busting my chops. I told her "hey, I said I was good at knitting them, not putting them on!" and she insisted on taking a photo for me to share! Little glimpses of her coming back to her real self were great- even if it was going to be a bit more time before she was back to normal.
• I recently saw a notice in my town's Facebook page that the senior center is looking for yarn they can use to make things to sell at holiday's craft fairs. PSA: even if your community hasn't reached out- see if they need yarn so you can clear out anything you don't need and know it will go to good use.

  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.
• Coupon Codes are listed in this Ravelry Thread
• Exclusive Items from our Pro Shop Sponsors are listed in this Ravelry Thread
• Questions-  ask them in this Ravelry Thread or email Jen at downcellarstudio @ gmail.com
• Tailgate Talk Challenge- Click here for Ravelry Link
• Great way to get to know your team. There will be daily prompts from 9/5 through 9/16. Answer them in your Team thread in the Ravelry Group. If you answer them all, no more than 2 per day, you'll get 150 points (as long as you enter them on the Points Tally form by 10/1). 
• Our Official Sponsor for Q1 (October) is The Little Wolf Knits. This means you've got a challenge that can earn you more points and entry towards a cool prize. Check out the challenge details in this Ravelry post
• Commentator Mary Klute's report- One of the best things about the pigskin party is the community!  It is so much fun to get to know other players and the annual Tailgate Talk is a great way to do that. It looks like this year's Tailgate Talk was a great success--at the time of this report nearly 200 players had submitted for their Tailgate Talk points! But players aren't just chatting--they are also finishing projects!  So far there are 307 finished projects on the scoreboard, including 10 blitzes!  And it looks like players are really using sponsor products to rack up some extra points.  So far, finished projects have earned over 50 points on average by using sponsor products!  Symama09 is a great example of how to really maximize those sponsor points.  She earned 280 sponsor points on her recently finished gnome by using 2 proshop exclusive products, three proshop non-exclusive products, and two products from snack shack sponsors!  Her gnome is super cute too- check out the Ravelry Project Page here! Finally, don't forget to spread the word about the PSP!  You can join 14 players who have been earning points by drafting players!
• Tune in to hear if you're a September Participation Prize winner. I will be in touch with all winners via email.

  Events

• Vermont Sheep & Wool: October 5 & 6, 2024 in Tunnebridge, VT
• Lambtown, Dixon, CA - Oct 5-6, 2024
• NY Sheep & Wool Festival (aka Rhinebeck): October 19 & 20, 2024 in Rhinebeck, NY
• Maryland Alpaca and Fleece Festival: November 9-10, 2024 in West Friendship, Maryland
• For more West Coast (US) event- check out the Seattle Knitters Guild Site.

  Know of an event I should spread the word about? Let me know!   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!   Life in Focus Update on Mom: Diane is still in the hospital after being admitted on 9/12.

• Attempts at the bedside to put filler into her right vocal cord to bring back her voice didn't work, so they brought her down to the OR and did the procedure there. She has so much more volume now! She doesn't notice a huge difference but we all do.
• We thought about 2 weeks in that she'd be going home, bags were all packed and they decided to do a last minute CT which showed spots in her lungs. We were told it wasn't cancer but it took until Thursday to do a Bronchoscopy to reveal the cause of that issue- 2 different bacterial infections. Of course at first we were told it was just 1 and she could go home on oral antibiotics. 10 minutes later the other was found and now she has to stay for at least a few days of IV antibiotics.

  How to make it fun in the hospital

• Get to know your caregivers; find out what you have in common. It makes it more interesting if you can actually have a bond with the people you're interacting with on a regular basis.
• Get some new pajamas- especially if that's all you get to wear. If your family can stay over with you- get matching PJs. It's a little thing but it can make it feel a bit more special.
• Find ways to make the little things into bigger things. Our first matching PJ night, we wore flamingo pajamas. In advance of that, I purchased flamingo decorations at the party store and bought light up necklaces, straws & ice cubes to turn the evening into a party.
• The next night, we planned to have an ice cream sundae party. The unit always has ice cream on hand. Mom ordered a peach puree from the daily menu and I saved M&Ms that my cousin Jenny brought and we had an ice cream party. As it turns out, I spotted fireworks out the windows of the elevator lobby that night and was able to bring Mom over to see. Made what could have been an average night - or a depressign one because we thought she'd be home, more entertaining.
• Have folks send in mail and bring it to the patient! Chellescraps- Michelle, sent a bouquet of paper flowers (I believe they're from freshcutpaper)- my brother's family also got her one early on in her stay (these are great because, you may not know this but some patients cannot have fresh cut flowers- burn patients, some immunocompromised patients etc); Sewrunknit, Suzanne, sent a funny card, ElsaandEm, Emily, sent a handknit/embroidered flower pin, my cousin Jenny brought a WonderWoman balloon and ironically on the same day, a friend dropped off a Wonder Woman pillow at the house (great to use to push into Mom's side when she had pain)
• Ask friends and family to text photos and videos! Hattie sent Mom the cutest video of a little dance/kartwheel which was so fun. 

  On a Happy Note

• Sharpie Rollerball Pens (.5mm)- available on Amazon. The only thing that would make it better is if it was a click top, but I'm totally willing to live without the convenience.
• Trader Joe's Honey Hydration Day & Night Cream Duo. $7.99 (dupe for Farmacy Honey Halo, which I've never tried)
• One day when my SIL brought Riley, Garret and Millie in to see Mom at the hospital, Millie said she wanted to see my office, so since Mom was still at her MRI, we took a detour. Millie did a full on simulation of me at work, drinking selzter, typing on my computer etc.
• My parents celebrated their 47th Wedding Anniversary. Thankfully Dan had more brain cells and time than the rest of us and got Mom flowers on his way in to visit.
• I picked up my grandmother to bring her in for a visit with my Mom. We had a lovely visit.
• My cousin Sabrina came up from Tennessee with her girlfriend Maria for a visit with my Mom. It was so great catching up with them.
• Watching The American President. I love that movie. Mom and I had been talking about it in the hospital that day- specifically the line from Michael J. Fox (as Lewis Rothschild) "I tell any girl I'm going out with to assume that all plans are soft until she receives confirmation from me thirty minutes beforehand." Robin McCall: "And they find this romantic?" Lewis Rothschild: "Well, I say it with a great deal of charm."
• I was able to use our John Deere tractor/backhoe to free myself when a tree fell in our driveway and I was trapped. Dan was in Vermont and I thought I'd have to call my nephew Oisin but it didn't come to that!
• I scored a $300 ski bag with a charging set-up for boot warmers for $15 at a yard sale this weekend.
• Trader Joe's pumpkin Kringle! with Cinnamon coffee.  

Quote of the Week   Strive to be whole, not perfect, for in wholeness we embrace both our strengths and our flaws, while in perfection, we lose the beauty of our true selves. -Unknown   ------   Contact Information:

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• 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.