Thank you for tuning in to Episode 224 of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. Click here for full show notes & photos on my website.

This week’s segments included:

• Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins
• On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins
• Brainstorming
• KAL News
• Life in Focus
• On a Happy Note
• Quote of the Week

Off the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

Perry’s Vase Cozy

• Pattern: none
• Yarn: Lily Sugar n’ Cream (teal color)
• Hook: 4.5 mm
• My Ravelry Project Page

Ripped back and repaired toe of Mom’s Patons Kroy Deep End Socks. Click here for my Ravelry Project Page.

On the Needles, Hook or Bobbins

2022 Fun with Fiber

• Kingdom Fleece & Fiber Works 100% Tunis Pete’s Fleece (light blues, dark blues and whites)
  • Check them out on Facebook
• 1 bobbin nearly full. 
• Check out my Ravelry Project Page
• I shared information from the Livestock Conservancy & from Northwest Yarns. 

Citrus Hat

• Pattern: Citrus Hat by Laura Treadway (free knitting pattern available on Ravelry)
• Yarn: Knit Picks Felici Worsted in the Zen Colorway
• Needles: US 4 (3.5 mm) and US 6 (4.0 mm)
• Size: Adult small which is 96 sts. 20″ circumference but I know from experience this cast on count should work. 
• My Ravelry Project Page

Dotted Rays

• Pattern: Dotted Rays by Stephen West (Knitting pattern available on Ravelry  for 6 Euros ~$7 US. Also available on Gumroad.)
• Yarn: Knit Picks Capretta Superwash in the Sagebrush colorway, Knit Picks Palette in Wonderland Heather, Opal Heather, Caribbean, Seafaring, Spruce.
• Needles: US 6 (4.0 mm)
• My Ravelry Project Page

Winter Carnival Hat

• Pattern: Winter Carnival Hat by Margaret Stauffacher
• Yarn: Hedgehog Fibers Merino DK in Genie (multicolored), Pachamama’s Alpacas Trixie & Preston Sport (natural), Spunky Eclectic Victoria (100% Polworth) in Sky (Blue) & Ginko (Green)
• Needles: US 3 (3.25 mm) & US 5 (3.75 mm)
• Size: Adult Medium
• My Ravelry Project Page

Emma’s Yarn Socks

• Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
• Yarn: Emma’s Yarn Practically Perfect Sock in the Knit & Stitch Colorway
• My Ravelry Project Page
• Knit & Stitch Boutique in Cocoa Village, FL

Bayou Socks

• Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
• Yarn: Knit Picks Felici in the Bayou Colorway
• My Ravelry Project Page
• New Years Eve cast on based on ones you all selected on Instagram
• Want to try Knit Picks? Please consider using my Knit Picks Affiliate Link

Mr. Fezziwig Socks

• Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams
• Yarn: Woolens & Nosh Corriedale Sock in the Mr. Fezziwig Colorway
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
• My Ravelry Project Page
• Click here for Wiki page on Mr. Fezziwig from A Christmas Carol

Brainstorming

Pink Moon Sweater

• Pattern: Pink Moon by This.Bird.Knits. $8 US Pattern available on Ravelry and on the This.Bird.Knits Site.
• Needles: US 5 & 7 (3.75 & 4.5 mm)
• Yarn:
  • Sweitzer Fiber Mill unknown (gray)- Rhinebeck 2019
  • Lisa Daschinger Wools (mustard)- Farm Fiber Day’s Russell’s Market January 2020
  • mur yarn merino cashmere fingering (pink)- Barcelona 2019
  • Rowan Alpaca Classic (pink) Staci’s Stitches- LYS
  • Marroon- Handspun
• Ravelry Project Page
• Finished before the last episode. Blocked it again and the sleeves are too long. 
• I am going to wash and block again, but there’s a 95% chance I’ll be ripping back the sleeves by a good 4-5 inches. 

KAL News

Pigskin Party ’21: Official Hashtag: #DCSPigskinParty21

Important Links:

• Official Rules (Google Doc)
• Register to Play! (Google Form)
• Points Tally Form (Google Form)
• Sponsor List (Google Doc)
• Questions: Ask in the Ravelry Thread or email Jen (downcellarstudio @ gmail.com)
• Prizes- see details in this Ravelry Thread
• Coupon Codes: find details in this Ravelry Thread or on my website (coming soon)
• Pro Shop Sponsor Exclusive Items: find details as they’re posted in this Ravelry Thread or on my website (coming soon)
• Use the Points Tally form for official entry but celebrate with everyone in the End Zone Dance Ravelry Thread and using#DCSPigskinEndZoneDance
• Check out your standings (and others’) on the Players Stats Sheet (Google Sheet)
• Fumble your entry on the Points Tally form? Use this Support Form (Google Form)
• Pre-Game Chatter on Ravelry can be found in this Thread.

Updates for this episode:

• December Interception Winner: Congrats to sarahkatsq for Post #10. Thanks to Natalie for hosting the Cozy Up Interception
• No Interception in January 
• Monthly Scavenger Hunt (January clues have been posted): Figure out these fun clues and earn points each month. Check out this Ravelry Thread or this Google Doc.
• KAL ends on February 14, 2022

Life in Focus

Word of the Year: Pause

• Pause: take a time out. Breathe. Relax. Be present. 
• Pause: put obligations that you may no otherwise, on hold and reprioritize. 
• Pause: savor the moment. Cherish it. Freeze time if only for a second.
• Pause: I want the cancer to pause. To stop, if only for awhile, to give us some more time. I know it won’t be forever but I am putting energy into this pause. 
• Pause: a period or time free from engagement
• Pause: take a breather
• Pause: take five
• Pause- and connect. connect my feelings. connect with others. 

Primary Goals:

• Move your body 4 days a week. Any movement for 15 minutes or more counts. 
• Say Yes to time spent with Mom. Call often. Visit once a week, more if possible. Say yes to things that involve her unless it’s interferes with my own mental health or need for rest.
• Journal about each day of this year. I can write about things a day or two later if need be, but I do want to keep a record. I do want to pause and reflect on things are they happen this year. 

22 for 2022 List

Check out this episode of Happier with Gretchen Rubin to hear more about this project.

1. Go Skiing (from 2021)
2. Knit a garment out of handspun (from 2021)
3. Spend at least two hours learning something new (on my own, in a class, YouTube videos etc)
4. Read 22 novels 
5. Go to an art museum 
6. Buy something a little extravagant 
7. Meet with financial planner about new investments.
8. Do at least 1 yoga video per month
9. Kayak at one new place
10. Create the collage wall in my studio
11. Visit Eme at school
12. Try out the new trail on Grove Street
13. 2nd Annual Nora Ephron Movies Day
14. Purge & declutter the secretary
15. Plan and go on at least 1 date with Dan that involves going at least 1 place we don’t “normally” go
16. Take a vacation/staycation before August 
17. Buy a fabulous new dress to wear to weddings
18. Have my car’s backup camera checked out & ideally fixed
19. Hire a professional photographer for family photos
20. Spend a weekend with Laura (in NY or MA)
21. Go Apple Picking
22. Hang a calendar in the diningroom

On a Happy Note

• Quiet New Year’s Eve at home, with Covid all around us. Homemade popcorn, cold craft beer, and Lupin on Netflix.
• I got a text from my cousin Joanie. Her mom, my Aunt Florence has been struggling to make pom poms for the hats she’s been knitting. I showed her early in December how to use the Clover pom pom maker I bought her, but she was still a bit stuck. Joanie’s daughters helped her make the pom poms! They came out great! Love a good family project.
• January 2: Nora Ephron Day. Started with You’ve Got Mail, found a Nora Ephron documentary Everything is Copy on HBO Max, then proceeded to watch Sleepless in Seattle and When Harry Met Sally.
• Getting silly videos of my niece Hattie in Ireland
• My January Yarnable Box! Check out the video on my YouTube Channel
• Yoga with Adriene: Move- A 30 Day Yoga Journey. Check out the Playlist on YouTube. I’ve done 4 so far. 
• SNOW! We got a good 7-8 inches and it was beautiful. 
• Fun dinner, post-Christmas but still exchanging gifts with friends, and Yahtzee playing game night at Mom’s last Saturday. 
• I’ve kept my succulent alive for 1 whole year!
• Started teaching my Ice Time Hat Class at Staci’s Stitches this week. I won’t be teaching again this year, but I will keep you posted if that changes.
• An impromptu dinner and game night at mom’s this Thursday.

Quote of the Week

New Year- new verse, new chapter, or just the same old story? Ultimate we write it. The choice is ours. 

-Alex Morritt.

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