Episode 182: Crafting through the Pandemic

Thank you for tuning in to Episode 182 of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. Full show notes with photos can be found on my website: www.downcellarstudio.com/182 

 

This week’s segments included:

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

Thank you to this episode’s sponsor: Prairie Bag Works

Off the Needles

Crochet Heart Garland 

• Pattern: Heart Garland by Sarahndipities Designs (free crochet pattern)
• Hook: H 5.0 mm
• Yarn: worsted weight acrylic scraps
• Made garland for Eme’s birthday parade. Mod Podge Stiffy to stiffen them up. 

Purple Marled Romper

• Pattern: Little Brother’s Romper by PetiteKnits
• Needles: US 8 (5.0 mm)
• Yarn: Cascade 220 held together with fingering weight yarn

On the Needles

Soldotna Crop

• Pattern: Soldotna Crop by Caitlin Hunter $7 US Knit Pattern
• Yarn:  2 skeins of Two Reds & A Blonde DK from Dachinger Wool in mustard (Farrah Fawcett) and a blue (Veronica Lake). 2 skeins of Brown Sheep Yarn- Prairie Spun DK. In Rain Cloud (light gray) and Owl Gray (Charcoal)
• Needles: US 4 (3.5 mm) and US 6 (4.0 mm)
• Size 3: finished bust- 40 inches Designed to fit with 1-4.5 inches of positive ease.

Christmas Stocking for Jenna & Babies (3 total in progress)

• Pattern: Granny Square Christmas Stocking by Family Circle Magazine 1977
• Yarn: Patons Classic Worsted in Bright Red
• Hook: F (3.75mm)

Paton’s Kroy Socks for Gram

• Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams
• Yarn: Patons Kroy Green Stripe Ragg Colorway
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)

Cake Party Christmas Socks

• Yarn: Wisdom Yarns Pix in the Cake Party Colorway & Patons Kroy in Red 
• Pattern: OMG heel
• Needles: US 1 (2.25 mm)
• I’m using Patons Kroy for cuff, heel and toe. First sock done and I still have 80g of main yarn left.

Staci’s Stitches Socks

• Yarn: Hypnotic Yarn Plus Sock in the Staci’s Stitches colorway
• Pattern: OMG Heel by Megan Williams
• Needles: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
• Yarn named for my LYS Stacis’ Stitches.

Happiest Blanket Ever

• Pattern: Happiest Blanket Ever by Tamara Kelly (free crochet pattern)
• Yarn: Lion Brand Pound of Love (white) for Main Color. Worsted Acrylic partial skeins for accent colors.
• Hook: K (6.5 mm)

Solid Granny Square Scrap Blanket

• Yarn: leftover fingering weight yarn
• Pattern: Solid Granny Square by Lullaby Melodia (free crochet pattern)
• Hook: D (3.25 mm)

Crafty Adventures

Dan and I spray painted sheet for Emelyn’s birthday parade 

Talked on the last episode about the Crispina Scrapbox Challenge. Mom and I both participated. Our stories and projects are on the blog. Mom’s post is here. Find my post here.

KAL News

Quarterly Quests: Tune in to hear if you’re a Quarter 1 Winner

Check out the Quarter 2 Thread April 1-June 30 – Free the Favorites Knit any projects you have “hearted” over the year with the hopes of knitting them someday. That day will arrive. Knit as many as you can. You will receive extra entries for any pattern that was favorited over 5 yearsIt can be something you’ve made before

Thank you to our Quarter 2 Sponsors: Prairie Bag Works, NahSt Designs, Yumi Yarns Designs, agirlandherwool, Holly Press Fibers.

Contest, News & Notes

Stay Out of the Forest is a DK colorwork hat inspired by true crime podcast, My Favorite Murder. It’s the perfect hat for my fellow Murderinos!  It is written for 2 sizes, and uses 3 skeins/colors of yarn. The colorwork charts make it easy to fly through this project. 
I recommend mostly tonal or solid yarn with a lot of contrast from the other colors. You especially want contrast between the MC and CC1. If you really want to delve into the My Favorite Murder theme, check out the beautiful yarns I used from Goosey Fibers!

Full details can be found on the pattern page on Ravelry.

Life in Focus

Tune in to hear an update on my 2020 goals

Ask Me Anything

1. Meliabella asked: Your Favorite Way to decompress after working remotely during Covid.
2. Knitwise09- To celebrate the release of your new hat- tell us your hometown murder. I kept it family friendly on the podcast but here’s a link to a serial killer named Gary Sampson who grew up in my mom’s neighborhood. He and my Uncle used to play together as kids.
3. Agirlandherwool- how has planning and organizing your to do lists changed during this stay at home quarantine?
4. Jen.on.the.block- thinking of knitting the Mezzo cardigan. Curious how much you wear/love yours. I love mine! Here’s a link with details. Highly recommend knitting one.
5. My niece Riley asked- Crafty adventures you’ve had or would like to try- Brioche.
6. jen.cragen- how you’re feeling with all of this stuff in the world. So many feelings. Tune in to hear more.

On a Happy Note

• Eme’s Sweet 16 Birthday Parade
• Mom making us all masks. As always I’m so grateful for her. 
• I did a video chat with Riley for her 12th birthday. She asked me how to bind off headband she was making. Worked on that then pulled out a cowl project I cast on and gave her for Christmas.
• Virtual happy hour with friends on Saturday night.
• An unusual but lovely Easter.

Quote of the Week

“Within you, there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time and be yourself.” —Hermann Hesse

Thank you for tuning in!

• Ravelry: BostonJen & Down Cellar Studio Podcast Ravelry Group
• Twitter: Instagram: BostonJen1
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