Many thanks this week to contributing writer, Elizabeth Green Musselman, and to my guest, writer and hand knit designer, Annie (Rae) Modesitt.
- I talked about these things:
Stephanie Pearl Mcphee’s One Row Scarf
Fetching
Twilley’s Freedom Spirit
Flora
Leather soles for clogs
Sock Wars in the Wall Street Journal
Amy Weber’s Scribblecast
Sign up for classes at Wonderwool Wales
Sign up for classes at Knitters Connection
Rent “Norma Rae“! It’s a good film.
- I played KniTunes from these artists:
- The Mamas and the Papas – Winter’s Day
- Anna Laube – The Most Beautiful Thing I’ve Ever Seen
- Roddy Frame – Hymn to Grace
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So glad to see there’s another episode up. I get mine thru iTunes, and cannot download your latest. Message from iTunes says that Cast On does not seem to be a valid URL. I tried unsubscribing, and resubscribing, but nothing changed. I’m guessing iTunes will straighten this out eventually, but thought you might want to know.
Yes, darn it, I’m having the same problem as Marlene. I’m anxious to hear the latest!
I guess that you probably don’t need a third person on here saying the same thing but Oh No! I am having the same problem and Marlene and AuntieAnn! What ever shall I do?
Here’s another person …. If I don’t have knitting podcasts to listen to at work…what will I do??? Oh yeah work. You’re my favorite.
I was able to use “right-click, save as” to download the file for both episodes 59 and 60, which didn’t come over automatically in iTunes. Then in iTunes I used “Import” and both files were loaded, but the episode 60 file was tagged as an hour long piece of folk music. I copy/pasted the information from the website into the mp3 tags, and copied it to my iPod, but oddly enough, it still thinks it’s “music” instead of a “podcast.”
No worries. Playlists and my clever work arounds will come to the rescue. Hope that helps other users/listeners!
I started out listening to this episode out of sheer vanity. (My goddesses, could you have picked a better song to follow my essay?!) And then I listened to your interview with Annie Modesitt and all my political goosebumps went up.
And then I listened to your closing remarks about the future of the podcast. The agony of reaching the decision you’ve made was palpable, but it seems like you have devised a way to continue what you love while not selling your soul to do it. You have great integrity, and I know I’m not the only one who deeply appreciates that.
I am downloading mine now by the ‘right-click’ method. I can’t wait to listen to it tomorrow during my knitting time. I have made Stephanie’s One Row Scarf out of my first handspun and it turned out great. I am interested to hear what you have to say about it. I saw it mentioned in the show notes.
Oh ya, I almost forgot. Annie Modesitt interview! I think knitting time will be first thing in the morning!
Sorry about the problems with the feed! It was very late when I finished the final mix and, by the time I uploaded everything, I was so bleary-eyed I couldn’t see straight. So I managed to make every podcasting mistake that it was possible to make. Well done, me.
I’ve uploaded a new podcast file (with correct ID3 tags) rewritten the rss feed, and uploaded that too. It appears that iTunes has now updated, but you may have to unsubscribe and resubscribe in order to see it. For some reason I’m having trouble with iTunes today too, and not just my own feed. It may be an iTunes problem.
Sorry for the hassle. Next time, I’ll just go to bed, and upload first thing the following morning.
Just for anyone else like me who thinks the episode hasn’t downloaded, when it really has. Try looking part way down the list. It’s date is tagged as 26/01/2007. I’m gald I’m not the only one who has this problem when It’s a new year.
Thanks, Pinkphish! I did have the date wrong in the XML doc. However, that’s not why the episode still isn’t available in iTunes. The XML doc is fine, it’s the feedburner feed that’s the culprit. Unfortunately, iTunes uses the feedburner feed, not the original feed, so that’s why the file won’t download in iTunes. I’m working to resolve the problem, and I will post an update as soon as I’ve got it sorted.
As always, you can right click the link above, where it says “Download Epsiode 60″, and save the file to your desktop.
download is working fine at 4:50 am Pacific Std Time (who, me? just a bout of asthma. the inhaler works fast, but I’m still sitting up a while so L can sleep.) Looking forward to listening in the true morning.
Thanks for fixing the problem Brenda. I too am having trouble with other podcasts and iTunes lately. My theory — is that their latest big update has a couple of new bugs in it. Anyway — my iPod is updated and I’ll be “tuned” in as soon as I get home from work today.
Brenda, thanks again for a fabulous podcast! I for one am glad that you are taking your own advice and are “Starting as you (personally) mean to go on.” While I’ll miss the frequency of your podcast, I will be happy to know that you are doing what is right for you. And as they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Your title Little Ripples and discussion about the school children reminds me of a favorite quote by Frederick Buechner – “The life I touch for good or ill will touch another life, and that in turn another, until who knows where the trmbling stops or in what far place my touch will be felt.” We live in such a small global community that all our actions and words can be felt and heard by so many others. It’s a wonderful thing that you are using your voice in such a positive way for so many people. Keep up the great work!!
There come a point, a point that feels like a razor’s edge, when we must speak our soul. You’ve reached it.
“Only” six rich and wonderful podcasts? I’ve always thought about the last episode long after the “newest” was available.
You’ll slip in a couple more, that’s my prediction, because the things you have to say should be said.
Oh Brenda,
it was so nice to here from you again and one per month or so is better than none at all! I was full of goosebumps and close to tears almost thru this whole podcast because I was afraid you were saying goodbye! Thank you for staying with us a little while longer and I am glad that you are starting to realize how much your podcast touches the lives of others. I for one am more than delighted when you send us a podcast! I am still listen to old episodes not that I haven’t finished them but I just like to listen again and every time that I do I find something new that I missed. So again Thank You for all the things you have taught me thru essays, songs, others websites, blogs and just everything you mention. I have grown so much since I found your podcast in Nov 07 that I am wondering if I would still be recognized by old friends I haven’t seen in a while!! Hehehe!
Oh yea I wanted to tell you about what I have on my needles right now it an Illusion Scarf that I designed after finally figuring it out from talking to others on Ravelry. It all started from a pattern in Stitch ‘n Bitch that I liked and wanted to learn how to make.
My oldest son( 18) just moved away the first week of Jan. and I find I want to knit alot for him now… so I am also making the Jeckell and Hide hat from Knitty.com. The day he left he saw the pattern and wanted to know if I could make it for him before he left…it was 10 am and he was leaving at 2pm…well I will say I am not that fast of a knitter but it was nice of him to think I was! I did start it that night and finished it in a few days and now have the second one almost complete and ready to mail to him and his girlfriend in Newfoundland! It was fun and I am learning to understand what you mean by knitting has a memory. Well I have turned this into a book about me …sorry!
Chat again soon,
from one knitsib to another,
Thanks again for all you do for us!!!
As Tanya says…..OK. And thanks.
I was gifted an iPod for Christmas and so thrilled to have found your Podcast. While I am late to your “dance”, thank you for the “music”. Just amazing. I have much to catch up on Brenda.
This episode was so full of emotion for me. Annie Modesitt’s interview was superb, and your monologue about the knitting industry and your decision to write more and podcast less often must have been a hard one. I shall look forward to the knitting scouts book, to reading more og your blog posts, and I will try hard to fimnd a podcast to fill in the weeks when you aren’t there. It will be all the more precious when you are.
Hi again from MN, Brenda! I was thinking overnight ~ during the period of sleeplessness ~ about the Interweave site & their patterns for sale. In fact, just last week, I found a pattern on there & pd for it & downloaded it onto my computer. Is it likely then, that the designer of this pattern gets zero of my $ for the purchase of this pattern? Indeed, perhaps changes in the industry are in order.
So glad to have found your pod…
Onward,
wen
I feel fortunate to have found your podcasts, my first experience of them, at Midwinter. You gave quite a powerful gift, that of acceptance and celebration of self and the knitting and living processes. With your new choice, I thank you for continuing to give what you can to podcasts. If I’m very lucky, perhaps I’ll continue to share your journey into writing. You WILL keep us posted on your progress there, I hope?
Thank you for smiles and belly laughs, wishes and hopes, and the feeling of a smaller world connected by knitted threads, cast on by us all.
Namaste
Brenda–
Thank you for this episode–wonderful from start to finish. I loved Elizabeth’s piece and hearing Annie’s actual voice. I love listening to your podcast because of your clear, independent voice, your willingness to reveal what is on your mind and in your heart, your humor combined with integrity.
Kathleen
Brenda, Thank you for the most beautiful episode. Annie’s interview certainly struck a chord within me. I am a faithful reader of her blog – and a fan of her knitting brilliance – but to hear her words were so powerful.
When you began to talk about money and the knitting community, however, I could not stop the tears that began to flow from my eyes. Greed certainly is an ugly thing – and to have that in the fiber industry is so painful. So, we can pay more to be a good steward of this earth? How does that make any sense???
I applaud your integrity – yet, with your announcement of only one podcast a month – my tears flowed even more. I am saddened beyond words, yet your decision is a statement that, hopefully, will sound a bell of warning in the knitting community and voices will raise up to change where this bus is going.
I raise my glass to you….
Brenda, thank you so much again for a wonderful wonderful episode. You don’t realize how much you have touched me with this particular episode.
Yes, your words ripple outwards. You inspire many many people. It is like paying it forward.
If you are ever in doubt again, or contemplate the meaning of this all, please know that you have done so much for me and many many others.
The meaning of “it” all, the meaning why we, you, me, all of us create, is because there is no other way. Artists, creative people, designers, musicians, painters, poets, writers have to create, have to perform, because there is no other way.
Brenda, thank you so much from the bottom of my heart. When you find grace in the work that you do, it graces this listener. And with that touch of grace, I am able to pass it on to others. Like a never ending ripple…
Brenda, decisions like yours are so difficult and while I will miss you so much during the in-between weeks, I also completely understand your decision. I first introduced myself in an email and told you I had recently been laid off and was doing a lot of soul-searching. The work I’ve been doing is not particularly creative and yet, I am a creative and spiritual person and long to do something creative that contributes to the “greater good.” I told you that I would love it if that creative endeavor could somehow be connected to the knitting community. But alas, I also need an income, and I just didn’t see it happening.
Your “Start as you mean to go on” episode inspired me enormously, though. I am still looking for a full-time position–something that I can live with, that will pay the bills and will cover benefits. But I am exploring starting my own side business–something that would use my knitting for the benefit of others. You’ll be happy to know that when I eventually do this, I really want to have a tie in with the Fair Trade Federation (http://www.fairtradefederation.org/). Once I have something more formal to announce, you can bet that I’ll be sending an announcement to Cast-On!
Thank you for inspiring me and giving me the courage to start as I mean to go on.
Hi, Brenda
Your latest episode was highly anticipated and enjoyable as usual. I don’t blame you for spreading out your broadcasts…I can’t imagine doing a weekly show and still having a life.
I notice you didn’t mention the fabulous artist whose guitar music you featured during the Annie Modesitt portion. Just in case you didn’t know, it was Billy McLaughlin, a Minnesota recording artist. (I’m also from Minnesota, and own several of his albums.) I believe the song was “Fingerdance”
Thanks for consistently putting together an amazing podcast!
Kathy
Brenda,
I must say I was SO sad to hear that you will be coming to us less often.
However, I am a new addict (yes addict but what a healthy addiction it is) to your podcast and tell at least one
if not two or more EVERY DAY about how AMAZINGLY inspiring your words and stories are
and how moving your music choices are to me each and every week!
So… you’ve begun my new year with much hope and many plans to “start as I mean to go on”
and I look forward to hearing from you soon again.
THANK YOU for not leaving us altogether and GOOD LUCK with your new endeavors!
Brenda, Of all the meaningful and timely podcasts you have put out, this is one of the most meaningful and timely yet. Thank you so much for having Annie Modesitt on the podcast and for discussing your own feelings and thoughts on the state of the knitting industry. This is a topic that has weighed on me recently, and I hope to blog about it myself soon, although I am not sure that I can add much more than yourself, Annie Modesitt, Miriam Felton and Jenna Wilson have already written and said. I just sent in a donation as a token of my appreciation for the podcast. It feels long overdue (the donation, not the podcast!) It is my little way of saying that I value your work, and also that I value my own. Whatever you do this year, I feel quite certain that you have truly started as you mean to go on (another great podcast) and will continue to do wonderful, meaningful, artistic things that bring joy to our lives. Thank you.
I can totally understand why you wouldn’t want the podcast to be your full-time job, although not necessarily for the same reasons. Wherever there is a lot of money to be made, businesses arise with no other interest than to get as much of it as possible, and knitting is on exception. What struck me about that part of the cast was that it called to mind my feelings about not having become a musician when I grew up. For a long time after I graduated from school, I felt like a failure for not having achieved what I set out to do in terms of my professional life. Then it dawned on me, as I went through a period of disliking my job and hating to go there in the morning – if I had succeeded in becoming a professional musician, there would have been days when I felt like THIS about THAT. And that would have been so sad. I’m better off now earning my living from something that I have no deep emotional connection to, and being able to just love the things I love for their own sake.
Is there an alternate download location? The link in this post, and the version in iTunes both are only 3 seconds long.
Lovely, as always, and bittersweet to hear of your decision, but I truly respect it, and you, and I will continue to look forward to your podcasts on the new schedule. Thanks so much for the great job you do.
iTunes recognizes the new file, so I replaced my first imported MP3 with Brenda’s updated (auto iTunes) file.
Happy happy!
One podcast per month!!! How will I manage? I’ve nearly caught up with the back issues and now I will have to manage with only one a month. Who will come on the dog walks, Brenda, if you don’t?
Brenda,
It’s gonna kill me, but I totally understand you reasoning, good luck with the other stuff, the end of the month is going to be a real treat!
Sarah
Hi Brenda- I am sad that you will not be weekly because I am selfish and well love the show. But I love that you are staying true to yourself. I couldn’t sell out either. And were you hinting at writing a book?!? I can’t wait! You are true inspiration. good luck with your farm house too.
peace
HI Brenda, Todays show is the first time I’ve listened to your podcast and I must say it was wonderful. Such thoughtful and inspiring things were brought up. I live in a rural area and have not found anyone to knit with yet, and I have only just found the podcast world. I plan to get caught up with everything you’ve done and hopefully that will help me as it seems to have helped so many others. Your decision I am sure was not an easy one. I wish you great luck in your endeavors. I’ll keep listening.
Thank you for a beautiful episode. I am heartbroken by both Annie’s story of the troubles with the knitting industry and your decision to pursue a slightly different path. Then to end with the melancholy sounds of Roddy Frame, whom I have loved since Aztec Camera, made the tears well up in my eyes. I will miss you in those inbetween times but look forward to your next podcast with even more yearning than ever. Please let your listeners know if there’s anything we can do to help you.
While I will miss your more frequent offerings, I will look forward to hearing from you monthly. I fully understand having to set aside something you love in order to make a living. I wish you well on your book endeavor, and will continue to check in for new episodes of the podcast. Many thanks for the wonderful word pictures you have painted over these 60 episodes!
Hi Brenda,
I was so moved by this latest podcast. I’m glad I didn’t hoard it like I have your other episodes and I listened to it the same week it came out. Your style, your sensibility, and your moral compass speak to so many of us. For each comment you get, I’m sure there are a thousand listeners who feel the same but don’t respond. The decreased frequency of your podcasts has only increased their value. I will look forward each new episode with much anticipation. Thank you.
Hi Brenda and fellow knitsibs–I just came across something interesting on Ravelry that reminded me of all of you. I decided to make my mom a pair of felted clogs for Mother’s Day. (No worries–although she’s a knitter, she doesn’t read blogs.) I’ve had my eye on that pattern forever, but it’s always been shifted down in my queue. My mom’s feet are always cold and I could see that being a year-round slipper for her, particularly since she doesn’t have much carpeting in her house.
Anyway, I was concerned about them possibly being slippery on the bottom (again, mostly hardwood and tile floors in Mom’s and Dad’s house). I didn’t want to give her a gift and worry that she might slip in them on her slippery floors so I searched Ravelry for non-skid soles for felted clogs. And I found the following from “runningstitch” on Ravelry.
“Hot glued pajama feet non-skid material to the bottoms of all my felted clogs. Easier, and if it wears down, I can just hot glue another one on. Plus, it doesn’t pick up any dust and chunks from the floor like puff paint or silicon caulking.”
Runningstitch, if you happen to be a Cast-on listener, thanks for the great suggestion. The leather soles that are sold are lovely, but they are potentially slippery, as well. For anyone else who is interested in non-skid soles, another Raveler painted lines of caulk on the bottoms of her clogs. Knitters truly are a creative bunch!
Brenda,
Thanks so much for all you hard work and wonderful pod casts!! As I will miss you, I am so Happy that you will not be leaving us altogether. Thank you for inspiring me and giving me the courage to start as I mean to go on. I have started school again after years of putting it aside for my family. I am persuing my dreams!!
Can’t wait to read the BOOK!!
Peace,
Tres
Brenda,
Your podcast this week was very touching and inspiring. I love your podcast and really appreciate the time and effort you take to produce it. It was very interesting this week hearing Annie Modiset talking about her end of the knitwear equation. It’s great that she’s talking about it with us because otherwise we would probably never know the problems. It’s very sad that magazines and publishers don’t want to pay knitwear designer’s a proper value for all their hard work. I hope they can all stand together to make their side of the business more profitable. It would be great if there was a knitwear designer’s union. Anyway, thanks again.
Sharolene
Marcia (comment #40), another good thing to do is use fabric paint on the bottom of your slippers. It’s cheap, you can be creative, and it’s very non-slip.
(Not to ignore you, B, but you know what I think of the podcasts and your decisions and that I totally support you.)
Hi,
Thank you for opening up about your existential struggles. I have gone through a very similar crisis this January where I was faced with the decision to continue my dream of being an Art Director and work on films, or find a full-time, grown up job to help support my beginnings of a new family (I’m a newlywed). I spent a day sobbing on the couch because I never wanted to be that person that gave up their dream, that would grow old and bitter about what might have been.
Finally, I wiped off my tears, did some honest soul searching, and discovered that of all the jobs I’ve had in the past 4 years, the only one I have truly enjoyed was teaching at a technology camp for kids. And the more I thought about it, the more it made sense to become a teacher. So I have started down that path, as I mean to go on.
Sorry for the rambling, but I wanted you to know that you’re not alone in this kind of decision and it takes a lot of courage to welcome this kind of change and the necessary upheaval in your life. I hope your new path is a smooth one.
Also, thank you very much for the Annie Modesitt interview. The issues she discussed are exactly why it is impossible for me to make a living in the film industry, and it made me sad to hear the knitting industry was the same.
Take Care,
Alexis
Brenda,
Please don’t take this as criticism, but only as input. (Much of this was also posted in the Brenda Dayne Fan Club on
Ravelry.)
I think you might not be giving us knitters enough credit. Of course, you have to do what feels right to you, but I think
we can discern the difference between what they want us to buy at what we want to buy – at least, most of the time.
When I go to my local bookstore, I know they will have displays of pens and bookmarks and cards and refridgerator
magnets near the register – they will also have thousands of books I don’t want to buy – but I sure am glad I have the
option of going to that store to buy the book I DO want. I don’t feel taken advantage of because they want me to buy
more than I end up buying.
Same way at my LYS, as well as Internet yarn sellers. Market at me all you want. Yes, I am supporting you, but you are
providing me a service, too — selection and availability for something I want. In fact, I even listen to a podcast that is
blatantly commercial, they list new and sale yarns every week. I’m not forced into buying them, but appreciate
knowing about them.
I totally agree that the fashion right now is to label things “green” whether they are truly good for the earth. But my
personal opinion is that yarn is a very teeny tiny part of the problem, compared to say, people drinking bottled water
(a have a friend who buys his, in glass, from Norway – and goes thru a case every few days!) or shipping food from
continent to continent, or a lot of other things. A bottle of water takes 10 minutes to drink: for the same 16 ounces you
could knit 4 pairs of socks, which would take weeks — or, if it’s me, being Turtleknits, about a year.
Yes, there may be a small proportion of us who don’t take the time to figure out that “green” is a marketing ploy, but I
think most of us will consider that it is what it is, and only buy the yarn if we balance out all the factors. Some of us will
also unravel old sweaters and buy yarn at garage sales – some of us won’t — but maybe will commute by bicycle
instead of by car. We all do what we can, and are constantly making choices.
I will support whatever decision you make – podcast as your primary job, or podcast occasionally, or not podcast. But
if you were to decide to have sponsors for your podcast, you aren’t forcing me or even encouraging me, as a listener,
to make choices that are bad for the environment.
Finally, I just want to say THANK YOU for your wonderful podcast. I have enjoyed it immensely from the beginning.
Vickie / Turtleknits
Hi Brenda,
I just wanted to say that I am new to your podcast and I love it so much! I am sad to hear that I will only be getting you once a month now, but I will be filling up all that free time with back episodes!! Thanks for all your hard work and I look forward to February’s podcast!
Brenda,
I hope this was in your newest blog, if not I apologize. I’ve been listening to old and new bogs as I redesign my website. I adored the visit to your barn. I loved it that you talked as you walked. I was with you seeing it all. Please blog some pix sometime. Maybe after it becomes yours. I do the same thing and attach myself to places I think I should be living. Good luck with the writing. I hope it is your path. Don’t forget your fans!
Rae
I am so glad you are going to continue. I don’t care how many or few podcasts you put out. All I care about is the inspiration to knit you give me and everyone else that listens to your voice.
Thank you for caring enough to go on. Thank you for starting as you mean to go on. Thank you for inspiring me to continue knitting even when frustration has set in.
Thank you.
Patricia
Your podcasts are so wonderful I am at a loss for words. And I thank you for each one of yours.
Happy Anniversary to you and Tonia tomorrow!
Hugs & Love,
Pax
Brenda, I will be sad not to hear you as often, but I so understand the reasoning behind your decision. It is quite clear. Lets say you were sponsored by a major spinner – lets call ‘em ‘Rowdar’ or something
– and Rowdar want to big up their new design competition on your show. The winning designer will get £50 and their design included in the new Rowdar magazinie. They tell you to announce this….and you say, ‘um….but £50 for a design that may have taken weeks to do? No way!’ and bang goes your sponsorship. More likely, with sponsorship, is that you just become less *free*….less free to run an interview with someone like Annie M, less free to criticise the pathetic amounts that test-knitters get from the spinners (another topic to investigate, maybe?), less free to speak your mind or allow others to speak theirs.
I am a freelancer, not a designer but a writer, and I have to work very hard to insist on a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work. I am also regularly asked to do work that is wrong, or against my personal ethics, and I say no to it. I am freer that way.
(The following is a link to a very funny and true rant from a writer, but it could equally well apply to a designer…who needs to eat, FFS!!!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj5IV23g-fE
Heather
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