In this podcast we are all about the hats – ancient hats, modern hats, music about hats and books with hats in them. We’re turning knitting on it’s side, and finishing on its head, and I have no idea how it will all turn out, but something tells me it’ll all come right in the end.
You too, can knit the Modern Quilt Wrap. And there’s even Folk Style KAL. And if you’re stalled on this, or any other project, you can plan a Knitting Journey, and don’t forget to tell me about it!
Read Woolbur
Felt things on purpose with I [Heart] Felt: 33 Eye-popping Projects for the Inspired Knitter
Monmouth Caps are cool, and you can read more about them here and here. Knitting one won’t actually make you Welsh, but you’ll feel very Welsh when you wear it, and Monmouth Cap wearers everywhere will recognize you as one of the few, the proud.
Woolly Wormhead’s Hats are amazing, and I think everyone should buy her book.
KnitTunes this week were provided by and used with the permission of:
- Wil Maring – Bottomlands
- Christopher Dallman – Over My Head
- Ingrid Michaelson – The Hat
- Patty Griffen – Heavenly Day
Yay, Brenda!! Cast On hasn’t spidered its way to MY iTunes yet (I think mine is the slowest one on the planet!), but I can’t WAIT!! I may have to listen from the computer tonight after putting the kiddos down.
Hats are my most favorite thing to knit in the WORLD! And how did you know this? 🙂 I agree with you about Wormhead’s hats being amazing.
Anyway, I know I’m going to love this episode. Thank you SO much!
Trish
Brenda, you are psychic. You inspired me to start the Mitred Wrap. I already knew I loved knitting with cracksilk haze, but… once I got the hang of the mitres there were only so many I could make before I had the urge to have something else on the go.
So for the last 4-6 weeks it has been languishing while I have knit a cardigan out of Rowan Big Wool, and again whilst I cast on for a pair of Bellatrix socks. I was over half way there with the Mitred Wrap, but… I needed a rest.
Yesterday, I picked it up again, because it was finally calling to me once more. I still have not quite one of the pair of Bellatrix done, but tonight I am knitting on the wrap while browsing Ravelry and catching up with my blog RSS feeds… just finished another mitred square and I see Episode 62 is up, I hit play and start on the next square… and there you are, talking about your Mitred Wrap, and – well – I’m not going to say any more, I’m sure you know where I’m going with this 😀
Synchronicity. Thanks Brenda!!!
Thanks so much for this episode Brenda. Very inspiring and a real treat to listen to while enjoying a few rare hours on my own this afternoon, first lace knitting project and episode 62 for company! I really like the idea of the Knitting Journey and particularly enjoyed the interviews re the Monmouth cap and Woolly Wormhead designs. Thanks again.
Kate
I was literally just writing about Cast-On for my blog when I went here to check the link and discovered this had just been posted. So reason 434995 why I love Cast-On and Brenda Dayne: an entire episode about hats. I can’t wait to listen!
Great episode Brenda. Picture me making bread tomorrow while I listen to it again!!
All about hats, huh? I, too, just popped by to get some info – for me it was your last blog post – and I happened to see that you’d posted. That will make me happy. And the hat theme sounds interesting, too. Something I feel like I know a little bit about.
Hi Brenda! I am a Woolly Wormhead sideways hat addict (well any WW hat is worth knitting) …… I recently knitted four on the trot, and will knit every single hat in her book. I think Ruth’s hats are fantastic and I am very glad you have pushed her book on your site.
Hi Brenda,
I enjoyed this episode (as always)! The interview with the genius behind Woolly Wormhead was great; I’ve been looking at those hat patterns on Ravelry for a while now, and this episode pushed me over the edge to go and buy the book.
Did you hear that, potential sponsors? 😉
Great episode! I’m pretty certain I need to get the Wooly Wormhead book….. now….. seriously.
On another note, I was looking at the sponsorship options. Looks, and sounds, good. My dad makes lead free pewter buttons (http://www.roostericks.etsy.com) and I’d definitely be interested in getting him a marketplace ad. Will contact you via e-mail for more info.
Peace
Erica
Hi Brenda! I am a recent listener to your Podcast. I downloaded every episode and just caught up to the present podcast. I have really enjoyed and look forward to future episodes. I just made my paypal contribution. You go girl!
Sincerely, Roxanne
Another great episode, I really enjoyed the interview with Woolly Wormhead and hearing about the history of the Monmouth Cap, an item of clothing that I didn’t know anything about.
I was laughing out loud with recognition when the little voices came on – yep, I’ve definitely got my own version of those. I think most of us do but creative people can be especially prone because our society gives artists such very mixed messages. ‘You shouldn’t care about money but if your work doesn’t sell then you mustn’t be very good’ is one of my personal ‘damned if you do and damned if you don’t’ favourites.
I’m glad that you managed to donk yours on the head, mine have been getting out of hand lately so I think I need to follow your good example. Have you read Twyla Tharp’s book The Creative Habit? It’s one of the best that I’ve read on the subject and she has some choice things to say on silencing or harnessing those little voices.
Thank you for a new episode. It makes my day when I see the itunes icon downloading Cast On. Great story about the Monmouth hats. If you have any more stories of the history of knitting please continue in your podcasts. I have listened to Cast On from the beginning and have enjoyed every episode. Hearing others who love knitting offers support since I live in the deep South and few understand my compulsion to knit even in 99 degree weather. We do have air conditioning after all. Donna
You know what I call those voices? Cheerleaders from hell! A friend calls them the critics’ voices. By any name they are a pain. Anne Lamott talks about them in “Bird by Bird.” She puts them in jars and never opens the lid. 🙂
Brenda,
I used to be a huge fan, but after hearing you talk so much about money, not so much. I think those little voices are called a conscience. Not that it’s bad to think about money … we all have to earn a living. But in the past you have put down others for consumerism, for wanting to make money from yarn & advertising. You’ve used your microphone to accuse others of not being globally responsible when they tried to earn a profit from sales. I can’t quote you exactly here, but you’ve been quite outspoken and (IMO) have misspoken about these things rather stridently. Now it’s a little hard to take, hearing how you want us to donate so that you can make a rather big sum from doing a podcast.
I was hooked in the early days! Loved it when you used to describe your sweaters! But this kind of thing really grates on listeners’ nerves. I hope you’ll consider my comments because you used to have a really good podcast.
Could the loop on the Monmouth cap be for fastening on the button/bobble on top, to fold up the brim and keep it out of your eyes? I know that my current hat tends to get pushed down over my eyes by my collar, and that if I were doing outdoors work, there would probably be times that I’d like to shorten the hat on one side so that it wasn’t in my eyes. (The heavy ribbing doesn’t want to stay folded up.)
Ah, the voices. One dearling friend calls hers the “Itty Bitty Shitty Committee”; in one of Virginia Woolf’s short piquant essays, she calls that voice an Angel — since of course it’s the voice of Virtue saying those lies such as: ladies don’t write things like that! — she solved the problem by throwing her inkwell at it and beaning it squarely on the noggin. I’ve always found the solution delightful and wished I had an inkwell for the express purpose. Alas, I’d probably go through lots of inkwells that way.
Let’s see: $39 spread out over 2007 plus $15 today makes $16 some time later this year when I have cash money, and sounds dandy. Nice to have access to the Bro. Amos socks (my previous paypals were prior to the pattern’s pmanifestation). Thank *you*!
Thinking of it as a per-episode chunk makes it easier than thinking of it as a per-month chunk, no matter what changes you may make to your recording schedule, in my little pea-brain.
Now mind you, when you make over the calculated amount, you jolly well pocket that, and spend it or hoard it as you will: retirement savings, another tonne of clay for your beloved potter, new recording equipment, a case of wine for smoothing that “last-ears” listening session, vet care for Ruby, or a lease on that stone barn you fell in love with, or by all that’s holy maybe even a sweater from a fancy little boutique in Italy. You’re remarkably open about talking over financial realities, which can be tremendously helpful to other folks wanting to do similar projects; yet you’re not obliged to keep open books *splorch* —oh—did I squish another little eeeeveeyil voice there? Good.
Danalee –
Comments like yours are really hard to respond to. I allow comments on the blog because I like for people to have a way to comment on the podcast, and discuss the ideas I present. I don’t insist on cookies and roses here. If I wanted to make sure that I never had to read another negative comment ever, I’d simply turn the comments off. I can and do take honest criticism on board, especially when it’s clear that the person writing is seeking a dialog about, or clarification of the ideas I express in the podcast. But comments like yours are really hard to respond to.
Usually I don’t bother, I just delete them. Not before agonizing over them, sifting them through to see if there’s any truth to them. I’ve left yours up because I think it’s a good illustration of the type of comment I’ve deleted in the past, and the kind that’s likely to be deleted in the future, and I want to explain why.
“I used to be a huge fan… you used to have a really good podcast.â€
These are just another way of saying, “You suck†and “You used to suck less.†Comments like this are insulting. I have to draw the line somewhere, and this is where I draw it. I don’t allow insulting comments in my blog. Period. I don’t allow people to insult my guests or contributors on the podcast, and certainly don’t feel the need to leave comments up that are personally insulting. There is absolutely nothing I can say in response to a comment like this. Except maybe to ask, if you’re no longer a fan, why are you here?
When you start with an insult, it’s really hard to see any point in responding to the other criticisms you raise – that I talk about money too much, that I have put others down for wanting to make money, and that I have accused others of not being socially responsible when they try to earn a profit. These are valid concerns, however, I suspect that your memory of what I may or may not have said on these issues has been slightly colored by the fact that you think I suck. That you remember my remarks this way, I have no doubt. I remember what I said a bit differently.
As for the little voices being “my conscienceâ€, I think of my conscience as my moral compass. The feeling in my gut that tells me right from wrong, and keeps me from hurting other people intentionally. Perhaps yours works differently than mine.
Folks like Danalee might benefit from some study on “how to disagree”
http://www.paulgraham.com/disagree.html
s’got a splendid description of the usual logical fallacies.
Perhaps a more satisfying way to deal with trolls, idiots, and folks who imagine it’s okay to be just plain old-fashioned rude on the ‘net, a practice of disemvoweling might be good to consider. Rather than disappearing, the offending post is de-fanged, if still readable with some attention, and made certain to look as ridiculous as it is, and the rest of us can make popcorn and tease miscreants in verse, while letting you know you’re not alone in dealing with this sort of thing, dear Brenda.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disemvoweling
Anyone with time to spend reading/or enjoys a bit of humorous catharsis over their morning cuppa, the wikipedia article links to the origin of the practice of disemvoweling, along with its immediate naming (and boy, did he have it coming).
Let’s look at the facts; my not-so-humble commentary annotated to each.
1. Brenda needs to support herself.
Being a starving artist isn’t glamorous. Having a shiny webpage and good audio make make it seem like she’s using super-schmancy equipment, but the reality is that the technology is coming down closer to the masses and B learned a whole new skill set to use some simplified technology really well. Let’s also not forget she lives in Britain, which still has one of the highest costs of living in the world even if she’s not living in a major city.
2. Brenda has struggled with the question of advertising.
Publicly and mindfully. When finally reaching her decision, it was not on a whim and it was not out of greed. It was after sharing her thoughts with you, the listener, and considering your feedback. And yet, some listeners (*cough* Danalee) are upset that this process was transparent, that it was honest, and that their opinions MATTERED. Better still, some are so upset that they feel the need to continue to share their opinions even though the act of doing so is part of what they were upset about to begin with and furthers the process that is frustrating them so.
3. Ultimately, you don’t know Brenda.
(Neener, neener, and I do.) By putting her voice and thoughts out there, the listener believes themselves to have a relationship with Brenda. That’s part of what you like; she feels like a friend; you have an image of her in your mind. Some listeners (*cough*) get upset when Podcast Brenda does not act in a way they think it appropriate for her to act. This podcast is only one slice of who she actually is. She’s a real person, not an imaginary friend who performs to your specifications, and gosh, you might just disagree. So how do you get exactly what you want out of this, how do you reconcile the actions and words of the podcaster with your requirements? Simple. Record your own damn podcast.
Brenda works hard to put out a professional-quality podcast. Brenda has to eat and have a roof over her head* . Brenda needs money to allow her to produce this professional-quality podcast. Brenda needs to ask people for money (otherwise we don’t know she’s not prepared to do it for fun and love). We are free to contribute or not. I am baffled as to why this should be in any way objectionable
Go, Brenda!
And I have just clicked you through 20 squid… more later in the year.
(* Actually, I don’t care if you spend it on wild and unsuitable shoes and champagne….you deserve to make a living!)
I had no idea we could pony up cephalopods! Is the US dollar strong in the cephalopod market? Should I invest? B, do you like calamari? We’ve never discussed seafood. I’m allergic. Can you still love me?
[I’m kidding, really, I know what a (s)quid is.]
I love Wooly Wormhead’s patterns. I knit Igloo, the hat for people who where their hair in ponytails! You can see mine on Ravelry, username: knithole or my blog.
Thanks for another great episode. I wish you great success in making a living from this, so we can have many more great podcast to listen to and benefit from.
Your comments in this podcast about taking up travel with the purpose of completing projects made me smile. I took up yarn a few months ago (after a hiatus of 15 or 20 years) because I needed something comforting to take with me as a travel more for work. I now look forward to the monthly flights across the country (6 hours each way) and the nights all alone because I get to do nothing but work….and frog…..projects!!! HOORAY for project travel!
On top of the yarn……this was also the time I found the joy of podcasts. Yours is one of the first I found, and now load the most recent and then some older ones just for my flight time. Thanks for keeping me company on the road.
I’m so excited about the Monmouth hat! I saw them being worn on the PBS Colonial reenactment show, and futilly scoured the internet for a closeup picture so I could try to design one myself. That’s going to be my very next project.
Thank you for continuing to broaden my knitting horizons, you certainly do speak knitting fluently!
I’ve been listening to Cast On for months and have finally caught up with all your episodes. Now I’m going to go into withdrawal until I can hear you again. Thanks for all the great thoughts, interviews and essays about knitting and life.
Thank you for all the great podcasts. And thank that fan for the magic formula – I don’t know why but it really made sense to me. It is how they always break it out for radio…”you can be a contributing member for only 20 cents a day!” and it seems really petty not to do so. Producing (and starring in) this podcast is definitely an art and art should be supported!
Thanks for introducing me to Wooly – I just knit a sideways cabley hat, but I didn’t do the grafting and I regret it. Now I will have the perfect tutorial. YAY! Just bought the pdf version of the book – perfect for those of us who travel knit – you don’t have to lug the book around!
Thank you for your idea of making a trip for knitting! My Mom asked me today if I wanted to join her on a quick trip to Montana to see her mom, who sadly is not doing very well. We would drive one day, stay one day, then drive back the next day. It’s about 10 hours each way. Well…I was wondering if we should just fly, but then I heard your podcast and though it would be a great way to get some knitting done and also spend some quality time with my mom. Road trip time! I’m going to try to talk my coisin into coming as well, as she is now an avid knitter. I can’t wait!
Thanks for all of the great podcasts, I started listening in January and have almost listened to all of them!
Thanks for another wonderful podcast, Brenda! I love Woolly – the very first project I knit was one of her hats. When I get my tax refund I’ll be clicking you a c note and getting Woolly’s book too! You deserve to make a wonderful living from your podcasting. Oh and the Monmouth cap is great! Thanks so much! I’ll be knitting one for my Uncle in Wales. 🙂
Love to you and Tonia,
Angel
Must plan knitting trip soon. 🙂
I think you’ve hit on a great formula to guide donating, but I find the number 70 to be a little presumptuous. I find it a bit odd that you assume every listener has heard every episode. It was off-putting to me, to hear that concrete number instead of a simple request for $1 per episode based on my own listening history and habit.
Enjoyed your latest podcast, Brenda…Thank You! I just read thru the posts listed here & wow (!) quite full of *spice* this time! Personally, I did not feel that Danalee’s comments were awful…but then they were not directed at me either. 🙂 In this life, we cannot please all people & we all have our opinions. Frankly, I’m new at podcast listening & yours is the only one I listen to. Do other podcasters have a Donation button? If I subscribe to a fiber-related magazine, that costs me roughly $24/yr = 4 issues. Your podcasts provide me w/ information on knitting, your life in Wales (how coooool is THAT?), thought-provoking “short stories”, and some really neat tunes from artists I never heard of. So, I’ll donate what I can, when I can! 🙂
Peace to ALL!
wen
Hi Brenda, just wanted to say THANK YOU for including Ingrid Michaelson in the latest podcast. I LOVE IT. As I sat and knit with my ipod on, listening to that song… knit.. hat.. Binghamton.. great song.. I immediately called out to the husbeast who was at the computer, to look up Ingrid so I could buy the cd. Of course I was swooning all over the place when you included Rusted Root in episode 61 too, having been a fan since their early years, when they were playing college bars. I’ve seen them live so many times, I’ve literally lost count.
$1 per epsiode? GEEZE! CHEAP AT THE PRICE!!! I was trying to give $5 for every episode I listened to! Unfortunately, I listen to several other ‘casts, so I have been working my way around the Web, giving each ‘cast I listen to regularly $5 where I can. I can’t afford to give to all of them every week, so I try to control my listening and donate my way around.
AND DON’T GET RID OF THAT DONATIONS BUTTON!! I AM STILL OUT HERE CATCHING UP!!
You rock, My KnitSib. Don’t let the voices, both from inside (A friend tells me that she calls them “Radio K-F*ck”) and out, get to you. You are loved and appreciated.
While not a frequent commenter myself because I think you probably tire of hearing me constantly say that Cast-On is my favorite podcast, I do enjoy reading through the comments of everyone else saying that. While reading through these comments I’ve been looking for the educational interesting agree disagree love buttons to click on! 🙂
Carrie: interesting (1) agree (1) and she must understand that once you upload a podcast you can’t exactly go back and redo when someone brings up an interesting and agreeable point. We have to wait to hear what you say about it next month! The reflective hindsight commentary is interesting and a good reason to listen to every episode.
Gemma: love (1)
Thank you for playing the Patty Griffin song. It was so beautiful and really seemed to fit a lot of things that I’ve been thinking about lately. I immediately went and purchased her song.
There were so many things about this episode I liked. Loved the hats. The reason I learned to knit in the first place was to make a Jayne Cobb hat (from the show Firefly – I’m a scifi nerd). And the idea of knitting them sideways just makes me full of new ideas! Can’t wait to download the book (after I complete taxes, must do taxes first). Also, loved the idea of travel with the purpose of knitting… wish I could go away soon, just to knit! Also made me think of other things that have happened as I knit – sitting with my terminally ill father and knitting as he slept, and showing him my progress daily. It was something else to focus on rather than the inevitable. And it gave the nurses something to talk to us about as well – knitting is such a warm fuzzy ice-breaker, even in the coldest of rooms.
And I liked that you came up with a formula for donating. I promptly donated, and not the entire amount as this month’s budget won’t allow it (taxes, must do taxes) but now I have something to shoot for. I’m assuming as in public radio, some of us will give more, some will give less, and it will all come out in the blocking.
Rock on, knitsib, and thanks for the great episode, of an always enjoyable podcast.
I love Patty Griffin!!! And I love you Brenda for working so hard to bring us wonderful entertainment and wit. Good job for kicking the worthless voices to the curb. They are full of shit! I gave myself permission to do the same.
Don’t get rid of the donation button yet. I want to give but can’t do it all at once, so I will be sending more when I can.
Thanks for the great podcast and being so open in discussing the financial issues.
After listening to your idea of creating a trip for my knitting I decided today to book a cross country Amtrak ride. Traveling by plane would only take 4 hours and who knows what parts of my knitting bag would be confiscated by security. My trip will take 44 hours by train and while my husband thinks I’m completely nuts I can’t wait to cast on!
Thanks for a great podcast.
Another really enjoyable podcast, Brenda, thanks.
Those voices? Everyone has their version but.. a woman has to eat!!! And, in the words of the Bible, the labourer is worthy of his hire. It’s great for people who can afford to podcast for love but 40 hours a month for love? That is asking too much. I have donated in the past, and will again. As you know, in UK public radio is paid for from taxes, so we are not used to the donation model of funding, so forgive us if we are a bit slow!
Another interesting podcast, Brenda. I’m intrigued by Woolly Wormhead’s grafting, I want to find out more! I actually like your open and frank discussion about the financing. I have no idea at all about hosting costs, how can I , I don’t podcast. What I do do, however, is gain a lot of pleasure from your podcasts. Right at the star, you mentioned about wanting and podcast that was an audio version of a magazine, and cited BBC Radio 4 as an inspiration. Strictly speaking, the TV licence, which is how the BBC gets its funding is not a tax, it just seems like that to all of us who have a television (!), but if you did not have a set, you would be listening to BBC radio for free. However, I don’t get mgazines for free, so I see no problem at all in making donations – it’s worth every penny! I’ve just made another one, and I think now I’ve donated the equivalent of the 50p (because let’s face it, that’s what a dollar an episode is, roughly – less than the cost of a pint of milk delivered to my door) per episode. Maybe its more, frankly I don’t care. Radiohead did find people were prepared to pay for a product that was available for free, because comsumers can also have a moral compass that recognises when effort put into a quality product deserves fair recompense. My dream is actually that you could generate enough to pay for hosting, utility bills, council tax (don’t get me started!), food, vet bills and a certain jacket from Italy …
Good discussion re. money, it is good to have a guide on cost and I’m all paid up now. Please remember that apart from content your show is very professionally produced and you have a brilliant radio voice which sets you apart from a lot of other podcasts. I’m just back from five days in Provence and have a pair of socks to show for it, I cast them on the night before we flew and knit at the airport, on the plane and by the pool, I have got into the habit of having a project for a big trip.
Keep up the good work.
Sarah
Hi, Brenda! Thanks again for a great podcast. I look forward to it every month, the podcast really is a bright spot in my knitting life.
As for the sordid topic of money, I think it’s awesome that you have the moxie to talk about it openly and keep you listeners informed on the decisions you are making regarding the podcast. This comes from someone who breaks out into hives at the thought of asking for a raise at work. But don’t take the donation button away yet! I need to catch up!
Thanks and have a great time in Portland (a.k.a Utopia)
Hey Brenda –
For my annual donation, I’d like to give you a free acupuncture & bodywork session on board SeaSocks. I know phone scheduling is sticky, so I reserved you a spot after dinner on Saturday the 10th. If want a different time or don’t want it at all (gasp! 🙂 ) please email me. I’m Needlegrrl on Ravelry, too. Thanks for another awesome series!
Hi Brenda
Your podcast fell into two neat parts – the part en route to the Baltimore-Washington airport and the part on the way back after meeting DH and seeing him onto his plane. Danalee might have been justified if the whole podcast had been about donating money, but it wasn’t. Only the last little part dealt with that and before that we all had a brilliantly put together pod-issue that I think was one of your best. It was a true magazine-style format and I am now going to find about more about the Monthmouth hat, as it sounds intriguing. The recording quality was excellent (as always) and the interviews most interesting.
It is true that you have spent some time dealing with these knotty issues in previous podcasts, but I don’t find it boring. Also it is true that this means your podcasts are not 100% on the sole topic of knitting, but then when was the chat at the last knit group any of us went to all about knitting either?
It is right that we understand some of the issues for people who are not able to produce podcasts just as a hobby. David Reidy this week was talking about people who underprice their sweaters, thus making it hard for knitters who wish to make a living from their craft to ask a true price to reflect the work involved. The same goes for podcasts. We have to be thankful that some are “free” and that others might need more support. If by supporting you we can have more frequent podcasts, then we would be the winners.
I like the “$1/podcast” idea, and that seems fair. Hmmm, but what price for Issue 1.5 “Snow Day”. That podcast was priceless.
Thanks again, Moi x x x
Hi Brenda,
Don’t listen to those little voices. You need to make a living. You want to make a living doing something you love. There is nothing to be ashamed of. There’s a lot of middle ground between you suffering for your art and the kind of ugly commercialism that I think many of us here hate. I think you’re walking that middle ground well and could do a lot more advertising without turning people off.
And please don’t get rid of that donations button!
After the demise of MagKnits, I want to make sure that things I love get enough positive feedback, especially if they’ve had others rag on them a bit. (I think you mentioned that people were ragging on you about the making a living thing.)
I *lovelovelovelovelovelove* your show, and would pay you whatever you asked if I wasn’t living in such a tight budget. (I guess I’m one of those non-paying public broadcasting viewers… except I can’t watch my public TV station, because I don’t feel I can afford cable, and it’s based in the US and so isn’t broadcast in Canada. I *miss* it. Especially with them currently running the Jane Austin series that I can’t watch. *pout* But enough about that.)
I *love* your show. Does it make you feel any better that, when I have a higher income, I’d pay you before I paid for cable?
Well, I need to get back to trying to make a living myself… *hugs*
I just recently started to listen to podcasts and Cast On got me hooked.
While most knitting podcasts are knitted, yours is knitted and BLOCKED!
(Ok. Forget the suggested (cracking) metaphor you’ve made about blocking in this episode… my comment could sound weird.)
Really enjoyed the conversation on travel knitting…and travelling to knit. Don’t tell my husband but the steam train and ferry boat ride to Geelong weekend before last was mostly so that I could knit. 🙂
Bravo for a wonderful podcast – you make it seem so effortless and intimate that it feels like you are sitting down and knitting with me. I have only downloaded half the episodes ( not enought disc space on my pc, but I am working on improving it. Keep up the fantastic journey – I enjoy travelling with you as I walk to dog, knit or just sit. Astrid also has it right about the Geelong journey – time to knit is valuable and I knit while waiting for a tram, in the doctors office, and at choir.
Thanks for the fascinating listening–knitting, music, wit. Wot more could I want?
Also, thanks especially for putting Will Maring on your podcast. I lived down the road from the Marings growing up and get comfortably homesick when I hear her sing–especially the Bottomlands.
Brenda,
I was re-listening to this podcast today and at the same time, have been preparing to go on a trip to India to teach knitting. My biggest dilemna is of course, what am I going to knit? And your podcast came up in shuffle play at just the right time. I went to my LYS after work and she hooked me up (sounds like a drug transaction) with some yarn and a pattern of the Modern Quilt Wrap.
Because i abhor weaving in ends, I chose to do this in Noro sock yarn. It’ll be a little different but still lovely. Thanks for another great podcast and for a great idea for travel knitting!
Julie
Brenda,
This is such a great episode! I too found it just at the right time. For the past year I have been working very hard by going to college full-time (yay! me for finally getting around to this) and working full-time, and then some. So my knitting has been neglected, even though it is one of the few things that calms me down when my stress levels increase!
Anyway I decided to go on a short trip to a place about four hours away from where I am living. I found this city because it has the closest LYS and I decided that taking myself on a little getaway with just me and my knitting would be a great idea.
In an earlier episode of the podcast, in like series 100 maybe, you talked about some tips for new knitters. One of those tips has stayed with me since I first heard it a couple of years ago. You said that when you make a mistake GO BACK! You stressed that frogging is a part of knitting and when you get done with a knitted object you will be much happier knowing that you put in the hard work to correct any and all mistakes.
So that inspiration combined with the insight from this episode inspired me to take my First Sweater on my little getaway. This project has been a nightmare! LOL. It is a very simple project, but for some reason (well probably several reason) I have had to frog it soooo many times and I have problems with it almost every time I work on it. It has been on the needles for at least a year! Yikes. So I might not finish it on my three day trip, but thanks to this podcast I am going to take the sweater on a journey and just spend several hours a day working on it to “knock it out” and get it off my needles!
Thank you for your constant inspiration and insight. Thank you for sharing your knitting world with me and for sharing what you know about knitting with me as well.
If you wish to read even more about my First Sweater I posted a little something about this episode on my blog. 🙂
Thanks Again,
Dolly