Please stand back. I have mordants, and I will use them. Special thanks to Zabet, Zach, and Meg, for helping with the intro, and to guest writer, Jill Smith. Thanks also to Debbie Fisher, of North Yorkshire Wools (no website, sorry), as well as David and Margaret Redpath for sharing their knowlege of natural dyeing so generously. The Redpath’s are retired now, but the wonderful palette they developed using only natural dyes can be found here. The yarn is great for lace knitting! Do you need a Knit Fix? Send photos of your knitting problems to Lisa Kartus. Be sure to put “Cast On Knit Fix” in the subject line of your email.
KniTunes:
- 3 Blind Mice – Call Me Beautiful
- Alyssa Hendrix – Found
- Parlotones – Colorful
- New London Fire – We Don’t Bleed
Additional Tracks:
- Field Guide – Charlie Crow – Joy
- Local Colour- Torchomatic – Raining Colour
Hooray, it is Friday and there’s a new Cast-On to listen to! Brenda, here’s one big cookie with choc chips and all! 🙂
You and Syne need to stagger your podcast episodes, because a soul can take only so much fiber longing at a time! I already knew that I eventually wanted to learn to spin and weave, but now I also need a backyard full of sheep and goats, and am tempted to start collecting onion skins for the eventual foray into dyeing. Thankfully, I fall into Jill’s category of the anal, organized knitter, and will suffer the angst that comes with prioritizing sanity over filling one’s house with supplies for a dozen coveted arts and hobbies. But really, this attitude can only hold for so long. Help?
ah, saturday morning happiness. A cup of tea and a freshly downloaded Cast-On. Loving the intro. What a crack up!
Dearest Brenda thank you for your kind words about my music – your podcast always brightens my day and gives me a bad case of start-itis! I am humbled. Thank you!
Perfect timing for this podcast. I just got a bunch of natural dyes in the mail that I had ordered from http://www.maiwa.com/stores/supply/natural_dyes.html. I’m looking forward to trying them out. Thanks for the great info.
Hello again Brenda! Thank you so much for playing “Call Me Beautiful”. kpkpkpkpkpkpkpkpkpkp (now how do we cast off?)
Am I the only one that cannot download this via iTunes, it cuts after it is almost finised (after 30 minutes fetching time) and then asks me to start all over. I have tried to download from Brendas site as well and then transfer it to iTunes, but it does not accept this. My peaceful Saturday morning is ruined (and yesterday evening), grrr. P.S. iTunes downloads all the other podcasts as usual, so it is only this treat it denies me. Happy Knitting Saturday to you all!
Lydia, I don’t know what’s up with the download, but I’d love to know if you are the only one, or if anyone else is having a problem. You can listen to your downloaded file without iTunes, if you don’t mind using your computer as an MP3 player.
Meanwhile, I will check with the media host, to make sure everything is as it should be. I always download the file myself, just to make sure it’s working, and I had no problems last night.
Please do keep me posted!
I just downloaded this week’s episode via iTunes with no problems. Can’t wait to listen to it!
It is working at last, the download that is. What an interesting episode (as usual one might, must add!), and I do agree with Rebekkah that I too soon will need help – knitting with bought yarn feels so inadequate, soon I will hunt down my short haired cats and shear them naked just to have something to start with:) I would love to hear more about natural dyeing. What a fun start with the stalking company – still smiling at the thought of it. Take care and thanks Brenda for all your work!
I was so surprised this week to look up and realize that I was listening to the 35th (!!) episode. I’ve listened to them all, I always learn something, and I can’t tell you how much I enjoy them.
I also really enjoyed the intro this week. (Have you read any Jasper Fforde?? In his books there are professional stalkers who have to have a license…)
The music this week was one of my favorites so far.
Thank you so much for spending your Fridays (and probably a lot of the rest of your week, too) so that I can have such a wonderful hour every weekend. It feels like the most undeserved, terrific gift.
The intro was so funny I had to listen to it twice! Hilarious!
That intro is effing high-larious. Thanks.
Brenda I love your podcasts more with each one I listen to.
I’m interested in seeing your CafePress items but I’m having trouble finding them – can you help? The blog link seems to have disappeared and CafePress shows 1 item from you but says it’s no longer available. Help!
Also wondered if you’ll be visiting the Knitting and Stitching Show at the NEC (Birmingham, England) from Thursday 14th – Sunday 17th September. There are more details at http://www.twistedthread.com/knittingandstitchingshow/birmingham.asp I think the trains would be ok for you to get there from Wales and it would be interesting to hear your thoughts on the show.
BTW I just bought Adrina Thorpe’s CD thanks to hearing it on your podcast – love it!
Keep up the great work. 🙂
Wonderful episode this week! I’ve really enjoyed the pieces where you’ve interviewed people in Wales, it’s been fascinating to listen to. The stalker intro was hilarious, too!
Loved the natural dying stuff, on my to do list. I managed to get Alum from my local chemist, after answering a load of questions, I used it to mordant fabric that I covered with nettles and whacked the hell out of with a hammer! Another great show, thank you
Brenda.
P.S. Alum is used for bed sores and mouth ulcers amongst many other things.
I finally said it! My daughter was walking up the stairs today and came out with “I’m cold.” I answered without thinking “Put on a sweater – that’s what they’re for!”
Thanks for all your work on the podcast Brenda!
Great show again, Brenda – with a hilarious intro!
I especially liked the short interview with the lady who is so passionate about her naturally dyed yarn (was that Debbie Fisher?).
And I have a book recommendation, for everyone who is interested in natural dyes: “Colour” by Victoria Finlay. A wonderful, wonderful book.
Hi Brenda. Love your podcast. I listen to your podcast at work and then go home and listen to it again.
Ketzia
Had to comment between cleaning the tea off my computer screen (due to the most excellent “ad” you had at the beginning of the show… must point Lime and Violet to that site) and rocking out to “Joy”. You just can’t beat Bach on an electric guitar. Thanks for all your efforts and hard work despite the siren song of the fiber.
Brenda-
I listen to you faithfully and always mean to comment but somehow don’t. Today is the day. I LOVE LOVE LOVE your podcast. I WANT to listen to you when I knit but lately there isn’t enough time to do that so I end up listening to you while I drive around during my work day. If I am in a bad mood at all listening to you can always cheer me up. I love being surrounded by your voice and sometimes wish I could just bring you home with me! 🙂
Hope you are having a wonderful week.
Oh and I love that you participate so frequently on Quirky Nomads.
Jennifer
Another fantastic episode! The intro is priceless, and I adored Jill Smith’s essay. Is the music at its finish a part of her recording or part of your podcast and where did you get it (and, yes, I am blanking on its name–how embarrassing!)?
Anyway, I have been a fan for the last month and am working my way through all the previous episodes. Really well done!
My family just doesn’t “get” my podcast obsession about listening about knitting. Well, tonight I MADE them listen to your intro and they laughed and….they listened more! Thanks! And thank you for the lovely “Call Me Beautiful.” I will always remember that man 6 years ago and how I finally felt attractive for the first time. Thanks to CJ, wherever he is.
I found “joy”!
SQUUUEEEEEEE!!! That’ll teach me to read the show notes more carefully. As always, I eagerly await your next episode.
Brendaaaa, where’s the podcaaaast…. [imagine this is whining]. It’s Friday. It’s Friday night in Wales. We’re waaaaaiting….
It’s coming! Soon, very soon…
The intro was VERY funny. I was laughing out loud in my basement whilst wrestling laundry.
You deserve a chocolate chip cookie sandwich with ice cream in the middle. Oooooh! So good.
What a terrific episode! Phenomenally entertaining and creative intro. And marvelous piece on natural dyes. It inspired me to look for a workshop, and with a stroke of luck I found one in my neighborhood (Vermont) in just a few weeks.
I know how desperate you were to get back to the fiber, but the time you put into the podcast is so very, very appreciated!
Brenda, I totally sympathize with wanting to play with fiber! I recently learned to spin on a handspindle and I find that knitting is starting to cut into my spinning time:) I hope you were able to spin something wonderful with your fiber and quicker spindle.
OH MY GOD! that whole stalking thing was just too funny, and a breath of fresh air on a stress-filled day (my wedding is on saturday, and my son is acting up (big time))
Really good podcast, I laughed out loud at the opening. Lovely essay too, I’m a PPK with hints of delusional knitter (and yes, I do have a labeller and I’m madly in love with it).
Found this natural dyeing supplier (I’m considering trying some dyeing so I was looking), thought they might be useful to you as they have mordants:
http://www.twistfibrecraft.co.uk/felt/felt.html
I was listening to this episode on the way to work this morning and found myself laughing hysterically at the intro. BRILLIANT! I’m sure people passing thought me mad.
Congratulations on another fine podcast.
Thanks for another great podcast! I was listening while I was at the gym and walking on the tred mill… with this huge smile/grin on my face trying not to laugh out loud through the first part. The music was really great too.
And what was the piece of music that preceeded Alyssa Hendrix? It was a voice from my past, and apropos in light of the 37th grade 8 reunion I’m in the process of organizing.
Love the podcast, and am gradually catching up to the present.