Oh Lordy, it’s late! Special thanks this week to guest writer, Pam Ehlers Stec (my sister!), and to Sage for reading Pam’s piece. Thanks to Catrin Mears, at the National Museum Wales, and to Sally Moss, curator, and Ann Whittle and Keith Reese at the National Wool Museum – Julie is found! And you can read all about it. – Twisted: Knitting on the Edge subverts the genre at the HERE Gallery in Bristol – See me at the Knitting and Stitching Show in London – Interweave Celebrates National Spinning and Weaving Week – Visit FiberTwist in Massechusetts – See the saga on the blog for Sarah’s Yarns – Hear Sarah speak her mind, with Lime and Violet – Read the Manifesto
The complete text of this week’s essay can be found here.
Yes, I have seen The Last Knit! If you haven’t, you really must.
KniTunes:
- Slackstring – Stranded
- Matthew Ebel – Bright Northern Lights
- Sudden Death – Business As Usual
- 3 Blind Mice – Your Face Is Not Enough
Additional Tracks:
Mill(w)right – Music by Jeff Wahl from his cd “Guinevere” available at Magnatune
Yay! My hike is saved. While you are on break I guess I will have to dive into the archives. Never a bad thing…. *smile*
Thank you for your essay, Pam. I miss Minnesota so much it hurts. I, too, love those freeze-your-nostril-hair, snowy Minnesota winters.
Brenda, I think you should find someone to re-broadcast your podcast in Welsh. I don’t think I’d ever heard the language spoken before your current series, and I’m entranced. It’s so beautiful.
Thanks for mentioning the Twisted exhibition, I really appreciate it. For anyone visiting the website, the pictures and information aren’t up yet but should be there by Monday.
I really loved Pam’s essay, it was so evocative. It’s clear that you’re not the only one in your family who has a way with words – your parents don’t know what they’re missing!
Lots of cookies for you, have a nice break.
Excellent random bit of trivia about Brenda Dayne: She went to CMSU! Greetings from Missouri, chica. (Even if you don’t have such great memories of it.)
The sound of that loom was so rhythmic! I could listen to it for hours!!
Have a good break we’ll miss you here in Nothern Ireland..
(could you make the Dublin branch of the Knitting and Stitching show?…. ahh well I thought not.)
Thank you for another wonderful show. I loved the sounds of the looms in the museum.
I also enjoyed your sister’s essay. When I was in grade school I lived in San Diego where we’d get dry dessert winds called the Santa Ana Winds. Except my ears heard them as the Santana winds. I could never figured out what warm breezes had to do with a music group.
Hi Brenda,
Thank you once again for playing our music. Have a good break & we look forward to hearing you in the new season.
OMG – that Sudden Death song, I almost PLOTZED in the middle of the gg park I was laughing so hard. I love that song so much I’m going to buy it twice! Now just tell me, how did they manage to get the surveillance tape of my last meeting for their lyrics?!?
Also, WELL DONE Pam, I loved the essay. And as usual Brenda, we will miss you but always want you to be refreshed so that we get you back. I really loved your natural dying saga, I don’t dye or spin but love hearing about it (and since I have, I’ve bought my first two hanks of hand-dyed yarn!).
Cheers Brenda, join Lime and Violet in their gin bathtub, and have a great break. (thanks too to Tanya for supporting your podcasting so we can have you every weekend!).
Kathleen
Dear Brenda, I’ve been listening to your podcasts for a couple of days now and I just wanted to thank you for making such a great show. I commute to work every day for an hour and your podcast keeps me together in the subway and train – I’m not confident enough to knit in public, so my hands are itching and I’m terribly impatient to get home. You know, where I live nobody seems to knit anymore and it’s nice to hear someone talk about it with so much love. Greatings Jenneke from Holland
Yo Brenda Baby have a good month off, we will all be here when you get back to it (pod casting) with fresh new yarn on our needles. So now I go to
KNIT LIKE THE WIND…………in toronto (a place you and your sweetie should vist one day)
Hey, thanks for dropping the Northern Lights into the show! I appreciate it very much. =)
Pax,
Matthew
Hi Brenda,
I’m an American living in Berlin, Germany and I just love knitting and listening to your show. It’s wonderful!!
Sorry, Brenda, I put my old blog address on that last comment. Keep up the fabulous work.
I want to comment on your editing. But I don’t want to insult you. It’s not distracting. It’s wonderful and sweetly instills the commentary with a thread of continuity. Some people would be angry that editing is even noticed. But I find your podcast to be every bit as professional as my beloved CBC radio.
Great show, i am looking forward to the new series. Your discussion of yarn pricing and price fixing hits home. I have seen this occur with several wholesalers we deal with in the spinning and weaving world. We have to look to the 21st Century and realize that there are new and inovated ways to sell and market products.
Thanks for all the work you do. I did some of my DR work at CMSU a crazy place!
Leslie
I’ve been pondering your upcoming series about free culture and there is a musician I’d like to recommend to you. I don’t know if he is on the PodSafe music network, but he does offer some of his work for free download from his website. The artist is John McCutcheon, a folk and protest singer from Virginia, and his site is http://www.folkmusic.com. Check it out, and I look forward to the upcoming series.
I am entering into the Youtube pimpage hall of shame but I offer you this as some interesting viewing on your break.
Brenda,
Many cookies to you for another wonderful series. As a podcaster, I’m also really looking forward to your upcoming “Free Culture” series, too! Oh boy.
Meanwhile, every few days I remember to try to find one of your t-shirts. (OK, in reality, I’ve only tried twice.) I don’t see a link on the Cast-On homepage and I’ve tried searching cafepress.com for “knit like the wind” and “brenda dayne” and “cold sweater” and other things to no avail. When I listened to your Ep. 38 last nite and you mentioned t-shirts again, I thought I must be missing something… Where are the t-shirts???
Also, there is a SMALL chance that I may go to Rhinebeck in which case I will definitely bring my portable recorder and record audio bits that you can use on Cast-On, if you’d like. I assume that would be ok with you?
Cheers and happy time off,
Arabella
Brenda,
Thanks for another great season! Can’t wait for the next one!
Thought I should feed your YouTube addiction, you should go and check this out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6ZjMWLqJvM
Have a great time off!
Victor (aka Elemmaciltur from Munich, Germany)
I really appreciated the idea for the new series. It has an huge potential! Enjoy your break, and thank you again for another wonderful podcast. We’re all so lucky to count on you!
I have been listening for a couple weeks and wanted to say hi. I started at the most recent and just listened to the first one where you say you were from P-town. Which is were I am from and am. Thanks for a great show!
D
I haven’t listened yet, but had to leave a comment. Mike is heading to London next week for work – e-mail me if there is *anything* you need from the US and I will have him bring it over to get to you! He should be back again in October when you are there – so hopefully he will get a chance to meet you too! (He is still a bit envious of my trip to Wales.)
I have just discovered your show. I’m a nurse by day and have to work at night entering my data into the computer system. Listening while I type is wonderful!!!!! Thanks!
Hi Brenda,
I have enjoyed your podcast for several months now, and really love listening. Thanks for all the work you do for us!
Your last podcast with the essay on price fixing was very interesting. I thought I’d offer my perspective, at the risk of being unpopular. I am a business owner (3rd generation) in the residential lighting industry. We work with many, many manufacturers who utilize a similar minimum price policy as Tillie’s. It’s usually called a UMRP (unilateral minimum retail price) This means that we are unable to ADVERTISE the product for less than what is specified, usually between a 1.8 and 2 times markup (keystone). What we actually sell the product for in our store is our own business. That, by law, cannot be dictated.
From my perspective, the UMRP is a positive thing. I have a business to operate; that means bills to pay and payroll. That means that I must make a decent margin on what I sell. The alternative is to sell much more volume to make up for a lower retail price. In many markets, there is a finite number of customers that will come to a store. Word of mouth, a good reputation, and advertising, if used wisely, will maximize that number.
I aim to make a decent margin, and give my customers a good value as well, through lighting technical expertise and customer service, as well as beautiful quality lighting. Much of that interaction does not happen on most websites. Our customers do not feel “gouged”; they feel like they are getting a quality product and an enjoyable shopping experience.
I need to be able to pay my employees a respectible wage and compensate them for their excellence in career and so that they can support their families in a comfortable way. I feel a deep responsibility to that. That’s how businesses act responsibly, not for greed.
When businesses, like many internet sites, are able to undercut people with showrooms that can be construed as an “unfair business practice” also. The manufacturer is caught in the middle. Their “bricks and mortar” stores potentially lose business and feel betrayed by the manufacturer, because they cannot possibly sell for the same retail prices and stay in business. The manufacturer, under pressure of their retailers turning away from them, because of downward pricing pressure, feels it neccessary to enact a minimum retail price policy. They are protecting their own bottom line—and volume.
I believe it’s a mistake to assume that yarn store owners and yarn manufacturers are only in business for the “we’re all just a warm, fuzzy yarny family” aspect. That’s all fine and wonderful, but people in my world need to make a living, pay bills, and send our kids to college! And if my business isn’t rewarding, why am I in it?
Why shouldn’t hardworking business owners, retailers and manufacturers, make a fair profit on their hard work? I didn’t say exorbitant, I said fair. This is all the minimum price policy is accomplishing. It’s not evil. It’s not extortion. It’s just trying to keep business moving forward, as usual.
Hello Brenda–can I call you by your first name? I feel like I know you because I’ve heard all of your podcasts and I always enjoy them and look forward to them! Thank you for this last series, I thought it was beautiful–however I am REALLY looking forward to the next! Have a great break and come back soon. Best, Vickery
Hi Brenda,
I am new to the world of iPods and so excited to have discovered Cast On. What a joy to listen to your very professional quality audio, great music and evocative essays while I drive to work, fold the laundry, and walk the dog. Thank you!
Oh, Brenda,
Thank you thank you thank you for another enjoyable series. Lots of gooey chocolate chip cookies to you!
Thanks for shedding light on the price-fixing controversy. I really appreciate being let in on subjects I may not ordinarily stumble across myself.
You and your sister sure do have the gift of language. I wholeheartedly encourage Pam to write another wonderful essay for the next series. It was great, and cookies to Sage for being the voice of the work.
Keep up the great work, and I can’t wait to see the little orange circle by Cast On in my iTunes, gathering up the next episode in the next series.
i noticed that the 2 previous podcasts both had music talking about mistakes. freudian slip?
Do you know about paper made from sheep droppings? In Wales even! You can read about it here: http://www.creativepro.com/story/feature/24753.html
Greetings from the Pacific Northwest (Yakima, WA)!
Enjoy the rest – yeah right! Looking forward to the next series already. Many Thanks
Sarah
Hi Brenda! Oh, oh…I must tell you how much I LOVE your podcast. My wonderful husband just bought me a pink (my favorite color!) ipod and the first thing I did was to download Cast On. I’m now working backwards (which is somewhat freaky) and enjoying every second of it. Your voice is so soothing, which is a blessing. I’m a yoga instructor and I’m used to helping others to relax. When I listen to you, it’s like getting my OWN relaxation! I’d love for you to check out my blog and website at:
http://sleepyeyesknitting.blogspot.com
http://www.YogaGardenNH.com
Thank you for your inspiration, wonderful sense of humor and just general “awesome-ness”.
(I’m a spinner, dyer and knitter as well : )
Hey Brenda –
I have some thoughts about your magnificent idea for a central, comprehensive, online knitter’s encyclopdia. I posted about it on my blog here:
http://aastrikke.blogspot.com/2006/10/yarn-market-continued.html
thank you again Brenda, topical, informative, entertaining and witty. I wish all women i meet are like you. i feel guilty as there is not a lot of spare cash, so i have not donated yet. I will once the wee ones grow up and things are more stable. I am more than happy to help, and when (if) the encycopdia is ready for help, put out a call and i’ll be there.
Hi Brenda, I’m listening to the episodes in order and just heard #26 “Knit one, Give two” where you asked for comments on the music. I really enjoy the musical breaks as well as meeting new bands so repeating tracks wouldn’t be my choice. However, I think another blues episode would be wonderful. The first one (7?) put me in such a good mood.
Thanks for a consistenly great show.
I just wanted to say that I LOVE where you are going with this whole ‘free culture’ theme. Not content to rest on your laurels as the founder and QUEEN of the knitting podcast genre, you’re now taking that someplace new, making us knitters think about where we fit in the creative ‘food chain’, and who knows what else. Can’t wait to hear.
Hi Brenda,
I also posted this on Kate A.’s blog above, but I’ve been thinking about setting up an online knitting encyclopedia for a while, and kept hitting mental roadblocks on how it should work.
But if this is a project that people think is worthwhile, I’d love to contribute to it in any way I can!
Love the pod casts. I was a little worried when I saw “Bye for now”. I was afraid that you weren’t getting enough support and had to leave us for more lucrative work. Thank goodness you will be back with a new series. Once I get the debt back into a managable cage I will donate (actually, pay for all the amusement you give me, thanks!)
Hi, I’ve been meaning to leave you a comment for ages and I’m finally remembering! I love your podcast so much it’s an incredibly wonderful way to spend my time to & from work!
Your sister’s essay really struck a cord with me. I’m from Wisconsin, but have been living in New England for the last couple years and I miss “real” winter soooo much! Listening to it really took me back home and it was wonderful. Thank you so much to both of you.
Well, I guess your are on break. I have been patiently awaiting a new episode the past 2 Fridays and saddly they didnt come. I dont remember you saying you would be on break, but that is probably because I tend to not hear things I dont want to believe. I love your show and hope you are having some well deserved time off!! BUT, I am looking forward to you getting back to podcasting. Your humor, knit info and real life talk make my day! Thanks
Love your podcast! I’ve been listening again to all the previous episodes. It just isn’t fun knitting without the show! Thank you for the good work, enjoy the break, and please come back soon!
How do I get to listen to your podcast? I have been trying for an hour and can’t find how to access it.
Lesley, sorry you’re having trouble. click the link at the bottom of the post that says, “Download Episode 38”. A dialogue box will open asking you to choose where to save the file, or whether to open it immediately. Alternatively, if iTunes is installed on your computer, you can subscribe using the link in the sidebar of the home page. If you’re still having trouble, email me and I’ll walk you through it.
Hi Brenda, just though I’d let you know you were the inspiration for my latest blog column. You may be interested in reading it. I’d also like to say THANKS for helping me get through the 27 hour flight to London last week 🙂
Dear Brenda,
It is a difficult subject you have chosen to wrestle with. I am wrestling with another, equally difficult and apparently, highly controversial topic; Left-handed knitting. By this I do not mean what hand holds the yarn, but what hand works the fabric. I am a contented knitter. I have posted about this on my blog. Do you have a moment to read my little rant/essay and give me some ideas? I know there are knitters served by my videos and feel there is a need for a book, but by writing this some (ignorant) knitters feel attacked and respond in knee-jerk conservative critical bile. These ideas appear prevalent in major knitting magazines and publication houses. How are we to welcome new knitters into our fold if they are told they are defective and must learn the “right” way to knit when there are any number of right-handed knitting styles out there, but there can be no equal number of left-handed styles?
Brenda, I sat at the computer today, listening to the latest Age of Innocence chapter, unable to knit because of the tears. Thank you so much for putting out so many chapters this past week or so. I have to admit, it’s taking a whole lot of willpower not to run down to the library and finish the book for myself. But since the characters and their voices are firmly ingrained in my mind in *your* voice, it wouldn’t seem right to finish reading it in my voice. And there is something delicious about having to wait for the delight of seeing the next chapter appear in iTunes. Well, delicious and painful.
Sorry to clog up your Cast On comments with that, but I thought I’d leave it here, since you have comments closed on the Age of Innocence blog. Everybody who is reading this really should download what you’ve recorded so far. Even if it’s so good that it forces one to cease all other activities, including knitting, while listening.
I wish you could see my daughter dance around chanting “KNIT! KNIT!” as we listen to the podcast ^-^
Hello,
Just discovered the podcast, and I think it is great. As a Brit living in MA right now, it is nice to hear an American in the UK. Also, I didn’t know that everyone didn’t start meetings with apologies, didn’t know that was British. Anyway, looking forward to the next series.
Anna
Lovely stuff. I’ve just been discovering this podcasting business and I really truly enjoyed episode 38. So glad you picked up dropspindling, a favorite of mine. Excellent job and I’m looking forward to your return!
I must have fast forwarded through the music before, because I missed the “Business as Usual” song the first time I listened to this episode. I downloaded it awhile back for a podcast idea that didn’t pan out, but it is a favorite in our household. It was fun to hear it in your show!
I’ve had the honor of listening to Lawrence Lessig speak several times in the past at SxSW, along with Cory Doctorow and others. I still remember when “Creative Commons” was just a early concept even. Soooooo inspiring to hear him speak. I’m looking foward to the next season!
Brenda,
Hello!! Oh how I wish I could say I was able to go fondle amazing yarn on my trip but *sigh* it wasn’t meant to be. I did come home to a bunch of candle orders so that was fabulous. (thank you Cast On listeners, you’re the best!)
I finally started getting my podcast together! Hurray!! The first episode is super rough and I have a lot of work to do. It’s basically me turning on the mic and opening my mouth and seeing what came out. If you have some time (it’s super short) I have it up on my blog: http://yarnandcatnaps.blogspot.com/
The next episode will have a lot more structure, some music and will, I’m hoping, entertain. 🙂
*huge hugs* Hope you’re having a great break!
Lovely episode! I hope you come back soon. I’m getting near to finishing the back episodes, and more than a little anxious for “new” programs. I think Cast-On is addictive! Keep up the fantastic work!
~katie
Hi Brenda,
So many comments! Do you manage to read them all?
I too am an American living on this rather wet island. I’ve taken up knitting again somewhat recently over the past 2-3 years. I’ve only just discovered the many and varied podcasts and #38 is the first I’ve listened to Cast On. I’m now on a mission to download the rest of the first season. Did you ever wonder why we call it a season and the English a series? I have but I don’t have an answer.
Anyhow, I really enjoyed the show and look forward to the next series.
Bana in Lancashire
Yup, I’m another fan. Ok, wow, you get lots of comments. Hope you have time to read my essay about how I am the suckiest knitter.
http://relaxedhomeskool.com/2006/10/19/my-knitting-technique-is-unstoppable/#more-469
I have been a devoted listener from the first episode. I love this podcast so much. But now I am jonesing for a new episode so badly. Brenda, when will you be back???? Please, please say it will be soon!!!
Dawna in California
I am also jonesing for the newest series – I know it is coming soon!! I can’t wait!
Brenda sweetie, you MUST remember to put “http://” in front of all the URLS when you’re making links. Otherwise, the magic computer thinks that you are looking for a folder inside your own website named “www.whatever.com”. Check your link to “Business as Usual” to see what I mean.
Smoochies!
Hello Brenda! I have recently discovered the whole podcast genre (yes, I know, I’m a bit behind the times) and have begun listening to you from the first episode — I’ll get caught up sooner or later! I did want to drop you a quick line to inform you of a dear friend of mine who is going to try her hand–err, voice — at this podcasting thing. You can read more at her blog, http://sleepyeyesknitting.blogspot.com/2006/10/podcast-what-podcast.html
I know she has been somewhat inspired by you, and would be honored if you gave her a listen (she starts this Friday) and perhaps a kind word. Thanks so much, Brenda, you are the greatest! ~Heather
Dear Brenda,
I can’t wait for the next series of podcasts!! I look everyday to see if you are back… I hope you are having a restful break. I miss you! Thanks for all of your research and field trips– I feel like I go on a trip every time I listen. -Julie
I’m always late listening. I hope you’re also late reading your comments. Please give my regards to your sister Pam for her beautiful essay. I don’t know why it touched me so much, but I will now be watching for that clipper in the sky here in Illinois.
I just listened to the Free Culture topic on this recent podcast.
I really identify with your “politics” on culture and current economic consumerism…
Having been raised entirely in the typical Capitalistic mindset and having been a fairly “material” girl.. I have had to work hard to Unlearn many preconcieved notions about trade, buying and selling, consumerism, sustainable economic systems and lifestyles…
I go to Peak Oil Conferences in Yellow Springs Ohio and they have really helped me not feel so afraid or alone in my current paradigm shift.
I love listening to you and glad that we appear to be of “like mind” regarding the way the world should turn.. I am glad that you have done such excellent work at making this Podcast and sharing very important ideas to help change the world so we can make it a better place. I think we can all learn from the past, both historical and recent and realise there isn’t just 2 economic systems (Communism and Capitalism) and get our heads out of our butts and working at creating a fairer, more sustainable, healthier society.
Namaste
Peace
Caelidh
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I know this is like a year too late? But I had to post something…
I am a new listener still getting caught up on the old episodes of Cast On…
When I heard Jessica’s comments on this podcast episode, my blood went cold and my stomach flipped. She mentioned that she knew the squares donated at her local Michael’s store for the “Warm Up America” project were NOT being used and that her and her friend ended up sewing the pieces together herself. Something similiar happened at the Michael’s in my area of State College, Pennsylvania.
My friends and I had a group that would get together and craft on Friday Nights. When we heard about the Warm Up America project, we decided to spend some time knitting up squares with our left over yarn and donate them at our local Micheal’s…which we did.
On a later visit to the Michael’s store, my friend asked one of the employees what happened to all the squares, did they get sewn together and sent on (there were more than just ours when we dropped off our squares). The employee told her, flat out, no apologies, that the squares were simply THROWN IN THE GARBAGE!!!!!! We were all totally sickened.
PLease people if you want to donate to Warm Up American DO IT DIRECTLY…DO NOT GO THROUGH Michael’s obviously the chain of stores had NO intention of EVER doing anything with the squares.
I WILL NOT donate anything now unless I can do it directly…talk about a marketing SCAM!