This week’s show is better than a poke in the eye with a pointy stick. Tell me a Storynory – Podiobooks – She’s punk. She knits. Get over it. – Storytelling, with bunnies, at Knitwit – Live Long, and Craft – I’m Damned Sick of Knitting the Same Damned Thing Olympic Moment – Plus… all girls! All the time! At Ruby Fruit Radio – Play nice, and don’t make me get out the pins.
KniTunes:
- 4 and 20 Blackbirds – Song of Sixpence
- Robin Stine – Get Over Her
- Natives of the New Dawn – A Good Day
Special thanks to Gemma Morris and Pete Stacey, Of Coleg Sir Gar (Carmarthen College) for Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, the Welsh national anthem.
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Wonderful show once again. You are my favorite knitting buddy. I play your show with me all over my college campus. I love hearing about your week, it just makes my day seem like it will be alright when I’ve started it with your show. I hope your voodoo doll goes mostly unused. I wish there was adequate way of expressing my thanks for all the work you put into your podcast. I’ll just follow your exmaple and say Thank you.
Kindest regards,
Ashley
I was bummed out over your hiatus and then, wow a new episode. Now, I am conflicted: give in to temptation and listen or save it for next week in the car. Choices. Pace yourself but don’t quit. Please (whine, whine)regards Pam
I love to knit or spin to the soft tones of your voice,and the words that you reflect your bright intelligence.
Thank you.
LOVED today’s show! Also listenned to last weeks show and loved that one as well
Thank you for the laughs, the thoughts, the visuals and the music. Thank you for putting yourself out there! You Go Girl!!
GREAT show! I listened tonight while I was having a manicure!
Cute idea about the doll…hope you don’t have to use if often, but I TOTALLY understand when you do! LOL
Relax and hope you have lots of good “cookies”. Can’t wait until next time!
Just thought you might want to know that a lot of the links in this post have http://www.cast-on.com/ in them, followed by whatever the link was supposed to be. Not sure why – just noticed I couldn’t click on them.
I love the new episode! You deserve a bag full of cookies.
First I want to say that I’ve been religiously listening to your podcast since I saw a reference to it from a fellow Librivoxer. I only recently learned how to knit, but have become obsessed.
This comment is really just to tell you that a few of your links in the show notes are wrong. It seems just due to having forgotten the http:// in the URL. For example, Podiobooks links to http://www.cast-on.com/www.podiobooks.com
Thanks for giving me such entertainment to knit to
Love your work…again. This podcast is a great resource for music, knitting, people, knitting, podcasting, blogs and knitting! Intelligent comment with a wry tone. Thank you.
Kate
I am listening to your show right now and you made me laugh outloud this time. Don’t pull a Plath! The project isn’t worth it.
You continue to impress me with every episode. I can’t find one thing to bitch about in your episodes.
I actually crochet while listening but I do know how to knit so it helps me out and I don’t feel like an idiot while listening
That’s the thing the crochet community is missing and hopefully you could get a call to arms for a crochet podcast?
I would like to say thank you as well. I don’t think there could be as good as knit podcast as yours. You definately fill a void and I get excited every Friday to hear the latest episode.
Brenda, you just totally rock.
Another excellent podcast, lots of lovely cookies for you again!
I really loved this week’s essay, as an artist/maker I really got where you were coming from and found myself nodding along in agreement.
I didn’t commment last week but I meant to say that I liked the green ads essay and think it’s something that needs to be thought about. Too many people assume that creative people should just do what they do for love and while I agree that love should be the foundation of what we all do, creative people have bills to pay the same as everyone else. No one assumes that doctors will practice just from love, or that business people will work for nthing, so why assume that the time and energy of makers are any less valuable than everyone else’s?
I’ve spent the last four years since leaving art college trying to figure out a way to balance my art and my finances. Two books I’ve found really helpful are Creating a Life Worth Living by Carol Lloyd and Your Money Or Your Life by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin. The former is about career design for creative people and is a million miles away from the usual career advice that assumes we all want a 9-5 existence. The second is about re-evaluating our relationship with money and dovetails nicely with a lot of what you said about green advertising and how things could be different.
Dearest Brenda, Did you have your cookie, yet? No matter, my comment is meant to be full of gushing admiration and gratitude for all the work and effort you put into your podcast. I am addicted and can hardly wait from one week to the next. Your essay “On Gauge” this week was particularly inspiring and thought-provoking. I love everything about your podcast and I think you’re wonderful for your dedication to it. I’ve also been turned on to Quirky Nomads, thanks to you, not to mention the Anti-Craft and that little trick of purling a row in stockinette to make a neat fold. Works wonders for tiny dog sweater turtlenecks. I owe you so much! Much love,
Brenda
Thank you for all the time and energy you put into your podcast – you have really inspired me and I love what you do.
Thanks for a great episode Brenda. You make Friday afternoons so bearable. I would love to hear more of Franklin’s essays, crack the whip on that boy! He might actually like it.
I miss Dave and Gary! 
Also, thank you so much for the heads up – or is it headers down? – about Anthropologie. Senator Satan is one of my favorite thorns as well. I wonder if all the ‘liberals’ who he is trying to appease with his faulty PAWS bill realize that he’s also a total homophobe? He tries to tell you he’s stopping puppy mills? No, all he’s doing is licensing them so they can pay taxes too. Say NO to PAWS.
I probably should have left a comment earlier, but in any case … Cast-On is my favorite podcast. To be fair, I only listen to a few, but I doubt I’d listen to any at all if I hadn’t started listening to yours. I love the length (you’ve gotten me through some loooong waits at train stations), I love your voice (who doesn’t? You sound like you should be narrating commercials – or audiobooks. Looking forward to Age of Innocence!), I love the format.
Thanks for your hard work.
I LOVED this week’s essay, and started to think about what a shop filled with the things I made would look like. Because I’m a medical student, I would want a part for the patients that I’ve particularly liked, and the ones who I’ve actually been able to help! Anyway, I hope the meanies don’t get you down too badly. I’ve said it before, but I wait all week to listen to your podcast, it is my absolute favorite. I like to listen Saturday mornings and knit in bed…if I’m not on call! Thanks again!!
Brenda – Thank you! for another fun and thought provoking PodCast. And thanks for ‘living out loud’ and not being afraid to wear you heart on your sleeve. So refreshing…
Any knitter who quotes Mary Oliver has a special place in my heart. The poem you quoted from is one of my favorites. So special that I read it at my Dad’s funeral this past August. I’ve copied it here for those who may not be famliar with it.
The Summer Day
by Mary Oliver
Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean–
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down–
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don’t know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?
XOX!
Ahhh. Dat was nice.
I actually worked on finishing a repurposed UFO while your voice and program soothed and inspired me.
Thank you.
I couldn’t figure any other way to do this because I don’t know how to post on the Team Wales blog. I finished my project (a Norwegian ski sweater) so it’s another gold for Wales.
Hi Brenda,
I want to thank you for linking to my site. I have gotten an incredible number of hits that have been referred from your site.
I don’t knit but have been thinking about taking it up since I’m moving to Chicago and am going to need things like scarves and hats and sweaters. I think I am going to pick up one of the books that you suggest on your site for beginners.
thanks again!
just found your podcast and I love it! I am wondering if there is a way to download the older ones – I only seem to be able to download #8 and above. There is a link on your website to listen, but I would like to download to listen to it later. any help would be great. Thanks.
Brenda, I know it is tough to get negative comments. Why don’t people just not listen if they don’t like it? I never understand but I like your podcast and will continue to listen long after your haitus.
Hope you do some wonderful things during the break.
Sarah HB
Brenda, thank you for another terrific episode! You crack me up as you describe your knitting progress/regress. As I was listening today, I finished my husband’s Alice Starmore Na Craga aran sweater. Ashamedly, I did not sign up for the knitting olympics…just didn’t think I could make the team. Secretly, I am signed up in my mind and count my finished Craga as a gold for Team Wales. My Husband, Tom, has been waiting for this Starmore for, dare I say it, years. Its DONE….now, like the aftermath that follows reading a great novel, I will go into my quiet depression…this is probably because it dosn’t pay to be “A ONE PROJECT GIRL!” Finishing is highly over-rated.
Brenda, you are quite a talent. Keep on……..
Thanks again,
Leslie
Brenda, Don’t let the negative Nellies get you down. You rock, girlfriend! Absolutely LOVED the essay this week. Almost moved me TO TEARS. Here’s what you tell those knuckleheads who need voodoo-doll-pinning: “Remember, if you don’t like listening to something, hit the ‘unsubscribe’ button. That’s what it’s for.” Hugs… Can’t wait for next episode (and Age of Innocence)!
This was the first podcast I heard EVER, a friend recommended you. It was so much fun. Your story about the uneven vest was so comforting, somehow hearing these sorts of stories helps realise that you’re not alone when making stupid knitting mistakes.
And I think that voodoo doll is GREAT!
Another great show!
Just wanted to alert you to some great sweater porn – Sky 3 is rerunning ‘Hex’, and tonight’s episode alone had a chunky polo neck, a jacket, and a really cute hat….
Heather xxxx
Brenda – you have become a welcome part of my Saturday, and I thank you so much for all that you have to say. You enrich us all by sharing openly and honestly – and by being yourself. What a treasure. That is to be celebrated with anthems and trumpets, not trammelled by naysayers. Stay true to yourself.
I love your podcast. I listen while I run, thus combining my obsession with long distance running and my knitting obsession (something my family members find both highly amusing and a bit of a concern). I completely understand your need for a hiatus, but, um, could you wait until after the marathon? I save your podcasts for my long run. I’m sure other runners were concerned when I burst out laughing over the concept of sweater porn (which I of course had experienced but never so aptly named). Haven’t listened to this episode yet, I’m saving it for tomorow’s 17 mile run. Oh, and, feel free to talk as long as you’d like, I’m out there for a long time.
Hi Brenda!
You know what’s my current favourite thing to do? I download all my preferred podcasts, put them onto a playlist on iTunes, then settle down with my knitting to listen. Yours is always the first one, and I have to thank you for letting us know about Quirky Nomads – I am hooked!!
I’d just like to say ‘tsssk’ to the people who *advise* that you talk more knitting than podcasting. Well, I LOVE your show. I love that you talk about podcasting and put us on to other shows out there. I was in awe of your son’s instrumental last week and found it quite moving. I will miss you very much when you have your break and will look forward to you coming back. You are the creme de la’ creme in the knitting podcast arena. Thank you so much for being such an inspiration.
Brenda, absolutely love your show, don’t change a thing! I get so excited when I know a new show will be coming, and I’ve listened to some of the old shows twice. It’s great on a long drive while knitting!
Thank you for doing such a wonderful job! I discovered your show a couple of weeks ago, and have since downloaded and listened to all of your old shows (and I’m wishing there were even more).
Keep up the good work! Also, I’m sure we’ll all understand if you need to take a break, and we’ll be eagerly awaiting your return.
And anyone who doesn’t like anything you do…. well, they can just go somewhere else, can’t they?
*insert virtual cookie here*
I stumbled across your blog about a week ago and have since listened to every wonderful podcast. I love hearing the intro … “Knit. Knit like the wind. This is Cast On.” It brings an instant smile to my face! I appreciate your insight, honesty and committment to creating a really fine listening – and knitting – experience.
I love your essay. It brought tears to my eyes. Your words were chosen carefully, and came out like a beautifully knitted sweater.
Hi Brenda — Loved this week’s episode! And I just wanted to mention that it’s probably due to you and your discussions on pod-casting (and how anybody can {and should} do them) that we have as many knitting pod-casts as we do! I’m pretty sure I’ve heard several of the new pod-casters out there mention that YOU were the one who inspired them to do their own. I enjoy all you have to say whether it’s knitting related or not, as I always seem to come away with more than I had before I tuned in. Don’t change a thing about what you do and go with what feels right — it’s gotten you this far!
I played this episode last night while I was running around trying to get organized for a long day of waterpolo and professional hula hooping … no time for knitting, but a mental visit to HandCraftLand was much appreciated.
I laughed out loud about the voodoo doll, and the softly-and-more-threatening-for-it way you talked about using it on nasty critical people.. DO IT! Stick the nasty suckers where it will hurt the most! MAKE THEM PAY! (oh, wait.. I’m supposed to leave that attitude in the pool for waterpolo games, not apply it to cranky knitters.. oopsie!)
I really enjoyed listening to “On Gauge”, too… and will have to listen to it again, in solitude, because I don’t quite have it in me to shush my roommates when they chat to each other or their friends while I am listening to your podcast on my computer’s speakers… though I will probably play it a third time for those very roommates, because they will both appreciate it too, if they would only pay more attention!
Thank you for taking the time and making the effort to put together this lovely podcast for our listening pleasure each and every week. Merci beaucoup!
X.
I LOVE your podcast. I’ve listened for ever and always end up chuckling or shaking my head at things you say.
I’ve been meaning to write to mention Flickr as a possible way of holding the “today’s sweater” archives and a way for everyone to share their projects without wasting your bandwidth. Provided you don’t go over the monthly limit, it’s free.
Also, I was wondering if it would be possible to get “On Gauge” in print. I know it’s something I’ll want to refer back to, and it’s really something I’d like to share with my little sister who doesn’t do podcasts (yes, it’s shameful).
I will never, ever, unsubscribe.
Another great episode! I can’t imagine how much work it must be to put together such a consistently professional and interesting podcast – thanks for putting yourself our there for our enjoyment!
Just listened to your latest episode and all I say is that things just keep getting better! Please, please don’t let the critics get you down as there are so many of us out here who love your show. I especially liked your essay this week and would love to visit your shop!
Ah, Brenda. You will always, always have people who love and appreciate what you do. You are a frequent companion to me as I sit up through the long winter nights and knit. I only hope your hiatus isn’t too long.
Brenda,
I’m a new listener and just caught up to your most recent show. I must say, I’m almost sad about catching up because now I have to wait to hear your next one. It’s almost as if I need to hear about the sweater of the day and the nice music breaks in order to knit. Thanks for doing what you do and know that you do make a difference in knitters lives. And for me it’s a good one. I am so thrilled to have all this new information on things I can listen to while I knit and I owe it all to you and your little podcast. I enjoy all the great links you give out and because of them I now have other things to listen to while knitting.
I hope this was a good cookie for you!
I had a boss once that couldn’t say the words “good job” if you held her feet over the fire. Year after year I did my best for that woman and never got one nice word. One day a friend gave me a little doll and a box of pins and every time I got particularly frustrated with my boss, I stuck the doll with a pin. I felt so much better, I can’t tell you. The little comment you made about nasty comments and the bad juju doll made me smile. Good for you!!!
LOVE your podcast. Thank you so very much for all the parts of you that you so generously share with all of us.
FYI, the Lascivious Biddies album with the song Neighbor (Today’s Sweater song) is available on iTunes.
I’m loving your podcast. I especially liked the essay On Gauge. I sat out in the car this afternoon so I could finish listening to it before heading inside. Have a cookie!
Brenda, I LOVE your podcast. Usually I listen while at work, in anticipation of my weekend’s knitting. Today I had saved it for my long Sunday walk. My WELSH terrier and i trotted happily through our morning to your wonderful musings! thanks so much!
What can I add to what everyone else has said? Ditto, ditto, ditto (no negatives allowed!) I so look forward to you podcast. It’s like a little present …I always have a mental ” Woo hoo!” when I see iTunes updating your show. I too finished my Olympic project-a child’s sweater and matching hat. It’sl the first thing I’ve knitted in years that actually had measurements. Unfortunately I pulled a Speedy Peterson and had a less than wonderful landing as the sleeves appear to have turned out different sizes from one another. Oh well! THANK you for the effort and time you put into this podcast.
i love your show! love it, love it, love it! now, hopefully, you won’t find this until monday morning, since i’m posting this late sunday evening my time (i’m in nebraska). there is a SMALL criticism. i have noticed this throughout all your podcasts, and i find it slightly annoying: the essays are always at a lower volume than the rest of the podcast. i don’t know if this is a software issue, or a recording issue, or what, but it drives me batty every time! btw, if it softens the blow of a “negative” feedback, i ADORED the “gauge” piece. it’s so true. we all have those little shops.
and one other thing, i thought you might be interested in. i’m thinking about making mrs. beaton. but not for my wrists. i am a die-hard birkenstock wearer, and for the most part refuse to wear socks. however, i have noticed lately that while my feet don’t get cold (and yes, i’ve been wearing my birkies ALL winter long), my ankles do. so, i’m thinking about adapting mrs. beaton for that use. also, my sister-in-law loves the little-girl lacey socks, so i may adapt it for that use too! whaddaya think?
Listening to your show this week made me think of a book that helped me consider art in general, which I think includes podcasts, in a new way. It’s called The Gift, and it’s written by Lewis Hyde. Art, he says, works within the economy of gifting, rather than buying and selling. I thought you might enjoy checking out the book, if you have a hankering for a meaty piece of reading.
All of this is my oblique way of saying thank you for the gift you give us all. So thank you.
And another thank you! I listen to your podcast on my Monday morning commute to work — it makes getting up and trudging to the subway much more enjoyable! I love listening to the show while knitting on the train.
LOL.. When I heard you say that you couldn’t stop talking about podcasting even if you wanted to and it reminded me of myself. No matter how much it bugs some of my friends, they know that there is absolutely, positively no way in this world that I can talk about my life without mentioning, at least once, my 4 beautiful & talented Collies and my 2 adorable and witty house rabbits. Love & fur from Andi, Sadie, Holly, Alex, Bella & Thumper.
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