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200 Work as written Aug 18, 2024

Show notes

Off the needles and on; Tour de Fleece wrap up; notes from the production line; a new bag; a new spindle; good materials; and Bennet’s Boiled Potatoes.

Compared to some, mine was a paltry Tour de fleece output, still... I made time for fibre, and it did kickstart my spinning, which had been dormant since the move. I talked about Fellview Fibre rolags and my new spalted Beech drop spindle from Raven's Flight UK (the shop is empty at present, but the seller is worth a follow); rolags and batts from Etsy seller ReaderArts (currently on holiday); a half a bobbin's worth of Llanwenog; Cheers! You'll find Scintillation and Christmas Lights on Ravelry.

Noodlehead bags are awesome. I'm using the Making Backpack pattern, but they're all good, according to my sister, Pam. And Pam knows.

When I'm done with the backpack, I get to paint my kitchen in Farrow and Ball Dorset Cream. I'm looking forward to it.

Get your own Bennet Family Excellent Boiled Potatoes Tote

Music in this podcast by:

Jim Fidler, Merrigan's Reel

Sofia, Good Times

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brendadayne.substack.com/subscribe

199 The system Jul 21, 2024

Show notes

Knitting the slowest sock in the history of sock knitting. Tour de Fleece. The merits of taking small steps vaguely in the direction a goal. I’m thinking about style again, and looking for systems.

David Kibbe’s Metamorphosis: Discover Your Image Identity and Dazzle as Only You Can is one of the worst titles ever. And, yes, the price of this book is insane. Fortunately, there’s not long to wait until his book comes out. The publication date is 7 January 2025.

If you can’t wait to start your style journey, you can download a scanned copy of Metamorphasis here.

Obstinate, headstrong girls can get their Tees from The Spark Company

Music in this podcast:

Merrigan’s Reel, Jim Fidler

Right Where I Belong, Atlantic Runway

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brendadayne.substack.com/subscribe

198 Picking up the threads Jun 23, 2024

Show notes

House projects have broken me; the summer of socks continues; the red that bled; Tour de Fleece; and a return to Clifford Byway.

My new obsession for shorties led me to Zabava Socks. They fit very well, and work up quickly. The pattern is easy to follow and the results are moreish.

The Tour de Fleece Facebook Group is here.

The Holy Texts of Tour de Fleece: Fleece and Fibre Sourcebook, by Deb Robson, and The Spinner's Book of Yarn Designs, by Sarah Anderson

Vacillate is officially in the queue!

You owe it to yourself to check out Wild and Wooly's mailing list.

Music in this podcast:

Jim Fidler, Merrigan's Reel

Voyageur, My Only Love

Jamie Drake, Beginnings

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brendadayne.substack.com/subscribe

197 Gradual Stiffening May 26, 2024

Show notes

The weather. Men in shorts. The run down. Ta Da moments. And the moments just before a plan comes together.

The Red Edge is complete!

The chart for Red Edge was designed by Anna-Lisa Mannheimer Lunndown, and is from the book Poems of Colour, by Wendy Keele. I used the top down set-in sleeve method pioneered by Elizabeth Doherty. I talked about this method at length in 153 I, Curator.

My Summer(s) of Socks

2022: Ipomoea, Lunaria and the gradient-dyed pair of Syncopation socks that set Jeny Staiman on a path towards Polar Arc.

2023: Weekend Shorties, and Pan.

2024 Plans: Weekend Shorties redux, Footprint, Zabava, plus August Argyle's, once I have learned intarsia in the round. I have tons of sock leftovers (courtesy of my KBFF) and I'm having a blast playing with all the colours.

Read more about Gradual Stiffening, pattern 207 in A Pattern Language, by Chris Alexander, here.

Music in this podcast: Merrigan's Reel, by Jim Fidler; and I'm Back! by Royal Deluxe.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brendadayne.substack.com/subscribe

196 A wide variety of displacement activities Feb 10, 2024

Show notes

In this episode: The party dress; picking up threads; a project round up; and the big idea, spoken aloud.

The High School Art Teacher Dress by Vogue [(V1410)](https://simplicity.com/vogue-patterns/v1410)

I can highly recommend the following books by David Page Coffin: [Making Trousers for Men and Women](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Making-Trousers-Men-Women-Multimedia/dp/1589234499/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2FUKFXA8S92IP&keywords=making+trousers+for+me+and+women&qid=1707313032&sprefix=making+trousers+for+me+and%2Caps%2C1168&sr=8-1) [Shirt Making: Developing skills for fine sewing](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shirtmaking-Developing-Skills-Fine-Sewing/dp/1561580155/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2RNHMZFPAOVDC&keywords=david+page+coffin&qid=1707315304&sprefix=david+page+coffin%2Caps%2C278&sr=8-2)

Project Round Up

[Elm](https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/elm-3) socks

[Esther](https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/esther-18)

[Mirabelle Slippers](https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mirabelle-slippers)

Music in this episode:

Jim Fidler, Merrigan's Reel [Bobby Saint](https://www.musicbed.com/artists/bobby-saint/43928), Feelin' Good

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brendadayne.substack.com/subscribe

195 You can't keep everything Dec 16, 2023

Show notes

In this episode: Stash enhancement; hat boxes of joy; the rug of sorrow; knitting memory lane, letting it go. Repeat after me: It is okay to rest.

Thank you, past Brenda, for setting up [Esther](https://www.ravelry.com/projects/Brenda/esther-2) (by Camilla Vad) and [Boreal](https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/boreal-2) (by Kate Davies). Leftovers from Esther will become [Winter's Fern](https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/winters-fern) hats.

My [Elm](https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/elm-3) socks, , by Cookie A, in Admiral Hanf.

The Red Edge is for Season 3 of [Lupin](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2531336/), which I am hoping to watch next week, by the fire, with a cat on my lap.

Busting out hats using the [Two by Two](https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/two-by-two-2) pattern.

Meet [onion](https://www.wildandwoollyshop.co.uk/shop/yarn/nettle-sock-yarn/), a truly sustainable sock yarn in oodles of colours.

If you like looking at very pretty old dresses, the [John Singer Sargent Exhibition at the Tate Britain](https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/sargent-and-fashion) is for you. Read more about Madame X and listen to experts discuss the painting [here(https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/20012492).

Genius Loci is my new favourite newsletter. [Get it here.](https://www.digest.andymarshall.co/)

Music: [Perfect Holiday, by Cassette Deck](https://www.musicbed.com/songs/perfect-holiday/45838)

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brendadayne.substack.com/subscribe

194 What I did last summer Oct 21, 2023

Show notes

In this episode: Undone by Cosmo/Cosmo undone; colour blocking that didn’t stitck; a summer romance; a bounty of beautiful sock yarn; packing projects for a journey with no end date; and the view from the Stone Cottage!

The sweater that was [Cosmo](https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cosmo-cardigan) is no longer pining for the fjords. We are both happier for it.

The colour blocking that I thought might be the answer to knitting a longer Schneke did not work for me. Might have been the yarn. I’m still swooning over the spiral lace pattern. Full marks for [Schneke](https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/schnecke-3).

If you need a yarn just like the discontinued yarn you're running out of, [Yarnsub](https://yarnsub.com/) is your friend.

My affaire de couer with shortie socks includes:

[Pan](https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pan-8) (which looks better on the foot than off).

[Weekend Shorty Socks](https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/weekend-shorty-socks). I had a blast choosing the colours of these and took many, many, many pics.

Next in the queue, [Zabava](https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/zabava-2), on sale through 31 October. I also plan to try out some new heel constructions this winter, starting with [Biarritz](https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/basic-biarritz-socks). It's also on sale through 31 October.

It's finally sweater season! Up first, the sweater of my long time dreams, [Esther](https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/esther-18), soon to be followed by [Boreal](https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/boreal-2). If I can complete these two AND finish the Red Edge, it'll be a very good winter.

Music in this podcast: Merrigan's Reel, [Jim Fidler](http://www.jimfidler.com/) [Boxes](https://www.musicbed.com/songs/boxes/33111), [Ben Rector](https://www.musicbed.com/artists/ben-rector/69)

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brendadayne.substack.com/subscribe

193 The waiting phase Jul 13, 2023

Show notes

In this episode: I have more projects on the needles at one time than ever before, and I talk about all of them. Also, we're buying a cottage, and trying very hard to remain detached until the contracts have been signed.

The Schneke Shawl spiral has been a little bit addictive. Now that I've reached the back and forth section of the first rectangular end, it's less so.

Not feeling the love for 24 Days Socks knit from the toe up. Time to call time out.

The August Argyle Socks are still just yarn and an idea at this point. It occurs to me that perhaps a swatch in the round of simpler intarsia shapes, like a square on one side, and a triangle on the other, might be a good practice piece.

Against All Odds is off the needles, and the fit is much more relaxed than anticipated. I don't hate it, it's just something to be aware of when you knit with linen.

The Cosmo Cardigan goaded me into nearly completing the yoke in about a week. I'm slowing down now, and saving this project for when I need a break from all the lace and fingering weight yarn.

[The Red Edge](https://www.ravelry.com/projects/Brenda/the-red-edge-cardigan-poc) details make all the difference. I just love this project. Never gonna give it up. Never gonna let it down.

Knit to this: Tonia and I have been amusing ourselves with these fine podcasts, hosted by Danny Robins, from BBC sounds: The Uncanny Podcast is great fun. [Start here.](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0010wp9) The Battersea Poltergeist is also creepy and very weird. But our favourite was The Witch Farm, because it takes place in Wales.

Music in this podcast: Jim Fidler, Merrigan’s Reel and [Hanna Trigwell, Never Gonna Give You Up](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSDOcLfwM-I)

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brendadayne.substack.com/subscribe

192 The dam busters Jun 10, 2023

Show notes

The Great Airing of the Stash 2023. Hibernating projects emerge, blinking, into the light. The Red Edge gets a new button band and top-down contiguous sleeve cap. Made progress on Against All Odds - closer to done than I remember. Love that. The butterflies from Paint Pan will be knit into stripes using the 24 Days Sock Pattern.

Then, after taking care to continue work on old projects, I went a little nutzy starting new things. Schnenke (really fun knit, clever and interesting shape). Gilet Parodia destined to become my new favourite Grandpa sweater. And my first ever Argyle socks from Anne Berk’s Diamonds Are Forever knit to the length of August Argyles.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brendadayne.substack.com/subscribe

191 amazing technicolour dream shirts May 21, 2023

Show notes

The production line. Tiny arms. The trouble with Esther - I’d rather begin the yoke with GRANITE (not “graphite”). Ready to redesign the colorwork on the swatch. The sock makes a brief appearance before returning to time out.

I have not yet performed penance on recent stash acquisition, but I did just think up a great name for this project: The Squeaky Spinach Boreal. It’s perfect, right?

Ready to learn beautiful mending with Visible Creative Mending and micro skeins of joy (twenty pence piece for scale = roughly the size of a US nickel). Fiona’s very sad sleeve and the mend from last year.

Make your own Desert Boots in this online class from the Chicago School of Shoemaking. (Tip o’ the needles to Sarah S.)

Massive thanks to Kim Werker for her time, enthusiasm and inspiration. Kim’s current project with Kate Atherly is Digits & Threads, about Canadian fibre and textile arts. Their first book: Sheep, Shepherd and Land.

Music: Jim Fidler, Merrigan’s Reel; Marie Hinds, Light Up the World

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brendadayne.substack.com/subscribe

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