Cast On

An Eye for an Eye - would the animals we eat, eat us? Impossible Hats. Box Hill Picnic, from Jane Austen’s Emma. Dangerous Questions, where the danger is yours, not your opponent’s. This is what insomniacs get up to at 3am while you are sleeping.

Kent Berridge coined the term incentive salience. When dopamine runs hot, everything arrives pre-lit with significance. The creativity wasn’t a symptom - it was genuine creative product on the “this matters” signal.

A desire path is a trail worn into the landscape by human feet. Not planned. Just walke...

From the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows, Nighthawk n. a recurring thought that only strikes you late at night. Mine struck every night for eight weeks.

Zopiclone is a sledgehammer. Daridorexant is a key. One imposes sleep. The other removes the obstacle to it. There’s a big difference, and finding it changed everything.

Also: Jasper as Big Spoon. An AI health czar who suggested I should just pour ethanol directly on my brain to save time. And the thing I found at 3am that stayed.

Music: Christopher Wohrle, Dust; Waveshaper, Our Time (Instrumental)

Trimethoprim for a UTI. Seven days. By day three, everything was hysterically funny. By day five, I could hear things that weren’t there. By week two, I couldn’t track yarn overs in garter stitch. Garter stitch.

The projects on my needles when my brain broke Bradford Road, Dark Days, Ghost in the Orchard were beyond me for the next four months. The only thing that still worked was drop spindling. Hands remembered what the brain forgot. So I made yarn.

The weird pantry. Lexical-gustatory synaesthesia from folate antagonism - undocumented, as far as I ca...

Zabava Shorties disasters. The signs were there. Sometimes, you need to break up with a sock pattern. “It’s not you, it’s me. I don’t like you anymore.” Meanwhile, the Peppermint Pocket Skirt delivers enormous pockets perfect for sock projects, and Ruth Collins’ Top Down Centre Out method might revolutionize trouser fitting.

The Bradford Road wrap progresses through garter rectangles. Big Love Cardigan waits for cooler weather. But sewing succeeded where knitting failed—the Peppermint Pocket Skirt (free collaboration between Peppermint Magazine and Paper Theory) paired beautifully with the Block Tee, with right angle sewing tutorial makin...

It's been a week of finishes and new beginnings. Off the needles, I've completed a Malabrigo hat and love the color pooling. You don’t hear me say that very often.

I've finally finished my Amande socks—though I must say I rather hated working both the nupps and wrapped stitches techniques. Sometimes you have to try things to understand what you decidedly do not enjoy.

My new obsession is Big Love by ANKESTRIK, a top-down cardigan with fascinating construction that I'm knitting in gorgeous Gilliat yarn. The pattern begins with a provisional cast-on at the...

Finishing socks, saving the yarn, new projects from old, planning the perfect colourwork sweater, plus a bit of theoretical physics to prove what knitters already know: knitting is magic.

Links and references:

Finishing socks, saving the yarn, new projects from old, planning the perfect colourwork sweater, plus a bit of theoretical physics to prove what knitters already know: knitting is magic.

Links and references:

* Admiral Hanf yarn by Schoppel Wolle

* Lang Jawoll sock yarn

* Chessmaster, by Christian Mattausch

* Amande, by Josephine and the Seeds

* Sophie Shawl by PetiteKnit

* Bradford Road Wrap, by Kristen Kapur

* Fox Paws, by Xandy Peters

* Soft Spot sweater by Elina Maaria

* ke21’s Soft Spot on Ravelry is...

We travel from Iron Age firepits to mid-century homemaking manuals, consider the joys of stash organisation, and muse on the performative aspects of home decorating. There's a deep dive into the ancient tradition of human-centred design through textiles, from spindle whorls to soft furnishings, a detour through the joys of vacuum bags and organza, a nod to Swedish Death Cleaning, and a look inside the Granny Cranny.

We travel from Iron Age fire-pits to mid-century homemaking manuals, consider the joys of stash organisation, and muse on the performative aspects of home decorating. There’s a deep dive into the ancient tradition of human-centred design through textiles, from spindle whorls to soft furnishings, a detour through the joys of vacuum bags and organza, a nod to Swedish Death Cleaning, and a look inside the Granny Cranny.

Books & Patterns

* Bojagi: Design and Techniques in Korean Textile Art by Sara CookA richly illustrated exploration of Korean wrapping cloths (bojagi), covering both traditional and contemporary piecing te...

Replenishing the sock drawer with Priory Socks (project page).

My Secret Circles, below.

Porthos (project page), below.

I moved my decreases to the back of the heel, and the result is similar to Basic Biarritz and the Kite Heel, yet is uniquely mine and oh, is it ever sexy. The joy of a well-fitting heel cannot be overstated.

The short row method used in Zabava Shorties is still, hands down, the best method I have found for toes. You'll find the method for Jeny's Square Peg Heel here.

Cat...

Replenishing the sock drawer with Priory Socks (project page).

My Secret Circles, below.

Porthos (project page), below.

I moved my decreases to the back of the heel, and the result is similar to Basic Biarritz and the Kite Heel, yet is uniquely mine and oh, is it ever sexy. The joy of a well-fitting heel cannot be overstated.

The short row method used in Zabava Shorties is still, hands down, the best method I have found for toes. You'll find the method for Jeny's Square Peg Heel here.

Cat...

In which an American Thanksgiving is celebrated in the UK, albeit a day late and a pumpkin pie short.

One of the first pieces of writing I recorded for Cast On in 2005, this has become one of my most popular podcasts. This particular version was rerecorded in 2011 for A Knitter’s Manifesto, and features sound design by artist, Felicity Ford.

It’s autumn. Time for finishing projects, knitting socks and celebrating the impending winter by taking the sweaters out of storage. This one is all knitting, and I make no apologies.

I'm channelling my grief in the time-honoured tradition: by knitting all the things.

I am filling the sock drawer starting with a riff on Winter's Gift, by Amy Snell, using Autumn Leaves and Tarmac colours and a traditional Scandinavian motif. Followed by Follow the Fleet, by Don Yarmon; and Priory Socks, by Louise Tilbrook.

Riff Socks, by Lise Brackbill and Toe-up Socks wi...

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 ho...

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 scanne...

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!

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 P...

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...

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...

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 spir...

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...

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...

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...

IKvetching is now free to all! Find it on Ravelry or on Jeny Staiman’s Payhip.

The Stitching show was fun, if a bit short on yarn. Next year, Wonderwool. That said, I’m pretty happy with this button. (Left: new button; right: with the incorrect button it replaced.) The button makes the knitwear. I have always said this.

I Can Make Shoes, and so can you. Check them out.

Music: Jim Fidler, Merrigan’s Reel; Marie Hines, It’s Just the Beginning

The level of craft chaos was high this week, but Lilly’s retro-vibe pinnies are finished! Pattern is Bias Trimmed Apron from Little Things to Sew by Oliver & S, in lightweight linen with bias binding in designer fabrics from this UK eBay seller. Several knitsibs want an adult-sized version. Still looking - drop a comment if you know of something similar.

The Sock is not at a very interesting place, but you can see progress. The yarn is Coop Knits, Socks, Yeah! in Labrodorite (reads more dull green than grey). Happy with my decision to drop the re...

This week’s quest: design socks that are plain but not boring to knit. It’s a tall f*****g order.

Thanks to Fetching designer Cheryl Niamath for her playful spirit and gracious acceptance of our mods. Cheryl models the version of Kvetching that Jeny knit for her; two versions of Fetching at different gauges; Jeny’s uses her interlock bind off.

After recording I realized I’d neglected to mention Knucks designer Pamela Grossman, whose beautiful top-down thumb gusset inspired the one Jeny and I used in Kvetching.

You say bojagi, I say pojagi. The work of a lifetime. A return of the light.

Falling down, playing in the knitting adjacent zone, beginnings, One Block Wonders, over under over under over under, and a new series!

The art of getting very, very close to knitting, whilst remaining emotionally aloof and at arm’s length; I bought yarn; the latest amazing design from the mind of Jeny Stainman; and someone saved my life tonight.

Science! Tiny sweaters. Little stockings. Charming wee hats. Stars. Rockin rolags. Colours! Floors that go squelch. Wait, that isn’t supposed to happen. 

FYI: There's nothing wrong with your ears. There was a mic incident during the recording, and I could not face do-overs. Pretend we're on the phone, and I'm doing all the talking.

Cosy-testing, for science; taking bivalents for the team; and rail journeys from the not-too-distant past.

Welcoming the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness by putting things in jars for later, admiring dramatic skies, planting for the future, knitting waistcoats and new hats, and the Discipline of Do Easy.

In this episode, summer rain, and the last of the summer socks; the return of things from our life; baking chocolate cookies; and more glorious stranded colourwork from Knitsonik and Friends, (aka my friend, Felix.)

Needles afire with summer socks; baking at midnight, running the numbers for Against All Odds; and standing atop of pile of new-made things.

A sock heel for gradient dyed yarn; re-making a home; memories of dump runs past; buttons, and the Celestial Emporium of Benevolent Knowledge. 

The knitting equivalent of eating dessert first; the knitting pivot; emergency socks; and the return of la mer.

In this episode, the Against All Odds sweater gets a pop of colour to break up the unremitting boredom of knitting stockinette in grey yarn. It only lasted for four rounds, but was glorious. The folly of working with charcoal yarn at dusk is discussed, along with its antidote, the Syncopation sock pattern. Also, Delia Smith and touch typing. And Dracula. 

The first and best news, Tonia is home. Teaching herself to mend in order to stave off boredom, and providing a lap for grateful pets who are as relieved that she is home as I am.

For the first time ever, I'm using Susie Myer's contiguous top down method for set-in sleeves to knit Against All Odds in Shibui linen yarn. It's easier than the row by row directions make it seem. 

Plus, some general musings on sweaters. 

Fiddly false starts. Ambushed by linen. The sound of knitting freedom. The answer is in the question. And why is everything I need already packed away in a box?

Simple tools. Sweaters for the Littles. Jeny Staiman’s amazing heel construction. And my spring sweater shortlist. Links to everything I talk about are at brendadayne.co.uk.