PODCAST

Cast On

Cast On began on Monday, 31 October, 2005, founded on nothing more than the desire to talk about knitting to people who get it. Since then, the podcast has evolved to focus on finding inspiration in the ordinary, using it to kick start the process of making stuff, and finding ways to carve out the creative time and space that allows you to work your ass off on the projects that matter most to you. Like knitting a sweater. Or saving the world. brendadayne.substack.com

leisure crafts

All Episodes

31:14

205 Big love and secret pajamas

Cast On ·

2025/07/05

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

31:38

Cart before the workhorse

Cast On ·

2025/05/18

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 one of

204 Cart before the workhorse

Cast On ·

2025/05/17

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

32:41

203 Looking in

Cast On ·

2025/05/11

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.

203 Looking in

Cast On ·

2025/05/03

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

29:56

202 A gentle pastime

Cast On ·

2025/04/06

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 Bordhi's

202 A gentle pastime

Cast On ·

2025/04/05