Since we’ve upgraded the computer, I’ve made some discoveries. Now, these are not new things. Others of you have discovered these things a long time ago. So, what have I discovered? Podcasts and You Tube.
Don’t laugh. Our old computer couldn’t handle all that technology. This one can. So far, thanks to You Tube, I’ve discovered that I’ve been doing Cat Bordhi’s moebius cast on wrong. I’ve since used one ball of yarn from the stash to do an experimental moebius… correctly. It’s nothing fancy, nothing worth even a picture.
And then there are podcasts. There’s a part of me that doesn’t like having “noise” happening while I’m doing something else, but podcasts are definitely a diversion. So far, I’ve subscribed to four podcasts, three of which are knitting related. The fourth is from CBC, The Vinyl Café, with Stuart Maclean.
One of the three knitting podcasts is Cast On with Brenda Dayne, who, in the last one, had a conversation with Tara Jon Manning, author of Men in Knits and Mindful Knitting. I listened to that podcast while I was in the process of knitting the Inga hat. It did inspire me to slow down and really pay attention to my knitting. You know what? The second half of that hat looks much better than the first half. I tend to rush things; slowing down a bit really made a difference.
I must admit I wasn’t doing any kind of meditation, but I was definitely more aware of the needle and yarn creating each stitch… more mindful knitting. Try it sometime!
In other things, the eyes are feeling better, but still a bit itchy. I must learn not to rub my eyes when they’re dry and itchy, especially not if I’m at work. I know that it’s a reaction to something environmental this time. It happens occasionally; I just don’t know what triggers it, apart from one of the drops my optometrist uses. I should be back at work tomorrow, after a good night’s sleep.
Do you listen to podcasts? What are your favourites? Any you recommend over any others? What about You Tube? Any recommendations? So far, I’ve only been checking the knitting stuff, but I’m open to other recommendations, too.
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I'm pretty into knitting podcasts; for me they just add another level into the creative process! Some of my favorites are The Manic Purl (http://manicpurl.blogspot.com/), Sticks and Strings (http://sticksandstring.wordpress.com/), and Cast On, of course. The Manic Purl is a done by a Knitter and Spinner who often has the best stories. Sticks and Strings reminds me more of Cast On. David (the host) has an 'essay' for almost every episode which deals with the 'deeper' side to knitting. Take a look at both, they're very enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteI just found the Knitmore Girls, a mother daughter team that is quite funny
ReplyDeleteI did try them but I found them distracting and somehow inhibiting.
ReplyDeleteI seriously hope your eyes are feeling better - that's gotta suck :(
I love Cast On - when I first discovered it last spring, I went through and listened to them all from the beginning! (I did have a 45 minute commute, so I would listen in the car.)
ReplyDeleteI also like the Knitpicks podcast, and KCRW's Left, Right, and Center. I like to listen to various other news related podcasts, too.
I listen to a lot of podcasts - so many that I'm a year behind on some of them! Besides Cast On, Sticks & String, Manic Purl (my friend and former spinning student Chrissiethegreat) and Knitpicks that have already been mentioned, you might want to try Craftlit (classic books from Librivox with commentary by Heather Ordover), Stash and Burn (two knitters in San Francisco trying to reduce the stash), YKnit (another one from the guy-knitters' perspective) and one of my favourites, CraftSanity, which isn't necessarily about knitting but many crafts and has great interviews.
ReplyDeleteThere's lots more but that's just off the top of my head. A lot depends on what type of things you prefer to listen to and whether you can relate to the podcaster(s) or not! Happy listening!