Teaching Your Brain to Knit
Brainy Thing:   11:37  Behind the Redwood Curtain:  24:21
Catherine has declare “Hat Day” by knitting Marsha McCormack’s “Easy Watch Cap With A Twist” http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/easy-watch-cap-with-a-twist.  Marsha designs under the name of Lena’s Legacy Hand Knits, honoring her grandmother who taught her to knit.   The pattern is free.
 Catherine also knit the "Countless Baby Hat”  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/countless-baby-hata free top down pattern by Cindy Davies that features a little i-chord twist at the top.
Margaret practiced working with double pointed needles on a free eyeball pattern http://www.knitpicks.com/patterns/Eyeballs__D55679220.html  featured on the Knit Picks site and designed by Stana D. Sortor.
 
Brainy Thing:  Gratitude Changes Your Brain
For some time people have recognized that actively practicing gratitude can improve our moods but Catherine has found research that shows that gratitude practice can change our brains for the better.     Research by Glenn R Fox et al reports their research:  http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01491/full.  Also cited by Catherine is this research:  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4588123/
 
Behind the Redwood Curtain:  Bull Kelp  aka Bull Whip Kelp etc.  
Margaret tells the tale about how sharing her grandson’s “screen time” of the Octonauts, she learned more about the plant life behind the Redwood Curtain.  Giant Kelp Forest episode on Octonauts:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szJd0rGJUTA  and source on what it looks like when it washes up on shore:  http://www.seaweedsofalaska.com/species.asp?SeaweedID=47
 
 
 
Knitting Tip:     
You can stuff tiny places in your knitting with a mosquito clamp.  http://www.surgical-instrument-pictures.com/instrument-index-kelly-mosquito.html
 
A Little Podcast Business:
Learn-along 2016
 
Links:
website https://teachingyourbraintoknit.com/ for show notes, photos of our knitting and crochet projects, Behind the Redwood Curtain places and things and anything else we decide to post.
 
 
Today in Teaching Your Brain to Knit how gratitude not only changes your attitude but changes your brain, Catherine declares Hat Day, Margaret learns knitting techniques by knitting eyeballs, how a children’s television show can lead to understanding your own environment, and repurposing surgical instruments into knitting tools.  
Direct download: Ep._052__How_Gratitude_Impacts_the_Brain.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:04pm PDT

BrainyThing:  27:30     Behind the Redwood Curtain: 32:45
 
What We Are Learning from Our Knitting:
Margaret was inspired by the  Maya hat and mittens  designed by Theresa Schabes
Viking Norway Nordlys which is a thick fingering weight 75% superwash wool 25% nylon single loosely plied yarn.  What is striking about the yarn is the intense colors.   They have long irregular stripes that are what I call a true gradient  — they seem to blend into each other unlike some gradients that just seem to strop abruptly and switch to a different color.
 
Catherine finished her small projects and started another  Bunnymuff’s Mystery Knit-along for September  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sept-mkal-2016.   She's using Wolle’s Yarn Creations gradient yarn in peach and sand color which she finds easier to knit than she did before.   Practice makes better!
 
Brainy Thing:  
In addition to increasing oxygen to the brain, exercise bolsters brain health in a number of ways.  Margaret reports on this.
 
Behind the Redwood Curtain
The city of Arcata in 2012 taxed excessive utility use as a measure to reduce illegal marijuana grows in residential houses.
 
Knitting Tip:
Rolenstone on our Ravelry group says that you can use recycled bleach wipes container to hold yarn (be sure to rinse out thoroughly.)
 
Links:
Ravelry Teaching Your Brain to Knit Group  http://www.ravelry.com/groups/teaching-your-brain-to-knit
website https://teachingyourbraintoknit.com/ for show notes, photos of our knitting and crochet projects, Behind the Redwood Curtain places and things and anything else we decide to post.
 
Today on Teaching Your Brain to Knit: Learn how Exercise can improve your brain in many ways, Do you always need a class or a tutorial  to learn new techniques, will repeated practice with a challenging yarn can increase your skill, How the city of Arcata found an innovative way to increase the availability of housing, and a tip on how you can upcycle a wipes contain to become a useful yarn tool
 
Direct download: Ep._051_Exercise_and_the_Brain.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:25pm PDT

Brainy thing:  12:46              Behind the Redwood Curtain: 26:38
What We’re Learning from Our Knitting:  
Twice Margaret made the ribbed brim of the Top Down lace beanie from lion brand http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lace-beanie-70177 too tight.  She tells how Lori’s Twisty bind off https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWS77BKk5NQ saved the day.  She used Plymouth Kudo yarn in cotton and silk.  And Catherine enjoys the pile of washcloths that she received from her Ravelry washcloth exchange — all in cotton yarn she’s never used before.
 
Brainy Thing:
We’ve probably all  heard of the left brain/right brain concept what about the top brain/bottom brain paradigm?  Take the quiz here:  http://www.gwaynemiller.com/test.html#.WC4GXls5yPU.  Look into the theory at:  http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304410204579139423079198270
 
Behind the Redwood Curtain.
Catherine shares how Humboldt Bay clams not only star in the 7th best Food Festival in the country but also help clean up the bay.
 
Knitting Tip:
Catherine finds an answer to an annoying (for her) Knit Three Together stitch from Barbara Walker and speculates that just about any problem you’re having with your knitting, someone else has too and has found a solution and shared it.
 
website https://teachingyourbraintoknit.com/ for show notes, photos of our knitting and crochet projects, Behind the Redwood Curtain places and things and anything else we decide to post.
 
Direct download: Ep._050_What_We_Learn_From_Slicing_Our_Brain_into_Top_and_Bottom.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:27pm PDT

Brainy Thing: 18:46                 Behind the Redwood Curtain: 24:36
 
What We’re Learning From Our Knitting:
Catherine scores a spectacular finish to the Vanessa Ives Knit-along by Bunny Muff or Mona8pi http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/vanessa-ives
Margaret struggles with a crocheted stuffy, Aitches by Brenda K. B. Anderson  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/aitches
 
Brainy Thing:
Catherine find a study that specifically links “mood repair” or depression relief from knitting done at the Arizona State University Well Being lab study by Ann Futterton Collier  http://www.jkp.com/jkpblog/2012/02/interview-ann-futterman-collier-using-textile-arts-and-handcrafts-in-therapy-with-women/
 
Behind the Redwood Curtain
A pretty, yellow  stalk like glandweed flower unexpectantly  pops up in Margaret's back yard.  http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=PAVI3
 
 
Knitting tip  — round out curved edges
Catherine offers a solution for those awkward stair-step like edges on parts of your knitting that is supposed to be curved.
 
 
 
Today in Teaching Your Brain to Knit A spectacular ending to the Vanessa Ives Knitalong;  how to fudge a troublesome crochet stuffy, learning to appreciate surprises in the garden and finding a way to improve a jagged edge on curved knitting.
Direct download: Ep._049_Knitting_Helps_Depression_--_Another_Study.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:07pm PDT

Welcome to Episode 48:  How You Can Learn the Holistic Way
Brainy Thing:   22:20      Behind the Redwood Curtain:  29:50
What We Learned From Our Knitting
Margaret learns a lot about her knitting by not knitting.   Catherine confronts some of the challenges of long term knitting projects, this time the Meadow Lark  Shibori Jacket http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/meadowlark-shibori-jacket by Gina Wilde out of Alchemy yarns.
 
Brainy Thing:  Holistic Knitting
When is learning like a piece of knitting  Whhen it’s holistic and interconnected.  Margaret shares the theories of Shawn Whitely from his now out-of-print book Memletics.
 
Behind the Redwood Curtain:
Sumeg Village in Patrick’s Point State is a recreated Yurok village that is not a museum but a living location for local native events.  
 
Knitting Tip:
Danica53  from our Ravelry group shares a new loose bind off:   Lori’s twisty bind off  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWS77BKk5NQ
 
website https://teachingyourbraintoknit.com/ for show notes, photos of our knitting and crochet projects, Behind the Redwood Curtain places and things and anything else we decide to post.
 
Coming up in Teaching Your Brain to Knit we examine how to learn about your knitting by not knitting, the dangers of multi year projects, how learning might be like knitting and crochet fabric, how sumeg village helps Yurok Indians walk in two worlds and another solution for loose bind-offs.
Direct download: Ep._048_How_You_Can_Learn_the_Holistic_way.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:41pm PDT

Welcome to Episode 47 of Teaching Your Brain to Knit
Brainy thing:      11:29   Behind the Redwood Curtain 21:56
What We’re Learning from Our Knitting
Margaret has been looking for modifications of the Afterthought Heel to prevent (or reduce) those strained stitches in the corner.   She found Afterthought Heels Revisited (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/afterthought-heels-revisited) by Laura Linneman of the Kinitgirlllls (yes, three “l”s) Podcast fame and the Knit Better Socks blog by RMD (http://knitbettersocks.blogspot.com/2011/12/improving-afterthought-or-forethought.html).  She used Vesper yarn  in a color way she calls “Neopolitan ice cream with blueberries”— pink, blue white and blue.
Catherine finished up her Double Lattice Dishcloths by SmarieK (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/double-lattice-cloth).  She used various leftovers from Knit Picks and Peaches and Cream
The Brainy Thing: Breathing and the Brain
Margaret was inspired by this topic by Memletics writer Sean Whitely which unfortunately had no references.  So she looked for some research the (self evident) idea that breathing would help your brain function.   She started with Breathing and the Brain (http://www.forbes.com/sites/daviddisalvo/2013/05/14/breathing-and-your-brain-five-reasons-to-grab-the-controls/#2e5150ae52aa) then found a MIT study from 2005 headed by Sara W. Lazar, et al (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1361002/)  (she also has a Ted Talk at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8rRzTtP7Tc.
Behind the Redwood Curtain:  Trees of Mystery 
Catherine focuses on the giant interactive Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox of Trees of Mystery in Klamath, CA.  https://www.treesofmystery.net/
Knitting Tip: decreases on the edges of garments
Catherine shares a tip for making neater knitting decreases along the edges of garment.
Links:
website https://teachingyourbraintoknit.com/ for show notes, photos of our knitting and crochet projects,  and indexes for Behind the Redwood Curtain places and Brainy things and anything else we decide to post.
 
 
Direct download: Ep._047_Breathing_meditation_and_your_Brain_-_10_3_16_11.25_AM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:55pm PDT

Brainy Thing:   13:19       Behind the Redwood Curtain:
We modify our podcast a bit this podcast as we synthesize and review two years of our podcasting episodes.
 
What We’ve Learned from Our Knitting (and Crochet)
Catherine and Margaret talk what they’ve learned from their knitting over the past two years.  Margaret has learned about her ADD with knitting and how she needs variety.   Catherine has learned that she needs two projects — one a simple carry-around project and another one that challenges her.  Catherine mentions that she knit the Harmonia’s Ring Cowl (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/harmonias-rings-cowl)  by Sivia Harding but although she loves it, she can’t wear it because she knit it out of wool and she’s sensitive about it.  
 
Brainy Thing:  
Margaret and Catherine review some of the most notable (for them) topics they’ve covered in the Brainy segment over the past two years.  For Margaret, they include Open Mindset (Episode 1), Flow (Episode 2 and 3), Betsan Corkhill (Episode 9), and Novelty.  For Catherine the the Open Mindset (Episode 1), Focus (Episodes 2, 3, 6),  Flow (Episode 2 and 3) and Novelty (Episode 16.)  
 
Behind the Redwood Curtain:
Margaret was inspired to create this segment by Paula or Prairie Piper’s (http://www.ravelry.com/people/PrairiePiper) Nature Notes on the Knitting Pipeline Podcast (http://www.ravelry.com/groups/knitting-pipeline)  .   One place in the area that stands out for Margaret is Table Bluff discussed in Episode 7 and for Catherine the lowly but resilient banana slug in episode 3.
 
Knitting Tip:
This segment has been the most challenging for Margaret and Catherine is the Knitting Tip and they are grateful to readers who post their tips on the Knitting Tip thread on Ravelry.  One of the recent tips most helpful for Margaret was the the cd case converted to a bead holder submitted by Knitty Barb from Two Knit Lit Chicks podcast (http://www.ravelry.com/groups/2-knit-lit-chicks-podcast).  
 
A Little Podcast Business:
Catherine and Margaret are both grateful for their listeners and for those who communicate via the Ravelry Group.
 
Teaching Your Brain to Knit Podcast:  https://teachingyourbraintoknit.com/
Teaching Your Brain to Knit Podcast group on Ravelry:  http://www.ravelry.com/groups/teaching-your-brain-to-knit
Direct download: Ep._046__Synthesis___two_year_anniversary.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:04pm PDT

Brainy Thing: 18:27     Redwood Curtain:  33:43
What We’re Learning from Our Knitting (and Luceting):  Ta Dah!  Catherine finished her Garden Arbor Shawl  by Kira K Designs, a  kit she got from The Natural Fiber Fair in 2015.  The yarn is the Sky colorway in Bamboo from Be Sweet Yarns.
Margaret made a lucet bracelet that was a modification of the pattern that Jennifer Hansen, from Stitch Diva offered as a bonus after completing her free 7-Day Lucet Challenge.  https://app.convertkit.com/landing_pages/38006.  She used Magnetic clasps. She also tested out the KonMari method http://tidyingup.com/ of organizing all her knitting, crocheting and lucet supplies.  
Brainy Thing:  Catherine introduces us to Shinrin Yoku the Japanese codification of a worldwide ancient custom of Forest Breathing. The phenomenon of the healing from forest is getting a lot of research interest and an American study shows that walks in nature can help children with ADD and ADHD.  Some resources:
The Little Handbook of shinrin yoku   http://www.shinrin-yoku.org/
The Association of Forest Therapy:   http://www.natureandforesttherapy.org/
On ADD and ADHD:   Andrea Faber Taylor and Frances E. Kuo  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1448497/
Behind the Redwood Curtain:
Breaking news (at least relatively from us) — Redwood trees are  best at fixing oxygen.
 
Teaching Your Brain to Knit Podcast:  https://teachingyourbraintoknit.com/
Teaching Your Brain to Knit Podcast group on Ravelry:  http://www.ravelry.com/groups/teaching-your-brain-to-knit

Brainy Thing: 18:30                   Behind the Redwood Curtain  30:00
 
What We’re Learning from Our Knitting and Crochet
Catherine’s potholder swap is completed now that she has received hers from others in the community.  This reminds her of a program she recently watched on the Missouri Star Quilting Company of Turning Point TV:  another example of how fiber can bring people together.  http://www.byutv.org/watch/bf7e0de7-69e2-4aaf-a538-5605e64a350f/turning-point-the-missouri-star-quilting-company
 
Brainy Thing:
Margaret and Catherine talk about the loss of their mothers and their relationship to knitting and crochet.
Healing your Grieving Soul book by Alan D. Wolfelt 100 spiritual practice for mourners   Alan D. Wolfelt
 
Behind the Redwood Curtain:
Catherine shares with us the Humboldt Plays in the Park and how important community is to all of us.  http://www.playsinthepark.net/
 
 
Knitting Tip:
Margaret talks about too quickly judging the Addi company on their crochet hooks and keeping an open mindset can help us with our encounter with new tools.  
Direct download: Ep._044_Mouring_Our_Mothers_with_Knitting_and_Crochet.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:03pm PDT

Brainy Thing:  18:45      Behind the Redwood Curtain:  33:15
What Our Knitting and Crochet is Teaching Us:
Margaret crocheted the Boteh Scarf   http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/boteh-scarfin by Kathy Merrick out of nearly three balls of Bella Lino  58% Linen, 26% viscose, and 16% cotton  http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/classic-elite-yarns-bella-lino .
It looks like since Bella Lino is not part of Classic elites yarns' verde collection — like Sprout in chunky or Seedling in worsted/aran, it is not organic.
Catherine is working on the Garden Arbor shawl  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/garden-arbor-shawl by Kira K Designs in the Be Sweet Bamboo http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/be-sweet-bamboo  
 
Brainy Thing:  Feeding Your Brain
Margaret introduces the relationships between our diets, inflammation, and our brains.  Some of her sources include:
 
Also check out Lee Bernsteins’s (a member of our Ravelry Group and with her own Ravelry Group)  http://knittingisglutenfree.com 
 
Behind the Redwood Curtain:
Catherine tells us all about the blues associated with the grey California Coastal Marine Layer
 
Knitting Tip:
Knittybarb of the Two Knit Lit Chicks podcast http://www.ravelry.com/groups/2-knit-lit-chicks-podcast offers a tip about how to wrangle your beads when knitting (or crocheting) with beads.  
 
A Little Podcast Business: 
There is an ongoing incentive for joining our Ravelry Group and another one for posting a tip on our Knitting Tips thread.
 
Direct download: Ep._043_Feeding_Your_Brain.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:22pm PDT

Brainy Thing:    22:56               Behind the Redwood Curtain:  32:23
 
What We’ve Learned from Our Knitting:
Catherine recently bought a skein of Be sweet yarn, African Bead Ball, to celebrate Knitting in Public Day.     http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/be-sweet-african-bead-ball.  She started knittingKira Designs'  Garden Arbor shawl (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/garden-arbor-shawl) out of another  Be Sweet yarn, Bamboo. 
Margaret learned a new skill through the 7 day lucet challenge.  Check out  Jennifer Hansen's Stitch Diva  http://www.stitchdiva.com/blog/lucet-challenge/.  
 
Brainy Thing
Scientists are researching the common Brain Freeze   https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130522095335.htm  to see if it could reveal secrets that might help treat migraines.  
 
Behind the Redwood Curtain
Margaret shares some cool facts about the sand dollar.  The best source she found the best source on sand dollars was http://echinoblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/sand-dollars-are-sea-urchins-please.html
 
Knitting Tips
Catherine tells us that part of creating gauge is where on the knitting needle you work your stitches.   
 

Brainy Thing:   19:01    Behind the Redwood Curtain
What We’re Learning From Our Knitting:
Catherine is knitting washcloths using SmarieK’s free pattern Double Lattice free pattern.  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/double-lattice-cloth using scraps of cotton including Knit One Crochet Two and Cotlin.
 
Margaret had another Mending Party.   Thanks to oekmama1in our Ravelry Group for referring her to Kate Atherleys article in  Knitty 2006 on Repairs.   http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring06/FEATrepairs101.html
uses sewing thread to loosely graft stitches at top and bottom.  Among piles of socks, Margaret mended the  As You Like It Cardigan by Judith Shangold  our of Cascade 220 super wash in a brown. 
Some of the socks were made from  Fish knits warm sock; Online commercial; Misty alpaca hand dyed sock yarn (alpaca, merino nylon, silk) ;  Fiber lady luxury sock yarn easy.   Her favorite pattern in this lot was  Mystery Sock V: April Showers by Wendy Gaal, in Sock-aholic yarn from Knitters Brewing Co (75/25 wool/ nylon 480 yards).  She also tried to make the brim of the  Lace Beanie #70177 by Lion Brand Yarn out of Plymouth Yarn Kudo  top down lace yarn larger but even after vigorous blocking it is still too tight.  Shell have to revisit that. 
 
Brainy Thing:  Adequate Sleep is Essential to Long Term Memory
Catherine talks about the research between developing long term memory and sleep.  
 
Behind the Redwood Curtain:
Margaret shares how she spotted a blue grey heron down the street from her and her resultant research on them,    The Audubon site not only has a beautiful close up of the bird but also recordings of its calls and songs.   http://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/great-blue-heron
 
Knitting Tip
Concerned about running out of yarn on your row?  Catherine advises you to lay out your yarn, back and forth and back again (three times the length of what you have left)  to determine how much you need. 
 
A Little Podcast Business 
We announced winners of our Knitting Tip contest (She will receive Pom Pom magazine) and our Incentive to join our Ravelry Group.
 
Ravelry group:  http://www.ravelry.com/groups/teaching-your-brain-to-knit
Show Notes:  https://teachingyourbraintoknit.com/
Direct download: Ep._041_One_Simple_Solution_to_Poor_Memory_--_Sleep_-_7_2_16_1.09_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:06pm PDT

Brainy Thing:   20:35                Behind the Redwood Curtain  32:40
What We’re Learning from Our Knitting
Margaret  was inspired by Catherine to try Sasha Ball Rives wonderful pattern Among the Wildflowers  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/among-the-wildflowers  with her own “learning opportunities”, of course.
For a Ravelry swap, Catherine completed the Crochet Flower Potholders pattern by Jennifer Martin  Blue J  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/flower-potholders using scraps of cotton.
 
Brainy Thing:  Negativity Bias:  
Studies have shown that are brains are hardwired toward the negative which is a great advantage on the Savannah but probably not now.  Check out:  https://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200306/our-brains-negative-bias  and
For ways to counter that bias, try  Marelisa Fabrega  http://daringtolivefully.com/overcoming-negativity-bias.
 
Behind the Redwood Curtain:
Catherine tells us about the historical Phillips house in Arcata built in 1853/4 in the  Greek Revival style which is open Sundays 2 to 4  http://www.arcatahistory.org/phillips_house_museum_arcata .
 
Knitting Tip
One of our Ravelry Members, puffygriffinclaw, offers some tips on Felting.
 
A Little Podcast Business

Brainy Thing:      14:20  Behind the Redwood Curtain:  27:50 
 
What We’re Learning from Our Knitting:  
Margaret crocheted Easter Egg motifs   She never got the Easter Egg Garland http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/easter-egg-garland by Michaela Krause http://www.ravelry.com/designers/michaela-krause correct but was able to fudge it and she liked this one best.  The other pattern was the Easiest Crochet Egg Pattern Ever http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-easiest-crochet-egg-pattern-ever by Michelle @ the Painted Hinge. Also a great pattern.   Each of these patterns was slightly different.   She also tried crocheting with a lot of improvisation Wedding stones  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/wedding-stones by Monica Johnson  from the Interweave Crochet summer 15 issue.  She hasn’t mastered these yet but she’s looking forward to further exploration.
          
Catherine continued making baby socks for Afghans for Afghans, this time switching to worsted weight yarn for the Ribbed Far Away Baby Socks http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ribbed-far-away-baby-socks by Amber Ward   or Mitt Knitter on Ravelry.
 
Brainy Thing:
Barbara Arrowsmith talks about the limitations she had with the brain she was born with and how she changed them for the better with exercises, a great example of neuroplasticity.   Her Tedx Talk Toronto is here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0td5aw1KXA.  She now heads a school with folks who have a variety of brain-related problems.  Specific exercises she’s developed are noted here (with a nifty picture of a knitted brain hat):  http://www.barbaraarrowsmithyoung.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/topsante.pdf
 
Behind the Redwood Curtain:  Recycled Folk Art
Catherine discovered a private house when the residents obviously delight in recycling plastic milk cartons and soda cans to make a magical landscape.
 
Knitting Tip:
Margaret shares Lucy Neatby’s tip for closing up those holes at the side of a sock heel.
 
A Little Podcast Business
The ongoing incentive for joining the Ravelry Group (http://www.ravelry.com/groups/teaching-your-brain-to-knit) is a sumptuous skein of yarn.   The Knitting Tip prize is a set of five back issues of Pom Pom Magazine.
Direct download: Ep._039_Barbara_Arrowsmith_and_Changing_Your_Brain_-_5_31_16_7.13_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:40am PDT

Brainy Thing:  14:50   Behind the Redwood Curtain   25:05
What We’re Learning from Our Knitting
Margaret conquers (almost) the Fish Lips Kiss Heel http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fish-lips-kiss-heel with a sock for her grandson out of Fridays Studio Monday Base (Superwash 75% and Polyamide 25%) in the Halloween color way.
Catherine is continuing knitting baby socks for Afghans for Afghans using the Kate Atherly Baby Socks http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/baby-socks-23 with the modification of continuing the ribbing on the top of the foot.  This time she’s using scraps.  She is near completion of the Vanessa Ives Mystery Shawl by Bunny Muff  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/vanessa-ives out of Woole’s Yarn Creations.
 
Brainy Thing:   Waldorf Schools Integrate Knitting into their Curriculum
Margarets offers some information about the role that knitting plays in the Waldorf School Curriculum and some of the philosophy behind it.  http://millennialchild.com/film.html
 
Behind the Redwood Curtain:   McKinleyville Totem Pole
Knitting Tip:
A practical swatch from listener Think.   Knit a sleeve as a swatch.
 
Podcast business:
The Knitting Tip contest and the  incentive to join our Ravelry Group continue.  http://www.ravelry.com/groups/teaching-your-brain-to-knit

Brainy Thing:     19.28                           Behind the Redwood Curtain:  29:14
What We’re Learning from Our Knitting
Catherine finished her Among the wildflowers bandana  cowl http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/among-the-wildflowers which was another opportunity to use beads.  She used Rizoni  yarn from  The loom   (The loombangkok.com).    Sasha Ball Rives http://www.ravelry.com/designers/sasha-ball-rives    was the designer of the free design.   In addition to designing, she owns the Stitch Space yarn shop in Missouri.
 
On her travels back home to help her mom pack up her house of 65 years, Margaret discovered several knitting pieces she has done over the year.   One was an amorphic scarf out of unidentified specialty acrylic yarn that was her first knitting project.   Another was Adele Cutten’s  http://www.ravelry.com/designers/adele-cutten   design Fine Shawl on Diagonal  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fine-shawl-or-scarf-on-diagonal  out of Be Sweet Baby Mohair.  Her mother didn’t want it so Margaret got a new scarf.
 
Brainy Thing:   Knitting Wednesdays for Wounded Warriors at Walter Reed Hospital
Catherine tells us about the Wounded Warrior Knitting Wednesdays   http://www.oakleafdc.org/wounded-warrior-support/wednesday-knitting-classes at Walter Reed Hospital which is not to be confused with the better known Wounded Warrior Group.  
 
Behind the Redwood Curtain
There’s a statue of President McKinley standing smack dab in the middle of Arcata, CA.   Margaret tells us part of the story behind it.   One of her references is Roadside America.com   (http://www.roadsideamerica.com/
 
Knitting Tip
Catherine explains the value of making a sloper, or a model of more complicated knitted projects (sweaters and ponchos.)  
 
A Little Podcast Business
The ongoing challenge to join the Teaching Your Brain to Knit Ravelry Group ( http://www.ravelry.com/groups/teaching-your-brain-to-knit)      and to send in Knitting Tips continue.  
Direct download: Ep._037_Knitting_Wednesdays_for_Wounded_Warriors_-_4_16_16_6.42_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:18am PDT

Brainy Thing:    22:00                                Behind the Redwood Curtain:  38:45
 
What we learned from our knitting:
Margaret played with  crocheted hearts from  DIY Wedding by Jennifer E. Ryan either in Interweave Crochet Summer 2015 or as a special collection on the Interweave Website.  They were cute, quick and fun. They are called Guest Lapel Pins on Ravelry. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/guest-lapel-pins
 
Catherine shares Towashis  she received from her swap. One was made of a  worsted cotton, the second from sugar and cream and the third was sugar and cream with a portion from the specialized yarn, Sugar and Cream Scrubby  which is more specialized
Catherine continues to knit baby socks for Afghans for Afghans.   She modified the Kate Atherly Baby Sock http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/baby-socks-23   to have ribbing on the top of the foot.
 
Brainy Thing:  New Research Finds Way to Speed up Muscle Memory Learning
John Hopkins’ researchers find keys to speeding up learning for patients with neurological conditions, including post stroke.   Could these techniques work for knitters and crochets?
 
Behind the Redwood Curtain:  38:45
Margaret talks about the “scientific” and the oral  history of the native tribes still thriving in the Humboldt Bay area. Much of her research is based on  Two Peoples, One Place by Ray Raphael and Freeman House.  http://www.amazon.com/Peoples-Place-Freeman-House-Raphael/dp/1883254019.
 
Podcast Business:
The incentive for joining the Ravelry group  Teaching Your Brain to Knit  http://www.ravelry.com/groups/teaching-your-brain-to-knit  and the contest for Knitting Tips continue.  

Brainy thing:  23:33        Behind the Redwood Curtain:  33:33
What We’re Learning from our Knitting:
Catherine’s been doing some knitting for a theatre production:  She made a pair of fingerless mitts in bright pink for the monkey character in Jungalbook, just relying on measurements and her memory of doing mitts.   She used Deceptive Cookie's  http://www.ravelry.com/people/DeceptiveCookie Bias Stripe Shawl Recipe http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bias-stripe-shawl-recipe  (free) for a black and orange scarf for the tiger character.  
Margaret talks about her marathon sock-darning event using different methods on socks of hers that have developed holes.  
 
Brainy Thing:   Neural Knitworks:   http://www.scienceweek.net.au/neural-knitworks/
Catherine shares Australian Pat Pillai’s idea to knit and weave brain cells as a way to celebrate Austrailia’s National Science Week in August.  Knit, crochet, and knotting patterns of neurons are available for free on the website for the project Neural Knitworks. 
 
Behind the Redwood Curtain
Margaret talks about the hiking trail of Trinidad Head in Trinidad, California — a short but pretty steep uphill climb that rewards with a fantastic almost 350 degree view at the top.
 
Podcast Business:
The incentive for joining the Ravelry group  Teaching Your Brain to Knit  http://www.ravelry.com/groups/teaching-your-brain-to-knit  and the contest for Knitting Tips continue.  
Direct download: Celebrate_Neural_Knitworks_and_the_Brain_-_3_18_16_2.59_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:07pm PDT

Brainy thing:   21:40  Redwood Curtain 31:40 
What We’re Learning from our Knitting:
Margaret does realize that the Forgetting Curve threw her a curve on the Fish Lip Kiss heel.  She made a sparkly pair of blue socks
out of Knit Circus Pixie Dust fingering  weight  merino/silk/nylon/polyamide/metallic yarn.   Years ago she got a similar yarn as a kit from Knit Circus for Jaala Spiro’s half circle Coirrina Shawl (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/corrina-shawl) in the Casseopeia  color way.   When she ran out (she didn’t do a gauge swatch—for shame)  Jaala dyed a skein that would especially go with the older color way.  So she had quite a bit of the yarn leftover.
Catherine continues making socks for the Afghans for Afghans organization.  This time she use Kate Atherly’s Baby Socks pattern (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/baby-socks-23).   She also made Lee Burstein’s Organic Cotton Heirloom Baby Hat (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/organic-cotton-heirloom-baby-hat), but out of wool instead of cotton.  
Brainy Thing:   The Forgetting Curve
Baffled by her botched attempt at the Fish Kiss Lips Heel (she did it once and she thought she remembered it) Margaret delves into the world of forgetting and meets our old friend Hermann Ebbinghaus who first described the Forgetting Curve.  Elizabeth Loftus, a cognitive psychologist, describes different types of forgetting.
Behind the Redwood Curtain:
Catherine tells us about an icon of the Humboldt Bay, the statue of “The Fisherman” by Dick Crane.  He and his wife Sally own Dancing Crane Studios.
Knitting Tip:  
Listener Kate Pricey offers a tip about making knitting into the Backward Loop Cast-on easier — go through the back loop.
 Knitting Tip Contest:
Five back issues of Pom Pom magazine is the prize for a randomly selected winner from our Knitting Tip thread of on our group on Ravelry.
Podcast Business:
We continue to have an on-going incentive prize for each 100 people who join our Teaching Your Brain to Knit podcast group on Ravelry.  (http://www.ravelry.com/groups/teaching-your-brain-to-knit
Direct download: Ep._034_The_Forgetting_Curve_and_Knitting_-_2_29_16_9.28_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:47am PDT

Brainy Thing: 20:47      Behind the Redwood Curtain 33:15
What We’re Learning from Our Knitting:
Catherine updates us on her process knitting with Vanessa Ives Shawl by Bunny Muff  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/vanessa-ives
She is knitting baby socks by http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/baby-socks--hat Bianca Boonstra  for her favorite charity  Afghan for Afghans  http://www.afghansforafghans.org/index.html.  They are out of her 2nd pair of Catnip Yarn that she died with Dharma dyes 
Margaret has made more Bevy of Bangles http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bevy-of-bangles by Mags Kandis     The pattern is free on the interweave  press site and is featured in the book Gifted by Mags Kandis.
She reacquainted her self with Judy's magic cast on.  As a reminder, she used the illustrations of Judy Becker’s book:    Beyond Toes:  Knitting Adventures with Judy’s Magic Cast-on.
 
Brainy Thing:  
Catherine tells us more about Stitchlinks and their work on Knitting and Addiction.  Stitchlinks was started by Betson Corkhill.   Catherine also mentions a HBO series  http://www.hbo.com/addiction/on addiction that she found very informative.
 
Behind the Redwood Curtain
Margaret talks about the Standish Hickey State Recreational Area http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=423  and The Peg House http://thepeghouse.net/ complex across the street from the entrance.
 
Knitting Tips:
Catherine tells Cat Bordhi’s tip on dealing with ladders in your knitting.
 
Podcast Business:
There’s a new contest — send in your knitting (or crochet) tips for an opportunity to win five back issues of PomPom magazine.  Also, there is the continuing incentive to join the Ravelry Teaching your Brain to Knit  http://www.ravelry.com/groups/teaching-your-brain-to-knit group.  
 
Direct download: Ep_033_How_can_Knitting_help_fight_addiciton_un_-_2_19_16_7.08_PM.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 7:26pm PDT

Brainy Thing:   13:45                             Behind the Redwood Curtain 23:10
What we’re learning from our Knitting 
 
Margaret is knitting a cowl out of Katia Temis or Colibri —she’s lost the ball band   There’s no pattern:  She just casts on 25 or more stitches and knits in garter stitch on very large needles (size 13) until she runs out of yarn.   This is her exercise bike knitting.  She also reports on how much she likes the Designing Vashti Yarn:  Lotus Z-twisted sport weight fashion yarns:  52 cotton, 48 rayon.  She knit up Kira K’s Belle Epoque shawl (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/belle-epoque-shawl) with it and has had a chance to try it out and she loves the mix of cotton and rayon.
 
After years, Catherine finished her first pair of socks.  She’s knit many since this first pair that she never quite4 finished.  She used a generic cuff down sock recipe that she got from the sock knitting class she took and used a Brown Sheep Fleece cotton and wool yarn.
 
Brainy Thing:  Lily Chin:  Teacher Extraordinaire
Margaret analyzes why she thinks Lily Chin is an excellent teacher. Margaret recently finished viewing the Crocheter’s Toolbox video and also took a class in person with Lily on knitted closures.
 
Behind the Redwood Curtain:  ACV
The Arcata/Eureka or the Eureka/Arcata airport (which actually is in McKinleyville) according to some people is the foggiest airport in the U.S.   Whether that is true or not, it has a fascinating history.
 
Knitting Tip:  SSK
Catherine tells us about a neater, more “perfect” left leaning decrease.
 
Direct download: Ep._032_Lily_Chin-_Teacher_Extraordinaire_pre_au.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:14pm PDT

Brainy Thing:   26:00      Behind the Redwood Curtain:  38:15
 
What we’re learning from our Knitting
Catherine gives an update on the Vanessa Ives Mystery Shawl http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/vanessa-ives By Bunny Muff  http://www.ravelry.com/designers/bunnymuff and how even Michael’s failed in providing Japanese beads that would work.  While she’s waiting for her delivery of beads, she’s working on Baby Socks by Bianca Bufran for the Afghan for Afghans project.  The socks are made from Treadsock Yarns that Catherine dyed with Dharma dyed goods.    She’s also been working up some scrubbies for the Dishcloth group she belongs to.  This one is Little Scrubbie http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/little-scrubbie by Arctic Trails Abstract  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/arctictrailsabstractblogspot and made out of leftover Knit Picks Indy Chain Linen in  and leftover AllHemp 6 lux.
 
Margaret tells the “amazing” story of finding a hand dyed indigo boucle cotton at Amazing Yarns in Emerald Hills, CA.  She knit the Miami Vice pattern http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/miami-vice by 3 bags fulled http://www.ravelry.com/designers/threebagsfulledor Hillary Designs and learned of ways to fix the dye from John Marshall of John Marshall Works in Fabric who was at the Natural Fibre Festival in Arcata in September.
 
Brainy Thing
Another reason we crafters should continue to learn?  Catherine talks about the Nun Study, a longitudinal study of Sisters of Notre Dame which indicates that lifelong learners have a lower rate of symptoms of dementia even if there are pathological signs of it in the brain after death.  Also, those with stronger language skills fared better in terms of preventing dementia.
 
Behind the Redwood Curtain
Margaret shares information about the mission of the Friends of the Dunes’ Humboldt Coastal Nature Center.
 
 
Knitting Tips   (technical problems prevented the recording of this.
Learn more about indigo from the “word of the Week” on Indigo expert John Marshall.  http://johnmarshall.to/blog/category/japanese_word_of_the_week/
 
Podcast Business
The incentive to sign up for the Teaching Your Brain to Knit Ravelry Group continues.  http://www.ravelry.com/groups/teaching-your-brain-to-knit
Direct download: EP._031_Knitting_Life-long_Learning_and__Your_Brain-.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:20pm PDT

Brainy Thing:   15:47           Behind the Redwood Curtain:  25:35
Welcome to Episode:  How the Distributive Practice Effect or Spacing Effect can help you learn skills in the fiber Arts.
What we’re learning from our Knitting
Catherine got a lot of satisfaction by completing Laura Nelkin’s Butin Collar.  
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/butin-collar
Margaret created felted bangles from Mags Kandis’ Bevy of Bangles pattern, http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bevy-of-banglesfrom the book Gifted, Lovely little things to knit and crochet http://www.amazon.com/Gifted-Lovely-Little-Things-Crochet-ebook/dp/B00DH40MIG/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1by Mags Kandis or get them for free from the Interweave website.  

Brainy Thing:  The Distributive Practice Effect
Catherine talks about the Distributive Practice Effect, first described by Herman Ebbinghaus. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermann_Ebbinghaus.    In psychology,it is talked about as the Spacing Effect. http://www.aft.org/periodical/american-educator/summer-2002/ask-cognitive-scientist.   Essentially, practicing something a little bit every day is more effective in learning than practicing for a long time for one day a week.  

Behind the Redwood Curtain:   Ferndale, CA, the Victorian Village
Catherine introduces us to Ferndale, CA which has a large number of well preserved Victorian buildings.   It is very well decorated around Christmas time.

Knitting Tip:
Margaret shares a tip from No Sheep for You by Amy Singer:   When knitting socks in Cotton or a yarn with little memory, use ribbing to help the sock
 

Direct download: ep._030_Distributive_Learning_and_Fiber_Arts.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:45pm PDT

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