Teaching Your Brain to Knit
Brainy Thing:   11:58               Behind the Redwood Curtain  22:08
 
What We’re Learning from Our Knitting (and Crochet):
Catherine tackles a new dog sweater for her son’s dog.  Knit Dog Coat (by Bernat):  https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dog-coat-11.   Margaret adds beads to the sweater for her crocheted sheep by Lucy of Attic24:  https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/woolly-sheep-2 .   She used scraps of fingering weight yarn although the pattern called for DK.    
 
Brainy Thing:  Housing and Happiness
Catherine finds research that shows the location of housing can change reports of happiness level even if nothing else changes.   http://science.sciencemag.org/content/337/6101/1505
 
Behind the Redwood Curtain:   Salmon is Everything
For local tribes, especially those along the Klamath river, Salmon is essential spiritual and physical food.  Margaret reports on this:  http://discovertheredwoods.com/salmon-fishing-humboldt-county
 
 
 
 
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.
Instagram:   Margaret Kelso for Margaret and MagicWombat1 for Catherine
 
 
In this episode of Teaching Your Brain to Knit we present research about Housing and Happiness;  Catherine tackles a dog sweater;  Margaret’s Sheep Gets a Beaded Sweater;  and why for the Klamath Tribe, Salmon is Everything
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Brainy thing:  13:40      Behind the Redwood Curtain:   19:10
 
What We’re Learning from Our Knitting:
Margaret wonders if her yarn can hold negative energy on her Dragon’s Egg Socks by Anne Podlesak https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dragons-egg-socks  from The Unofficial Harry Potter Knits.   Catherine faces harsh realities with the man’s pullover pattern, Andoa, https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/andoa-pullover ( free on Ravelry, from Nora Gaughan and done for Berroco).
 
Brainy Thing: 
For decades the cerebellum has been overlooked but now it’s getting more attention into its role with higher order thinking:  
 
 
 
Behind the Redwood Curtain:
Catherine shares with us the secrets of Albino Redwoods and Chimera trees.   
 
 
Today on Teaching Your Brain to Knit we report on  how the mighty "little brain", the cerebellum, has invaded our thinking processes, Margaret explores the question can bad energy permeate sock yarn, Catherine faces harsh reality with the Andoa pullover sweater and she shares the secrets of the rare Albino Redwoods.  
 
 
 
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.
Instagram:   MargaretKelso for Margaret and MagicWombat1 for Catherine
 
 
 

Brainy:  12:49       Behind the Redwood Curtain:  21:21
 
What We’re Learning from Our Knitting:
Catherine reaps the rewards of the Dishcloth Swap https://www.ravelry.com/groups/annual-dishcloth-swap.
Margaret finds comfort from yarn crafts after the Tree of Life mass shooting with the Jewish Hearts for Pittsburgh group.  In Ravelry:  https://www.ravelry.com/groups/jewish-hearts-for-pittsburgh    Also on Facebook.
 
Brainy Thing:  Good Brain Chemicals from Group Singing
Let’s raise our voices for the good brain chemicals we get from singing — especially in groups.   
 
Behind the Redwood Curtain:
Margaret shares a little research on the redwood trees canopy, that ecosystem high in the air.  
 
Podcast 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.
Instagram:   Margaret Kelso for Margaret and MagicWombat1 for Catherine
 
Today in Teaching Your Brain to Knit Catherine reaps the rewards of her Dishcloth Swap and shares them with us, Margaret Finds comfort in a crochet version of Jewish Hearts for Pittsburgh, Catherine reports on research that confirms    that singing helps us feel better, especially when we’re in a group, and Margaret reveals research on the surprising ecosystem hundreds of feet above the ground in the Redwood canopy.   
 
 
 

Brainy Thing: 13:22                  Behind the Redwood Curtain: 21:37
 
What We’re Learning from our Knitting (and Crochet)
Margaret finished the crocheted blocks (from The Big Book of Granny Squares by Tracey Lord) for a lap blanket.  She finished #33, #133, #66 and #178 and two others she didn’t write down.  Now she plans to piece together the blocks with a stitch of some sort but she’s not sure what yet.  Finally she wants to felt it.  She hopes the finished results will be a nice felted blanket that she’ll donate to charity.  The yarns are  Valley Yarns  100 % Wool  Northampton Bulky Light Grey and Araucania Yarns Nature Wool  Chunky  Deep red/black  or black/red.  Her hook size was K.
 
Catherine is working on her template sweater or test sweater out of an inexpensive acrylic (Caron) for her son-in-law.   The name of the yarn is Yarnspirations by Caron Big Cakes in the Summer Berry Tart Colorway (gradient) out of 100% acrylic.   She’ll check against this sweater to be able to get accurate measurements and then make a new one out of a pricier yarn.  The one she’s doing now can also go to him as a house sweater or to charity.  The pattern, Andoa, https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/andoa-pullover is free on Ravelry, from Nora Gaughan for Berroco.
 
Brainy Thing
Today Margaret discusses a mix of fun facts about the brain from https://www.livescience.com/12916-10-facts-human-brain.html with an update about a challenge to the myth of multi-tasking :   (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/creativity-without-borders/201405/the-myth-multitasking)
 
Behind the Redwood Curtain
Catherine reports on an easy trail in Trinidad CA called Elk Head https://www.hikingproject.com/trail/7029875/elk-head-trail with an option for the adventurous:   a terrifying spur call Megwil Point with an incredible up-high view of the beach and ocean.   
 
A Little Podcast Business
We have another give-away — a book of knitted baby hats and a commentary on Slow Podcasting which details our future plans for the podcast.  
 
In this Episode of Teaching Your Brain to Knit we share some fun facts about the brain from its texture (like tofu) to the question of multitasking;  Margaret wonders how she’ll piece together her crocheted granny squares and Catherine reports her progress on her template sweater.  She also reveals a little known outcropping from the Elk Head Trail in Trinidadcalled Megwil Point.   We have another giveaway and we talk a little bit about Slow Podcasting and the future of our podcast.  
 
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.
Instagram:   Margaret Kelso for Margaret and MagicWombat1 for Catherine
 
 
 
 
 

Brainy Thing:  25:39    Behind the Redwood Curtain:  39:10

What We’re Learning from Our Knitting
Catherine is doing what she calls a "template sweater”.  A sweater out of acrylic yarn that she later modify according to fit for her final sweater.  She didn’t feel like a formula sweater so thought this would be more fun.  The yarn is Yarnspirations by Caron Big Cakes in the Summer Berry Tart Colorway (gradient) out of 100% acrylic.
She also calls out for some extra yarn for her Heaven Scent pattern:  She needs just a little of the end of the ball of zauberball cotton in “Rosey Times" color gradient.  
 
While looking at bias squares on Ravelry, Margaret fell into a leaf exploration;  trying out a few and looking forward to trying others.
The leafy washcloth by megan goodacre  trixy knitter  https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/leafy-washcloth
Nai nai’s Favorite washcloth by Ali Crockett https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/leafy-washcloth
Woodland Wreath, Leaves by Frankie Brown Frankie’s knitted stuff  https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/woodland-wreath-leaves
Derr
Wibbo or  Jan eaton  (similar to pattern mentioned)  https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/amber-leaf
200 Knitted Blocks
 
150 knit and crochet motifs   Heather Lodinsky   https://www.ravelry.com/designers/heather-lodinsky
 
 
Brainy Thing:  Somatosensory scaffolding
A new study shows that touch is especially important for infants, especially premature infants in nicu’s.  Touch helps infants set up there somatosensory scaffolding so they respond or don’t respond to touch the rest of their lives.  
 
Giveaway
Checkout our latest yarn give away.   It’s a big one.
 
A little podcast business.
We’re not going to fade but we’re going to slow down and modify our podcasts.   More information will be upcoming in the next few podcasts.  
 
 
In this episode of Teaching Your Brain to Knit, we report on a new study that reports very early touching can create healthy behaviors for the rest of one’s life;  Catherine creates a “template sweater” to modify for the final sweater;  Margaret falls for leaves in Ravelry,  and we offer a spin on skate parks.   
 
Direct download: Ep._095.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:04pm PDT

Brainy thing:   16:26          Behind the Redwood Curtain:  28:03
 
What We’re Learning from Our Knitting
Catherine finishes her quadrant dishcloths (https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/quadrant-dishcloth)for her dishcloth exchange and even adds a fancy tag.  By Jenny Konopinski quadrant is  free at knitpicks
For little or no discernible  reason, except a whim, Margaret makes Nai Nai’s Favorite Dishcloth (https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/nai-nais-favorite)  by Ali Crockett and discovers the bias or corner-to-corner structure for the first time — after all these years.   Both of these are on Becky Stewart’s lis of 12 dishcloth knitting patterns.   
Some crocheted diagonal washcloths
Bias Crochet Washcloth
Beth Major  knit picks diagnonal cloth good for beginners
 
Brainy Thing:   
When does Performance Art become a science experiment.  Performance artist  marina  Abramovic    (The Artist is Present)   teams up with neuroscientist Suzanne Dikker to create:  Measuring the Magic of the Mutual Gaze;  
Suzanne Dikker  neuroscientist
 
Behind the Redwood Curtain:
Margaret explores the mysteries of the Carson Mansion and Ingomar Club.  Photo tour  
photo tour
 
 
Art Meets Science with Marina Abramovic and Suzanne Dikker’s Brain Project:  Measuring the Magic of Mutual Gaze;  Examining the Pleasures of the Dishcloth;  The mysteries of The Carson Mansion and Ingomar Club.  
 
In this episode Of Teaching Your Brain to Knit, we examine the line between art and science in the brain;  We Discover the pleasures of the lowly dishcloth;  and we Explore  the mysteries of the Carson Mansion and the Ingomar Club.  
 
Marina Abramovic,  Suzanne Dikker, Becky Stewart,  Jenny Konopinski
 
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.
Instagram:   MargaretKelso for Margaret and MagicWombat1 for Catherine
 

Brainy thing:      13:56      Behind the Redwood Curtain:   21:00
 
 
What we’re learning from our knitting:
With no finished project, Margaret offers an update of her knitting:   Knit the sky Scarf  (https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sky-scarf);  Bathroom jar covers;   Nair-Nai’s favorite wash cloth (https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/nai-nais-favorite);   30 day knitting challenge  (https://knitom.com/30-day-challenge/)
 
Catherine falls in love with Patty Lyons Cable Cardigan in Vogue Knitting Fall 2018  and she is searching for non-wool yarn that will work for a sweater ;     https://www.ravelry.com/designers/patty-lyons
 
 
Brainy Thing:  
Yes, Sitting a lot — even with other exercise in the day is bad for your heart and your metabolism but new research shows that it may also be bad for your brain: 
sitting and thinning of the brain
poster of sitting postures    for pay    https://nutritiousmovement.com/tag/floor-sitting/
facebook instagram
The Conversation — academic rigour with a journalistic flair
One commenter, emmer, adds   “ . . .was surprised to learn that it [knitting while walking] dates at least to the time of elizabeth the first of England. It seems she was given a pair of silk stockings and declared them wonderful. Of course they became all the rage at court and the style trickled down to all who could afford them. Prior to this era, those who could afford it, wrapped their legs with a length of cloth, rather like wide ace bandages. Poor folks went bare-legged.
The fashion for stockings created a peasant cottage industry. to facilitate walking while knitting, belts with a small rigid horizontal leather strip were worn. The end of a knitting needle rested on the leather strip, helping to stabilize the work."
 
Behind the Redwood Curtain:   
Blackberry season:
 
Podcast 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.
Instagram:   Margaret Kelso for Margaret and MagicWombat1 for Catherine
 
 
In this episode of Teaching Your Brain to Knit, we report that new research shows that being sedentary not only is bad for your overall health but also may thin the part of the brain responsible  for memory;  Margaret offers updates on her knitting projects and Catherine shares her early adventures in knitting a Vogue knitting sweater pattern by Patty Lyons;  and we celebrate Blackberry season on the North Coast.   We also have another giveaway.  
 
 

Brainy thing:   15:37               Behind the Redwood Curtain:  28:36
 
What we’re learning from our knitting:  
 
 
Brainy Thing:
Research suggests that taking notes by hand may be a better way to learn and retain information.   Catherine explains why.  http://www.indiana.edu/~canlab/assets/2017-kjames-imp.-of-hw-on-dev.-brain2.pdf
 
Behind the Redwood Curtain 
 
 
Giveaway
Don’t miss our yarn giveaway.
 
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.
Instagram:   Margaret Kelso for Margaret and MagicWombat1 for Catherine
 
Today in Teaching your Brain to Knit, we discover that handwriting may beat the keyboard for learning;  Catherine tries a new pattern for her charity blanket;  Margaret battles pills and fades;  we explore the art and craft of Wiyot basket caps and we offer another giveaway. 
 
 

Brainy Thing:  15:35               Behind the Redwood Curtain:  26:30
 
What we’ve been learning from our knitting:
Margaret has been focusing on Process over Product on the Tree Afghan.   To find podcasts on the Tree Afghan Patterns check out Webs Yarn Store Shows 100, 101, 102, 103, 104.  (I had trouble linking to the patterns) 
Catherine is trying new blocks for her charity knitting blanket and reports on her Bias Square with a diagonal design.  
 
Brainy thing:15:35
For most of us, starting a meditation practice is challenging.   Margaret shares a number of ways to get started including classes and support groups.   And she reveals a meditation program designed for knitters: Knitting Om's 30 day Challenge created by Becky Stewart.    
 
Redwood Curtain:  26:30
The beach dunes are a delicate ecosystem and can get destroyed by having non-native plants brought in from other places.   Catherine talks about the annual Lupine Bash, a family friendly outdoor project to help eradicate non-native plants on the dunes.  
 
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.
Instagram:   Margaret Kelso for Margaret and MagicWombat1 for Catherine
 
 
In this episode of Teaching Your Brain to Knit we explore ways to find support for starting a new meditation program including Becky Stewart’s Knitting Om 30 Day Challenge;  Margaret focuses on Process over Product on the Tree Afghan;     We knit a bias square for a blanket;  and we spotlight a family friendly activity to help the dunes — the Lupine Bash.  
Direct download: Ep_91__working__30_day_challenge__tree_afghan_-_8_18_18_1.25_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:07pm PDT

Brainy thing:  20:25                   Behind the Redwood Curtain:  32:27
 
What We’re Learning from Our Knitting:
Margaret is exploring new approaches to knitted birds with Nicky Filakowska’s aptly named book Knitted Birds .  These birds  are knitted in pieces and then assembled and stuffed.
Catherine is realizing the importance of gauge with a seemingly simple dishcloth pattern —  the Quadrant dishcloth/washcloth by Jenny Konopinski
 
Brainy Thing:   The Matilda Effect
Women not only were prohibited from getting advanced education and entering fields like science and medicine; but also when they did, their work was often overlooked.   Catherine introduces the phenomenon named after Matilda Joslyn Gage this week
 
Behind the Redwood Curtain:  The Madaket
We talk about touring Eureka from the Bay:  Harbor Tours on the Madaket:  https://www.humboldtbaymaritimemuseum.com/madaketmainpage.html
 
Give Away:
Don’t miss out on the Book Give Away.  
 
Links: 
 
Today on Teaching Your Brain to Knit we introduce the Matilda Effect —Overlooking Accomplishments of Women Scientists;  Catherine searches for gauge on a simple but elegant dishcloth;  Margaret learns techniques and discovers biases that are for the birds;  She also    shares information and experiences on two Madaket Harbor Cruises and we have another book giveaway.  
 
 

Brainy Thing:    21:10               Behind the Redwood Curtain: 32:54
What We’re Learning from Our Knitting
Margaret caught the Virus fever when she needed a bright, sunny shawl before the sun came from its winter’s sleep in Humboldt.   It’s a four row repeat crochet triangle shawl -- Virus Shawl  No one know who the original designer is but you can find it at:
 
Catherine talks about starting new projects and finishing old ones.  And it’s time for the annual dishcloth swap again.  Annual Dishcloth swap:   https://www.ravelry.com/groups/annual-dishcloth-swap.  This year’s theme is beauty.  
Dishcloth swaps
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/quadrant-dishcloth    Quadrant Dishcloth   Jenny Konopinski
 
 
Brainy Thing:
Why don’t we want to change our minds but how we overcome it — that’s what Margaret shares on the Brainy Segment.
 
Behind the Redwood Curtain:
We talk about how remote Humboldt is but how do you actually get there?  Catherine shares information and pitfalls about getting to Humboldt
 
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 we explore how we change our minds and why we don’t want to, Margaret beats the winter blues with a yellow shawl;  Catherine shares her finishing old projects and beginning new ones;  and she also shares how to get to the isolated Humboldt county. 

Brainy Thing:   19:24             Behind the Redwood Curtain: 36:24 
 
What We’re Learning from Our Knitting:
 
Catherine is almost finished the heavenly Heaven Scent by                  aand is switching to blocks for her charity blanket.  Margaret switches from birds to eggs with a decorative knitted egg, again from Arne and Carlos.   She offers a giveaway on the book.
 
Brainy Thing:
Catherine finishes off her three part series on the controversy— Can there be positive addictions.  She focuses this time on William Glasser who literally wrote the book on Positive Addictions.  https://wglasser.com/;   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPDRyjS53_A
 
Behind the Redwood Curtain:
OLLI, the Osher Life Long Learning Institute offers summertime classes on Destination Humboldt, highlighting a diverse range of Humboldt features — from Nature to Industry.  https://extended.humboldt.edu/olli/destination-humboldt
 
Podcast
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.
Instagram:   MargaretKelso for Margaret and MagicWombat1 for Catherine
 
Today on Teaching your Brain to Knit, Catherine finishes her three part series on the controversy of positive addictions;  Margaret tries out knitted eggs;  Catherine approaches the finish line for Heaven Scent;  and we talk about OLLI — classes with a theme of Destination Humboldt.
 
Direct download: Ep._088__Positive_addictions.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:03pm PDT

Brainy thing:   14:25            Behind the Redwood Curtain  25:16
 
What We’re Learning from our Knitting
Margaret is playing around with Embellishing Birds from Arne’s and Carlos’ book Field Guide to Knitted Birds.
Catherine is continuing her adventure with knitted beads and lace with Knitting Boo’s Heaven Scene shawl.  https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/heaven-scent
 
Brainy Thing:
Contrary to some beliefs, we have lot of evidence — hard evidence— that knitting and other handcrafts, particularly for charity — helps people’s health in many ways:  reduces stress, reduces blood pressures, reduces depression and many other issues.    
Behind the Redwood Curtain
Catherine appreciates the Egret rookery on Indian Island (Duluwat for the Wiyots)
 
 
Podcast
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.
Instagram:   Margaret Kelso for Margaret and MagicWombat1 for Catherine
 
 
Today on Teaching Your Brain to Knit we outline the bounty of hard scientific evidence of the benefits of knitting listed in The Knit for Peace Report plus the added benefits of knitting for Charity;  Catherine continues her adventures in Lace and bead knitting;  Margaret plays with embellishing knitted birds;  and Catherine shares the story of the egret rookery on Indian Island or Duluwat Island in Eureka.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Brainy Thing:  23:05                 Behind the Redwood Curtain:  43:15
What we’re learning from our knitting:
Using Zauberball cotton Catherine continues her adventure with lace shawl Heaven Scene by Knitting Boo.  https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/heaven-scent.   Margaret makes Lara Neels Reclaiming Our Time https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/reclaiming-our-time and talks about some other sock patterns that allow you to easily reknit the sole and heel where holes and wear are most likely to appear.  
 
Brainy Thing:
Second in our series on creativity, Catherine examines her own creative process for theatre costumes and advises allowing ideas to “bake.”   
 
Behind the Redwood Curtain:
Catherine outlines some of the active community theatres behind the Redwood Curtain.
 
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.
Instagram:   Margaret Kelso for Margaret and MagicWombat1 for Catherine
 
 
Today on Teaching Your Brain to Knit we continue examining the creative process, this time focusing on CAtherine’s as a theatre costume designer;   Catherine continues her lace shawl adventure;  Margaret tries new sock architecture to make repair easier;  and we check out the local live community theatre scene.   
 
 

Brainy Thing:   24:21             Behind the Redwood Curtain:    32:25
What We’re Learning from our Knitting       
Catherine started a new project:   a lace shawl called Heaven Scent by Boo Knits. She is using a skein of zauberball cotton  https://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/schoppel-wolle-zauberball-cotton in “Rosey Times” colorway.  https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/heaven-scent
Margaret searches  for sock longevity and discovers a trove of information in The Knitters Book of Socks by Clara Parkes.  She finds fibers, twists, and stitches that help socks last longer.  
 
Brainy Thing:
Catherine continues our exploration of the possibility of positive addiction.  From an online sources, Changing Minds  https://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/schoppel-wolle-zauberball-cotton, she presents differences in addiction, habits and compulsions.
  
Behind the Redwood Curtain:
Making hats and dresses was one of the few occupations women could choose from 1860 to the 1930’s in Humboldt County.  She shares the stories of a couple of women who succeeded here with excellent needle skills. https://www.facebook.com/Vintage-Avenger-163731777018458/ 
 
Give Away:
We have a sock book give-away this week.  Be the first person to ask for it on the Episode 85 thread to win.   
 
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.
Instagram:   Margaret Kelso for Margaret and MagicWombat1 for Catherine
 
 
In this episode of Teaching Your Brain to Knit, We continue our exploration of positive addictions, do they exist and are they different from habits and compulsions;  Catherine starts a new lace shawl l— Heaven Scent;  Margaret searches for sock longevity;  and we trace the history of women and hats in Humboldt County.  We also have a new book give away.   
 
While editing this podcast, I searched for a link to Humboldt Millinery and I discovered a “permanently closed” notice online.    There are, however, stores in Ferndale that carry vintage clothes and hats and even a dedicated vintage dress shop in arcata called Vintage Avenger on H Street.  
 
 
 

Brainy Part:   22:40              Behind the Redwood Curtain: 31:20
 
What We’re Learning From Our Knitting
Catherine continues her exploration of knitting textures in blocks she’s planning to turn into a charity blanket. This time the patterns are from: http://www.knittingstitchpatterns.com/  She will send her blanket to:  Hats and More from War Torn Syria https://www.ravelry.com/groups/hats-and-more-for-war-torn-syria Margaret’s knitting turns toward the birds from Arne and Carlos’ “Field Guide to Knitted Birds” and learns all sorts of things.  https://www.amazon.com/Carlos-Field-Guide-Knitted-Birds/dp/1570768234/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1525027997&sr=1-2&keywords=arne+and+carlos+knitting+books;   https://arnecarlos.com/
 
Brainy Thing:
Catherine questions if there is such a thing as “positive addictions.”  
Dr. William Glasser
Peg O'Connere
 
Behind the Redwood Curtain:
Humboldt enjoys the longest running collegiate baseball team in the country:  Humboldt Crabs Baseball  http://humboldtcrabs.com/
 
 
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.
Instagram:   Margaret Kelso for Margaret and MagicWombat1 for Catherine
 
 
In this episode of Teaching Your Brain to Knit, we ask the question “Is there such as thing as positive addiction,” ;  Catherine continues her exploration of texture stitches, learning about gauge in the process;  Margaret takes flight on the subject of knitted birds, from Arne and Carlos;  and we celebrate the Humboldt Crabs Baseball Team— the longest operating collegiate semi-pro baseball team in America
 
Direct download: Ep._084__positive_addiction__textured_fabric_birds_Humboldt_Crabs.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:41pm PDT

Brainy Thing:    26:17   Behind the Redwood Curtain:  37:36
 
What We’re Learning from Our Knitting:
Margaret explores the seed stitch and its alternatives:   https://www.amazon.com/Treasury-Knitting-Patterns-Barbara-Walker/dp/0942018168   One “Crochet Seed Stitch”  Marly Bird  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aeGlbpmYx8
Another Crochet Seed Stitch:  Dora Orhenstein The Crocheters workshop
 
Brainy Thing:  Creativity I
Who’s creative and how you can be (already are) too.:   Make it mighty Ugly — Kim Werker  https://www.amazon.com/Make-Mighty-Ugly-Exercises-Creative/dp/157061914X
 
Behind the Redwood Curtain
Arcata addresses universal human needs:  Portland Loo  http://theloo.biz/
 
Links:  
Podcast 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
 
Direct download: Ep._083_creativity_seed_stitch__texture__toilets4_16_18_3.33_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:23pm PDT

Brainy Thing:  19:55              Behind the Redwood Curtain:  29:10
 
What We’re Learning from Our Knitting
Margaret calls for emergency help from Catherine to help her figure out a supposedly invisible repair (Knit Freedom https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXD3TdbpDbM;  Kate Atherly in Knitty 2006 http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring06/FEATrepairs101.html;  Rina Crochet’s book Flawless Knit Repair  19 pages of gold, I’m guessing, used  for $99 )  of her Multnomah Shawl by Shawl repair
The shawl design is Multnomah by Kate Ray.  https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/multnomah
Recommended by Chrissy the Great https://www.ravelry.com/people/chrissythegreat  formerly of the Manic Purl audio Podcast and currently (well, currently in a break from ) Snappy Stitches video podcast.  
Purl soho has picture tutorial of  duplicate stitches initials on a cap using the “A”s and not the “V”s of the knit stitch.  
 
Brainy Thing
Margaret explores a comprehensive approach to learning and teaching in the Universal Design for Learning method.  http://www.udlcenter.org/aboutudl/whatisudl/3principles
 
 
Behind the Redwood Curtain
Want a dog park, spectacular views of the Pacific. an eco preserve of a coastal forest, paths in the woods where you won’t get lost?  Try Hiller Park in McKinleyville.   http://mckinleyvillecsd.com/hiller-park
 
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.
Instagram:   Margaret Kelso for Margaret and MagicWombat1 for Catherine
 
 
In today’s episode of Teaching Your Brain to Knit, we explore Universal Design for Learning to help us learn and teach from a more comprehensive approach,  we put our brains together to mend a shawl using what we’re calling the duplicate stitch/weave method, and Catherine reports how Hiller Park in McKinleyville serves many needs from dog park to eco preserve of a coastal forest.
 
Direct download: Ep._082_Universal_Design__Shawl_Repair__Hiller_Park.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:03pm PDT

Brainy Thing:  24:21            Behind the Redwood Curtain 35:41
 
What We’re Learning from our Knitting
Margaret’s further exploration of Fair Isle veers into Crochet Fair Isle under the instruction of Karen Whooley.  (https://www.ravelry.com/designers/karen-whooley)  Other Fair Isle references in the report.  
 
 
Catherine finds an “Interim Project” until she’s ready for a full commitment.
 
Brainy Thing:
Can training to be ambidextrous improve your brain?  Maybe but one expert says maybe not.  
Differential
Using Your
 
Behind the Redwood Curtain   Morris Graves Museum  How  an artist escapes “the noise of machine age America.”   Morris Graves
 
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.
Instagram:   Margaret Kelso for Margaret and MagicWombat1 for Catherine
 
Today on Teaching Your Brain to Knit we ask “Can learning to be ambidextrous help improve your brain?” also Margaret further explores Fair Isle;  Catherine finds  an “interim” project and we learn how one artist found an escape from the “the noise of machine age America."
 
Direct download: Ep._081_Does_Ambidexterity_Improve_Your_Brain_.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:11pm PDT

Brainy Thing:    12:30                     Behind the Redwood Curtain:  24:42
 
What we’re learning from our knitting:
 
Catherine likes her Coffee Shop Wrap by Alexandra Tavel https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/coffee-shop-wrap    (free through Lion Brand Yarns,) but has been yearning for lace knitting.    Margaret tries creating a design for an elongated fair isle ornament.   The project fails but she learns a lot.  https://www.craftsy.com/knitting/classes/fair-isle-holiday-ornaments/497492.  It’s Margaret’s design but Sunne Meyer’s ornament pattern.  
 
Brainy Thing:
 
Catherine reviews the indie documentary “Beyond Food” http://beyondfoodthemovie.com/.   Among other topics the film highlights parkour sports:  https://www.artofmanliness.com/2013/07/19/beginners-guide-to-parkour/
A beginner's guide in case anyone wants to take it up! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NX7QNWEGcNI
 
Behind the Redwood Curtain:
Enjoy the history and the continuing beauty of the city of Eureka with the Eureka Walking Tour  https://eurekaparksandrec.wordpress.com/2016/06/29/old-town-walking-tours/.   If you want to see photos of the work that was put into the Carson Block:   (https://www.northcoastjournal.com/humboldt/witness-marks/Content?oid=3635632 )
 
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.
Instagram:   Margaret Kelso for Margaret and MagicWombat1 for Catherine
 
In Episode 80 of Teaching Your Brain to Knit, The documentary Beyond Food endorses the idea that to improve your brain and your body, you need to find the right approach for you;  Catherine identifies herself as a lace knitter for now;  Margaret fails at a design for fair isle ornaments but learns a lot;  and both podcasters explore Old Town Eureka on a walking tour.
Direct download: Ep._080_Beyond_Food_-_3_2_18_9.14_AM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:37am PDT

Brainy Thing:  12:50      Behind the Redwood Curtain:   22:40
 
What We’re Learning from our Knitting:
 
Margaret learns to love Luxury with Lhasa yarn:   50% yak, 50% cashmere.  She used the Lhasa  Snuggle Mitts pattern by Laura Lamers.
Catherine found a crochet pattern for her annual scrubbies exchange : the  zinnia dishcloth  pattern from  Lily/Sugar’n Cream.  https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/zinnia-dishcloth   https://www.ravelry.com/groups/annual-dishcloth-swap
 
Brainy Thing: 
If you can’t reproduce the results of a scientific experiment, can you rely on it?  Margaret talks about the Replication Crisis in Science.  
 
Behind the Redwood Curtain:
Catherine explores a landmark and historic hotel, the Eureka In —where else— Eureka.
 
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.
Instagram:   Margaret Kelso for Margaret and MagicWombat1 for Catherine
 
In Episode 79 of Teaching Your Brain to Knit we uncover the Replication Crisis in scientific research;  Margaret learns to love luxury making Mitts with Yak and Cashmere yarn;   Catherine switches to crochet for her scrubbies swap;  and we chronicle the rise and fall and rise again of the historic Eureka Inn.

Brainy Thing:  16:44              Behind the Redwood Curtain:   30:32
 
What We’re Learning from Our Knitting:
Catherine is surprised when she learns (again) that colors online don’t always match colors in yarn when she buys a Lion Brand Yarn pattern  Coffee Shop Wrap kit by Alexandra Tavel   https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/coffee-shop-wrap only to discover that a color that she thought was a mild creaming yellow turned out to be a zangy mustard.
 
Margaret   patched two more socks, including removing and replacing an afterthought heel and it turned out beautifully, just like it was planned to be.   One sock was out Austermann Step yarn in a   Blueberry Waffle  pattern https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/blueberry-waffle-socks and the other was out of 
Fish Knits Yarn  warm heart     She also added to her crocheted bathroom accessories collection using adventuresome techniques from Crocheter’s Skill Building Workshop by Dora Ohrenstein.  The pattern is two color diamond stitch from the book.   
She compares this book to two others to two others:  
 
Brainy Thing:
Not exactly brainy but thinking along the line of how colors impact our lives, Catherine talks about the Pantone color of the Year for 2018 which is ultra violet.   Associated with mysticism and vision, expect to see the color around for awhile.  
 
Behind the Redwood Curtain
One of the high points of North Coast Living is the Dungeness crabs
 
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.
Instagram:   Margaret Kelso for Margaret and MagicWombat1 for Catherine
 
 
In this episode of Teaching Your Brain to Knit we ask will the Pantone Color of the Year lead us to a higher spiritual level?, Also Catherine is surprised by a color she receives in a shawl knitting kit;  Margaret offer guides for choosing books that have the best pace for you, and the North Coast celebrates Dungenes crab season.
 
Direct download: ep_78_Pantone_Ultramarine.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:33am PDT

Brainy Thing:    15:40       Behind the Redwood Curtain:  26:20
 
What we’re learning from our knitting:
Margaret learns about knitting different specialty textured yarns for her textured amigurumi The Three Little Kittens by Sara Scales https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/three-little-kittens-4.  Catherine ventures into sweater knitting for a dog using The Darling Darby Sweater:   https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/darling-darby-sweater.  
 
Brainy Thing:
Sensory Stimulation Helps People with Dementia
 
Behind the Redwood Curtain:  
Humboldt Handweaver’s and Spinners Guild:  http://www.hhsguild.org/
 
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.
Instagram:   Margaret Kelso for Margaret and MagicWombat1 for Catherine
 
In this episode of Teaching Your Brain to Knit we investigate using Sensory Stimulation to Ease the symptoms of Alzheimer’s and Dementia;  We tackle using different types of specialty yarns for texture and try a strangely shaped design for a dog sweater;  And w e give a shout out to the Humboldt Handweaver’s and Spinners Guild.  
Direct download: Ep._077_Using_Sensory_Stimulation_to_Ease_Demetia_Symptoms.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:16pm PDT

Brainy Thing:  15:52      Behind the Redwood Curtain:  25:25
 
What We Learned from Our Knitting
Catherine finishes a lace shawl (with beads, of course) called Ocean Kelp and designed by Harry Wells  whose Rav name is knitting ninja  and his design studio is  Good for a Boy Designs.  https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ocean-kelp   Catherine got more practice with  charts, not her favorite way to follow a pattern.
Margaret knits a family of Creature Mittens from Morehouse Farms kits for her family and learns a bit about Mitten thumbs from Anna Zilboorg in Magnificent Mittens and Socks .   She also corrects the mistake she made between Churchmouse Yarns on Bainbridge Island, Washington and Morehouse Farms that raises Merino Sheep in Upstate New York.   
 
Brainy Thing
Catherine explores Gamma Waves, “Ah Ha” moments and lucid dreaming
 
Behind the Redwood Curtain
Discovering local politics behind the redwood Curtain and in your neighborhood too.
 
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.
 
In this episode of Teaching Your Brain to Knit, Catherine explores the link between Gamma Brain Waves, “Ah Hah” moments and Lucid Dreaming;  She practices her not so favorite way of following a pattern —that is,  charts;  Margaret learns about different types of mitten thumbs with help from Anna Zilboorg;  We delve into local politics and how you can do the same in your local community; plus we announce updates to indices or indexes for our brain, redwood and knitting topics.  

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