Brainy thing:  17:42      Behind the Redwood Curtain:  28:36

 

What We’re Learning from Our Knitting:

Margaret gains an even greater appreciation for well written directions.  Two great patterns, in particular  that she’s worked on lately is Wooly Sheep by  Lucy of Attic 24 https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/woolly-sheep-2.  She used scrap yarn.    She added a touch of embroidery on the sweater/blanket for the sheep.  Also, she’s working on the Baker’s Twine potholder out of  https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/baker-s-twine  two strands of dk cotton, one black and one white.  The designer is Catherina Duden.   Her company is Ducathi.  

Catherine is working away at her Socky Slouchy Hat by Loren Sanchez  https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/socky-slouchy-hat.    She’s also trying to find a gauge she likes for a potholder for her potholder exchange:  the 2020 Potholder Exchange:  https://www.ravelry.com/groups/2020-potholder-swap

 

Brainy Thing:  Countering the Stress of the  Pandemic

Experiencing sheltering-in-place and isolation creates stress for most of us.  Margaret shares many strategies for helping to ease your way through the crisis. https://www.businessinsider.com/what-coronavirus-covid19-pandemic-stress-is-doing-to-your-brain-2020-5

 

Behind the Redwood Curtain:

The Humboldt Open Studios allows visitors and patrons to see artists where they work.  This year’s event is cancelled but we hope it continues in the future.

 

 

Welcome to Episode 114 of Teaching Your Brain to Knit.   Today we shares many strategies for helping you ease your way through the isolation and separation of the Pandemic.  Margaret gains a new appreciation for well written directions and mentions two projects with excellent directions that she’s been working on.   Catherine continues working on her Socky Sloucy Hat and struggles to find a perfect gauge for her potholder.   And she also reports on an annual event in Humboldt, the artists’ Open Studios which sadly has been canceled this year but that we hope you can catch in the future.

 

Many thanks to KnittyBarb of the Two Knit Lit Chicks Podcast who shared her tips on recording remotely with me.   Unfortunately, both Catherine and I have very old devices and so the sound quality here continues to be less than ideal.   But we’re working on it.  

 

Thanks for listening to our podcast.  We’re going to increase the frequency of our podcasts to a bit more than once a month.   If you subscribe — we’re on most podcast apps and aggregators — you’ll be sure not to miss our episodes.   

 

Brainy: 21:26  Mind/Body Depression, Pain and the Brain Behind the Redwood Curtain:      28:04

 

What We’re Learning from Our Knitting

Both Catherine and Margaret (without consultation with each other) made hats for themselves.  Catherine knit the Socky Slouchy Hat by Lauren Sanchez https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/socky-slouchy-hat Margaret’s was the Churchmouse Yarns and Teas Boyfriend Watch Cap https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/boyfriend-watch-capMargaret also tried out the famous and infamous ball band washcloth pattern but she extended the length into a towel.   She used Knit Pick’s new twisted Dishie in Black and White with the contrasting yarn in matching solid black.   https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ballband-dishcloth  It was a fun pattern to do.  And Catherine is taking up the gauntlet and hosting the 2020 Potholder exchange.  https://www.ravelry.com/groups/2020-potholder-swap.

 

Brainy Thing:

Catherine leads us into a deep dig into the Mind-Body phenomena, specifically the relationship between pain and the brain.  

 

Behind the Redwood Curtain.

In our little town and probably yours, dozens of businesses are joining the campaign to protect our communities.   Here are some we mentioned:

Holly Yashi https://www.hollyyashi.com/

Kokotat  https://kokatat.com/

Bubbles  https://www.bubbles-arcata.com/?ccUser=

North Coast Dance  http://www.atlpublishing.com/NCD/Mobile.html

North Coast Repertory https://ncrt.net/

 

Today in Episode 113 of Teaching Your Brain to Knit we dive deeply into the mind/body phenomena specifically  Pain and Depression and how you might improve both;  We discuss our new knitting:  Hats and a dishtowel plus Catherine takes up the challenge to host the Potholder swap.  And in Behind the Redwood Curtain, we celebrate the local business who are making masks, face guards, and sanitizers to help protect our community.   We’re sure there are businesses in your community that are doing the same thing.  

 

And before we begin, I just want to note that I’m not happy with the sound quality in this episode.  We spent a lot of time and some money trying to figure out a way to record remotely with our older computers but this was the best we could do this time.   Rest assured that we will continue to experiment and hopefully have a better quality next time.   Until then, stay well.  

 

 

 

Brainy Thing:  21:11    Behind the Redwood Curtain  29:33 

 

What we’re learning from our knitting:

Margaret participated in Sara Schira’s MKAL3 for a new Gnome "Gnome is Where you Hang Your Hat" https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/gnome-is-where-you-hang-your-hat.  This one features stranded colorwork.   Margaret also got caught up in other cute projects including Henry’s Bunny https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/henrys-bunny by Sara Elizabeth Kellner and Susan B. Anderson’s Spring Charm set https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/spring-charm-set.   Despite the cuteness of these projects, they have been good skill builders.  

Catherine points us toward the March 2020 edition of Better Homes and Gardens which features beautiful visible mending https://www.bhg.com/better-homes-and-garden-magazine/.   She also completed an embellished Jellyfish bath scrubby https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/jellyfish-bath-scrubbies by Julie Tarsha.  

 

Brainy Thing:

Margaret discovers how “cute” things impact our brains and stimulates dopamine and how an overdose of these neurochemicals can cause aggression.  

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/12/31/679832549/when-too-cute-is-too-much-the-brain-can-get-aggressive

 

Behind the Redwood Curtain:

Catherine shares with us the features of the Lady Bird Johnson Grove a superb old growth trail spot.   

http://www.redwoodhikes.com/RNP/LBJ.html.  

 

 

Today in Teaching Your Brain to Knit, we discover how cute things trigger happy brain chemicals and how too much cute can cause aggression.   We explore how cute projects can also build skills and then share one of the most popular hiking trails in our area:  The Lady Bird Johnson Grove.  

Brainy Thing:  23:31     Behind the Redwood Curtain:  34:16

 

What We Learned from Our Knitting

Catherine has found the perfect combination of yarn, needles and pattern in the Baker’s Street Scarf https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/baker-street-scarf  by Joan of Dark  and on Knitty http://knitty.com/ISSUEff15/index.php.   She used Brittany birchwood needles and Blue Moon Fiber Company’s yarn in the Evermore colorway.  

 

Margaret is proclaiming Sarah Schira the Queen of the gnomes after  investigation into gnome-dom.   

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/search#query=sarah%20schira&sort=best&view=captioned_thumbs&page=1  Margaret knit two of them for gifts and is joining Sarah’s newest mystery knit-a-long for Gnemo:  https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/gnome-is-where-you-hang-your-hat.   There are scores, maybe hundred of other gnome options.  Margaret mentions the Jolly Wee Elf by Churchmouse Yarns and Teas https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/jolly-wee-elf 

 

She also knit one of the five designs in Holiday Trees pattern by Yellow Cosmo.

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/holiday-trees-2  She bought the kit on Bluprint and used its Cloudborn Superwash in dark green and white. 

 

Brainy Thing:

Chocolate just doesn’t taste good, it has a host of natural chemicals that are good for our bodies and minds and she’ll reveal the secret of why it is a particularly good choice for Valentine Days Gifts.  

 

Behind the Redwood Curtain:

We visit a boutique craft chocolate company in Humboldt, Dick Taylor,  that ships all over the world. (We got to sample all of their products.) 

 

If you want to join Sara Schira’s gnome-a-long  that starts February 12, check this out:   https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/gnome-is-where-you-hang-your-hat.  

 

Brainy thing:  23:46   Behind the Redwood Curtain:   37:07

What we’re learning from our knitting:  

Margaret’s knitting this time focused on small items.    She was amazed at the design originality of Rebecca Langford’s Little rustic pumpkin https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/little-rustic-pumpkin that she started in

in Kelbourne Woolens, Germantown, Gold but sadly didn’t have enough to complete. Just to be able to complete something she took up the crocheted Fall Leaves Pattern https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fall-leaves-3 by Michelle @ the Painted Hinge.  She completed the  Caps for Kids Swirled Ski Hat

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/swirled-ski-cap by Caps for Kids from the organization but also included in Knitting for Peace by Betty Christiansen.  Finally, her favorite, most fun, quick, quick project this time was the Pint Sized Pines by Julie Tarsha  https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pint-sized-pines made from scraps of Mission Falls 1824 cotton.

Catherine worked on crocheted cotton Rainbow Flower Scrubby Dishcloth

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rainbow-flower-scrubby-dishcloth by Tamara Kelly but sadly her new puppy loves them and took a bite out of one.  She has fallen love with some yarn that she will work up as a scarf.

http://www.bluemoonfiberarts.com/newmoon/

 

Brainy Thing:  The Vagus Nerve

Labeled the “queen of nerves” the Vagus Nerve plays a major role in connection between the trunk of the body and the brain and seems able to affect a host of conditions from inflammation to depression.  Margaret outlines the remarkable connections the Vagus Nerve makes and how to stimulate it for good health.  

Brainy:  15:22                      Behind the Redwood Curtain:  29:45

 

What We’re Learning from our Knitting:

Catherine has found the same peace with English Paper Quilting that she gets with knitting but she’s not abandoning knitting and has plans for new projects.

 

Margaret revisited the   Jewish Hearts for Pittsburgh, making one for her.

She also discovers an interesting book on an historical look at using crafts for dissent.

Crafting Dissent by Hinda Mandell   https://www.amazon.com/Crafting-Dissent-Handicraft-Revolution-Association/dp/1538118394/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=crafting+dissent&qid=1575327532&s=books&sr=1-1

And of course, she found another  Laura Nelkin pattern to knit up — a felted hot pad:

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/another-contexta using Germantown wool

 

Brainy Thing:

On her way to check out Theta Waves Catherine discovers binaural beats that in one study successfully relieved pre-surgery anxiety.  There are also wild claims about this phenomenon but research is showing that some of those claims may be proven out.  

 

Today, in Episode 109 of Teaching Your Brain to Knit, we touch on English Paper Quilting, we follow up on Jewish Hearts for Pittsburgh, and look at another Laura Nelkin kit — a felted hot pad called Another Contexta.    Although there are some wild claims for binaural beats, some studies are showing useful applications.  We talk about them.   And then we report on the famous, magical Fern Canyon in Behind the Redwood Curtain.  

 

Thank you for listening to our podcast.   You can find the show notes on ravelry and inside some podcast apps.   You can find us on Facebook and rarely instagram.   We hope you subscribe and continue to listen to us.

 

Brainy Thing:  16:15    Behind the Redwood Curtain:  27:41

 

Margaret finished the Laura Nelkin Kairos wristlet https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/kairos-2.   She particularly liked the randomness of the bead placement.  This was a kit and Laura offers 5 different colorways on her etsy store.  

 

Catherine hasn’t done much knitting but she’s working on a pair of Baby Socks https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/baby-socks-23  and has reaped the rewards of her dishcloth exchange.    https://www.ravelry.com/groups/annual-dishcloth-swap: Some of the patterns she received are Blossom (crochet),   The Almost Lost Washcloth https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-almost-lost-washcloth;   in swimming pool colorway, The Sail Away Dishcloth—  (joann’s )  and  Poppy.    

 

Brainy Thing:  Brain Changes in Animal-Human Interactions

Why does it feel so good to pet your animal (or even watch colorful fish?)   There’s a whole world of research out there and recent studies show chemical and structural changes in both animal and human brains when they interact.  And those changes make both  feel good.  

Book mentioned :  How Dogs Love Us:  A Neuroscientist and His Adopted Dog Decode the Canine Brain   by Gregory Berns     Other research links:  

http://sciencenetlinks.com/science-news/science-updates/robotic-dog/y.

 

 

Behind the Redwood Curtain:  The Samoa Cookhouse

 

samoa cookhouse winter hours  https://www.samoacookhouse.net/menu

 

 

Brainy:    13:05           Behind the Redwood Curtain 27:30 

What We’re Learning from our Knitting:  

It’s socks, socks, socks in our knitting this episode.  Catherine shares the sad tale of her puppy getting to a washcloths she had finished for her Washcloth exchange.   Now she gets to keep the slightly chewed Vortex 5 by Rebecca Hudson  https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/vortex-5-dishcloth but needs to make another one.  She decided on the perfect traveling project:  Baby socks.   Some patterns she likes are  ribbed far away baby socks   originally from Afghan for afghans made in worsted weight https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ribbed-far-away-baby-socks.  She also like another free baby socks pattern:  jelly bean baby sock spud and chloe  Susan B Anderson  https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/jelly-bean-baby-socks

 

Margaret also is working on socks — this time the nugget peds by Laura Nelkin  https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/search#sort=best&inline=&query=Nugget%20peds.  She also offers some of her favorite sock tips:  

kate Atherly heel trick  http://kateatherley.blogspot.com/2014/04/more-questions-on-sock-fit.html

lucy neatby heel The slippurl and alternative heel stitch  https://www.lucyneatby.com/extras/newsletters/SY19.html  

Finchley graft video by Roxanne Richardson:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3sD_RU720c  (watch out! The opening ad is loud)  

Lorilee Beltman how to  remember the kitchner stitch:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkW3kP7RZdk 

 

Brainy Thing:  

Analysis Paralysis 

overanalysis squelches creativity 1959 Barry Swartz  The paradox of choice

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

Podcast recommended:   Happier (also by Gretchen Rubin)  

Ambition and balance  blog by Doist

Links:  

 

Behind the Redwood Curtain: 

Fancy Website:  Visit Humboldt https://www.visithumboldt.com/

More basic website:  Humboldt california redwood coast https://www.visitredwoods.com/

 

Today on Episode 107 of Teaching Your Brain to Knit we discuss a beaded cuff sock, Nugget Peds by laura Nelkin plus a few sock tips and tricks to spice it up;   We find baby socks the perfect travel knitting and offer some patterns.  Analysis Paralysis is a real thing and we not share the brain science behind it but offer some tips to kicking it; and we present an overview of tourism on the Northcoast from attractions to wholistic groceries.  

 

Today we have another give away — this time a book from my library — a gently owned book named “Slow Knitting a journey from sheep to skein to stitch”   by Hannah Thiessen.  It chronicles her journey from the “getting it done quickly” attitude with her knitting to slowing down and deep her understanding of all the processes of her practice.  The book is a mixture of patterns, essays from a variety of professionals in the industry and beautiful photographs.  Companies include Green Mountain Spinner and O-Wool.  The patterns include lots of sweaters but also shawls and cowls and hats and mittens.  Hannah divides her book with the themes of “source carefully”  produce thoughtfully   think environmenta  lly experiment fearlessly and explore Openly.  This is a book you slow down with and come back too.   

 

 

What We’re Learning From Our Knitting

Margaret finished a pair of summer socks:  Top down, 1x1 twist rib cuff, afterthought heel with gusset, 

(check out Ariana Hipsagh    gussets in afterthought heel  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUyJM2FBH_o

Reena Meijer Dress  Knit better Socks blog  http://knitbettersocks.blogspot.com/)

The yarn is  Canon Hand Dyed 80 Merino, 10 Cashmere and 10 nylon.by The Amy Lee Show and the colorway is “I will believe that there are unicorns” a part of her January Shakespeare Club and a quote from the Tempest.  

She learned a lot from making the first step from Laura Nelkin’s Ducenti Shawl https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ducenti-mkal— a beaded i-cord. Made from in two different but closely coordinated colors, the two skeins of yarn came in Laura Nelkin’s Ducenti Shawl kit,  originally a mystery kit.They are a wonderfully soft single ply Dragonfly Fibers, Pixie yarn in 100 % merino in a mossy green and a variegated dark putty, with hints of a brassy brown and green.

But she’s not making the the full shawl as designed by Laura.    She’s using it as the bottom of Eline Oftedal’s Waves Shoulder Cosy https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/wave-shoulder-cosy

 

Catherine shares a free app from Home Depot for matching up colors.   She finds the matches are a tad on the dark side but still thinks it’s a nifty tool.   She found some yarn she’s long been looking for from  Lion Brand gradient stripe in pink for a dog sweater for a dog who looks fierce but isn’t.   She is working on her Dishcloth exchange using cotton she had on hand plus a  ball of lily’s sugar and cream  in white, lime, teal green, and  lavendar.  The pattern is  Vortex 5  by Rebecca Hudson  (Meditative is her Rav name.)   

 

Brainy Thing

Margaret reports on recent research on the Placebo effect  — Among the findings are that it works even if people know they are taking a placebo, it works in animals, and it changes an enzyme in the  brain.

https://connect.uclahealth.org/2019/03/14/placebo-effect-sugar-pills-as-medicine/  

 

Arcata Fairy Festival

A new kid-friendly event in Arcata is the Fairy Festival, celebrating its second year and planning for the next.

 

Give Away

Another fun giveaway.  Be the first to request it on the Ravelry thread.

 

 

In this episode of Teaching Your Brain to Knit we discuss summer socks, beaded i-cord, the dishcloth exchange anda pink striped yarn for a dog.   We share the latest on the Placebo Effect and report on a new area event, The Arcata Fairy Festival.  

 

Brainy Thing: 15:16               Behind the Redwood Curtain:  27:41

 

In episode 105 of Teaching Your Brain to Knit we share our knitting stories with buffalo wool, the log cabin mitts, blankets and blanket squares.  We report on research about the effect of diet on depression and the reintroduction of the condor in the Northcoast.

 

What we’re learning from our Knitting:

Catherine plays "too little/too much" with her Caron Big Cake (https://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/caron-big-cakes) a 100% acrylic yarn. But she’ll end up with a smaller baby sized blanket and blanket squares for a charity blanket.  Margaret tries out Buffalo Wool Company Prairie (bison and silk)  https://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/stunning-string-studio-prairie on a pair of log cabin mitts https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/log-cabin-mitts by Karen Templer.   Great yarn and a fun pattern.

 

Brainy Thing:  

Is there a relationship between diet and depression?   Catherine reports on recent research designed to show the impact of a healthy, modified Mediterranean and depression.  (It helped.)https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325240.php

 

Behind the Redwood Curtain:

Margaret discovers the history of the condor along the North Coast and exciting news that they will be reintroduced.

 

A Little Podcast Business:  

We miss podcasting as much and plan to increase the number of podcasts we’re putting out PLUS we have a yarn give away.

 

A little Podcast Busines

   

After a few months on a less frequent schedule for our podcast, Catherine and I have missed it and plan now to put out a podcast about once a month.  It may vary a bit — 3 weeks or 5 weeks but somewhere around one podcast a month.  For the time being, we’ll stick to the same format.

 

And, as a special treat today, we have a giveaway from the stash — a beautiful handspun, thick and thin, sken of 100% BFL or blue face leister totally 100 gram and containing 106 meters.  It has a marled look with green, a medium dark purple, tan and a offwhite.  It is from Friday Studios.  The first one to request this yarn in the 105 episode thread will receive it.

 

Until next time.