What We Learned in Our Knitting:

Margaret tried a Knit-in-place patch for her holey socks:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdecrGLzBhw      

Catherine ran into some “learning opportunities" for knitting a pattern for a second time:  lady violet’s gauntlet 

originally with Bugga  Cotton Stainer .  https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lady-violets-dinner-gauntlets   

 

Brainy Thing: 

Finding red flags in scientific research:  Jennifer Raff  University of Kansas   How to read a scientific report

example:  coconut oil  https://www.snopes.com/2017/06/28/aha-coconut-oil/

 

checking who is sponsoring research

 

Redwood Curtain:

Catherine shares about Headwaters Forest,  -= last coastal redwood forrest https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/california/headwaters-forest-reserve

 

Giveaways:

We have another membership incentive give away and another book giveaway.

 

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.

 

Brainy:    15:17              Behind the Redwood curtain:  24:25

What We’re Learning From Our Knitting:

Catherine enjoys community and patterns  — and sprucing up her kitchen on Ravelry called the Annual Dishcloth Swap, https://www.ravelry.com/groups/annual-dishcloth-swap.  

Margaret Found the “Goldilocks” amount of challenge in Tranis Gray’s Craftsy Fair Isle Ornaments class and improved her Fair Isle techniques, make one left and right, provisional cast on, and working with double point needles on a small circumference.   The result was fun, learning and beautiful Christmas Ornaments.  

 Class:  https://www.craftsy.com/knitting/classes/fair-isle-holiday-ornaments/497492

Often referred to instructions on fair isle. Philosopher’s Wool: https://www.philosopherswool.com/Pages/Twohandedvideo.htm  

Trapping Floats:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2A-aZWpArY

Photos:   The stripped ornament was a practice one — less complicated to be able to concentrate on knitting with double  points.  (not pattern)    

 

BrainyThing:   :  

Catherine shares Newark University research by Gregori Busaki and his group on just how sleep helps to anchor our memories of the day.  

Rutgers University 2009, Newark University gregori busaki  https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090915174506.htm

She also mentions Dr. Kirk Parsley who specializes in Sleep.  http://www.docparsley.com/about/

Rutgers University 2009   and Newark University gregori busaki 

 

Behind the Redwood Curtain:

HSU Natural History Museum

 

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 on Teaching Your Brain to Knit we explore enhancing your memory with Sleep;  Getting the Pleasure of Community (and patterns) in the Dishcloth Swap;   Finding the “Just Right” amount of Challenge in Fair Isle Christmas Ornaments; AND Exploring treasures in the HSU Natural History Museum 

Brainy Thing:    13:34             Behind the Redwood Curtain:  21:34

 

What We Learned From Our Knitting:

Margaret made a cowl and added beads to the edges of the Churchouse Yarns and Teas’ Bias Before and After Scarf.  — http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bias-before--after-scarf

She struggled with the stiff  fiber of Claudia Hand Painted Yarns Drama Linens  but loves the results in  the Sage Paradise color way which to her eyes looks likes an aqua blue.

Catherine finished her third pair of Charity Socks and also finished the Fatima Shawl https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fatima-3 by Bunny Muff (Mona8pi) https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fatima-3 and featuring the nupps that Catherine has grown to love.  

 

Brainy Thing:   13:34

How does your brain react to the seasons.   More differently than you would expect.

 

Behind the Redwood Curtain

The Ocher Sea Star, common along the North Coast, is one of the keys to ocean harmony.  We spotted a lot of these fellows during our hike at the minus tide.  Its Latin name is Pisaster ochraceus .https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisaster_ochraceushttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisaster_ochraceus

 

Book Giveaway

We have another Book Give Away

 

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, we learn surprising things about how your brain works in different seasons, Margaret wins the struggle with stiff linen yarn for a cowl with beads, Catherine finishes a Charity Project and a long term project, the Starfish comes back to the North Coast and we have another book giveaway.  

Brainy Thing:   25:07   Redwood Curtain:  45:31

What We’re Learning From Our Knitting and Teaching (crochet.)

Catherine focuses on her charity knitting , finishing her Socks for the Homeless and trying to find a good charity to donate some older projects:  a child’s cardigan, an adult raglan sweater, and some baby socks.   

Margaret shares some more insights she’s gathered from teaching a small group how to crochet Hats for the Homeless.  Simple Single Crochet Hat  by K T and the Squid  (  Katy Petersen.)  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/simple-single-crochet-hat

 

Catherine’s Charity Knitting:  Fantasy Red Cardi by Catherine Foster  https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fantasy-red-cardi

generic baby socks, and a worsted weight sweater The Incredible Custom Fit Raglan Sweater  by Pamela Costello  ( woolworks)  https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/incredible-custom-fit-raglan

 

Brainy Thing

Catherine gives a broad view of Meditation describing five categories of meditation outlined  by Jules and Michelle Levey  in Luminous Mind  http://www.wisdomatwork.com/.     Chopra Center  7 myths about meditation  http://www.chopra.com/articles/7-myths-of-meditation

blog   Live and Dare   Giovanni Dienstmann  http://liveanddare.com/

 

Behind the Redwood Curtain

Catherine and Margaret recount their adventure during a Minus Tide in Humboldt.

surfrider foundation  https://shop.surfrider.org/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlfD4nt3Q1gIVCqhpCh2d9g2AEAAYASAAEgLaqvD_BwE

 

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, we offer 5 basic styles of meditation with scores of specific types in each category;  we share an update on lessons learned from teaching; And Some experiences with Charity Knitting; and we explore the bounty of the minus tide in Humboldt.

 

Brainy Thing: 18:02       Redwood Curtain  31:02

 

What We’re Learning from Our Knitting:

Margaret learns a lot about teaching and learning by  teaching a beginner crochet to a group using the pattern of Simple Single Crochet Hat  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/simple-single-crochet-hat

by K T and the Squid  (  Katy Petersen.)  She and the class used  Valley Yarns aran (discontinued).  

 

Catherine also was into crochet this time for her dishcloth swap group.   She learned some new techniques  with the Partly Sunny pattern (99 cents) by Stacey L W   Lee   Partly sunny   toots and momo designs

 

BrainyThing

We hear the phrase Hand-eye coordination but why is that so important to us and our brains.  Margaret explores the topic.  

OT Mom Learning Activities 

Shirley Brice Heath   Journal of language and literacy journal of education

 http://www.ot-mom-learning-activities.com/hand-eye-coordination.html

http://jn.physiology.org/content/92/1/10  

 

Redwood Curtain

For a small town, Arcata, CA has unexpected cultural diversity in it’s business.  Catherine shares information about Los Bagels, a Jewish-Mexican Bakery and how they unite the community with their dia de los muertos  or dia de muertos altar.

 

 

 

 

  

Brainy Thing:   15:53             Behind the Redwood Curtain  27:23

What We’re Learning From Our Knitting

Catherine is trying crochet this time with Stacey LW Lee’s $ 0.99 pattern Partly Sunny.  She needs five for her dishcloth exchange.

 

Margaret relates her journey with Argyle Sock Knitting.  She took a class and there are not a lot of online classes on Argyle.  Photo tutorial:  

yarn harlot:   http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2007/12/31/at_the_last.html

 

Brainy Thing:

Catherine talks about boosting your brain’s happy chemical GABA and some of Barit Brogard, PhD’s from the University of Miami’s work.  https://www.amazon.com/Superhuman-Mind-Free-Genius-Brain/dp/1594633681?SubscriptionId=AKIAIRKJRCRZW3TANMSA&tag=psychologytod-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=1594633681

 

Behind the Redwood Curtain:  Humboldt Botanical Gardens

Margaret shares the delights of Humboldt Botanical Garden.

 

Giveaway

And we have another book give-away

 

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 and MagicWombat1 

 

  

Brainy Thing:   16:06    Behind the Redwood Curtain:  24:40

 

What We’re Learning from our Knitting:

Margaret explores the planning/creative phase of a project with Lea Redman's  Knit the Sky Scarf   http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sky-scarf.  Redman also has a book called Knit the Sky that promotes creativity and playfulness in knitting.  http://www.knitthesky.com/  book  Margaret heard of Lea Redman through Becky Steward's  Knit Om newsletter.  http://knitom.com/author/becky-stewart/

 

Catherine declares that she is fine being a slow knitter (and later in the episode that she is also fine being a slow reader.)  She is continuing her progress on charity socks  https://northcoastknittery.com/blogs/shop-tidbits/socks-for-the-homeless  sponsored by Northcoast Knittery and on Bunnymuff’s Fatima Shawl.

continuing Fatima shawl

 

Brainy thing: Kwik Learning

Turning on  you superpower brain with Jim Kwik episode of Srini Rao on the Unmistakeable Creative Podcast.  https://unmistakablecreative.com/podcast

Jim Kwik’s podcast:  Kwik Brain:  Memory Improvement Accelerated Learning

 

Kwik Brain:  Memory Improvement Accelearated Learning https://kwikbrain.com/podcast

Kwik Learning website:  https://kwiklearning.com/

 

Behind the Redwood Curtain:

Links to :  Shrine Drive Thru Tree;  Drive-Thru Tree Park, and Klamath Tour Thru Tree.  https://www.google.com/search?q=drive%20through%20redwoods&oq=drive+through+redwoods&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.4302j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&npsic=0&rflfq=1&rlha=0&rllag=40082771,-123811564,26098&tbm=lcl&rldimm=4847466927078880757&ved=0ahUKEwiRoezgtd3VAhWN14MKHVG9Cn8QvS4IRTAA&rldoc=1&tbs=lrf:!2m1!1e2!2m1!1e3!3sIAE,lf:1,lf_ui:1

 

Knitting Tip:

Dealing with ladders that are created in the round knitting.

 

Links for 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.

 

In this episode of Teaching Your Brain to Knit, Read and learn Kwikly using Jim Kwik’s methods and tips;  Follow Margaret’s process and stumbles planning a new project — Knit the Sky;  Listen to Catherine “Embrace the Slow” with Charity Socks;  Drive through giant redwood trees;  and get a tip on dealing with ladders knitting in the round.  

 

 

 

 

Brainy Thing:   15:40          Behind the Redwood Curtain:  31:50

What We’re Learning from our Knitting:  

With her first shetland lace shawl, Catherine learns that the secret to lace knitting for her is to count stitches after completing each row in the Fatima shawl http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fatima-3  with Sincere Sheep’s  Hester colored (peachy) silk/linen blend.  It also includes  beads and nupps.   Margaret starts Christmas gifts with the Buggy Mitts.http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/buggy-mitts with Morehouse Farms wool.  (It was a Morehouse Farms Kit when she bought it years ago.  

 

BrainyThing:  

Dr. Bill Hettler  proposes Six Dimensions of Wellness      http://www.nationalwellness.org/?page=Six_Dimensions  which offers a concept beyond physical health.

 

Behind the Redwood Curtain:

Margaret talks about Sequoia Park in Eureka. http://www.sequoiaparkzoo.net/visit/sequoia-park/

 

Book Give-Away continues

 

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.

 

 

 

 

Brainy Thing:   14:45       Behind the Redwood Curtain:  31:50

Catherine’s grand finale of Bunnymuff's  Absolutely essential shawl.  She bound off with  Jenny’s stretchy bindoff.  

Margaret finished her Inversible Socks, yarn by Fibernymph.   She used an afterthought heel with a gusset in the corners.     

 

Amygdala

Why is it the political discussion is so toxic these days?  Catherine discovers answers hidden in the Amygdala.  

The Oatmeal:;  You Are Not Going to Believe What I’m About to Tell you    http://theoatmeal.com/comics/believe

USC Brain and Creativity Institutem article:  Lead researcher Jonas Kaplan;  Sarah Kimball and Sam Harris  Scientific Report 6 Article 39589

 

Behind the Redwood Curtain

Catherine Tells us all about the  Roosevelt Elk which love hanging around Prairie Creek Park.  

 

Book Giveaway

Margaret is offering Stephanie Pearl-McPhee’s book Knitting Rules to the first person who asks for it on the Episode 66 Thread on Ravelry.

 

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.

 

This episode of Teaching Your Brain to Knit reveals a surprising discovery of why we can’t talk across the political divide (but don’t worry we’re not going to talk about politics itself.  It’s about the brain, of course and how to counter its sometimes bad habits                                                                   )  Catherine recounts the finale to Bunnymuff’s Absolutely Essential Shawl;  Margaret presents Fibernymph’s Inversible Yarn in an afterthought heel sock;  Catherine introduces the stately Roosevelt Elk;  and Margaret gives away a copy of Knitting Rules by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee 

 

 

 

Brainy thing:   19:29             Behind the Redwood Curtain 30:45

 

What We’re Learning from Our Knitting

Nothing could be easier than Kirsten Hipsky’s   #576  Knit Lace Jar Cover http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/knit-lace-jar-covers so of course Margaret had to complicate it by learning a new technique:  this time a garter stitch kitchener which turned out less complicated than the standard stockinette kitchener.

Garter stitch Kitchener:  http://www.knittinghelp.com/video/play/grafting-garter-kitchener-stitch

Catherine  is starting a new Bunny Muff project that includes beads and nupps.   http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fatima-3 and she continues to work on the Charity Socks project sponsored by the Northcoast Knittery:  https://northcoastknittery.com/blogs/shop-tidbits/socks-for-the-homeless

 

Brainy Thing:  Kristy Glass Podcast Interviews Betsan Corkhill:

Kristy Glass is a prolific video podcast and recently designated May Mental Health Month.   She interviewed Betsan Corkhill https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujY79nFUDVY who recently published   Knitting for Health and Wellness  https://www.amazon.com/Knit-Health-Wellness-knit-flexible-ebook/dp/B00KVL5OQ8.  (She also interviewed us in May  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vPppbZTkF0)

 

Behind the Redwood Curtain

Catherine shares what one woman can do to help the homeless:  Betty Chinn and the homeless http://bettychinn.org/

 

Giveaway:

Help Margaret Destash:  this time it’s Japanese Inspired Knits by Marianne Isager.  

 

 

Today on Teaching Your Brain to Knit we review an episode of the Kristy Glass Knits Podcast where she interviews Betsan Corkhill and discusses the topics of Betsan’s new book, Knitting for Health and Wellness.  Margaret tries out a garter stitch variation kitchener stitch;  Catherine starts a new Bunny Muff patter with beads and Nupps;  We celebrate Betty Chin in our community who has made great progress helping the homeless in ourarea;  and we give away another book.