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.  

 

 

 

Brainy Thing:     13:44             Redwood Curtain:  19:26

 

What We’re Learning From Our Knitting;

Margaret continues her exploration of new techniques through the creation of jar covers (to use as vases, crochet hook holders, pencil holders, etc.).   This time she tries out foundation crochet with the pattern  Crochet Jar Cosy by Emma Escott  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/jar-cover-5

Foundation Crochet :  

photo tutorial:  .futuregirl.com/craft_blog/2009/3/tutorial-foundation-single-crochet.aspx    lots of markers and arrows

 

Catherine reports her progress on  worsted weight charity socks sponsored by the NorthCoast Knittery—https://northcoastknittery.com/blogs/shop-tidbits/socks-for-the-homeless with using Kramer Yarn in the Garnett color.  Harry Wells designed the basic sock pattern.  She also talks about what she learned at  Sunny Grove Alpacas, a local farm with goats and alpacas.

 

Brainy Thing

What can Silence do for the brain?   Good things, says Margaret.  Hear what she has to say about noise and silence.

 

Daniel A. Gross http://nautil.us/issue/16/nothingness/this-is-your-brain-on-silence

Dr. Michael Wehr

Imke kerste:  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00429-013-0679-3

Benefits of Silence:  

Medical Daily 5 health benefits of silence

 

Redwood Curtain   

Humboldt State University, locally called HSU, started out as a teacher’s college.   Catherine traces its history over a hundred years.  

 

Give away  

Knit Baby Head and Toes by Gwen Steege will be given to the first person who asks on Episode 64 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.

 

On this episode of Teaching Your Brain to Knit, we look at what is the impact of noise and silence on the brain, what’s the benefit of the foundation crochet technique, following progress on charity socks and learning about raising alpacas, checking out the   over 100 years of history of Humboldt State University, and offering another book give away.

 

 

 

Brainy Thing:    26:15   Behind the Redwood Curtain  42:55

What We’re Learning from Our Knitting:

Catherine learned an important lesson about life lines on her Absolutely Essential Shawl by Bunny Muff http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/absolutely-essential.  She also started a sock for a charity project sponsored by the Northcoast Knittery made of from Kramer Yarn.  

Margaret finally used some organic cotton, naturally colored yarn she had had in her stash forever.  She doesn’t know if they are FireFox yarns, the organic cotton of different colors started by Sally Fox (the labels have disappeared)  but she likes the idea and the yarn.  http://www.foxfirefiber.com/yarn.html.  She made two jar covers by Sara Delaney #575 Crocheted Lace Jar Covers.  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/crochet-lace-jar-covers  Her Ravelry name is. Chickenbetty.   She used a cute little flower and leaves by Carolina Guzman  from the  One and Two Company with an excellent pattern.  

 

Brainy Thing:

Studies show that the fiber arts (knitting, crochet, weaving, etc.) can help students, particularly women, become more comfortable with STEM subjects — science, technology, engineering and math.   Catherine tells us about it in this segment.

 

Behind the Redwood Curtain

Dozens of things from rivers to frogs were named after Alexander von Humboldt but why and who in the U.S. knows who he is?  Margaret reports on him.  

 

Knitted Babes Give away

As part of her de-stash efforts, Margaret offers up the book Knitted Babes by Claire Garland book — free to the first person who asks for it on the Ravelry Thread

 

Winners of the Learn-along.  

Listen to the episode for the winners of the 2017 Learn-along.  Prizes are Bamboo So Fine in peach and a cute notions case in a  guitar fabric.  

 

Podcast Links:

 

Today on Teaching Your Brain to Knit why educators are trying to  channel STEM students into the fiber arts; who was Alexander von Humboldt and why was he forgotten in the U.S.; What did Catherine learn about Life lines and Margaret about organic cotton; how to get a free book— from us -- and who won the 2017 spring  Learn-along.

 

 

What We’re Learning From Our Knitting

 

Margaret isn’t ready for the challenges of The Forzo Cuff by Laura Nelkin  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/forzo-cuff.  She will give away her slightly used kit to someone who is.   Just post on the Ravelry thread — first come, first served.   It is knitted lace.  Find the difference between that and lace knitting:    http://theknittingbuzz.typepad.com/the-knitting-buzz/2011/03/knitted-lace-vs-lace-knitting.html.  I

 

Catherine  continues her long trek with  Absolutely Essential Scarf by Bunny Muff   http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/absolutely-essential;  now becoming bored with a stitch that was frustrating her awhile ago.  She is also starting socks for a local charity campaign organized by The North Coast Knittery using Kramer Yarn https://northcoastknittery.com/.  

 

Brainy Thing

From the book How Learning Works  by Susan Ambrose et al. comes an outline of 

William G. Perry’s theory of stages of Intellectual Development later modified by Marcia Baxter-Magolda.     https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_G._Perry   

His ideas don’t judge what you believe but how those beliefs are formed and held.

 

Behind the Redwood Curtain

Rock slides are a fact of life in this area, particularly during a very rainy season.   Margaret talks about recent slides. 

 

Knitting Tip:   Cokleymonster on our Ravelry Thread reminds us to  keep notes on our knitting as we go along. 

 

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 outlines Levels of Intellectual Development

 

How Intellectually developed are your ideas?   In this episode of Teaching your Brain to Knit we outline William Perry’s theories.  We also share how Margaret faces a wall of learning challenges with the Forzo Cuff;  how Catherine finds Persistence on the Absolutely Essential Scarf;  how to deal with rockslides in the Redwood area and a tip about remembering details of your Knitting.   

 

 

Today on Teaching Your Brain to Knit,  a special episode-long interview with Stan Vanella, a  local Humboldt biofeedback practitioner.  So, no knitting, no crocheting, no Behind the Redwood Curtain, but an information packed introduction to Neurofeedback.  All of our other segments will return next episode.

 

Stan defines Neurofeedback and distinguishes between Neurofeedback and biofeedback.

 

Stan Mentions the App Belly Bio,  an Apple App that measures your breathing.

 

If you’re looking for a Bio/Neurofeedback practitionner, the International Society for Neurofeedback and Research ISNR) and the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance both have lists of practioners.  

 

You also might want to check out:  

 

Thanks again to Stan Vanella for giving us an introduction to Neurofeedback.  Next episode, we will return to our regular format where Catherine and I talk about what we’re learning from our knitting and sometimes crochet;  present a segment on learning, teaching or the brain;  share something about Behind the Redwood Curtain in  Northern Coastal California area and offer a knitting tip.  You can subscribe to our podcast on itunes, on the Podcast app on your apple smart phone or on the Stitcher app on android phone devices.   

 

 

Brainy Thing:   23:50  Behind the Redwood Curtain:  45:03

 

What We’re Learning from our Knitting and Crochet

CatherIne continues on the lacey Absolutely Essential Shawl  by Bunny Muff.  She talks aboutLace Knitting versus Knitted Lace.   Here’s a resource for knowing the difference.    http://theknittingbuzz.typepad.com/the-knitting-buzz/2011/03/knitted-lace-vs-lace-knitting.html

Margaret completes the Queen Anne’s Lace crochet scarf with a lot of help from Sue Perez’ blog, Mr. Micawber’s Recipe for Happiness http://mrsmicawber.blogspot.com/  

 

Brainy Thing:     Natural Happy Brain Chemicals

Sourced from Christoper Bergland’s The Athlete’s Way:  Sweat and the Biology of Bliss and The Athlete’s Way:  Training Your Body and Mind to Get Joy Out of Exercise, Catherine briefly reviews seven natural brain chemicals that make us happy.  

 

Behind the Redwood Curtain:  Queen Anne’s Lace Wildflower

The ubiquitous wildflower/weed has many uses and ties to the fiber world.

 

Knitting Tip:

Door Stopper advises that when knitting a sweater, knit a sleeve as the swatch.

 

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, what you need to know about natural happy brain chemicals, Continuing progress on the Absolutely Essential lace shawl, what to do when you’re stumped on the crocheted Queen Anne’s lace pattern, and the versatile Queen Anne’s Lace wildflower.   

 

Brainy Thing:   23:50  Behind the Redwood Curtain:  45:03

 

What We’re Learning from our Knitting and Crochet

CatherIne continues on the lacey Absolutely Essential Shawl  by Bunny Muff.  She talks aboutLace Knitting versus Knitted Lace.   Here’s a resource for knowing the difference.    http://theknittingbuzz.typepad.com/the-knitting-buzz/2011/03/knitted-lace-vs-lace-knitting.html

Margaret completes the Queen Anne’s Lace crochet scarf with a lot of help from Sue Perez’ blog, Mr. Micawber’s Recipe for Happiness http://mrsmicawber.blogspot.com/  

 

Brainy Thing:     Natural Happy Brain Chemicals

Sourced from Christoper Bergland’s The Athlete’s Way:  Sweat and the Biology of Bliss and The Athlete’s Way:  Training Your Body and Mind to Get Joy Out of Exercise, Catherine briefly reviews seven natural brain chemicals that make us happy.  

 

Behind the Redwood Curtain:  Queen Anne’s Lace Wildflower

The ubiquitous wildflower/weed has many uses and ties to the fiber world.

 

Knitting Tip:

Door Stopper advises that when knitting a sweater, knit a sleeve as the swatch.

 

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, what you need to know about natural happy brain chemicals, Continuing progress on the Absolutely Essential lace shawl, what to do when you’re stumped on the crocheted Queen Anne’s lace pattern, and the versatile Queen Anne’s Lace wildflower.   

Brainy Thing:  20:45     Redwood Curtain:

 

What We’re Learning from Our Knitting:

Margaret is learning Intarsia, a technique she’s been wanting to learn for a long time.  She presents her experiences so far and a variety of sources for learning intarsia from books, videos, You tube, Craftsy  

You Tube

 

 

Catherine has been struggling to find knitting time but sneaking in a row or two of Absolutely Essential by Bunny Muff. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/absolutely-essential

 

Brainy Thing: 

The Dana Foundation supports Brain Research and education about the brain.   Dana foundation  http://www.dana.org/

 

Behind the Redwood Curtain:

2017 Redwood Yarn Stomp  https://www.facebook.com/Redwoodcraftstomp/?hc_ref=SEARCH&fref=nf

 

Knitting Tip

Crochet more foundation chains than you need and count your stitches in each row as you finish them.

 

A Little Podcast Business

Winners for joining the Ravelry Group announced.

 

2017 Learn Along:

Ends on May 1st.   Get those projects done and post them on the thread in the Teaching Your Brain to Knit Ravelry Group.

 

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.

 

Summary

Today on Teaching Your Brain to Knit learn how the Dana Foundation supports research and education  about the brain;  Margaret offers sources and tips for learning intarsia; Catherine discovers how absolutely essential knitting is for her while she works on Bunny Muff’s shawl:  Absolutely Essential, Get the details on the Redwood Craft Stomp April 27 -29, Learn two crochet tips from our listener thread and finally find out who wins prizes for joining the Teaching Your Brain to Knit Group on Ravelry.

Brainy Thing:   25:25    Behind the Redwood Curtain:   35:25 

What We Learned From Our Knitting

Catherine knit not one, but two Poncho Perfectos by The Knit Cafe Toronto for a production of Julius Caesar.   Listen to her tale.   

The pattern is no longer  available but Catherine used raveler raplib’s Pacific NW Poncho notes as a guide.   http://www.ravelry.com/projects/raplib/poncho-perfecto  She used Jenny’ super stretchy bind off

 

Margaret has been playing with a number different projects but she finished two crochet ball ornament covers.  The directions are free and are:  Joy M. Prescott's  Elegant ornaments:  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/elegant-ornaments  in #10 orange cotton thread and Teresa Richardson's Thread crochet ornament   http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/thread-crochet-ornament---christopher  The video tutorial  is  at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EL0i4TTlGyM

 

Brainy Thing:  

Catherine tells us that receiving appreciation and giving appreciation fire the same parts of the brain as offering gratitude does and it does great things for our well being.  She mention the O T Tanner company, Positive Psychology Researc, Psychiatry Seven, Dr. Tard Khastan from George Mason University and Dr. Robert A Emmons, the world’s leading expert on Gratitude.  He’s at UC Davis and is the founder of the Journal of Positive Psychology.

 

Behind the Redwood Curtain:

Today Margaret Explore the Temperate Rainforest, the ecosystem of the Redwood Forest.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperate_rainforest     and w3.marietta.edu/~biol/biomes/temprain.htm

Knitting Tip:

Seven7seven (one of our group members) gives a tip that to keep track of yarn care instruction, take a photo of it when you’re photographing the yarn to add to the Ravelry stash pages.

 

The Learn-along

The Learn-along continues.   It ends May 1.  There’s prizes and learning to be had.  

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, how you can improve your quality of life with gratitude and appreciation;  Catherine takes a journey in knitting for the theatre;  Margaret enjoys the plasticity of crochet;  We learn what a temperate rain forest is, we get a tip about how to never lose your yarn’s care instruction, and we give a reminder about the 2017 Learn along.

 

 

Catherine rages against the bulky yarn she’s using in some mystery yarn she’s using and returns to a more comfortable yarn she used for but the Funky Baby Kimono by Melilab   http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/funky-baby-kimono