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

 

 

 

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:  

 https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/201810/cerebellum-studies-challenge-ancient-notions-how-we-think

 

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/10/181025142018.htm   Science Daily

 

npr  https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/10/25/660504533/the-underestimated-cerebellum-gains-new-respect-from-brain-scientists

 

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.  

 

 

 

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: 

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:

Instagram:   Margaret Kelso for Margaret and MagicWombat1 for Catherine

 

 

 

 

 

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

Judith Prindle Crocheted Diagonally  https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dishcloth-crocheted-diagonally

Bias Crochet Washcloth

Beth Major  knit picks diagnonal cloth good for beginners

Lauri Bolland  corner to corner or c2c Dishcloth https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/corner-to-corner-c2c-corner-start-tutorial

 

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ut9oPo8sLJw

 

Behind the Redwood Curtain:

Margaret explores the mysteries of the Carson Mansion and Ingomar Club.  Photo tour  

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Elizabeth Bagwell Love Knitting   https://blog.loveknitting.com/how-to-knit-while-walking/

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:

 

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:  

Catherine picks another pattern from Barbara Walker’s A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns (https://www.amazon.com/Second-Treasury-Knitting-Patterns/dp/0942018176/ref=pd_cp_14_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0942018176&pd_rd_r=2a3d2895-acb1-11e8-8e51-357518f34f72&pd_rd_w=XOqrD&pd_rd_wg=BKXpo&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=fcaa6d12-8b2b-4ad7-b277-864b2da79f6e&pf_rd_r=VQJFH22H6YV78WKN6KQT&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=VQJFH22H6YV78WKN6KQT&dpID=515Z57E66YL&preST=_SX218_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=detail) Fractured Lattice, (https://www.bromefields.com/day-12-fractured-lattice-knit-stitch-100daysofknitstitches/) and learns to better read her knitting.  

 

Margaret battles another problem, beyond holes, that she has with socks:  pills and fades.   For pills, she recommends The Gleener   (https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/931B9447-8431-4880-B169-766490511074?store_ref=HSA_AC3KAGGW5J1ECVV&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=54dc821a-0937-4e6f-9da9-f8dd5443145d&pf_rd_s=desktop-sx-top-slot&pf_rd_t=301&pf_rd_i=gleener&hsa_cr_id=9949073490601&lp_slot=auto-sparkle-hsa-tetris&lp_asins=B01N0QVOYG,B0763S5B7Q,B078J3HZQ3&lp_mat_key=gleener&lp_query=gleener&sb-ci-n=headline&sb-ci-v=Gentle%20on%20Fabrics%2C%20Tough%20on%20Fuzz.%20Shop%20Gleener.) and to help prevent fading and bleeding dyes she suggests Jasmine's from the Knitmore Girls Citric Acid ( http://www.betterthanyarn.com/2014/10/problems-and-solutions.html#dyefix).  

 

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 

  https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=24035

 

 

Giveaway

Don’t miss our yarn giveaway.

 

Links:

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:

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.  

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

Women’s work, the first 20,000 years  www.amazon.com/Womens-Work-First-Years-Society/dp/0393313484/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1533162658&sr=1-1&keywords=women%27s+work+the+first+20+000+years

 

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.