Teaching Your Brain to Knit

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 036 New Research on Muscle Memory May Help Knitters and Crocheters Apr 01, 2016

Show notes

Brainy Thing: 22:00 Behind the Redwood Curtain: 38:45 What we learned from our knitting: Margaret played with crocheted hearts from DIY Wedding by Jennifer E. Ryan either in Interweave Crochet Summer 2015 or as a special collection on the Interweave Website. They were cute, quick and fun. They are called Guest Lapel Pins on Ravelry. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/guest-lapel-pins Catherine shares Towashis she received from her swap. One was made of a worsted cotton, the second from sugar and cream and the third was sugar and cream with a portion from the specialized yarn, Sugar and Cream Scrubby which is more specialized Catherine continues to knit baby socks for Afghans for Afghans. She modified the Kate Atherly Baby Sock http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/baby-socks-23 to have ribbing on the top of the foot. Brainy Thing: New Research Finds Way to Speed up Muscle Memory Learning John Hopkins’ researchers find keys to speeding up learning for patients with neurological conditions, including post stroke. Could these techniques work for knitters and crochets? http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/want_to_learn_a_new_skill_faster_change_up_your_practice_sessions Behind the Redwood Curtain: 38:45 Margaret talks about the “scientific” and the oral history of the native tribes still thriving in the Humboldt Bay area. Much of her research is based on Two Peoples, One Place by Ray Raphael and Freeman House. http://www.amazon.com/Peoples-Place-Freeman-House-Raphael/dp/1883254019. Podcast Business: The incentive for joining the Ravelry group Teaching Your Brain to Knit http://www.ravelry.com/groups/teaching-your-brain-to-knit and the contest for Knitting Tips continue.

Ep. 035 Celebrate Neurons with Knitworks Mar 19, 2016

Show notes

Brainy thing: 23:33 Behind the Redwood Curtain: 33:33 What We’re Learning from our Knitting: Catherine’s been doing some knitting for a theatre production: She made a pair of fingerless mitts in bright pink for the monkey character in Jungalbook, just relying on measurements and her memory of doing mitts. She used Deceptive Cookie's http://www.ravelry.com/people/DeceptiveCookie Bias Stripe Shawl Recipe http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bias-stripe-shawl-recipe (free) for a black and orange scarf for the tiger character. Margaret talks about her marathon sock-darning event using different methods on socks of hers that have developed holes. Brainy Thing: Neural Knitworks: http://www.scienceweek.net.au/neural-knitworks/ Catherine shares Australian Pat Pillai’s idea to knit and weave brain cells as a way to celebrate Austrailia’s National Science Week in August. Knit, crochet, and knotting patterns of neurons are available for free on the website for the project Neural Knitworks. Behind the Redwood Curtain Margaret talks about the hiking trail of Trinidad Head in Trinidad, California — a short but pretty steep uphill climb that rewards with a fantastic almost 350 degree view at the top. Podcast Business: The incentive for joining the Ravelry group Teaching Your Brain to Knit http://www.ravelry.com/groups/teaching-your-brain-to-knit and the contest for Knitting Tips continue.

Ep. 034 The Forgettting Curve and Knitting Mar 01, 2016

Show notes

Brainy thing: 21:40 Redwood Curtain 31:40 What We’re Learning from our Knitting: Margaret does realize that the Forgetting Curve threw her a curve on the Fish Lip Kiss heel. She made a sparkly pair of blue socks out of Knit Circus Pixie Dust fingering weight merino/silk/nylon/polyamide/metallic yarn. Years ago she got a similar yarn as a kit from Knit Circus for Jaala Spiro’s half circle Coirrina Shawl (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/corrina-shawl) in the Casseopeia color way. When she ran out (she didn’t do a gauge swatch—for shame) Jaala dyed a skein that would especially go with the older color way. So she had quite a bit of the yarn leftover. Catherine continues making socks for the Afghans for Afghans organization. This time she use Kate Atherly’s Baby Socks pattern (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/baby-socks-23). She also made Lee Burstein’s Organic Cotton Heirloom Baby Hat (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/organic-cotton-heirloom-baby-hat), but out of wool instead of cotton. Brainy Thing: The Forgetting Curve Baffled by her botched attempt at the Fish Kiss Lips Heel (she did it once and she thought she remembered it) Margaret delves into the world of forgetting and meets our old friend Hermann Ebbinghaus who first described the Forgetting Curve. Elizabeth Loftus, a cognitive psychologist, describes different types of forgetting. Behind the Redwood Curtain: Catherine tells us about an icon of the Humboldt Bay, the statue of “The Fisherman” by Dick Crane. He and his wife Sally own Dancing Crane Studios. Knitting Tip: Listener Kate Pricey offers a tip about making knitting into the Backward Loop Cast-on easier — go through the back loop. Knitting Tip Contest: Five back issues of Pom Pom magazine is the prize for a randomly selected winner from our Knitting Tip thread of on our group on Ravelry. Podcast Business: We continue to have an on-going incentive prize for each 100 people who join our Teaching Your Brain to Knit podcast group on Ravelry. (http://www.ravelry.com/groups/teaching-your-brain-to-knit)

Ep. 033 How Knitting Can Help Fight Addiction Feb 21, 2016

Show notes

Brainy Thing: 20:47 Behind the Redwood Curtain 33:15 What We’re Learning from Our Knitting: Catherine updates us on her process knitting with Vanessa Ives Shawl by Bunny Muff http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/vanessa-ives She is knitting baby socks by http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/baby-socks--hat Bianca Boonstra for her favorite charity Afghan for Afghans http://www.afghansforafghans.org/index.html. They are out of her 2nd pair of Catnip Yarn that she died with Dharma dyes Margaret has made more Bevy of Bangles http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bevy-of-bangles by Mags Kandis The pattern is free on the interweave press site and is featured in the book Gifted by Mags Kandis. She reacquainted her self with Judy's magic cast on. As a reminder, she used the illustrations of Judy Becker’s book: Beyond Toes: Knitting Adventures with Judy’s Magic Cast-on. Brainy Thing: Catherine tells us more about Stitchlinks and their work on Knitting and Addiction. Stitchlinks was started by Betson Corkhill. Catherine also mentions a HBO series http://www.hbo.com/addiction/on addiction that she found very informative. Stitch Links http://stitchlinks.com/ Behind the Redwood Curtain Margaret talks about the Standish Hickey State Recreational Area http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=423 and The Peg House http://thepeghouse.net/ complex across the street from the entrance. Knitting Tips: Catherine tells Cat Bordhi’s tip on dealing with ladders in your knitting. Podcast Business: There’s a new contest — send in your knitting (or crochet) tips for an opportunity to win five back issues of PomPom magazine. Also, there is the continuing incentive to join the Ravelry Teaching your Brain to Knit http://www.ravelry.com/groups/teaching-your-brain-to-knit group.

Ep. 032 Lily Chin: Teacher Extraordinaire Feb 08, 2016

Show notes

Brainy Thing: 13:45 Behind the Redwood Curtain 23:10 What we’re learning from our Knitting Margaret is knitting a cowl out of Katia Temis or Colibri —she’s lost the ball band There’s no pattern: She just casts on 25 or more stitches and knits in garter stitch on very large needles (size 13) until she runs out of yarn. This is her exercise bike knitting. She also reports on how much she likes the Designing Vashti Yarn: Lotus Z-twisted sport weight fashion yarns: 52 cotton, 48 rayon. She knit up Kira K’s Belle Epoque shawl (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/belle-epoque-shawl) with it and has had a chance to try it out and she loves the mix of cotton and rayon. After years, Catherine finished her first pair of socks. She’s knit many since this first pair that she never quite4 finished. She used a generic cuff down sock recipe that she got from the sock knitting class she took and used a Brown Sheep Fleece cotton and wool yarn. Brainy Thing: Lily Chin: Teacher Extraordinaire Margaret analyzes why she thinks Lily Chin is an excellent teacher. Margaret recently finished viewing the Crocheter’s Toolbox video and also took a class in person with Lily on knitted closures. Behind the Redwood Curtain: ACV The Arcata/Eureka or the Eureka/Arcata airport (which actually is in McKinleyville) according to some people is the foggiest airport in the U.S. Whether that is true or not, it has a fascinating history. Knitting Tip: SSK Catherine tells us about a neater, more “perfect” left leaning decrease.

Ep. 031 Knitting, Life-long Learning and Your Brain Jan 27, 2016

Show notes

Brainy Thing: 26:00 Behind the Redwood Curtain: 38:15 What we’re learning from our Knitting Catherine gives an update on the Vanessa Ives Mystery Shawl http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/vanessa-ives By Bunny Muff http://www.ravelry.com/designers/bunnymuff and how even Michael’s failed in providing Japanese beads that would work. While she’s waiting for her delivery of beads, she’s working on Baby Socks by Bianca Bufran for the Afghan for Afghans project. The socks are made from Treadsock Yarns that Catherine dyed with Dharma dyed goods. She’s also been working up some scrubbies for the Dishcloth group she belongs to. This one is Little Scrubbie http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/little-scrubbie by Arctic Trails Abstract http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/arctictrailsabstractblogspot and made out of leftover Knit Picks Indy Chain Linen in and leftover AllHemp 6 lux. Margaret tells the “amazing” story of finding a hand dyed indigo boucle cotton at Amazing Yarns in Emerald Hills, CA. She knit the Miami Vice pattern http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/miami-vice by 3 bags fulled http://www.ravelry.com/designers/threebagsfulledor Hillary Designs and learned of ways to fix the dye from John Marshall of John Marshall Works in Fabric who was at the Natural Fibre Festival in Arcata in September. Brainy Thing Another reason we crafters should continue to learn? Catherine talks about the Nun Study, a longitudinal study of Sisters of Notre Dame which indicates that lifelong learners have a lower rate of symptoms of dementia even if there are pathological signs of it in the brain after death. Also, those with stronger language skills fared better in terms of preventing dementia. Behind the Redwood Curtain Margaret shares information about the mission of the Friends of the Dunes’ Humboldt Coastal Nature Center. Knitting Tips (technical problems prevented the recording of this. Learn more about indigo from the “word of the Week” on Indigo expert John Marshall. http://johnmarshall.to/blog/category/japanese_word_of_the_week/ Podcast Business The incentive to sign up for the Teaching Your Brain to Knit Ravelry Group continues. http://www.ravelry.com/groups/teaching-your-brain-to-knit

What the heck is the Distributive Practice Effect and how can it help you learn fiber arts? Jan 03, 2016

Show notes

Brainy Thing: 15:47 Behind the Redwood Curtain: 25:35Welcome to Episode: How the Distributive Practice Effect or Spacing Effect can help you learn skills in the fiber Arts.What we’re learning from our Knitting Catherine got a lot of satisfaction by completing Laura Nelkin’s Butin Collar. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/butin-collarMargaret created felted bangles from Mags Kandis’ Bevy of Bangles pattern, http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bevy-of-banglesfrom the book Gifted, Lovely little things to knit and crochet http://www.amazon.com/Gifted-Lovely-Little-Things-Crochet-ebook/dp/B00DH40MIG/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1by Mags Kandis or get them for free from the Interweave website. Brainy Thing: The Distributive Practice EffectCatherine talks about the Distributive Practice Effect, first described by Herman Ebbinghaus. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermann_Ebbinghaus. In psychology,it is talked about as the Spacing Effect. http://www.aft.org/periodical/american-educator/summer-2002/ask-cognitive-scientist. Essentially, practicing something a little bit every day is more effective in learning than practicing for a long time for one day a week. Behind the Redwood Curtain: Ferndale, CA, the Victorian VillageCatherine introduces us to Ferndale, CA which has a large number of well preserved Victorian buildings. It is very well decorated around Christmas time.Knitting Tip:Margaret shares a tip from No Sheep for You by Amy Singer: When knitting socks in Cotton or a yarn with little memory, use ribbing to help the sock

Ep. 029 Multi-sensory Learning and Your Knitting and Crochet Dec 02, 2015

Show notes

Brainy Thing: 17:37 Behind the Redwood Curtain: 27:54

What We’re Learning from Our Knitting and Crochet:

Catherine needed a quick, satisfying, completed project so she whipped up the crocheted Skinny Mini Scarf by Carla Fanton in Feza Purl in gold. Margaret was in the same need-a-quick-success mood and worked up two Javori Designs bracelet kits: Arya crochet in sapphire; Paloma Knit beaded bracelet in Starry night

Brainy Thing

Catherine discovers the connections between multi-sensory learning, concept maps and JC Briar's Stitchmaps. Here's a YouTube link for our authors. Also check http://www.amazon.com/The-New-Science-Learning-Harmony/dp/1620360098

The New Science of Learning: How to Learn in Harmony with your brain by Terry Doyle and James Zulle: The Art of Changing the Brain

Behind the Redwood Curtain

We talk about (you can see photos on the Shownotes on Teachingyourbraintoknit.com) murals, many of which were done by local artist Duane Flatmo.

Ep. 028 Process and Product in your Knitting and Crochet, Myers Briggs Style Nov 16, 2015

Show notes

Episode 28 Process versus product in your knitting and crochet

Brainy Things: 10:40 Redwood Curtain: 18:35

What we’re learning from our knitting and crochet

Margaret crocheted a super quick project: the Crochet cobweb pattern by Jennifer Hansen. It's free! http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/crochet-cobweb

After a rough start, Catherine is now enjoying the Vanessa Ives Mystery KAL. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/vanessa-ives

Brainy Thing:

Process vs. Product in our Knitting and Crochet through the lens of the Myers Briggs Personality Inventory

http://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-basics/judging-or-perceiving.htm

Behind the Redwood Curtain

Haunted House Tour of Eureka: http://www.oldtownhauntedhistorytours.com/Home_Page.php Why some of these houses have mezzanines. Knitting Tip

Cat Bordhi ‘s tip of using Kid Silk Haze or an equivalent to reinforce socks.

http://www.ravelry.com/people/CatBordhi

Ep.027 Reading/Writing Learning Style and Knitting Nov 02, 2015

Show notes

Episode 27: Reading/Writing Learning Preference and Your Knitting

Brainy thing: 25:10 Redwood Curtain: 33:50

What Our Knitting is Teaching Us

Margaret concludes (at least for now) her cotton sock yarn comparison with Feel Good Yarns sock yarn knitted in a generic sock pattern and using the new-to-her Fish Lips Kiss Heel by Sox Therapist http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fish-lips-kiss-heel

in Feel Good Yarn Company http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/feel-good-yarn-company-silverspun-sock

She compares Feel Good Yarn with Cascade Fixation and Cobasi by HiKoo, which is currently her favorite.

Catherine talks about her painful learning from the Mona8pi or Bunny Muff’s Vanessa Ives Mystery shawl http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/vanessa-ives-mkal out of Woole’s Yarns Creations Color Changing Cotton

Brainy Thing

In earlier episodes, we’ve talked about the VAK learning style – Visual, Auditory and Kinesthetic preferences for taking in information. An updated version of that is the VARK system. The “R” stands for the Reading/Writing preference. While many people including educators find these systems useful, other criticize the research that has been done.

http://easychangeworks.com/articles-nlp/markova-quiz.htm

http://teachertools.londongt.org/?page=VAK

learningpath.org/articles/30_of_the_Best_Educational_Tools_for_Auditory_Visual_and_Kinesthetic_Learners.html

http://easychangeworks.com/articles-nlp/markova-1-intro.htm

https://www.evernote.com/shard/s351/nl/58815065/110e2ccb-0fba-40e4-9887-e173ce46a227/

http://donaldclarkplanb.blogspot.com/2012/05/fleming-vakuous-learning-styles.html

http://learningstylesevidence.blogspot.com/2012/12/a-meta-analysis-of-vak-pre-vark.html

Redwood Curtain

The facts and mythos of Highway 101 that runs from Los Angeles to the Washington State Border.

A Knitting Tip

How to cut out a row of knitting:Margaret Ratcliff The Knowledgeable Knitter

http://www.amazon.com/Knowledgeable-Knitter-Margaret-Radcliffe/dp/1612120407/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1446325007&sr=1-1&keywords=the+knowledgeable+knitter

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