Teaching Your Brain to Knit

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Ep. 135. Hedonic Adaptation; Trying Freeform, Finding Comfort; & Knits in the World; Craftsman television series Apr 20, 2022

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Episode 135 Hedonic Adaptation; freeform crochet and replacement knitting; The Craftsman TV series. Brainy Thing: 18:10 Behind the Redwood Curtain 25:42 What we've learned from our Knitting and Crochet Margaret flirted with freeform crochet in response to a prompt of "Deep Listening." She wasn't happy with the product or the process. Catherine continues her obsession with the mitre square blanket and she shares about taking her knitting out into the world. In one case, it was fun -- lots of love for the Agata (https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/agata) Cardigan by Leah Chapman (https://www.ravelry.com/designers/leah-chapman). ; in another, she lost a beloved Stephen West https://www.ravelry.com/designers/stephen-westShawl, Metalouse. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/metalouse Brainy Thing Margaret reports on Hedonic Adaptation also called the Hedonic Treadmill which is the human emotional set-point that is partly genetic and partly attitudinal. https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/knowledge/other/hedonic-treadmill/. https://www.rickhanson.net/being-well-podcast/being-well-podcast-guest-experts/ https://www.healthline.com/health/hedonic-treadmill#what-is-it Behind the Redwood Curtain Catherine's been watching the new Craftsman television series on Magnolia network which features the Blue Ox Millworks in Eureka. In addition to celebrating handcrafting, the series features beautiful shots of Old Town Eureka and the Humboldt Coast. https://magnolia.com/watch/show/62a3faac-8006-5a79-b673-8c0217e75fbc/the-craftsman/, https://www.distractify.com/p/eric-hollenbeck-the-craftsman. Myra Wood (Designer) 0.55 Agata 10:10 Leah Chapman: 10:10 Metalouse 15:18 Stephen West 15:18 The Ribbed Faraway Baby Socks 17:20 Amber 17:20 Mittknitter. 17:20 Blue Ox Millworks Today in Episode 135 of Teaching Your Brain to Knit, we learn about Hedonic Adaptation, our internal thermostat for emotional happiness; Margaret experiments with freeform crochet while Catherine continues her blanket obsession; And Catherine reports on a new TV series, the Craftsman which feature the Blue Ox Millworks in Eureka and a celebration of handwork. As always please forgive and ignore the audio distortions introduced by zoom and unstable networks.

Ep. 134. Perfectionism; blankets, reports & tips; Cal Poly Humboldt Mar 09, 2022

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Brainy Thing: 17:35 Behind the Redwood Curtain: 29:50 What We're Learning from our Knitting: Catherine is continuing on with her mitered square blanket. Margaret hasn't completed anything but continue with a little stockinette knitting here and a little crochet there. She does have a report about Fast Fashion ripping off Crochet Designers https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/crochet-trend-fast-fashion-copy-designs, a recommendation for new video tutorials from Nimble Needles https://nimble-needles.com/category/tutorials/page/4/ , and a major tip for long tail cast ons. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcvzB_9o8qc. Brainy Thing: Catherine reports on Perfectionism and its positive and negative sides. She's wondering if she suffers from a little bit of perfectionism that is stopping her from starting the colorwork sweater Ghost Horses https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ghost-horses. by Caitlin Hunter. https://www.elitedaily.com/wellness/striving-perfection-can-completely-exhaust-brain/2030504 Jody Deluca, Ph.D. https://www.eriecoloradocounseling.com/publications Behind the Redwood Curtain: The university where Catherine and Margaret worked is changing its orientation and name. It's now Cal Poly Humboldt and is focusing on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) programs. https://www.humboldt.edu/sites/default/files/polytechnicreport_hsuhighlights.pdf https://pmc.humboldt.edu/portal/climate-action-plan-20 https://facilitymgmt.humboldt.edu/sites/default/files/hsu_stars_path_to_platinum_2020-2022_final.pdf pcci.humboldt.edu. Welcome to Episode 134 of Teaching your Brain to Knit. Today we talk about Perfectionism, both its positive and negative effects. Catherine and Margaret have been working on blankets and other projects but not finishing things. And Margaret reports on the changes from Humboldt State University to Cal Poly Humboldt.

Ep. 133 Loving Kindness Meditation, Blankets, Hats and Socks, and Old Town Buggy Rides Feb 22, 2022

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Brainy Thing: 18:28. Behind the Redwood Curtain: 27:52 What we've learned from our knitting: Margaret finished a new project and resurrected an old one. As she was ripping out the yarn from She used the Keanna Chunky Messy bun Hat pattern by Jocelyn Jones for the general measurements but knit the whole hat in two by two ribbing. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/keannas-chunky-messy-bun-hat. Then, as she was ripping out the Big Marl Blanket by Beata Jezek, she began playing around with the yarn making a big Granny Square. She turned to Jeanne Steinhilber's Marled Modern Granny Afghan https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/marled-modern-granny-afghan for a pattern and she finished her lap-ghan that she'll donate to charity. Catherine made the first step toward her new sock project -- she wound the skein of yarn into a ball and then inspired by her research on finishing projects, she went back to her mitered Square Blanket and found a tutorial for squaring off the sides to make the edges straight instead of sawtoothed. Ladybug Laboratory offers a You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14gZfqdZ57k Brainy Thing: We've talked a lot about meditation on the podcast but an amazing amount of research suggests that Loving Kindness Meditation has many, many benefits. And Oops. Margaret talked about Sharon Saltzman as the Queen of Loving Kindness but it is Sharon Salzberg. Sorry, Sharon. https://www.organicauthority.com/energetic-health/how-loving-kindness-meditation-transforms-your-brain https://kripalu.org/resources/evidence-based-benefits-loving-kindness-meditation https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2695992/. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ING1BKvjyv8 https://www.sharonsalzberg.com/metta-hour-podcast/. Behind the Redwood Curtain What could be more fun than a horse drawn buggy ride through downtown Eureka? Probably not much. Check it out here: https://www.oldtowncarriageco.com/ Today in episode 133 of Teaching your Brain to Knit, we report on the many benefits of one particular meditation techniques -- Loving Kindness Meditation. We talk about work on old projects -- blankets, in this case, and we present new projects -- a messy bun hat and socks. Then we report on the delightful carriage rides of downtown Eureka. Welcome.

Ep. 132 Intrinsic & Extrinsic Motivation; New socks, old birds, and new stitches; La Niña & El Niño Jan 23, 2022

Show notes

Brainy thing: 20:30 Behind the Redwood Curtain. 35:40 Harry Wells: 16:30 What We're Learning from our Knitting Catherine discusses planning knitting while keeping in mind the things she loves to do. She's looking forward to picking up sock knitting again and is eyeing Sivia Hardings Victoriana which is a toe up sock with bobbles, beads and picots. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/victoriana-socks-2. Margaret returned to some old favorites -- Arne's and Carlos' birds https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/basic-bird. which she decorated with hats. She also took a class with Harry Wells learning to do the hex stitch and other knit one below stitches plus a new stretch cast on and several new stretch bindoffs. Brainy Thing: Catherine continues to explore why it's sometimes difficult to finish things and dips into theories of intrinsic and extrinsic rewards as motivation Behind the Redwood Curtain Margaret shares basic information about El Niño and La Niña and looks for an explanation of why Southern California had floods and snow during a year that should be dry. Welcome to Episode 132 of Teaching Your Brain to Knit where Catherine is deep into planning future projects and Margaret reports on knitting old patterns and learning new stitches. During the Brainy Thing Catherine continues to seek understanding about why it's sometimes hard to finish things focusing on intrinsic and extrinsic rewards as motivation. And Margaret talks about El Niño and La Niña and why Southern California got a lot of rain and snow during a year when that shouldn't happen.

Ep. 131 Gnomes, Finishing Plus, Truth Bias, Planned Housing Dec 27, 2021

Show notes

Brainy Thing: 15.55 Behind the Redwood Curtain: 22:47 What we Learned from our Knitting Welts and tiny mittens were the notable learning for Gnorwen the Gnome in Sarah Schira's All Work, Gnome Play Mystery Knit Along. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/all-work-gnome-play She added a red beard, eliminated the flower decorations and included a miniature set of skis for what will be her grandson's gnome. Catherine coaxed herself on with the help of Marcie Bell's beautiful darning needles to finish sewing up her Agata sweater by Leah Chapman. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/agata She also knit up a few scrubbies and a couple of mitered squares. Brainy Thing: Researchers say we are biased toward believing each other -- which makes us vulnerable to liars. Starting with Aja Raden's book The Truth about Lies: The Illusion of Honesty and the Evolution of Deceit and then other research, Margaret reports on the Cognitive Bias, The Truth Bias, other biases and the Truth-Default Theory. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/let-their-words-do-the-talking/201306/truth-bias https://www.amazon.com/Truth-About-Lies-Illusion-Evolution-ebook/dp/B08BYCS1SG/ref=sr_1_1?crid=OYUJLJXS4KNA&keywords=the+truth+about+lies&qid=1640643756&s=books&sprefix=the+truth+about+lies%2Cstripbooks%2C1059&sr=1-1 Behind the Redwood Curtain: Although first skeptical, Catherine now sees the benefits of the Arcata Gateway project for our town and other small towns. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUsFlnX2xoE

Ep. 130. Construal Level Theory of Finishing Projects; Sewing up sweaters; Crocheting Coasters; Humboldt Sea Level Rise Nov 20, 2021

Show notes

Brainy Thing: 16:11 Behind the Redwood Curtain: 27:01 What We're Learning from Our Knitting Catherine is in the "piecing together" part of her Agata Sweater by Leah Chapman. Sewing up is not her favorite part of project making. She's using https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/agata using Lion Brand Mandala in the Chimera Colorway. She also reports on on the resurrected Welcome Blanket project for new immigrants to this country. welcomeblanket.org. She has some knitted squares she's done in the past that she's going to sew together for a blanket. Blankets are exhibited in museums and then given to our new neighbors. Margaret didn't accomplish a lot or learned a lot with her project but had a lot of fun: Halloween Eyeball Coasters by Fay Lyth https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/halloween-eyeball-coaster with the iris color matched to her grandchildren's eyes. Brainy Thing: 16:11 Inspired by her reluctance to sew up her sweater, Catherine discovers an explanation, The Construal Level Theory (CLT) or the Near Mode and Distant Mode of projects and she's using the theory to help her power through. https://medium.com/@Jude.M/read-this-if-you-struggle-with-finishing-things-you-start-a0fdaa83aa6a Behind the Redwood Curtain: 27:01 Humboldt County is ground zero for sea level rise on the west coast of the United States. Margaret explains why, what's at risks, and things to do to mitigate against it. https://lostcoastoutpost.com/2021/jan/15/causeway-over-bay-between-arcata-and-eureka-caltra/ https://www.northcoastjournal.com/humboldt/arcata-under-pressure/Content?oid=20284166 https://california.surfrider.org/shrinking-beaches-rising-seas/ https://theconversation.com/high-tide-flood-risk-is-accelerating-putting-coastal-economies-at-risk-164481?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily%20newsletter%20The%20Conversation%20for%20July%2015%202021%20-%202003819676&utm_content=Daily%20newsletter%20The%20Conversation%20for%20July%2015%202021%20-%202003819676+CID_e71761137d4bdeaef846224ec8b5f2ca&utm_source=campaign_monitor_us&utm_term=High-tide%20flood%20risk%20is%20accelerating%20putting%20coastal%20economies%20at%20risk Welcome to Episode 130 of Teaching Your Brain to Knit. Today Catherine talks about on her progress in the sewing up part of her Agata Sweater. Margaret shares her small but fun project making eyeball coasters for her grandchildren for Thanksgiving. Catherine reports on the The Construal Level Theory or the near and distant phenomenon and why that sometimes makes finishing projects difficult. And Margaret tells about sea level rise risks in Humboldt county. Thanks for listening.

Ep. 129 Wool and Sleep; Knitting Little Things and Sweaters; Renaming a State Park Oct 28, 2021

Show notes

Brainy Thing: 19:25 Behind the Redwood Curtain. 27:60 What We're Learning from Our Knitting Margaret reports on her learning from Little Things including creating a coaster from her Windmill Dishcloth pattern by Patricia Jared. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/windmill-dishcloth-2 She also finished an amigurumi corn on the cob from Susan B. Anderson's Summer Veggie Charm Set https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/summer-veggie-charm-set. and a Spring Tulip by Jen Lucas. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/spring-tulip-4. which was a free pattern and a class from Craftsy's Live Stream (Still available on the website.). She learns a lot from these free classes even if she can execute the pattern because the instructor shares tips as she demonstrates. The Knitting Circle also has free classes with patterns. Most recently Craftsy sponsored the Craft-o-ween series that included cooking, woodwork and quilting. Catherine is nearing the finish of her Agata Sweater by Leah Chapman https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/agata using Lion Brand Mandala. Brainy thing: Wool and Sleep Studies report that wool bedding improves sleep and REM sleep in particular, thereby increasing all the good benefits of sleep like protein production, improved mental health and memory. Behind the Redwood Curtain Patrick's Point State Park in Humboldt County has been renamed Sue-Meg State Park, the original Yurok place name. Patrick Beegan was a notorious and ruthless white settler who claimed the area where the Park now stands. Welcome to Episode 129 of Teaching Your Brain to Knit where we share research studies that show that wool can help improve your sleep. Margaret talks about learning from the Little Things she's knitted like a tulip, a corn on the cob, and a coaster and the free online knitting classes where she gets tip. Catherine nears completion of her sweater and talks about the breaking news that a State Park in Humboldt has changed its name to the original Yurok name.

Ep. 128 Grounding, Cardi Knit-along, Knitting Failures, The Grange Sep 30, 2021

Show notes

Brainy Thing: 16:51 Behind the Redwood Curtain: 32:11 What We're Learning from Our Knitting: Catherine may have missed the deadline for the Imagined Landscape Cardi KAL but she's nearly finished her Agata https://www.ravelry.com/groups/imagined-landscapes?s=tab. It's a Knitty's free pattern https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/agata. by Leah Chapman with an unusual construction. She is using Lion Brand Mandala yarn in the Chimera colorway --with a lot of autumnal colors plus a few bright ones. Margaret had a lot of failures but still learned a lot. The first one was The Big Marl by Beata Jezek https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-big-marl where despite multiple mistakes, she learned an icord edging that was knitted as she went along. Then she had fun on a big search for a pattern she discovered on the net without a name. She was intrigued by the shape and couldn't figure out the construction. The answer was short rows. Here's some of the variations: Windmill Dishcloth by Dione Read: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-windmill-dishcloth The Almost Lost Washcloth by Julie Tarsha. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-almost-lost-washcloth Round Dishcloth by Amy Carpenter. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/round-dishcloth Sunburst Dishcloth by Sara Balkwin. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sunburst-dishcloth The Windmill Dishcloth by Patricia Jared. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/windmill-dishcloth-2 Brainy Thing: Grounding Anticipating travel in the future, Catherine talks about how to overcome jet lag (and enjoy other health benefits) with the ancient but not widely know practice of Grounding, or walking on the sand, grass or earth barefooted . https://www.afar.com/magazine/how-to-overcome-jet-lag https://www.healthline.com/health/grounding#:~:text=Grounding%2C%20also%20called%20earthing%2C%20is,positive%20effects%20on%20your%20body. Behind the Redwood Curtain: The Grange Margaret discusses some of the controversies involved in local California Granges wanting to pull away from the National Organization. https://lostcoastoutpost.com/2021/aug/14/grange/ https://www.northcoastjournal.com/humboldt/the-state-of-the-grange/Content?oid=3498448 https://lostcoastoutpost.com/2021/aug/14/grange/ Welcome to episode 128 of Teaching Your Brain to Knit where we follow Catherine's progress on the Agata Cardigan, we share Margaret's many failures but much learning on her projects, Catherine gives us a tip about countering jet lag with Grounding, and we report on the local and not so local controversies surrounding the Grange. Thanks for listening to our podcast.

Ep. 127 Zoom Tips for Your Brain; Sampler Socks; Cardi Kal; The National Christmas Tree Aug 28, 2021

Show notes

Brainy Thing: 16:41 Behind the Redwood Curtain: 27:41 What We're Learning from Our Knitting: Margaret finished a Sampler Sock using both crochet and knitting and a number of sock making techniques she never tried before. The sock started with leg from Beaux Jestes by Tracy Pipinich a crochet pattern where one leg used small granny square and the other ripples. She then went for a garter stitch modification of Lara Neel's Arithmophobia sock,https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/arithmophobia-socks-top-down moved onto a stripped foot then finished up with Lara Neel's Fork in the Road design https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fork-in-the-road-socks toe. She used left over finger weight yarn in yellows, golds and greens. Catherine is taking on the challenge of Imagined Landscapes Fall Cardi KAL https://www.ravelry.com/groups/imagined-landscapes?s=tab. She chose Knitty's free pattern Agata https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/agata. by Leah Chapman and is using Lion Brand Mandala yarn. Brainy Thing: Tips for Helping Your Brain on Zoom Zoom is tough on the brain. Basically it's harder for our brains to process our interactions but fortunately there are a number of tips that might help. Try one or more of them. https://christinamarienoel.com/2020/04/01/5-tips-to-creating-better-virtual-connections-using-zoom/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/bradtempleton/2020/05/29/your-guide-to-feeling-a-human-connection-with-the-group-in-zoom-meetings/?sh=b4d837f29ec4 https://www.scienceofpeople.com/zoom-fatigue/ https://techcrunch.com/2021/04/21/this-is-your-brain-on-zoom/ https://news.stanford.edu/2021/02/23/four-causes-zoom-fatigue-solutions/ https://www.discovery.com/science/Body-Tired-When-Your-Brain-Is-Fried Behind the Redwood Curtain: The National Christmas Tree This year, the National Christmas Tree in Washington DC will come from nearby Six Rivers National Forest. https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/srnf/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD933469 Catherine is making one of the quilted panels for the tree skirt and featuring an image of Founders Hall of Humboldt State University. Welcome to Teaching your Brain to Knit, episode 127. Today we are featuring tips to make Zoom easier for our brains to process. Margaret shares her adventures with her sampler socks and Catherine reports on her progress with the Agata Sweater. We also talk about the National Christmas Tree in Washington DC this year coming from the nearby Six Rivers National Forest and we announce that Catherine will be making a panel for the tree skirt.

Ep. 126. Brains of Introverts and Extroverts; Knitting gnomes, shawls, sweaters, and dishcloths; Updates on Behind the Redwood Curtains Jul 31, 2021

Show notes

Brainy Thing: 19:00 Behind the Redwood Curtain 28:00 What We're Learning from Our Knitting Margaret got practice in cables on Sarah Schira's Gnot Just Another Gnome https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/gnot-just-another-gnome. She used leftovers plus mini skeins in Leading Men Fiber Arts Showstopper in Envy and Christmas at Green Gables. knitting reverse stockinette inside out: https://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+knit+reverse+stockinette+stitch+in+the+round&oq=how+to+knit+reverse+stockinette+stitch+in+the+round&aqs=chrome..69i57j0i22i30j0i390l3.9109j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#kpvalbx=_jM8FYea8KczF-gSfsqToBw59 speedweve darning loom: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhPUjTxQgHA Scrubbing Stripes dishcloth by yarnspirations https://www.yarnspirations.com/lily-sugarn-cream-scrubbing-stripes-knit-dishcloth/SCK0512-013829M.html Lily Sugar'n Cream Scrub off yarn: http://www.sugarncream.com/ Brainy Thing: Brains of introverts and extroverts https://www.quietrev.com/why-introverts-and-extroverts-are-different-the-science/ https://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/apparently-there-are-4-kinds-of-introversion.html https://www.lifehack.org/412467/why-introverts-are-introverts-because-their-brains-are-different#:~:text=A%20study%20published%20in%20the,matter%20in%20the%20same%20area. https://www.quietrev.com/6-illustrations-that-show-what-its-like-in-an-introverts-head/. Drawings of differences https://www.businessinsider.com/what-its-like-to-be-an-introvert-and-what-everyone-gets-wrong-2018-5#:~:text=Introverts%20have%20different%20brain%20chemistry,called%20the%20Long%20Acetylcholine%20Pathway. Behind the Redwood Curtain: We catch up on past Redwood Curtain topics including the Art Otter project, Last Pass Grade, and Forest Breathing, this time in mini urban forests Today in episode 126 of Teaching Your Brain to Knit we present research on the differences in brains of introverts and extroverts; we discuss gnome making, dishcloths, sweaters and shawls and we update some former Behind the Redwood Curtain segments including art otters, and urban mini forests.

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