Teaching Your Brain to Knit

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 085 Addiction, Habit, and Compulsion; Starting a New Lace Project; Searching for Sock Longevity; Hats in Humboldt May 16, 2018

Show notes

Brainy Thing: 24:21 Behind the Redwood Curtain: 32:25 What We're Learning from our Knitting Catherine started a new project: a lace shawl called Heaven Scent by Boo Knits. She is using a skein of zauberball cotton https://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/schoppel-wolle-zauberball-cotton in "Rosey Times" colorway. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/heaven-scent Margaret searches for sock longevity and discovers a trove of information in The Knitter's Book of Socks by Clara Parkes. She finds fibers, twists, and stitches that help socks last longer. Brainy Thing: Catherine continues our exploration of the possibility of positive addiction. From an online sources, Changing Minds https://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/schoppel-wolle-zauberball-cotton, she presents differences in addiction, habits and compulsions. Behind the Redwood Curtain: Making hats and dresses was one of the few occupations women could choose from 1860 to the 1930's in Humboldt County. She shares the stories of a couple of women who succeeded here with excellent needle skills. https://www.facebook.com/Vintage-Avenger-163731777018458/ Give Away: We have a sock book give-away this week. Be the first person to ask for it on the Episode 85 thread to win. Links: Facebook: Also, join our Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/Teachingyourbraintoknitpodcast/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel Ravelry Group http://www.ravelry.com/groups/teaching-your-brain-to-knit 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: Margaret Kelso for Margaret and MagicWombat1 for Catherine In this episode of Teaching Your Brain to Knit, We continue our exploration of positive addictions, do they exist and are they different from habits and compulsions; Catherine starts a new lace shawl l— Heaven Scent; Margaret searches for sock longevity; and we trace the history of women and hats in Humboldt County. We also have a new book give away. While editing this podcast, I searched for a link to Humboldt Millinery and I discovered a "permanently closed" notice online. There are, however, stores in Ferndale that carry vintage clothes and hats and even a dedicated vintage dress shop in arcata called Vintage Avenger on H Street.

Ep. 084 Are there positive addictions; Learning gauge with Textured Blocks; Knitting birds with Arne and Carlos; Celebrating Humboldt Crabs Baseball May 03, 2018

Show notes

Brainy Part: 22:40 Behind the Redwood Curtain: 31:20 What We're Learning From Our Knitting Catherine continues her exploration of knitting textures in blocks she's planning to turn into a charity blanket. This time the patterns are from: http://www.knittingstitchpatterns.com/ She will send her blanket to: Hats and More from War Torn Syria https://www.ravelry.com/groups/hats-and-more-for-war-torn-syria Margaret's knitting turns toward the birds from Arne and Carlos' "Field Guide to Knitted Birds" and learns all sorts of things. https://www.amazon.com/Carlos-Field-Guide-Knitted-Birds/dp/1570768234/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1525027997&sr=1-2&keywords=arne+and+carlos+knitting+books; https://arnecarlos.com/ Brainy Thing: Catherine questions if there is such a thing as "positive addictions." Dr. William Glasser Peg O'Connere ttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/philosophy-stirred-not-shaken/201411/are-there-positive-addictions http://changingminds.org/ Behind the Redwood Curtain: Humboldt enjoys the longest running collegiate baseball team in the country: Humboldt Crabs Baseball http://humboldtcrabs.com/ Links Facebook: Also, join our Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/Teachingyourbraintoknitpodcast/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel Ravelry Group http://www.ravelry.com/groups/teaching-your-brain-to-knit 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: Margaret Kelso for Margaret and MagicWombat1 for Catherine In this episode of Teaching Your Brain to Knit, we ask the question "Is there such as thing as positive addiction," ; Catherine continues her exploration of texture stitches, learning about gauge in the process; Margaret takes flight on the subject of knitted birds, from Arne and Carlos; and we celebrate the Humboldt Crabs Baseball Team— the longest operating collegiate semi-pro baseball team in America

Ep. 083 Enhance Creativity; Explore the Seed Stitch; Use Texture for Blocks for Charity Blanket; Every City Needs Public Loos Apr 17, 2018

Show notes

Brainy Thing: 26:17 Behind the Redwood Curtain: 37:36 What We're Learning from Our Knitting: Margaret explores the seed stitch and its alternatives: https://www.amazon.com/Treasury-Knitting-Patterns-Barbara-Walker/dp/0942018168 One "Crochet Seed Stitch" Marly Bird https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aeGlbpmYx8 Another Crochet Seed Stitch: Dora Orhenstein The Crocheters workshop Brainy Thing: Creativity I Who's creative and how you can be (already are) too.: Make it mighty Ugly — Kim Werker https://www.amazon.com/Make-Mighty-Ugly-Exercises-Creative/dp/157061914X Behind the Redwood Curtain Arcata addresses universal human needs: Portland Loo http://theloo.biz/ Links: Podcast Links Facebook: Also, join our Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/Teachingyourbraintoknitpodcast/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel Ravelry Group http://www.ravelry.com/groups/teaching-your-brain-to-knit 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

Ep. 082 Two Brains Mend a Shawl; Universal Design in Learning; A Park Meets Many Needs Apr 02, 2018

Show notes

Brainy Thing: 19:55 Behind the Redwood Curtain: 29:10 What We're Learning from Our Knitting Margaret calls for emergency help from Catherine to help her figure out a supposedly invisible repair (Knit Freedom https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXD3TdbpDbM; Kate Atherly in Knitty 2006 http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring06/FEATrepairs101.html; Rina Crochet's book Flawless Knit Repair 19 pages of gold, I'm guessing, used for $99 ) of her Multnomah Shawl by Shawl repair The shawl design is Multnomah by Kate Ray. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/multnomah Recommended by Chrissy the Great https://www.ravelry.com/people/chrissythegreat formerly of the Manic Purl audio Podcast and currently (well, currently in a break from ) Snappy Stitches video podcast. Purl soho has picture tutorial of duplicate stitches initials on a cap using the "A"s and not the "V"s of the knit stitch. Brainy Thing Margaret explores a comprehensive approach to learning and teaching in the Universal Design for Learning method. http://www.udlcenter.org/aboutudl/whatisudl/3principles Behind the Redwood Curtain Want a dog park, spectacular views of the Pacific. an eco preserve of a coastal forest, paths in the woods where you won't get lost? Try Hiller Park in McKinleyville. http://mckinleyvillecsd.com/hiller-park Links: Facebook: Also, join our Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/Teachingyourbraintoknitpodcast/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel Ravelry Group http://www.ravelry.com/groups/teaching-your-brain-to-knit 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: Margaret Kelso for Margaret and MagicWombat1 for Catherine In today's episode of Teaching Your Brain to Knit, we explore Universal Design for Learning to help us learn and teach from a more comprehensive approach, we put our brains together to mend a shawl using what we're calling the duplicate stitch/weave method, and Catherine reports how Hiller Park in McKinleyville serves many needs from dog park to eco preserve of a coastal forest.

Ep. 081 Does Ambidexterity Improve Your Brain; Finding An Interim Project; Exploring Fair Isle; Escaping the Noise of Machine Age America Mar 17, 2018

Show notes

Brainy Thing: 24:21 Behind the Redwood Curtain 35:41 What We're Learning from our Knitting Margaret's further exploration of Fair Isle veers into Crochet Fair Isle under the instruction of Karen Whooley. (https://www.ravelry.com/designers/karen-whooley) Other Fair Isle references in the report. http://kelbournewoolens.com/blog/2017/5/stranded-colorwork-vs-fair-isle-knitting Fai https://arnecarlos.com/why-there-is-no-dominant-color-in-norwegian-knitting-by-arne-carlos/ https://course.craftsy.com/play/3984?startLectureId=7160&t=0 Catherine finds an "Interim Project" until she's ready for a full commitment. Brainy Thing: Can training to be ambidextrous improve your brain? Maybe but one expert says maybe not. https://psychology.stackexchange.com/questions/3194/are-there-cognitive-benefits-to-two-hand-typing-versus-one-finger https://www.dovepress.com/differential-brain-response-to-one--or-two-hand-handling-action-an-fmr-peer-reviewed-article-NAN Differential http://www.nwitimes.com/niche/shore/health/using-your-other-hand-benefits-your-brain/article_6da931ea-b64f-5cc2-9583-e78f179c2425.html Using Your https://www.wikihow.com/Become-Left-Handed-when-you-are-Right-Handed https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/can-training-to-become-ambidextrous-improve-brain-function/ Behind the Redwood Curtain Morris Graves Museum How an artist escapes "the noise of machine age America." Morris Graves http://humboldtarts.org/visit http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/famous-artists/mark-tobey.htm http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/famous-artists/mark-tobey.htm Links: Facebook: Also, join our Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/Teachingyourbraintoknitpodcast/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel Ravelry Group http://www.ravelry.com/groups/teaching-your-brain-to-knit 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: Margaret Kelso for Margaret and MagicWombat1 for Catherine Today on Teaching Your Brain to Knit we ask "Can learning to be ambidextrous help improve your brain?" also Margaret further explores Fair Isle; Catherine finds an "interim" project and we learn how one artist found an escape from the "the noise of machine age America."

Ep. 080 Review of "Beyond Food"; Turning to Lace; Failing Project Creates Great Learning; Walking through Eureka Old Town Mar 02, 2018

Show notes

Brainy Thing: 12:30 Behind the Redwood Curtain: 24:42 What we're learning from our knitting: Catherine likes her Coffee Shop Wrap by Alexandra Tavel https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/coffee-shop-wrap (free through Lion Brand Yarns,) but has been yearning for lace knitting. Margaret tries creating a design for an elongated fair isle ornament. The project fails but she learns a lot. https://www.craftsy.com/knitting/classes/fair-isle-holiday-ornaments/497492. It's Margaret's design but Sunne Meyer's ornament pattern. Brainy Thing: Catherine reviews the indie documentary "Beyond Food" http://beyondfoodthemovie.com/. Among other topics the film highlights parkour sports: https://www.artofmanliness.com/2013/07/19/beginners-guide-to-parkour/ A beginner's guide in case anyone wants to take it up! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NX7QNWEGcNI Behind the Redwood Curtain: Enjoy the history and the continuing beauty of the city of Eureka with the Eureka Walking Tour https://eurekaparksandrec.wordpress.com/2016/06/29/old-town-walking-tours/. If you want to see photos of the work that was put into the Carson Block: (https://www.northcoastjournal.com/humboldt/witness-marks/Content?oid=3635632 ) Facebook: Also, join our Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/Teachingyourbraintoknitpodcast/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel Ravelry Group http://www.ravelry.com/groups/teaching-your-brain-to-knit 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: Margaret Kelso for Margaret and MagicWombat1 for Catherine In Episode 80 of Teaching Your Brain to Knit, The documentary Beyond Food endorses the idea that to improve your brain and your body, you need to find the right approach for you; Catherine identifies herself as a lace knitter for now; Margaret fails at a design for fair isle ornaments but learns a lot; and both podcasters explore Old Town Eureka on a walking tour.

Ep. 079 Replication Crisis; Learning to Love Luxury; Crochet Scrubbie; Renaissance of the Eureka Inn Feb 16, 2018

Show notes

Brainy Thing: 12:50 Behind the Redwood Curtain: 22:40 What We're Learning from our Knitting: Margaret learns to love Luxury with Lhasa yarn: 50% yak, 50% cashmere. She used the Lhasa Snuggle Mitts pattern by Laura Lamers. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/snuggle-mitts Catherine found a crochet pattern for her annual scrubbies exchange : the zinnia dishcloth pattern from Lily/Sugar'n Cream. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/zinnia-dishcloth https://www.ravelry.com/groups/annual-dishcloth-swap. Brainy Thing: If you can't reproduce the results of a scientific experiment, can you rely on it? Margaret talks about the Replication Crisis in Science. www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-39054778 https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/when-study-can%E2%80%99t-be-replicated https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Replication_crisis Behind the Redwood Curtain: Catherine explores a landmark and historic hotel, the Eureka In —where else— Eureka. https://www.eurekainn.com/ Links: Facebook: Also, join our Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/Teachingyourbraintoknitpodcast/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel Ravelry Group http://www.ravelry.com/groups/teaching-your-brain-to-knit 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: Margaret Kelso for Margaret and MagicWombat1 for Catherine In Episode 79 of Teaching Your Brain to Knit we uncover the Replication Crisis in scientific research; Margaret learns to love luxury making Mitts with Yak and Cashmere yarn; Catherine switches to crochet for her scrubbies swap; and we chronicle the rise and fall and rise again of the historic Eureka Inn.

Ep. 078 Can Pantone Lead Us to Mysticism; Colors in Kit Surprise Us; Choosing Books With Right Pace for Us; Celebrate Dungeness Crab Season Feb 01, 2018

Show notes

Brainy Thing: 16:44 Behind the Redwood Curtain: 30:32 What We're Learning from Our Knitting: Catherine is surprised when she learns (again) that colors online don't always match colors in yarn when she buys a Lion Brand Yarn pattern Coffee Shop Wrap kit by Alexandra Tavel https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/coffee-shop-wrap only to discover that a color that she thought was a mild creaming yellow turned out to be a zangy mustard. Margaret patched two more socks, including removing and replacing an afterthought heel and it turned out beautifully, just like it was planned to be. One sock was out Austermann Step yarn in a Blueberry Waffle pattern https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/blueberry-waffle-socks and the other was out of Fish Knits Yarn warm heart She also added to her crocheted bathroom accessories collection using adventuresome techniques from Crocheter's Skill Building Workshop by Dora Ohrenstein. The pattern is two color diamond stitch from the book. https://www.amazon.com/Crocheters-Skill-Building-Workshop-Techniques-Adventurous/dp/1612122469 She compares this book to two others to two others: Ultimate Crochet Bible: A Complete Reference with Step-by-Step Techniques https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Crochet-Bible-Step-Step/dp/1910231797/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1517428360&sr=1-2&keywords=crochet+bible by Jane Crowfoot and Crochet 101: Master Basic Skills and Techniques Easily https://www.amazon.com/Crochet-101-Step-Step-Instruction/dp/1589236394/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1517428471&sr=1-1&keywords=crochet+101 by Deborah Burger. Brainy Thing: Not exactly brainy but thinking along the line of how colors impact our lives, Catherine talks about the Pantone color of the Year for 2018 which is ultra violet. Associated with mysticism and vision, expect to see the color around for awhile. https://www.pantone.com/color-of-the-year-2018 Behind the Redwood Curtain One of the high points of North Coast Living is the Dungeness crabs https://www.google.com/search?q=dunegeness+crab&oq=dunegeness+crab&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.6582j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 from December through Spring. Links: Facebook: Also, join our Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/Teachingyourbraintoknitpodcast/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel Ravelry Group http://www.ravelry.com/groups/teaching-your-brain-to-knit 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: Margaret Kelso for Margaret and MagicWombat1 for Catherine In this episode of Teaching Your Brain to Knit we ask will the Pantone Color of the Year lead us to a higher spiritual level?, Also Catherine is surprised by a color she receives in a shawl knitting kit; Margaret offer guides for choosing books that have the best pace for you, and the North Coast celebrates Dungenes crab season.

Ep. 077 Using Sensory Stimulation to Ease Symptoms of Dementia; Jan 16, 2018

Show notes

Brainy Thing: 15:40 Behind the Redwood Curtain: 26:20 What we're learning from our knitting: Margaret learns about knitting different specialty textured yarns for her textured amigurumi The Three Little Kittens by Sara Scales https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/three-little-kittens-4. Catherine ventures into sweater knitting for a dog using The Darling Darby Sweater: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/darling-darby-sweater. Brainy Thing: Sensory Stimulation Helps People with Dementia General on Alzheimers: https://yourbrainmatters.org.au/about-dementia/what-is-dementia Snoezelen: https://www.snoezelen.info/history/ Paul Shepard quote: http://dreamingup.blogspot.com/2018/01/shepard-for-day5.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CaptainFuturesDreamingUpDaily+%28Captain+Future%27s+Dreaming+Up+Daily%29 Herdlevar's research: https://www.ntnu.no/documents/10401/1264433962/AshildArtikkel.pdf/8f8ba50d-7425-43c7-9e5f-bfef4380e206 Behind the Redwood Curtain: Humboldt Handweaver's and Spinners Guild: http://www.hhsguild.org/ Facebook: Also, join our Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/Teachingyourbraintoknitpodcast/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel Ravelry Group http://www.ravelry.com/groups/teaching-your-brain-to-knit 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: Margaret Kelso for Margaret and MagicWombat1 for Catherine In this episode of Teaching Your Brain to Knit we investigate using Sensory Stimulation to Ease the symptoms of Alzheimer's and Dementia; We tackle using different types of specialty yarns for texture and try a strangely shaped design for a dog sweater; And w e give a shout out to the Humboldt Handweaver's and Spinners Guild.

Ep. 076 Lucid Dreaming, Gamma Waves and Ah Hah Moments; Knitting from Charts; Mitten Thumbs; Local Politics Jan 03, 2018

Show notes

Brainy Thing: 15:52 Behind the Redwood Curtain: 25:25 What We Learned from Our Knitting Catherine finishes a lace shawl (with beads, of course) called Ocean Kelp and designed by Harry Wells whose Rav name is knitting ninja and his design studio is Good for a Boy Designs. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ocean-kelp Catherine got more practice with charts, not her favorite way to follow a pattern. Margaret knits a family of Creature Mittens from Morehouse Farms kits for her family and learns a bit about Mitten thumbs from Anna Zilboorg in Magnificent Mittens and Socks . She also corrects the mistake she made between Churchmouse Yarns on Bainbridge Island, Washington and Morehouse Farms that raises Merino Sheep in Upstate New York. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/owl-mittens-2 https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/penguin-mitts https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/buggy-mitts Brainy Thing Catherine explores Gamma Waves, "Ah Ha" moments and lucid dreaming https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SA5HOgf3znw Behind the Redwood Curtain Discovering local politics behind the redwood Curtain and in your neighborhood too. Links Facebook: Also, join our Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/Teachingyourbraintoknitpodcast/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel Ravelry Group http://www.ravelry.com/groups/teaching-your-brain-to-knit 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, Catherine explores the link between Gamma Brain Waves, "Ah Hah" moments and Lucid Dreaming; She practices her not so favorite way of following a pattern —that is, charts; Margaret learns about different types of mitten thumbs with help from Anna Zilboorg; We delve into local politics and how you can do the same in your local community; plus we announce updates to indices or indexes for our brain, redwood and knitting topics.

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