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.

Teaching Your Brain to Knit

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

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. 127 Zoom Tips for Your Brain; Sampler Socks; Cardi Kal; The National Christmas Tree

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.   

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

Brainy: 14:50    Behind the Redwood Curtain: 26:21   What We're Learning from our Knitting Catherine is inches away from finishing her Metalouse shawl by Stephen West https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/metalouse. She used Woolemeise and Canon Dyeworks yarns. She is looking for a pattern for a sweater as her next project. Margaret didn't experience much learning but enjoyed a lot of satisfaction knitting her basic top down, heel flap socks using Online sock yarn in a multiple of colors: blue, grey, orange, yellow and pink. Although she has her own modifications, she basically follows Ann Budd's 6 stitches per inch sock. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/6-stitches-per-inch-sock. Margaret also applied several patches in old socks that were wearing thing.   Brainy Thing: Catherine reports on studies that show the link with biodiversity in nature with human happiness. Diversity in birds are particularly important. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/12/201204110246.htm https://theconversation.com/biodiversity-how-our-health-and-happiness-depend-on-a-thriving-planet-157261   Behind the Redwood Curtain Margaret talks about a creek in Arcata, the Jolly Giant Creek, and a new art project to honor it. https://lostcoastoutpost.com/2021/may/11/jolly-giant-creek-art/ https://www.arcataplayhouse.org/events/art-and-the-environment-keeping-the-giant-jolly/ arcata parks:  https://www.arcgis.com/apps/MapJournal/index.html?appid=7d73767b6cbd47a1a9ce460f750d03cb   Welcome to Episode 125 of Teaching Your Brain to Knit, where we talk about the link between biodiversity in nature and human happiness; Catherine updates her work on the Metalouse and Margaret shares about her basic sock knitting; she also reports on a recent outdoor art project in honor of the Jolly Giant Creek. Thanks for listening to our podcast.    

Ep. 125. Link Between Biodiversity and Human Happiness; Shawl and Sock Knitting; Keeping the Giant Jolly Art

Brainy Thing: 20:13 Behind the Redwood Curtain. 34:00   What We're Learning from our Knitting Margaret knitted two double stranded hats. The first was the Double-Quick Marled Beanie from Churchmouse Yarns and Teas https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/double-quick-marled-beanie using Rowan Kid Classic from Churchmouse Yarns and Teas in a subtle cream and pale grey color. She modified this slightly using HandMaiden Casbah https://www.ravelry.com/yarns/search#sort=best&query=handmaiden%20fine%20yarns and Casbah Silk Fine. Catherine still needs to assemble her gnome but has started Stephen West's Metalouse from Knitty. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/metalouse. Stephen West. https://www.ravelry.com/designers/stephen-west   Brainy Thing We hear a lot about making positive changes for our mental and physical health but changing habits is difficult. Margaret reports on a video from Dr. Kelly McGonigal on Willpower. She's also written a book on it as well as a book on movement. https://www.bestyear.life/kellymcgonigal https://www.ted.com/talks/kelly_mcgonigal_how_to_make_stress_your_friend movement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtc1iWm_KCI https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelly_McGonigal   Behind the Redwood Curtain: Catherine shares information on Fernbridge, the 110 year old structure bridging Highway 101 with the town of Ferndale. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fernbridge_(bridge)   In Episode 124 of Teaching Your Brain to Knit we explore some of the elements of willpower than could help us make positive change. In Our knitting, we talk about two double stranded hats and a new heavily textured shawl. And we consider a classic landmark of the Northcoast -- Fernbridge. Thanks for listening to our podcast and you can subscribe anywhere you listen to podcasts.    

Ep. 124 Willpower, Two Double Stranded Hats; New Shawl project; Fernbridge

Brainy thing: 24:14. Behind the Redwood Curtain:  34:50                     What we are learning from our knitting: Catherine arranged her house to tackle the space requirements for blocking large shawls -- Heaven Scent by Boo Knits https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/heaven-scentand Bright Sunny Day by Sivia Harding https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bright-sunny-day. She is happy to start Stephen Wests' Metalouse shawl https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/metalouse. Margaret tackled some knitting in black -- a sphere ornament called RBG Ball by Lexie Bryan commemorating Ruth Bader Ginsberg https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rbg-balland a large and thick potholder called Baker's Twine by Ducathi https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bakers-twine     Revenge bedtime procrastination Postponing bedtime -- even to the point of being unhealthy -- seems to be one way some people are trying to take control of their lives during the pandemic. It's called Revenge Bedtime Procrastination. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-hygiene/revenge-bedtime-procrastination:   Honor tax There is a movement in our community called the honor tax -- a voluntary payment to the local Wiyot tribal nation for recognition of the traditional land that we are using. http://www.honortax.org/ https://www.northcoastjournal.com/humboldt/cost-of-occupation/Content?oid=2130244 https://madriverunion.com/indigenous-peoples-day-sees-honor-tax-appeal/     Welcome to Episode 123 of Teaching Your Brain to Knit where we focus on the increasingly familiar phenomenon called Revenge Bedtime Procrastination; We share our recent knitting progress including a blocking party for shawls and knitting in black -- including an rbg ornament and a potholder. We also introduce the concept of an honor tax -- a voluntary, self-determined payment to local native tribes. Show notes and links are in the Teaching Your Brain to Knit Group in Ravelry, in Libsyn, and often in the app you use to play your podcasts. We hope that you'll tell others about our podcast and subscribe so you don't miss an episode. Thank you for listening.    

Ep. 123. Revenge Bedtime Procrastination; Blocking Party and Knitting in Black; Honor Tax

Brainy Thing:   16:14       Behind the Redwood Curtain:   24:21   What We're Learning from our Knitting:  Margaret finished her first poncho -- well, actually a shoulder cosy:  Wave Shoulder Cozy by Eline Oftedal https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/wave-shoulder-cosy with beads and starring Dragonfly Fibers yarns from Laura Nelkin's Ducenti Shawl kit.   She also played around with raffia yarn from Churchmouse yarns and teas making their pattern for stars. Catherine finished her second Socky Slouchy Hat of late  in fingering weight yarn:  https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/socky-slouchy-hat. by Lauren Sanchez: https://www.ravelry.com/designers/lauren-sanchez.   She's frustrated finding a scrubbie pattern she likes and continues working on her gnome.   Brainy Thing: Margaret continues to report on resilience, this time sharing information from Rick Hanson, a psychologist, neuroscientists, and Buddhist. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_to_hardwire_resilience_into_your_brain https://www.rickhanson.net/teaching/wednesday-meditations-with-dr-rick-hanson/ https://www.rickhanson.net/ https://www.rickhanson.net/being-well-podcast/   Behind the Redwood Curtain: There's a little section of roadway on Highway 101 about 60 miles north of Arcata that is prone to rock slides. Catherine reports on Last Chance Grade: https://lastchancegrade.com/#:~:text=The%20Last%20Chance%20Grade%20Project,miles%20south%20of%20Crescent%20City.  

Ep. 122. Resilience, Rick Hanson style; Fingering weight hats, ponchos, scrubbies, & knitting with raffia; Last Chance Grade.

Brainy thing:   23:21     Behind the Redwood Curtain: 28:43   What We're Learning from Our Knitting. Catherine is giving away hats at the dog park. Socky Slouchy Hat: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/socky-slouchy-hat. by Lauren Sanchez: https://www.ravelry.com/designers/lauren-sanchez Margaret finished her ADVENTure Gnome: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/adventure-gnome by Sarah Schira: https://www.ravelry.com/designers/sarah-schira and offers a list of points for finding an instructional knitting video for best learning.   Brainy Thing: Catherine reports on The Brain Booth at Humboldt State University which could be a model for any school, institution or business. https://libguides.humboldt.edu/brainbooth   Behind the Redwood Curtain: Margaret talks about oyster farming in Humboldt Bay and the currently virtual yearly Oyster Festival in Arcata the 3rd week of June. Aqua Rodeo. https://aqua-rodeofarms.com/ Hog Island Oyster. https://hogislandoysters.com/oysters/farming. Coast Seafood https://www.northcoastjournal.com/humboldt/coast-seafoods-co/Location?oid=2182300 Peg House: http://thepeghouse.com/ Oyster Festival: https://arcatamainstreet.com/oyster-festival       Welcome to Episode 121 of Teaching Your Brain to Knit where Catherine reports on the Brain Booth at Humboldt State University that offers a wealth of different strategies to support brain growth and decrease stress. It could be a model for any school, institution or business; Catherine and Margaret talk about their knitting: hats and gnomes and Margaret shares some guidelines on instructional videos, particularly for knitting that best help learning. And Margaret dips into oyster farming in Humboldt Bay. Your can subscribe to Teaching Your Brain to Knit anywhere you listen to podcasts and our shownotes are on Libsyn, Ravelry and on some podcast servers when you listen.                                          

Ep. 121 Brain Booth; Knitted Hats and Gnomes; Knitting Videos; Humboldt Bay Oysters

Brainy Thing:  13:52            Behind the Redwood Curtain. 21:23     What We're Learning from Our Knitting Margaret investigates the construction of Pom Poms she used in her knitting and the one trick that will make your pom poms neat and tidy.  Stitch and Sheep: https://sheepandstitch.com/library/how-to-make-a-pom-pom/ Purl Soho: https://www.purlsoho.com/shop?q=pom%20pom. Arne and Carlos Bird: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/basic-bird. Catherine is that pause between finishing one project and starting the next, exploring patterns and yarns. Sivia Harding Bright Shiny Day. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bright-sunny-day. https://www.ravelry.com/people/sivia     Brainy Thing:  Resilience In the first of multiple reports, Margaret shares basic definitions and strategies in developing resilience -- the ability to bounce back from adversity. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/science-choice/202005/the-8-key-elements-resilience#:~:text=Resilience%20is%20defined%20as%20the,bounce%20back%20from%20adverse%20events. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/lifespan-perspectives/202003/seven-skills-resilience https://www.bouncebackproject.org/     Behind the Redwood Curtain:  Public Art in Eureka Ocean Love (or Mother Love) bench along Eureka Waterfront Trail. https://www.google.com/search?q=Ocean+love+public+park+bench+eureka&client=firefox-b-1-d&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=iWSI8R6maQ93PM%252CfKl-MnwYLTBSsM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kSKDo1-FX2oiNI1weMq4JSm_Dyqkg&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjgisK15MbtAhWQjp4KHRmXDPIQ9QF6BAgMEAE#imgrc=C1kHCj0oX8BvuM   https://www.google.com/search?q=Ocean+love+public+park+bench+eureka&client=firefox-b-1-d&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=iWSI8R6maQ93PM%252CfKl-MnwYLTBSsM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kSKDo1-FX2oiNI1weMq4JSm_Dyqkg&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjgisK15MbtAhWQjp4KHRmXDPIQ9QF6BAgMEAE#imgrc=iWSI8R6maQ93PM       Today on Episode 120 of Teaching Your Brain to Knit, we begin our examination of resilience -- our ability to bounce back from adversity.  Catherine is enjoying a slight pause between finishing a big knitting project and starting a new one with the fun of selecting patterns and yarn.  Margaret shares her latest projects and her discovery of the many ways to make pom poms, including a tip that makes them neat and tidy.  And Catherine takes us to Eureka along the Waterfront Trail and the public art/bench piece called Ocean Love but nicknamed mother love for the mother and child sea lions sculpted.          

Ep. 120. Resilience, Finishing and Starting, Pom Poms, Public Art Bench

Brainy 16:20. Behind the Redwood Curtain. 25:00   What We're Learning from Our Knitting We're appreciating the community spirit behind swaps and knit-a-longs as Catherine participates in the annual Dishcloth Swap and Sivia Hardings Bright Sunny Day knit-a-long Annual Dishcloth Swap. https://www.ravelry.com/groups/annual-dishcloth-swap Bright Sunny Day shawl. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bright-sunny-day Julia Farwell-Clay. Bodhi Leaf. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bodhi-leaf-washcloth Basic Bird. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/basic-bird. Arne and Carlos   video re gut condition. podcast. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bright-sunny-day   Brainy Thing: The Brain Gut connection goes both ways and food can positively effect your moods. video re Brain gut condition. podcast. https://www.uclahealth.org/SitePages/video-player.html?v=Yb5v-6dUjqA&t=youtube. from UCLA Kirsten Tillisch , MD   Behind the Redwood Curtain We report on the special delights of Fall and Winter Gardening: lettuce, spinach, sprouting broccoli, Chinese cabbage, bok choi among other treats.   And don't forget the role of the vagus nerve ( check out Episode 110.)   Behind the Redwood Curtain: We report on the special delights of Fall and Winter Gardening: lettuce, spinach, sprouting broccoli, Chinese cabbage, bok choi among other treats.   Today on Episode 119 of Teaching Your Brain to Knit we discuss the latest research on the brain/gut connection and how it can affect our moods; we report on the community spirit of swaps, in particular Catherine's dish cloth swap and her continuing progress on Sivia Hardings Knit-a-long; Margaret talks more about bird knitting and in addition, leaf knitting; and we share experiences of fall and winter gardening on the North Coast of California. We hope you can tell we are making progress with our distant sound quality but we're still hoping for great improvement. Thanks for listening.

Ep. 119 Brain, Gut and Moods; Swaps, Knit-a-longs, Birds and Leaves; and North Coast Fall and Winter Gardening

Brainy thing:     17:09   Behind the Redwood Curtain:  24:36   What We’ve Learned from our Knitting: Margaret finished Sarah Schirra’s Mystery Knit-along named Nice to Gnome you.   Knitting with two strands of yarn was challenging — especially with the nose and the center double decrease but she enjoyed watching how the various doubled yarns of different colors worked together.    https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/nice-to-gnome-you https://www.moderndailyknitting.com/double-vision/?mc_cid=c289c548d9&mc_eid=f7638ac441    She used a combination of colors from Leading Men Fibers. https://www.leadingmenfiberarts.com/ Afterwards, she knit Susan B. Anderson’s Peas in a Pod, a tiny amigurumi project where she made small balls with ease.   Finally, she discovered and knit an Izzy Doll, to be donated to charity https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/summer-veggie-charm-set    sethttps://www.ravelry.com/patterns/search#sort=best&inline=&query=izzy  https://cmea-agmc.ca/story-izzy-dolls#:~:text=During%20his%20first%20peace%2Dkeeping,dolls%20and%20Mark%20distributed%20them. Catherine is steadily knitting and enjoying Bright Summer Day, a shawl designed by Sivia Harding as a Mystery Knit along. Catherine is using Canon Hand Dye by Amy Lee in colors of yellow and maroon.  https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bright-sunny-day   Brainy Thing: One of the most under-appreciated senses, smell not only is key in our sense of taste but also helps us form emotional links with others. https://www.brainfacts.org/thinking-sensing-and-behaving/smell/2015/making-sense-of-scents-smell-and-the-brain https://www.dana.org/article/the-senses-smell-and-taste/ https://www.fifthsense.org.uk/psychology-and-smell/ https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/smell-disorders#1 https://hms.harvard.edu/news/how-covid-19-causes-loss-smell#:~:text=Analyses%20of%20electronic%20health%20records,to%20patients%20without%20COVID%2D19 https://n.neurology.org/content/smell-brain.     Behind the Redwood Curtain:   Catherine discovers that a small local creek has a big history and has landed right in the middle of the Cancel Culture debate.     Today in Episode 118 of Teaching your Brain to Knit, we explore the sense of smell and how it connects us to others; We report on knitting projects — the Bright Sunny Day shawl, a mystery gnome, peas in a pod, and Izzy, the charity doll, and we discuss the small neighborhood Janes Creek which is now embroiled in local politics.  As has been the case with the last few podcasts, we’ve recorded this on zoom which suffers from occasional sound distortions.  We are continuing to search for solutions which will work with our antiquated digital equipment.  Thanks for your patience and thanks for listening to Teaching Your Brain to Knit.    

Ep. 118 The Sense of Smell and How it Connects Us to Others; Updates on Knitting; Janes Creek Controversy

Brainy thing: 19:33    Behind the Redwood Curtain (and beyond):  34:15   What We’re Learning from our Knitting: Catherine finished hosting 2020 Potholder exchange which she said was successful.   She has been doing some dyeing with procion dyes which she says was  fun but messy and recommends kool aid dyes (acid)  for beginners.   Her current project that she’s making for the Dishcloth Exchange is Log Cabin Dishcloth by Mary Anne Dinsmore  https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/log-cabin-dishcloth.   She also working on the Bright Sunny Day Mystery Knit Along by Sivia Harding Using Canon Hand Dyes by the Other Amy Lee but going slower than the clues are coming out.  https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bright-sunny-day Margaret finished the third Potholder for the exchange using Chicken Potholder  by Erangi Udeshika https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/chicken-potholder-6 .  She also finished two projects in Laura Nelkins Kit Knit along.  First was a very pleasurable two color Stranded hat call Proto Lola https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/proto-lola  in green and white, Berroco Catena and Istez Lettlopi.   She’s was challenged by the combination of yarn (JaggerSpun Zephyr wool/silk laceweight yarn and small sharp needles.   The pattern is Cassio Collar  and the beads and findings are lovely.   In fact the whole thing is lovely now that it’s done.   I have an extra kit that I’m happy to send to a listener who is the first one on this thread (Episode 117) on our Ravelry Group  Teaching Your Brain to Knit.     Brainy Thing: Catherine discusses the difference between Empathy, Compassion and Pity and the role genetics and the brain plays on compassion. https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/study-finds-that-genes-play-a-role-in-empathy  https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/201310/the-neuroscience-empathy#:~:text=This%20specific%20part%20of%20your,the%20the%20right%20supramarginal%20gyrus.&text=This%20area%20of%20the%20brain,responsible%20for%20empathy%20and%20compassion.She also shares some compassion quizzes and recommends George Orwell’s Down and Out in Paris http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks01/0100171h.html  and Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin.    Max Planck https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Planck      https://mpfi.org/ Greater Good quiz  https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/quizzes/take_quiz/empathy   Behind the Redwood Curtain The local Natural Fiber Fair is going virtual this year http://www.naturalfiberfair.com/  so all can attend free this year.   Watch out for other local fiber events that may be going online.  Stitches has had virtual events https://stitches.events/  and Vogue Knitting will be putting on Virtual Knitting Live by Vogue Knitting on September 10-13 and October 8 through 11 https://www.vogueknittinglive.com/portal   Marketplace:   https://www.handspunhope.org/events?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIwf3OmdbV6wIVxcDACh0OzQ0cEAAYASAAEgI2p_D_BwE.     Welcome to Teaching Your Brain to Knit, episode 117 where we explore the genetic and brain links to Compassion, report on Catherine’s progress on Potholders and Sivia Harding’s Mystery Knit along and Margaret’s completion of two of Laura Nelkin’s kits.  We share that our local Natural Fiber Fair is going virtual and encourage everyone to check out their own local fiber events as well as national fiber shows that are happening online.    

Ep. 117 Compassion and the Brain; Knit a-longs; Virtual Fiber events

Brainy Thing: 25:48       Behind the Redwood Curtain:  36:28   What We’re Learning From Our Knitting: Margaret got caught up in casting on projects but not finishing them.   She did complete three Chicken Potholders  https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/chicken-potholder-6  by Erangi Udeshika using Knit Picks Dishy and Dishy Twist in silver and orange and Naturatura organic yarn in pale yellow.   She hopes to finish some of those projects she started.    Catherine also finished potholders,  named “Potholder for my Mother”  https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/potholder-for-my-mother by Ellinor Wideen.  She also used Knit Picks Dishy Twist and a number of leftover  cottons in a variety of colors from  her stash. Both are anticipating Myster Knit a longs.   Brainy Thing: We’re familiar with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, but some scientists are studying Post Traumatic Growth that we can experience after we process the discomforts of the trauma.   https://sites.uncc.edu/ptgi/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2013/01/PTG-Conceptual-Foundtns.pdf https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=BHEABAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=post+traumatic+growth&ots=o4EMAfbxGo&sig=W9vdXDzR7tBiVbyncM_kkt3ct_I#v=onepage&q=post%20traumatic%20growth&f=false  https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=cs2QAgAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=post+traumatic+growth&ots=ndjgS0-wEK&sig=Fyrz1cEjWkLGF3WkO8po-O4eETE#v=one

Ep. 116 Post Traumatic Growth; Cotton and Potholders; The River Otter Project

Brainy: 16:00    Behind the Redwood Curtain: 25:42   What we’re learning from our Knitting and crochet: Catherine’s comfort knitting is the Socky Slouchy Hat  by Lauren Sanchez.   She’s using a Canon Hand dye sock yarn in a deep black and periwinkle.  Lauren Sanchez  https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/socky-slouchy-hat.  And she continues her search for the best gauge to use for a potholder with the Knit Picks Dishie Twist. Margaret is also searching for comfort and returned to Arne and Carlos for their basic bird.   https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/basic-bird.  And she picked up the black bird project she tried from Nikki Figikoska’s book:   Knitted Birds.  She started it a couple of years ago but put it aside when she stuffed it and it looked more like a rat than a bird.   She was prepared to rip the whole thing out but as she began to take the stuffing out she noticed it began to look more like a bird so with a little shifting around she has a beautiful bird in a bright aqua and stellina scrap yarn.   She also discovered a list of collective nouns on the wiktionary collective https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Appendix:Glossary_of_collective_nouns_by_subject       Brainy Thing:  Even just planning a vacation helps our brains     Destination healthy aging https://globalcoalitiononaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/destination-healthy-aging-fact-sheet_final-1.pdf  and Paul Nussbaum How to stiumulate the brain  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhWJGgkPFhsvideo Applied research and quality of life 2010   Behind the Redwood Curtain: Margaret discovered the many benefits of yhe sweet smelling intensely blue ceanothus   https://www.laspilitas.com/groups/ceanothus/california_ceanothus.html   Today in episode 115 of Teaching Your Brain to Knit we learn how to get the brain benefits of traveling, without traveling;  Margaret and Catherine report on their comfort knitting , and Margaret discovers the many benefits of the native shrub, ceanothus.   Recorded on zoom with all the vicissitudes that platform presents.   Deadline for the 2020 Potholder Swap is August 1

Ep. 115 Brain Benefits of Travel without Traveling; Comfort Knitting; Ceanothus

Brainy thing:  17:42      Behind the Redwood Curtain:  28:36   What We’re Learning from Our Knitting: Margaret gains an even greater appreciation for well written directions.  Two great patterns, in particular  that she’s worked on lately is Wooly Sheep by  Lucy of Attic 24 https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/woolly-sheep-2.  She used scrap yarn.    She added a touch of embroidery on the sweater/blanket for the sheep.  Also, she’s working on the Baker’s Twine potholder out of  https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/baker-s-twine  two strands of dk cotton, one black and one white.  The designer is Catherina Duden.   Her company is Ducathi.   Catherine is working away at her Socky Slouchy Hat by Loren Sanchez  https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/socky-slouchy-hat.    She’s also trying to find a gauge she likes for a potholder for her potholder exchange:  the 2020 Potholder Exchange:  https://www.ravelry.com/groups/2020-potholder-swap   Brainy Thing:  Countering the Stress of the  Pandemic Experiencing sheltering-in-place and isolation creates stress for most of us.  Margaret shares many strategies for helping to ease your way through the crisis. https://www.businessinsider.com/what-coronavirus-covid19-pandemic-stress-is-doing-to-your-brain-2020-5 https://www.wired.com/story/what-does-covid-19-do-to-your-brain/    cytokines   April 30  https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/demystifying-psychiatry/202004/effects-covid-19-the-brain   https://www.sciencealert.com/some-covid-19-patients-are-also-reporting-neurological-symptoms   blood brain barrier   https://theconversation.com/lethargic-global-response-to-covid-19-how-the-human-brains-failure-to-assess-abstract-threats-cost-us-dearly-137119   slow response   research necessary mental health   https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/15/health/covid-19-mental-health-pandemic-wellness-intl-scli-gbr/index.html   upper and lower brain   https://www.forbes.com/sites/rahulrazdan/2020/04/26/sustainability-covid-19-elon-musk-and-a-tale-of-the-upper-and-lower-brain-/#547f277273ba   what we don’t know   https://www.newyorker.com/science/medical-dispatch/what-we-dont-know-about-covid-19   poly vagal  https://acepblog.org/2020/05/05/the-pandemic-zoom-and-polyvagal-theory/ https://www.registerguard.com/news/20200601/prevention-dont-hold-in-anxiety-get-relief-by-talking-about-it https://today.uconn.edu/2020/06/americans-coping-covid-19-stress/ https://www.newswise.com/coronavirus/the-potential-of-covid-19-to-infect-the-brain/?article_id=731490   Behind the Redwood Curtain: The Humboldt Open Studios allows visitors and patrons to see artists where they work.  This year’s event is cancelled but we hope it continues in the future.     Welcome to Episode 114 of Teaching Your Brain to Knit.   Today we shares many strategies for helping you ease your way through the isolation and separation of the Pandemic.  Margaret gains a new appreciation for well written directions and mentions two projects with excellent directions that she’s been working on.   Catherine continues working on her Socky Sloucy Hat and struggles to find a perfect gauge for her potholder.   And she also reports on an annual event in Humboldt, the artists’ Open Studios which sadly has been canceled this year but that we hope you can catch in the future.   Many thanks to KnittyBarb of the Two Knit Lit Chicks Podcast who shared her tips on recording remotely with me.   Unfortunately, both Catherine and I have very old devices and so the sound quality here continues to be less than ideal.   But we’re working on it.     Thanks for listening to our podcast.  We’re going to increase the frequency of our podcasts to a bit more than once a month.   If you subscribe — we’re on most podcast apps and aggregators — you’ll be sure not to miss our episodes.     

Ep. 114 Helping Our Brains Survive Isolation; Celebrating Great Patterns; Hats and Potholders; Open Studios

Margaret and Catherine talk about what they are learning from their knitting, something about the brain or learning, Behind the Redwood Curtain, the area where they live along the Northcoast of California, and a knitting tip

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Teaching Your Brain to Knit

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