Teaching Your Brain to Knit – Details, episodes & analysis

Brainy: 20:20 Behind the Redwood Curtain. 31:09   What We're Learning from our Knitting: Catherine is enjoying progress on her Stephen West's Twists and Turns shawl knitalong https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/twists--turns-westknits-mkal-2022 and is trying out some fun dyeing techniques for fabric. Margaret reports on mosaic crochet, gnome knitting, and some of her favorite projects from the past. Clearly Helena blog. http://www.clearlyhelena.com/how-to-mosaic-crochet/ Make Gnome Mistake https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/make-gnome-mistake Sarah Schira. https://www.ravelry.com/designers/sarah-schira The pattern I used was I*heart*FATW5. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/iheartfatw5 rosina crochet.  Rosina Plane. https://www.ravelry.com/designers/rosina-plane Brainy Thing: Catherine points out the value of making a plan in case of unexpected events and Margaret talks about how to develop a Joyous Amygdala. She also mentions some of her favorite Brainy segments from the past https://www.webmd.com/brain/amygdala-what-to-know   Behind the Redwood Curtain: Catherine and Margaret report on highlights from the past from Behind the Redwood Curtain and Catherine advocates for independent podcasts . Catherine promotes the podcast Chronicles from Behind the Redwood Curtain: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWjuhpiHo-E     This podcast's future For now, this "Ma and Ma" podcast will stop regular production. We thank all our listeners for their support over the years.                                       Welcome to Episode 145 of Teaching Your Brain to Knit where we share information about planing for unexpected events and how to grow a joyful amygdala. We talk about knitting shawls, dyeing fabric, trying mosaic crochet and finishing a knitted gnome. We also mention highlights from past Behind the Redwood Curtain segments and Catherine promotes another Humboldt podcast. Finally we   report on the future of this podcast.

Brainy:  1o:12   Behind the Redwood Curtain:  20:47   What We're Learning from our Knitting: Catherine is continuing her knitting odyssey with Stephen West's Twists and Turns Shawl, http://knittedtoybox.blogspot.com/   Brainy Thing: New words that describe the comfort we lack and long for.  hygge: coziness Solastalgia:   distress of environmental change Here are some links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDDjXhcWB1g https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36459133/#&gid=article-figures&pid=fig-1-uid-0   Behind the Redwood Curtain At the end of 2022, the courts approved a plan to remove four dams on the Klamath River which are destructive to fish species and cause toxic blue green algae.    https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2022-11-17/regulators-approve-demolition-of-four-klamath-river-dams?utm_id=76610&sfmc_id=4456079   https://www.sfchronicle.com/california/article/Largest-dam-removal-project-in-U-S-history-gets-17592091.php?sid=62c3aa67475d9718370d9a07&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=headlines&utm_campaign=sfc_morningfix live condor feed: https://www.yuroktribe.org/yurok-condor-live-feed     Announcement: We announce that after our next episode (145), we will be discontinuing the podcast in its current form.   Welcome to episode 144 of Teaching Your Brain to Knit while we report on Hygge and Solastalgia--comfort and longing for comfort; Catherine updates us on her Twists and Turns adventure and celebrates completing a gnome and a snitch while Margaret reports on teaching her bones to knit and finally talks about the victory on the Klamath River for the fish, the quality of the river, and the environment with four dam removals.

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. 

Brainy Thing: 18:27     Redwood Curtain:  33:43 What We’re Learning from Our Knitting (and Luceting):  Ta Dah!  Catherine finished her Garden Arbor Shawl  by Kira K Designs, a  kit she got from The Natural Fiber Fair in 2015.  The yarn is the Sky colorway in Bamboo from Be Sweet Yarns. Margaret made a lucet bracelet that was a modification of the pattern that Jennifer Hansen, from Stitch Diva offered as a bonus after completing her free 7-Day Lucet Challenge.  https://app.convertkit.com/landing_pages/38006.  She used Magnetic clasps. She also tested out the KonMari method http://tidyingup.com/ of organizing all her knitting, crocheting and lucet supplies.   Brainy Thing:  Catherine introduces us to Shinrin Yoku the Japanese codification of a worldwide ancient custom of Forest Breathing. The phenomenon of the healing from forest is getting a lot of research interest and an American study shows that walks in nature can help children with ADD and ADHD.  Some resources: The Little Handbook of shinrin yoku   http://www.shinrin-yoku.org/ https://www.amazon.com/Little-Handbook-Shinrin-Yoku-Amos-Clifford-ebook/dp/B00EP6BDFG/ref=tmm_other_meta_binding_title_sr?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1472775354&sr=1-1 The Association of Forest Therapy:http://www.natureandforesttherapy.org/  http://www.natureandforesttherapy.org/ On ADD and ADHD:   Andrea Faber Taylor and Frances E. Kuo  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1448497/ Behind the Redwood Curtain: Breaking news (at least relatively from us) — Redwood trees are  best at fixing oxygen. http://www.times-standard.com/article/NJ/20160706/NEWS/160709929   Teaching Your Brain to Knit Podcast:  https://teachingyourbraintoknit.com/ Teaching Your Brain to Knit Podcast group on Ravelry:  http://www.ravelry.com/groups/teaching-your-brain-to-knit

Brainy Thing: 18:30                   Behind the Redwood Curtain  30:00   What We’re Learning from Our Knitting and Crochet Margaret completed the Alpaca Angel Crochet Shawl pattern PO6134 by Kristen Omdahl  http://www.amazon.com/stream/ref=strm_swm_all_nav_IF?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=nav-sitewide-msg&pf_rd_r=5S5CKKRATKXE71SVA3NT&pf_rd_t=4201&pf_rd_p=1858d2e6-f93a-4246-9790-e206ebea43d1&pf_rd_i=navbar-4201 using Knit Picks Diadem KD in silver and gold.   Catherine’s potholder swap is completed now that she has received hers from others in the community.  This reminds her of a program she recently watched on the Missouri Star Quilting Company of Turning Point TV:  another example of how fiber can bring people together.  http://www.byutv.org/watch/bf7e0de7-69e2-4aaf-a538-5605e64a350f/turning-point-the-missouri-star-quilting-company   Brainy Thing: Margaret and Catherine talk about the loss of their mothers and their relationship to knitting and crochet. Healing your Grieving Soul book by Alan D. Wolfelt 100 spiritual practice for mourners   Alan D. Wolfelt Lynn Newman’s blog Tiny Buddha:  http://tinybuddha.com/blog/dealing-with-loss-and-grief-be-good-to-yourself-while-you-heal/   Behind the Redwood Curtain: Catherine shares with us the Humboldt Plays in the Park and how important community is to all of us.  http://www.playsinthepark.net/     Knitting Tip: Margaret talks about too quickly judging the Addi company on their crochet hooks and keeping an open mindset can help us with our encounter with new tools.  

Brainy Thing:  18:45      Behind the Redwood Curtain:  33:15 What Our Knitting and Crochet is Teaching Us: Margaret crocheted the Boteh Scarf   http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/boteh-scarfin by Kathy Merrick out of nearly three balls of Bella Lino  58% Linen, 26% viscose, and 16% cotton  http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/classic-elite-yarns-bella-lino . It looks like since Bella Lino is not part of Classic elites yarns' verde collection — like Sprout in chunky or Seedling in worsted/aran, it is not organic. Catherine is working on the Garden Arbor shawl  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/garden-arbor-shawl by Kira K Designs in the Be Sweet Bamboo http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/be-sweet-bamboo     Brainy Thing:  Feeding Your Brain Margaret introduces the relationships between our diets, inflammation, and our brains.  Some of her sources include: anti-inflammatory diet   http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02012/anti-inflammatory-diet Brain foods  http://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/food/brain-foods?slide=1  feed your brain  http://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2011/1/feed-your-brain/page-01 inflammation and the brain:    https://www.google.com/search?q=food+that+causes+inflammation&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8 scholarly article:  http://www.brainfacts.org/diseases-disorders/psychiatric-disorders/articles/2015/the-brain-inflamed/ http://kellybroganmd.com/from-gut-to-brain-the-inflammation-connection/   Also check out Lee Bernsteins’s (a member of our Ravelry Group and with her own Ravelry Group)  http://knittingisglutenfree.com    Behind the Redwood Curtain: Catherine tells us all about the blues associated with the grey California Coastal Marine Layer   Knitting Tip: Knittybarb of the Two Knit Lit Chicks podcast http://www.ravelry.com/groups/2-knit-lit-chicks-podcast offers a tip about how to wrangle your beads when knitting (or crocheting) with beads.     A Little Podcast Business:  There is an ongoing incentive for joining our Ravelry Group and another one for posting a tip on our Knitting Tips thread.  

Brainy Thing:    22:56               Behind the Redwood Curtain:  32:23   What We’ve Learned from Our Knitting: Catherine recently bought a skein of Be sweet yarn, African Bead Ball, to celebrate Knitting in Public Day.     http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/be-sweet-african-bead-ball.  She started knittingKira Designs'  Garden Arbor shawl (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/garden-arbor-shawl) out of another  Be Sweet yarn, Bamboo.  Margaret learned a new skill through the 7 day lucet challenge.  Check out  Jennifer Hansen's Stitch Diva  http://www.stitchdiva.com/blog/lucet-challenge/.     Brainy Thing Scientists are researching the common Brain Freeze   https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130522095335.htm  to see if it could reveal secrets that might help treat migraines.     Behind the Redwood Curtain Margaret shares some cool facts about the sand dollar.  The best source she found the best source on sand dollars was http://echinoblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/sand-dollars-are-sea-urchins-please.html   Knitting Tips Catherine tells us that part of creating gauge is where on the knitting needle you work your stitches.     

Brainy Thing:   19:01    Behind the Redwood Curtain What We’re Learning From Our Knitting: Catherine is knitting washcloths using SmarieK’s free pattern Double Lattice free pattern.  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/double-lattice-cloth using scraps of cotton including Knit One Crochet Two and Cotlin.   Margaret had another Mending Party.   Thanks to oekmama1in our Ravelry Group for referring her to Kate Atherley’s article in  Knitty 2006 on Repairs.   http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring06/FEATrepairs101.html uses sewing thread to loosely graft stitches at top and bottom.  Among piles of socks, Margaret mended the  As You Like It Cardigan by Judith Shangold  our of Cascade 220 super wash in a brown.  Some of the socks were made from  Fish knits warm sock; Online commercial; Misty alpaca hand dyed sock yarn (alpaca, merino nylon, silk) ;  Fiber lady luxury sock yarn easy.   Her favorite pattern in this lot was  Mystery Sock V: April Showers by Wendy Gaal, in Sock-aholic yarn from Knitters Brewing Co (75/25 wool/ nylon 480 yards).  She also tried to make the brim of the  Lace Beanie #70177 by Lion Brand Yarn out of Plymouth Yarn Kudo  top down lace yarn larger but even after vigorous blocking it is still too tight.  She’ll have to revisit that.    Brainy Thing:  Adequate Sleep is Essential to Long Term Memory Catherine talks about the research between developing long term memory and sleep.   https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/sleep-newzzz/201106/sleep-and-long-term-memory-maybe-s-why-we-sleep http://news.mit.edu/2009/memories-0624   Behind the Redwood Curtain: Margaret shares how she spotted a blue grey heron down the street from her and her resultant research on them,    The Audubon site not only has a beautiful close up of the bird but also recordings of its calls and songs.   http://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/great-blue-heron   Knitting Tip Concerned about running out of yarn on your row?  Catherine advises you to lay out your yarn, back and forth and back again (three times the length of what you have left)  to determine how much you need.    A Little Podcast Business  We announced winners of our Knitting Tip contest (She will receive Pom Pom magazine) and our Incentive to join our Ravelry Group.   Ravelry group:  http://www.ravelry.com/groups/teaching-your-brain-to-knit Show Notes:  https://teachingyourbraintoknit.com/

Brainy Thing:   20:35                Behind the Redwood Curtain  32:40 What We’re Learning from Our Knitting Margaret  was inspired by Catherine to try Sasha Ball Rives wonderful pattern Among the Wildflowers  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/among-the-wildflowers  with her own “learning opportunities”, of course. For a Ravelry swap, Catherine completed the Crochet Flower Potholders pattern by Jennifer Martin  Blue J  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/flower-potholders using scraps of cotton.   Brainy Thing:  Negativity Bias:   Studies have shown that are brains are hardwired toward the negative which is a great advantage on the Savannah but probably not now.  Check out:  https://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200306/our-brains-negative-bias  and http://www.rickhanson.net/how-your-brain-makes-you-easily-intimidated/ ) For ways to counter that bias, try  Marelisa Fabrega  http://daringtolivefully.com/overcoming-negativity-bias.   Behind the Redwood Curtain: Catherine tells us about the historical Phillips house in Arcata built in 1853/4 in the  Greek Revival style which is open Sundays 2 to 4  http://www.arcatahistory.org/phillips_house_museum_arcata .   Knitting Tip One of our Ravelry Members, puffygriffinclaw, offers some tips on Felting.   A Little Podcast Business

• Listen for the winners of the membership incentive and the tips contest next episode.  
• In the meanwhile, become a member of our Ravelry Group http://www.ravelry.com/groups/teaching-your-brain-to-knit,  and
• check out our 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.  
• Also, join our Facebook Group  https://www.facebook.com/Teachingyourbraintoknitpodcast/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

Brainy Thing:      14:20  Behind the Redwood Curtain:  27:50    What We’re Learning from Our Knitting:   Margaret crocheted Easter Egg motifs   She never got the Easter Egg Garland http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/easter-egg-garland by Michaela Krause http://www.ravelry.com/designers/michaela-krause correct but was able to fudge it and she liked this one best.  The other pattern was the Easiest Crochet Egg Pattern Ever http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-easiest-crochet-egg-pattern-ever by Michelle @ the Painted Hinge. Also a great pattern.   Each of these patterns was slightly different.   She also tried crocheting with a lot of improvisation Wedding stones  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/wedding-stones by Monica Johnson  from the Interweave Crochet summer 15 issue.  She hasn’t mastered these yet but she’s looking forward to further exploration.            Catherine continued making baby socks for Afghans for Afghans, this time switching to worsted weight yarn for the Ribbed Far Away Baby Socks http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ribbed-far-away-baby-socks by Amber Ward   or Mitt Knitter on Ravelry.   Brainy Thing: Barbara Arrowsmith talks about the limitations she had with the brain she was born with and how she changed them for the better with exercises, a great example of neuroplasticity.   Her Tedx Talk Toronto is here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0td5aw1KXA.  She now heads a school with folks who have a variety of brain-related problems.  Specific exercises she’s developed are noted here (with a nifty picture of a knitted brain hat):  http://www.barbaraarrowsmithyoung.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/topsante.pdf   Behind the Redwood Curtain:  Recycled Folk Art Catherine discovered a private house when the residents obviously delight in recycling plastic milk cartons and soda cans to make a magical landscape.   Knitting Tip: Margaret shares Lucy Neatby’s tip for closing up those holes at the side of a sock heel.   A Little Podcast Business The ongoing incentive for joining the Ravelry Group (http://www.ravelry.com/groups/teaching-your-brain-to-knit) is a sumptuous skein of yarn.   The Knitting Tip prize is a set of five back issues of Pom Pom Magazine.