Monthly Archives: September 2015

Ep. 024 Muscle Memory and Knitting

Posted in Brain anatomy & physiology, Knitting by

Welcome to Episode 24:  Let Muscle Memory make your Knitting and Crochet easier.

Brainy Stuff:  17:17

Behind the Redwood Curtain:  27:10

What We’re Learning from our Knitting

Margaret took a class from JC Briar on Multi-Directional Knitting and made these two wristers.  (Although she couldn’t find a pattern by JC on Ravelry)   She really enjoyed this technique and plans to do more.    Inspired by the Beaded Waves Scarf, Margaret also made the Mudra Cuff  by Laura Nelkin.

wristlets

Sample wristlets from JC Briar’s Multi-directional Knitting Class.

wrister

Mudra Cuff by Laura Nelkin

Catherine continues to work on her second Fantasy Red Cardi  by  Kathryn Foster using a skein of Goth Socks from  Rainy Day and Wooly Dogs yarn company.    She can’t carry along with her either Meadowlark Shibori Jacket  by  Gina Wilde  or   Among the Wildflowers  by  Sasha Ball Rives.

Baby cardigan

Fantasy Red Cardi blocking

Brainy thing:   Muscle Memory and Knitting

Margaret talks about Muscle and how we can apply the ideas worked up by coaches of athletes and musicians to Knitting.  Take a look at these.

Behind the Redwood Curtain

Catherine describes an iconic figure of the Northcoast:  The Humboldt Honey  The poster, immortalizing the Humboldt Honey was designed by Ingrid Hart (Ingrid DaSilva at the time) who was a journalism major at Humboldt State University.  You can Link to article and image.  You can still buy the poster at Picky Picky Picky  in Eureka, CA.

Hippie girl

Are You a Humboldt Hippie poster by Ingrid Hart photography by Patrick Cudahy

Knitting Tip

Margaret suggests that to help anchor your knitting and build muscle memory of the new technique you can make small projects:   wristlets, coaster or coffee mug cozy might be some possibilities.   Then you would have reinforced your learning and have something to show for it!

A Little Podcast Business

The incentive prize for a randomly selected winner of the next 100 people who join our ravelry group is ongoing.

Fiesta Rayon boucle Catalina colorway

Fiesta Rayon boucle Catalina colorway

Ep. 023 How We See Color in Our Knitting and Crochet (1st in a series)

Posted in Brain Function, Crochet, Knitting by

Welcome to Episode 23:   How we see color in our Knitting and Crochet (the first in a series)

Brainy Part:  20:18

Behind the Redwood Curtain  39:38

What we’re learning from our Knitting and Crochet:

Catherine is learning she doesn’t enjoy finishing (she already kinda knew that) but she did it anyway for the Failynn Fox Cowl by Velvet Acorn out of Lion Brand fox cowl side fox cowl Thick and Quick Pumpkin.

 

She also did some improvisation with the Chain Mail Slippers that she was doing for a Arcata Plays  in the Park production locally.   She used the Simple Man Slipper by Melissa Mall in Wool-like Chunky by Loops and Threads.

chain mail slippers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Margaret learned how to work an applied edge in crochet (adding the edging perpendicularly to the bottom of the shawl. — oops, she added it to the wrong edge.   The pattern was Terra Cotta Shawl from More Love of Crochet in Summer of 2014 and now called Thorns by Rebecca Velasquez. It is now sold on Rebecca’s website.  Margaret also used lace weight yarn for an entire project for the first time — a lovely silk/linen blend by Sincere Sheep.

Terra folded Terra piece

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brainy Thing:  Seeing Color

Catherine talks about seeing color — in knitting and crochet.   Among other things, she mentions the Concetta Antico who is documented as seeing colors differently.

Here are some links to her research.

Concetta Antico, tetrachromatic artist:  http://concettaantico.com/

For more on this subject, check out Ewe University Episode 39 Effects of Color on Behavior, Emotions and the Brain

Behind the Redwood Curtain:  The Giant Coastal Salamander

Catherine thinks these guys are cute although they’ll probably bite you.

Giant Coastal Salamander

Giant Coastal Salamander

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Knitting Tip:

For a real cushy sock, try the princess (as in the princess and the pea) sole.  Melissa Mall included them in her pattern above.  Knitty’s Cinderella sock pattern by Kathryn Beckerdite also includes instructions for the princess sole.

Podcast Business:

We’re still offering the incentive prize for the next group of 100 members in our Teaching Your Brain to Knit Ravelry Group.

Fiesta Rayon boucle Catalina colorway

Fiesta Rayon boucle Catalina colorway

 

 

 

ETA

ETA 9/28/15