Episode 7: Skill or Concentration?

Posted in Crochet, Knitting, Learning by teachingyourbraintoknit

WELCOME TO EPISODE 7: SKILL OR CONCENTRATION?

What We’re Learning from our Knitting:

Margaret is knitting and crocheting long strands of beads to wear as necklaces or as wrapped bracelets.

On top: Laura Nelkin‘s Ribband (knitted)

In the middle: a failed attempt at a crocheted strand: no fault of the pattern– the yarn was too fine for the size of beads. Check out Wrap Around Crochet bracelets for lots of successful projects and Yuli Nilssen for her other designs.

On the bottom: improvised icord with beads.

Catherine is learning from the PANEM Katniss cowl wrap by Dahlia in Bloom whose Rav name is DevilintheO.

Yarn is Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick.

Brainy Stuff: What determines your success or ease with a project — the level of difficulty or the level or concentration?

Many knitting and crochet patterns are labeled by skill level: beginner, intermediate or advanced or easy and challenging. But what do these terms mean? If you are an expert lace knitter, does that mean you’ll find cables easy? Catherine and Margaret discuss what the differences are and how they may or may not impact your experience creating a particular project.

Redwood Curtain: Table Bluff, CA.

From the South Spit looking up to Table Bluff

From Table Bluff looking down: Humboldt Bay to the Right (East), Pacific Ocean to the Left (West)

Viewing to the East, Humboldt Bay.

Beauty in the sand:

Knitting Tip:

Use a Kitchen scale to determine amount of yarn you have left.

Number of yards in total skein X (number of yards left) ————————— = ——————–

Number of grams in total skein Number of grams left in skein

X equals number of yards in total skein (times) Number of grams left in skein (divided by) number of grams in total skein.

8Dec2014

Episode 6 Staying Awake

Posted in Brain Function, Knitting by teachingyourbraintoknit

Welcome to Episode 6: Staying Awake

Brainy Stuff Starts at 15:00

What we’re learning from our knitting:

Catherine:

Catherine learns about the need for sharp tipped needles for the braid (the horizontal line of stitches above the brown pleats) on Laura Aylor’s Faberge’ using Classic Elite’s Mountain Top Vail.

Margaret:

Margaret learned that a SKP (slip the first stitch, knit the next stitch, pass the first stitch over the just knit stitch) is difficult for her to unknit. She didn’t do the pattern as written (only did the first row of the two row lace pattern) Mel Ski’s hat Drizzle but plans to do it as written the next time.

Drizzle by Mel Ski. Her webpage is here.

Elsebeth Lavold designs Silky Wool 03 Grey color

Brainy Stuff: Staying Awake

Dr. Perri Klass, M.D.: her page on knitting with links to articles. This pediatrician writes about her 2008 article in Knitter’s Magazine “Knitting is my internal symbol. It represents me.” One of her books is Two Sweaters for my Father. Catherine describes Klass’ writing on how knitting helps her stay focused.

Heather Ordover who has the Craftlit Podcast is writing a book on Cognitive Anchoring which explores the same phenomenon.

Behind the Redwood Curtain: 29:20

Blooming mushrooms on the bluff over the Mad River.

Knitting Tip:

If you’re out shopping without a specific pattern and want to know the approximate amount of yarn you need for a project, these should help.

The Knitter’s Handy Book of Patterns by Ann Budd

The Knitter’s Handy Guide to Yarn Requirements by Ann Budd

Knit Handy app

Stashbot: A comprehensive guide to building a useful stash by Hannah Fettig

Stashbot app by Hannah Fettig

3Dec2014

Episode 5: Layers of Visual Learning

Posted in Knitting, Learning by teachingyourbraintoknit

Welcome to Episode 5

What We’re Learning from Our Knitting:

Margaret:

Citron by Hilary Smith Callis the enormously popular (12,024 posted projects on Ravelry as of December 3, 2014) half circle shawlette, free on Knitty. She learned you probably won’t notice that the increases don’t line up (not the pattern’s fault — she stopped counting.) Can you see them?

She used

Noro Taiyo Sock colorway 30 and

Wild Orchids Fiber Arts Amore, colorway Lavendar

Catherine:

Catherine continues learning from

Faberge’ by Laura Aylor

She’s using

Classic Elite Yarns Mountain Top Vail yarn in two colors.

Brainy Stuff: Layers of Visual Learning

According to some theories, people who identify as visual learners, usually find it easier to take in information visually, but they use auditory or kinesthetic means to process and integrate that information. Therefore, probably the best learning occurs when all three modes are used. More about this in upcoming episodes. This link has other links including one for a self-assessment.

Laura Nelkin’s Craftsy class: Mastering Lace Shawls gives step-by-step and frame-by-frame instructions for making two shawls: Skywalker and Clarus.

Duolingo is a free app that teaches Spanish, French, German and other languages. It uses visual, auditory and kinesthetic approaches.

Behind the Redwood Curtain:

One of the Northwest’s most famous denizen is the legendary Bigfoot.

from Wikipedia. http://www.jcu.edu.au/wiledpack/modules/fsl/JCU_090460.html Frame 352 from 1967 Patterson–Gimlin film, alleged by Roger Patterson and Robert Gimlin to show a Bigfoot, was a man in a gorilla suit.^[1

Knitting Tip:

Needles of the same size but made from different materials will give you different gauge.

16Nov2014

What’s your VAK?

Posted in Knitting, Learning by teachingyourbraintoknit

WELCOME TO EPISODE 4

Brainy stuff starts at around 24 minutes

What Catherine is learning from her knitting:

The Coraline father sweater (no pattern):

How not to finish your sweater

What Margaret is learning from her knitting:

Turning socks inside out for stranding: Margaret’s modified Kirklees

Kirklees Socks by Tian Foley

Friday’s Studio Sock

Margaret’s cut and reknit Hermione’s Everyday Socks

Margaret’s original Hermione’s Everyday Socks by Erica Leuder

Cat Bordhi’s Sweet Tomato Heel socks book (well worth getting) and Youtube

Dragonfly Fibers Dragon Sock

Is your preferred learning style visual, auditory, or kinesthetic?

About visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning styles here.

Free VAK test here.

Behind the Redwood Curtain

North Country Fair

Catherine talks about the alpaca or llama people who have a booth. They are the Tyler Family who have Arcata Bay Llamas which includes llama, alpacas, angora rabbits and Icelandic sheep.

Knitting Tip

Check your gauge throughout your project. It can change.