Tag Archives: Fantasy Red Cardi

Ep. 025 Emotions, Environment and the Colors We See in Our Knitting

Posted in Brain Function, Brainy Stuff, Knitting by

 Welcome to Episode 25

Brainy Thing: 18:37

Behind the Redwood Curtain:27:53

What We’re Learning from our knitting:

Catherine is finishing up her second Fantasy Red Cardi (that’s the name but this one is a green and blue variegated with trim in a robin egg’s blue) by Kathryn Foster. Catherine  has bought the yarn Wolle’s Yarn Creations Color changing cotton tape yarn by Elizabeth Drum to do the Vanessa Ives Mystery Knit along by Mona8pi (Bunnymuff). She bought two colors but hasn’t decided which one she’ll use yet.

IMG_blue cardi

 

 

IMG_blue cardi close

 

Margaret knit about 10 inches of  the maracajau cowl in Borroco Origami in a black/grey/brown color and decided she didn’t like the yarn for around her neck.   She has four skeins of it, 98 yards per skein.   It is 58% acrylic, 16% linen, 15& nylon and 11% cotton and has a lot of high ratings in Ravelry. Borroco has discontinued the yarn.   She’s offering it to a member of the Ravelry group for free:   Just post in the thread.   If more than one person wants it by October 13, we’ll select someone by random number generator.

origami2 origami

 

 

 

 

 

Both Margaret and Catherine learned to create fabric cords with the simple cordage method at the Natural Fiber Fair in Arcata.. The demonstration was taught by the Julie Mueller-Brown from Cinnabar and Indigo, a vendor at the fair that sells handmade glass beads and other beautiful items.

 

Brainy Thing: Do colors change when we’re depressed or are we depressed by dull colors in our environment?

Catherine will explore this topic and the controversy around it in this segment.  Here is some of the research. Christopher Thorstenson believes that a depressed mood colors our perception of the world, specifically, the colors we see.    Report on the study here.

 

Behind the Redwood Curtain:

Margaret talks about the mystery of the little town or Orick, CA and why it hasn’t prospered.   Check out Jensen Rufe’s and Steve Love’s Film, Orick, California, USA .

IMG_1662 orick sunset IMG_1642 IMG_1641

Fiesta Rayon boucle Catalina colorway

Fiesta Rayon boucle Catalina colorway

Knitting Tip:

Consider cutting your knitting to make repairs. She makes plans to cut her Hermione’s Everyday Socks by Erica Lueder in half to attempt to re-heel it.

A Little Podcast Business

Don’t forget the ongoing incentive for joining the Ravelry Group.  Currently it’s Fiesta Yarn.

 

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. 021 Knitting for Cancer and Other Health Issues

Posted in Brain health, Crochet, Knitting by

Welcome to Episode 21:   Knitting supports Cancer Recovery and other Health Issues

Brainy part starts:  24:05

Behind the Redwood Curtain (Trillium) Starts:  33:35

What We’re Learning from Our Knitting (and Crochet):

Catherine is finishing up the Fantasy Red Cardi designed by Katherine Foster.

completed Fantasy red cardi

completed Fantasy red cardi

She’s also made two hats as part of the North Coast Knittery’s Hats for the Homeless Campaign.   The pattern is The Tyson Hat by Robyn Devine and the yarn is Naturally Nazareth.by Kraemer Yarns.silk wool hat orange hat comparison hat

Catherine is well along on the Failynn Fox Cowl by Heidi May who goes by the Velvet acorn.  She is using Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick in pumpkin for it.

fox earsfox cow progress

Margaret is continuing her exploration of cotton sock yarns.   This episode she talks about Cascade Fixation using the Fixation Ankle Sock pattern by Dawn Friske or Knitamazoo.   fixation

Margaret also re-crocheted the Quotidian or Flapper Bucket Hat by the Stitch Diva to make it just a little larger to accommodate her Mom’s hair bun.

Quotidian Hat

Quotidian Hat

The Brainy Part:  Knitting to Support Cancer Recovery

Catherine introduces one of the many programs developed as an adjunct to support cancer patients and their families.  The Knit for Life Program was started by Tanya Pariequz.  She also talks about Team Survivor Northwest. 

She mentions Tricoter yarns in Seattle, WA.

Behind the Redwood Curtain:   Trillium

Margaret talks about the beautiful little trillium that bloom in the spring at the base of the redwood trees.

trillium 6

Margaret’s photos of trillium under the redwoods

trillium 7 trillium

Knitting Tip

Margaret shares Edie Eckman’s tip in Connect the Shapes Crochet Motifs about using the principle of the Golden Mean in choosing a pleasing proportion of colors in a multi-color project.

Podcast Business:

The Learn-a-long was fantastic.  Such wonderful projects.   The winner (randomly selected) was:  Lost Surprise who will wine the Donegal Tweed yarn.

Our incentive to join our group continues.   For a randomly selected winner in the next 100 members to join our group, our prize is a skein of Fiesta Boucle..

Fiesta Rayon boucle Catalina colorway

Fiesta Rayon boucle Catalina colorway

Ep. 019 Growing Brain Cells with Physical Activity

Posted in Brain anatomy & physiology, Brain Function, Crochet, Knitting by

Welcome to Episode 19: How physical activity grow brain cells.

Brainy Thing starts at 15:26
Behind the Redwood Curtain starts at 24:13

What We’re Learning from Our Knitting (and Crochet)

The Fantasy Red Cardi is now Catherine’s carry-along knitting although she’s having a little sock knitting withdrawal.  This baby cardigan is by Knitting Kate or Katherine Foster.

Fantasy Red Cardi

Fantasy Red Cardi

The wool is “purple neutral” by Steinbach Woole Strapaz and an identified ball of yarn which is probably from Three Irish Girls.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some of the "charms" in the Dogwood Scarf

Some of the “charms” in the Dogwood Scarf

Catherine is also starting the Dogwood Scarf a Charm Crochet project by Suzann Thompson   She’s using a variety 100% cotton Ti Di by Knit One Crochet Too and leftovers.  She’s ordered a number of plant fiber yarns from Knit Picks to try them out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Margaret is trying our knitting on 12 inch and 9 inch circular needles.   She knit hat (premie size) as a sample to show new knitters one way to finish up a hat.hat2

preemie hat with "folded" top.

preemie hat with “folded” top.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brain Thing:

Dr. Arne May’s research showing juggling makes your brain grow.  Catherine asks could the physical activity of knitting and crochet also make brain cells?

Behind the Redwood Curtain

We talk about clams, clamming and Clam Beach.

Clam Beach, California but no clammers clamming.

Clam Beach, California but no clammers clamming.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Knitting Tip

Margaret suggest trying to enter “Beginner’s Mind” with no expectations and trying tools that challenge you.   She’s trying 12 inch and 9 inch circular needles right now and certainly feels like a beginner.

Podcast Business

The incentive prize, a gift for a randomly selected person out of each 100 people who join the group on Ravelry continues.   Also, the people are jumping into the Learn-along.   The Ravelry Group is here.

Episode 18 Auditory Learning Style and Knitting

Posted in Knitting, Learning by

Brainy Thing Starts at 24.25

Behind the Redwood Curtain starts at 32:55

What We’re Learning from our Knitting.

Margaret is on a quest to find the perfect cotton sock yarn.   In the past she’s used Regia Cotton but it still has a lot of wool content (41%) for her beloved Monkey Socks.     (After a search on Ravelry, it looks like most of the Regia’s Cotton fingering has been discontinued.).

monkeys

Recently, she tried Skacel’s Hi Koo CoBaSi in Carrot and Cream. She made up her own pattern but recommends Nigel Pottle’s Tom and Ethel Socks.

CoBaSi Socks in Carrot and Naturalorange socks 1

Catherine is using the yarn she just frogged (A mystery skein without the ball band but which is probably something from Three Irish Girls) and is using it in the Fantasy Red Cardi  by Knitting Kate (Katherine Foster’s Ravelry Store.)  The contrasting borders are in a “lavender neutral” Steinbach Woole Strapaz.

Fantasy Red Cardi in progress

Fantasy Red Cardi in progress

Brainy Thing

Margaret talks about Auditory Learning preference (the “A” in the VAK learning style) and how it might apply to knitters and crocheters.  She also explains more fully how we all use all senses in our learning.  Links to test out your learning preferences:

http://www.businessballs.com/vaklearningstylestest.htm
http://teachertools.londongt.org/?page=VAK
http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/hrd/styles/vak.html
http://easychangeworks.com/articles-nlp/markova-quiz.htm

Behind the Redwood Curtain

Catherine celebrates the California state flower:   The California Poppy.

 

California Poppy

California Poppy

Lots of California Poppies

Lots of California Poppies

California Poppies asleep after sundown in Margaret's yard

California Poppies asleep after sundown in Margaret’s yard

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more information on the California Poppy festival, check here.

Podcast Business

Check out about the Learn-a-long and the incentive prize for new members at the Teaching your Brain to Knit Group on Ravelry.

Self Striping Cankon Hand Dyes in "Lover's to bed' 'tis almost fairy time" colorway. It's a bit brighter than photograph suggests.

Self Striping Canon Hand Dyes in “Lover’s to bed’ ’tis almost fairy time” colorway. It’s a bit brighter than photograph suggests.