Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Episode 269: Lots of Fair Isle



This episode will upload Jan. 24, 2026

Comments are welcomed! Either comment here or go to our group on Ravelry.

Buy Dr Gemma a Ko-Fi, if you're enjoying the podcast and feeling up to it. Remember that I am still working, though, so feel free to give the money to a charity instead.

I will NOT add you to any of my follower groups currently, due to robo-accounts. Please follow me here. You can contact me through our group on Ravelry or on this blog.

Warm Thanks : to my listeners!
Big warm hugs all around!

My communities: on Finch, on Reddit, on the ground in the SCV and AV, in this group.

My birds are in San Paolo together.
 Finch app ID is XRVW2WQW3C.

Cogknitive Fiber Retreat 12 and 11.5 (2026): ALL INFO IS RIGHT HERE It's the info thread on Ravelry. Yes, I made my hotel reservation.
I will try to post wheel pics.
Cogknitive Fiber Retreat 11.5 is scheduled for FEB 7, 2026.
Cogknitive Fiber Retreat 12 is scheduled for Nov 14, 2026.
 MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
This is a Developing thread, so check back often.

Registration for CFR 11.5 (2026):

Via Paypal to Dr. Gemma at gemmadw AT yahoo.com
Payment is due at time of registration and is NOT refundable.**
Sign-ups now ongoing
Loretta 1031 left a message about donations for her crocheting club for school kids. This still applies!
 

What's On My Hooks and Needles:

 Finished: nope

In Progress:

Stash toss 2025 (3 in, 2 out) finally found my 3rd gold/orange for the Coco Strange Brew!

Doing the sides, all the blocks are joined. Done up the side panels. Thinking of the liner, digging out an old flannel sheet.

Lakeside cardigan : Remaining: 1 set of front on panels, each is 2x2, weaving those ends, attaching, then major remaining seams.

September Sweater: It's crocheted and has been on my Rav projects page for months. I’m done the second torso piece and I've sewn it all together. On the left arm! That will leave the bottom ribbing section and some fixes on the bottom of the other arm.

Coco Strange Brew: I’m on the Fair Isle work! Starmore book, Pacific Knits doodles.


Coral Strange Brew:  On sleeve #2, increases (knitting cuff upwards) finished! On the easy arm knitting.

Dizzy Lazer Socks #1: for more brainless knitting. On the foot. Lazersheep and Dizzy Blonde yarns



Vestuary 2026: a good video on adding steeking stitches by Voolinvine. I also started by reviewing the section on steeking in Alice Starmore’s classic Book of Fair Isle Knitting. On the lower body currently.

Quilt squares and organizing—none this week—we are at 69 finished so far. 10 more in the early stages. Fusible interfacing pre-cut rectangles for t-shirt quilts

Dizzy Blondes: still spinning the LS BFL Giverny. 

Using the electric eel 6.1.
Wheels coming to CFR11.5: Ashford Traditional ca. 1994, probably antique flax wheel, ca. late 19th, early 20th c.


Strategy : rewards rewards rewards 

AW shoot! 

Donate used running shoes: Soles4Souls or One World Running
Donate old medals to We Finish Together

Upcoming:

Mardi Gras Madness: March 1, 2026
Sugar Daddy 5K: June 20, 2026
Be the Light 5K: Sept 26, 2026
SC Marathon 5 K: Nov 6, 2026

Fluffy Books: 

 
Something I Really Like: Strange Brew pattern by Tin Can Knits. Along with some of the great dictionaries that have been published lately, this is a total winner for those of us who are into stranded knitting.

Project back episodes on Proton- episode 101-150 of the new series 

Put a Lid on It: 
Tea tastings return! Plum Deluxe’s Advent Calendar
Day 23:

Blather: finished the cat puzzle, and B&N has a sale on puzzles through January!

Saturday: Pasadena and afternoon with Beloved Son





Sunday: knitting, scootering, and the new rug came!


LGBTQIA+ LIFELINES:

Community Resources:
Books I’ve UsedA Knit/Crochet Library on the Ravelry group for CogKnitive
My Favorite Resources to Buy: The entire list can be found right here.
Skills and techniques list : links


Calendar: 

CFR 11.5 (2026): Feb. 7, 2026 
Mardi Gras Madness: March 1, 2026
Sugar Daddy 5K: June 20, 2026
Be the Light 2026: Sept. 26, 2026
SC 5K, 2026: Nov 8, 2026
CFR 12 (2026): Nov.14, 2026 

And Minerva gets the last word: I’m still in charge here!






















Saturday, January 17, 2026

Monday, January 12, 2026

Episode 268: Spring Please!

This episode will upload Jan. 17, 2026

Comments are welcomed! Either comment here or go to our group on Ravelry.

Buy Dr Gemma a Ko-Fi, if you're enjoying the podcast and feeling up to it. Remember that I am still working, though, so feel free to give the money to a charity instead.

I will NOT add you to any of my follower groups currently, due to robo-accounts. Please follow me here. You can contact me through our group on Ravelry or on this blog.

Warm Thanks : to my listeners!
Big warm hugs all around!

My communities: on Finch, on Reddit, on the ground in the SCV and AV, in this group.

My birds are having a pj party for New Year’s Eve.
 Finch app ID is XRVW2WQW3C.

Cogknitive Fiber Retreat 12 and 11.5 (2026): ALL INFO IS RIGHT HERE It's the info thread on Ravelry. Yes, I made my hotel reservation.
I will try to post wheel pics.
Cogknitive Fiber Retreat 11.5 is scheduled for FEB 7, 2026.
Cogknitive Fiber Retreat 12 is scheduled for Nov 14, 2026.
 MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
This is a Developing thread, so check back often.

Registration for CFR 11.5 (2026):

Via Paypal to Dr. Gemma at gemmadw AT yahoo.com
Payment is due at time of registration and is NOT refundable.**
Sign-ups now ongoing
Loretta 1031 left a message about donations for her crocheting club for school kids. This still applies!
 

What's On My Hooks and Needles:

 Finished: nope

In Progress:

Stash toss 2025 (2 in, 2 out) finally found my 3rd gold/orange for the Coco Strange Brew!

Doing the sides, all the blocks are joined. Done up the side panels. Thinking of the liner, digging out an old flannel sheet.

Lakeside cardigan : Remaining: 1 set of front on panels, each is 2x2, weaving those ends, attaching, then major remaining seams.

September Sweater: It's crocheted and has been on my Rav projects page for months. I’m done the second torso piece and I've sewn it all together. On the left arm! That will leave the bottom ribbing section and some fixes on the bottom of the other arm.

Coco Strange Brew: body is done! Time to join arms to body and move on to the Fair Isle work! Still color testing, but some good luck this weekend (see blather).


Coral Strange Brew:  On sleeve #2, increases (knitting cuff upwards)

Dizzy Lazer Socks #1: for more brainless knitting. On the leg. Lazersheep and Dizzy Blonde yarns,

Vestuary 2026:


Quilt squares and organizing—none this week—we are at 69 finished so far. 10 more in the early stages. Fusible interfacing pre-cut rectangles for t-shirt quilts

Dizzy Blondes: still spinning the LS BFL Giverny. 

Using the electric eel 6.1.
Wheels coming to CFR11.5: Ashford Traditional ca. 1994, probably antique flax wheel, ca. late 19th, early 20th c.


Strategy : 9. No blame.
10. Never stop improving.



AW shoot! 

Donate used running shoes: Soles4Souls or One World Running
Donate old medals to We Finish Together

Upcoming:

Mardi Gras Madness: March 1, 2026
Sugar Daddy 5K: June 20, 2026
Be the Light 5K: Sept 26, 2026
SC Marathon 5 K: Nov 6, 2026

Fluffy Books: 

 
Something I Really Like: 
Alterknits Rebellion by Anne Bauer

Project back episodes on Proton- episode 101-150 of the new series are up for the month of January. Well, almost.

Put a Lid on It: 
Tea tastings return! Plum Deluxe’s Advent Calendar
Day : 21: 

Day 22: .

 


Blather:



Finished puzzle!



Saturday: was great!


Sunday: a day of sushi, tea, and meandering in Glendale in the 70F weather. And I joined the LA Arboretum.

LGBTQIA+ LIFELINES:

Community Resources:
Books I’ve UsedA Knit/Crochet Library on the Ravelry group for CogKnitive
My Favorite Resources to Buy: The entire list can be found right here.
Skills and techniques list : links


Calendar: 

CFR 11.5 (2026): Feb. 7, 2026 
Mardi Gras Madness: March 1, 2026
Sugar Daddy 5K: June 20, 2026
Be the Light 2026: Sept. 26, 2026
SC 5K, 2026: Nov 8, 2026
CFR 12 (2026): Nov.14, 2026 

And Minerva gets the last word: what? It’s legal. And it’s stopping me from delivering live mice to You-Know-Who for fun & games.




















Saturday, January 10, 2026

Thursday, January 8, 2026

Episode 267: Staying Snug

This episode is dedicated to Renee N. Good.
Some tragedies are too big to ignore, even in a knitting podcast.


This episode will upload Jan. 10, 2026

Comments are welcomed! Either comment here or go to our group on Ravelry.

Buy Dr Gemma a Ko-Fi, if you're enjoying the podcast and feeling up to it. Remember that I am still working, though, so feel free to give the money to a charity instead.

I will NOT add you to any of my follower groups currently, due to robo-accounts. Please follow me here. You can contact me through our group on Ravelry or on this blog.

Warm Thanks : to my listeners! I am very aware, especially since my return to podcasting, of how much your continued presence out there inspires me and involves me in the world in a very productive way.
Big warm hugs all around!

My communities: on Finch, on Reddit, on the ground in the SCV and AV, in this group.


My birds are in Buenos Aires together
 Finch app ID is XRVW2WQW3C.

Cogknitive Fiber Retreat 12 and 11.5 (2026): ALL INFO IS RIGHT HERE It's the info thread on Ravelry. Yes, I made my hotel reservation.
I will try to post wheel pics.
Cogknitive Fiber Retreat 11.5 is scheduled for FEB 7, 2026.
Cogknitive Fiber Retreat 12 is scheduled for Nov 14, 2026.
 MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
This is a Developing thread, so check back often.

Registration for CFR 11.5 (2026):

Via Paypal to Dr. Gemma at gemmadw AT yahoo.com
Payment is due at time of registration and is NOT refundable.**
Sign-ups now ongoing
Loretta 1031 left a message about donations for her crocheting club for school kids. This still applies!
 

What's On My Hooks and Needles:





In Progress:

Stash toss 2025 (0 in, 2 out

Doing the sides, all the blocks are joined. Done up the side panels. Thinking of the liner, digging out an old flannel sheet.

Lakeside cardigan : Remaining: 1 set of front on panels, each is 2x2, weaving those ends, attaching, then major remaining seams.

September Sweater: It's crocheted and has been on my Rav projects page for months. I’m done the second torso piece and I've sewn it all together. On the left arm! That will leave the bottom ribbing section and some fixes on the bottom of the other arm.

Coco Strange Brew: because a girl needs her popcorn knitting on the train. Right now, I’m on the body tube! About 7”.


Coral Strange Brew:  On sleeve #2.


Quilt squares and organizing—none this week—we are at 69 finished so far. 10 more in the early stages. Fusible interfacing pre-cut rectangles for t-shirt quilts

Dizzy Blondes: still spinning the LS BFL Giverny. 

Using the electric eel 6.1.
Wheels coming to CFR11.5: Ashford Traditional ca. 1994, probably antique flax wheel, ca. late 19th, early 20th c.


Strategy : 7. Look beyond the obvious. Investigate.
8. Focus on solutions. Make a plan, as opposed to embracing helplessness.



AW shoot! 

Donate used running shoes: Soles4Souls or One World Running
Donate old medals to We Finish Together

Upcoming:

Mardi Gras Madness: March 1, 2026
Sugar Daddy 5K: June 20, 2026
Be the Light 5K: Sept 26, 2026
SC Marathon 5 K: Nov 6, 2026

Fluffy Books: 

 
Something I Really Like: @Econimikat on IG. To be reminded of what is normal.


Project back episodes on Proton- episode 101-150 of the new series are up for the month of January. Well, almost.

Put a Lid on It: 
Tea tastings return! Plum Deluxe’s Advent Calendar
Day : 18: unexpected delight!



Day 19: .


Day 20: 


Blather:

Thursday: New Years Day


Saturday: Flicker lives! Adult electric scooter (not moped, technically)


Sunday: indoors day…with brownies! And TEA! And BOOKS! And KNITTING!



And the NEWEST OBSESSION:



LGBTQIA+ LIFELINES:

Community Resources:
Books I’ve UsedA Knit/Crochet Library on the Ravelry group for CogKnitive
My Favorite Resources to Buy: The entire list can be found right here.
Skills and techniques list : links


Calendar: 

CFR 11.5 (2026): Feb. 7, 2026 
Mardi Gras Madness: March 1, 2026
Sugar Daddy 5K: June 20, 2026
Be the Light 2026: Sept. 26, 2026
SC 5K, 2026: Nov 8, 2026
CFR 12 (2026): Nov.14, 2026 

And Minerva gets the last word: A little bit shameless