Episode 262: Thanksgiving weekend

This episode will upload Dec. 6, 2025 

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 :

Laura of  Dizzy Blonde Studios

Plexippa/Beth: Hooray! Welcome to CFR11.5!

SustainableLivin/Marianne: "I could teach one pass brioche if there is an interest.

Or mosaic knitting

if I push myself, mosaic crochet
edit: I am a continental knitter - just saying that is the method for one pass brioche I know
Also, another helpful skill I could teach is backward knitting
Very useful for heel flaps and such - no turning the work.

And of course, we could do a Laughter Yoga session "

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

My birds are in London, UK together with a rainbow.

 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.

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: Thanksgiving Calico Hat:

In Progress:

Stash toss 2025 (96 in, 138 out) 

The 10-square bag:

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.

Rag Doll revitalization: she’s so…CLEAN! And now her hair is recovered by just adding Woobles yarn. Needs a few stray stitches to be finished.

Coco Strange Brew: because a girl needs her popcorn knitting on the train. Right now, I’m halfway down sleeve #2.

Coral Strange Brew: rather an accident because I did not have the sleeve for the first Strange Brew handy.

Winter Doodle Cowl:

 

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 : avoiding the "one shot illusion": you always can get a do-over and failure is necessary. Heads up, especially us women

AW shoot! Running again! But injured so no 2nd Turkey trot.

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: 

Finished Assistant to the Villain. Finished A Daughter’s Guide to Mothers and Murder. Finished reading The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies. Listening to Lolly Willowes.

Something I Really Like: 

Project back episodes on Proton- episodes 51-100 of the new series are up for the month of December.

Put a Lid on It: turkey bone broth via Instant Pot and slow cooker

Tea tastings return! Plum Deluxe’s Advent Calendar has begun!

Day 1: Brown Sugar Grey

 

Day 2 has lavender, so nope!

Day 3: 

Beloved Son’s Lego Adventure Calendar:

Blather:

Thursday: Happy Thanksgiving!

Friday: errands and episode editing

Saturday: B&N for stocking stuffers and jolabokaflod, then sushi and Little Knittery.

Sunday: puttering at home

LGBTQIA+ LIFELINES:

Community Resources:

Books I’ve Used: A 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: 

Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference: Dec 15-18

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: winter is ycumen in.

Episode 261: SoCalFiber festival 2025

Check out this episode!

Episode 261: SoCal Fiber Festival 2025

This episode will upload Nov 29, 2025 

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 :

NattyLady: for the news of Scotland's reception of the convicted felon. Especially the part about closing the girls’ schools to protect their children. It’s always going to be Scotland the Brave in my heart.

SustainableLiving’: looking for those bobbins!

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

My birds are in Paro, Bhutan and also in the Sonoran Desert.

 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.

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-up date: Nov 4, 2025
Loretta 1031 left a message about donations for her crocheting club for school kids. This still applies!

I published the info on what you'll find at our local Michaels for embroidery and sewing (revised).

Drew published some excellent blackwork resources  for us to share. This still applies!

What's On My Hooks and Needles:

Finished: So Cal Fiber Festival Souvenir Hat

In Progress:

Stash toss 2025 (92 in, 137 out) 

The 10-square bag:

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.

Rag Doll revitalization: she’s so…CLEAN! And now her hair is recovered by just adding Woobles yarn. Needs a few stray stitches to be finished.

Coco Strange Brew: because a girl needs her popcorn knitting on the train. And that will be happening next week when Loretta1031 and I hit the SoCal fiber festival together. Right now, I’ve started sleeve #2.

Coral Strange Brew: rather an accident because I did not have the sleeve for the first Strange Brew handy.

Thanksgiving Calico Hat:

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 : It's time for planning the holiday budget! Use Black Friday sales for a restock of your home.

Also: reduce stress by avoiding “micro stimulations”: texts, phone notifications, brief hits from online services like Reddit or Instagram or Facebook.

AW shoot! Running again! Next was the Storm Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. Then the SC Turkey trot on Saturday morning.

The first feast! Thank you, Starbucks!

Donate used running shoes: Soles4Souls or One World Running

Donate old medals to We Finish Together

Upcoming:

Santa Clarita Turkey Trot 5K: Nov 29, 2025

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: 

Listening to Assistant to the Villain and A Daughter’s Guide to Mothers and Murder. Reading The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies.

Something I Really Like: Stunning String Studio’s attempt to make a beginner’s knitting kit.

Project back episodes on Proton- episodes 1-50 of the new series are up for the month of November.

Put a Lid on It: nope.

Blather:

Saturday: SoCal Fiber Fair: Nov 22-23, 2025

Riverside Knitting Guild

Warm Up America

     

Sunday: cozy train rides and long brunch with Loretta1031

LGBTQA+ LIFELINES:

Community Resources:

Books I’ve Used: A 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: 

Thanksgiving!: Nov 27-30.

Santa Clarita Turkey Trot 5K: Nov 29, 2025

Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference: Dec 15-18

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: cat cam, cat scam

Episode 260: Pouring

Shownotes can be found on our blog at cogknitivepodcast.blogspot.com and also on our group on Ravelry.

Check out this episode!

Episode 260: Pouring

Weather map for today

This episode will upload Nov 22, 2025 

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 :

DCAlaneKnits: thanks for the episode save! if anyone else got a bad download of the last episode, delete your download and try downloading again. It should come through OK.

Sagepecas: hello my finch buddy! I am wildly enjoying the doodle stuff, so I hope you do too!

Sustainablelivin: joining us at CFR11.5! Points out: “ I just cooked with capers - only I used homemade. In season, I collected a bunch of nasturtium seeds and turned them into fake capers. They really make a dish special!”

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

My birds are napping together in Cairo. 

 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.

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-up date: Nov 4, 2025
Loretta 1031 left a message about donations for her crocheting club for school kids. This still applies!

I published the info on what you'll find at our local Michaels for embroidery and sewing (revised).

Drew published some excellent blackwork resources  for us to share. This still applies!

What's On My Hooks and Needles:

Finished: Virgo sweater:

In Progress:

Stash toss 2025 (87 in, 136 out) 7 for the Virgo sweater.

The 10-square bag:

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.

Rag Doll revitalization: she’s so…CLEAN! And now her hair is recovered by just adding Woobles yarn. Needs a few stray stitches to be finished.

Coco Strange Brew: because a girl needs her popcorn knitting on the train. And that will be happening next week when Loretta1031 and I hit the SoCal fiber festival together. Right now, I’ve started sleeve #2.

 

Coral Strange Brew: rather an accident because I did not have the sleeve for the first Strange Brew handy.

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 century

Strategy: It’s time for the holiday planning! Clean out time! Things to know:

Give Back Box (giveback box.com) no longer seems to be working. Well, they still have instructions on how to prepare a box, but the links lead to nowhere or around in circles. You can no longer print the shipping label there. I am really going to miss this one! So it’s time to look for other local donation charities.

Having said that, they do have a listing of local charities to which you can donate and the kinds of things these charities want. So here is that link.

Food pantries: clean out your pantry.

Good Will, etc. for your clothing, but they do toss out their “extras”, so you should consider other charities.

Yarn toss: plan a few projects, then share your extras.

Amigurumi: or make your extras into toys you can gift to kids, warm gloves, fingerless mitts, etc for shelters.

AW shoot! Running again, but waiting for a race!

Donate used running shoes: Soles4Souls or One World Running

Donate old medals to We Finish Together

Upcoming:

Santa Clarita Turkey Trot 5K: Nov 29, 2025

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: 

Finished The Keeper of Magical Things. Another winner by Julie Leong and also The Seventh Bride . And also Brigands and Breadknives.  And also  A Highly Courageous Adventure by Lynn Messina. Listening to Assistant to the Villain.

Something I Really Like:   A Lovely Yarn: I’m roaming episodes for her pattern suggestions. On YouTube. Scrappy projects from Advent yarn minis

Project back episodes on Proton- episodes 1-50 of the new series are up for the month of November.

Put a Lid on It: nope.

Blather:

The Thursday Escape to Glendale. Starfish and Little Knittery included!

Saturday: a day of quiet at home.

Sunday: Still pouring rain, so a ramble locally and then more time with my study!

LGBTQA+ LIFELINES:

Community Resources:

Books I’ve Used: A 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: 

Yarnopoly and Second Saturday Stitchers—look them up on Facebook! meet-ups on the 2nd Saturday of each month (usually)

SoCal Fiber Fair: Nov 22-23, 2025

Thanksgiving!: Nov 27-30.

Santa Clarita Turkey Trot 5K: Nov 29, 2025

Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference: Dec 15-18

CFR 11.5 (2026): Feb. 4, 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 else do I need?