Tuesday, May 26, 2026

Episode 286: Smoking! (Actually…Cleaning!)



This episode will upload May 30, 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 :
Knittinghiker and Turbogal: for praising my verbal ramblings about my museum wanderings. Turbogal also recommends iNaturalist for identifying plants—it’s free and professionals use it.
Jasmin Knitmore: for helping my beloved friend, for being a superb friend, for years of contributions to the fiber work, and for being a wonderful daughter. Gigi is proud of you. I admire you.

To my listeners, as always

And… A loving farewell to my dear “Old Man”—Gavin the Sheltie of my Sunnybank days


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

 Finch app ID is XRVW2WQW3C.

Cogknitive Fiber Retreat 12 (2026): ALL INFO IS RIGHT HERE It's the info thread on 
Ravelry. Yes, I made my hotel reservation.

CHANGE: Cogknitive Fiber Retreat 12 is scheduled for Nov 7, 2026.
 MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
This is a Developing thread, so check back often.
Don't forget the Bloodroot tee fashion show

Registration for CFR 12 (2026):

Via Paypal to Dr. Gemma at gemmadw AT yahoo.com
Payment is due at time of registration and is NOT refundable.**
Sign-ups begin Sept. 1, 2026
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: Tolsta the Second
In Progress:

Stash toss 2026 (25 in, 46 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.

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.


A great video by The Shetland Trader on steeking armholes for stranded -pattern vests. A fine discussion of reinforcing and cutting a steek by Brooklynn Tweed. You do put underarm stitches on a stitch holder. You do still shape the armhole per the pattern. Currently shaping the armholes as I head for the neckline.
At neck and upper armhole shapings

2nd Melt the Ice Hat: progress at last!


Bloodroot Tee: done flat section of the yoke and neck increases; joined and knitting in the round with sleeve increases.

Maple the Highland Coo: you can get the kit here, but mailing takes some time. Instructions are NOT as clear as their Wooble counterparts, but if you’ve done 2 or 3 Woobles, you should be able to cope with these kits. $28/kit, as opposed to 30-45 for Woobles.


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

Mending: YES! 2 projects to make repairs done!

The Stolen Neighbors Quilt Project: (thanks to Turbogalthe full text is here.)
CONTRIBUTING SQUARES: 
Cut a 3” x 3” square (or squares) out of any fabric – sewing scraps, old clothes, etc. 
Feel free to embellish your squares, but keep in mind: they need to be able to go through a standard sewing machine (seams will land 1/2 inch from the edges) and will eventually be displayed
outside in the elements for multiple hours.
HAVE MULTIPLE SQUARES? ABLE TO SEW? 
We would love the help! Sew squares together into blocks using 1/2 inch of seam allowance (individual squares should be 2 inches x 2 inches once you’ve sewn them together). Most helpful would be blocks of 5 squares by 5 squares or 10 squares by 10 squares.
Mail squares to: 
PO Box 19068 
Minneapolis, MN 55419.
If you’re part of an impacted community and aren’t able to contribute a square, we invite you to send a word, phrase, name, or symbol to mnquiltproject@gmail.com, and a member of the Project will add it to a square for you.

Dizzy Blondes: still spinning the LS BFL Giverny. 

Using the electric eel 6.1.

Strategy: behavior builds identity, not “fake it ‘til you make it”.

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

Upcoming:

Sugar Daddy 5K: June 20, 2026
Be the Light 5K: Sept 26, 2026
SC Marathon 5 K: Nov 6, 2026

Fluffy Books: 

Reading: nope

Something I Really Like: dead internet theory


Please consider donating to support those affected by Ice.

This is the link to donate to the cause:
Donate to Those Impacted by Ice
Donate to Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota


Project back episodes on Proton- episode 201-250 of the new series 

Greenfingers:  some random weeding and identifying some potential plants for the farm.

Put a Lid on It: sun-brewing of iced tea has begun. The tools:


Blather: 

Saturday and Sunday: some bus wandering and exploration, but mainly the Geffen and the Craft Contemporary Museum.


Monday (Memorial Day): mending, minor cleaning projects, voting, local wandering 

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: 

Sugar Daddy 5K: June 20, 2026
Be the Light 2026: Sept. 26, 2026
SC 5K, 2026: Nov 8, 2026
CFR 12 (2026): Nov.7, 2026 

And Minerva gets the last word: gimme.




 























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