CogKNITive--A Knitting + Psychology Podcast: Episode 297: Summer Stuff

This episode will upload (after) August 15, 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.

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Warm Thanks :

DCAlaneKnits: yes! I’m alive and well, but I was a wee bit…in hiding…

Turbogal: thanks for wishing us joy for our recent anniversary!

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:

Purple Silk Wool Camel Shawl:

Purple Cashmere Silk Wool Shawl:

In Progress:

Stash toss 2026 (27 in, 85 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: paused.

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.

Coral Strange Brew: paused

Vestuary 2026: paused

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

Bloodroot Tee: Done sleeves and just heading down the body. Hooray! 4” of body and probably about 9” to go!

Oceanside Top: Now on color #3 and onto the flutter sleeves section

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: nope.

Using the electric eel 6.1.

Strategy: remember the internet is not representative

AW shoot! Bike desking , 3-4 miles/day, the Tehachapi Mountain Gallop 2026

Upcoming:

Be the Light 5K: Sept 26, 2026

SC Marathon 5 K: Nov 6, 2026

Oceanside 5K: Nov 26,2026

Fluffy Books:

Listening: The Hermit of Eyton Forest

Finished: The Violin Maker’s Secret, The Devil’s Novice, The Pilgrim of Hate, The Raven in the Foregate

Reading: The Retired Assassin and the Kittens

Something I Really Like: Stash tossing, homey days and puttering

Remember “ICEBlock”? Now there’s Antifreeze: https://antifreeze.app/

Hate AI? https://airesistlist.org/

Put a Lid on It: summer recipes:

Ketorade

In a pint jar:

Juice of half a lemon

2 TBSP apple cider vinegar

1/2 tsp No Salt

1/2 tsp pink Himalayan salt

5-10 drops liquid stevia

Fill rest of jar with sparkling water

Custard in the IP—the recipe:

4 egg yolks

3 tbsp swerve or similar sweetener

1 cup heavy cream or coconut cream

3/4 tsp vanilla

Pinch of salt

1. Whisk all ingredients together.

2. Strain the mixture and pour into 3 ramekins or cups that will fit into your pot together. (You can double the mixture and stack the cups if they fit. Try half-pint canning jars.)

3. In instant pot, add 1.5 cups water to bottom and place trivet in bottom.

4. Cover each pot with aluminum foil, place on trivet.

5. Cook on high for 6 minutes. Natural pressure release for 10 minutes, then quick pressure release.

6. Carefully remove HOT cups from pot to wire rack and allow to cool naturally.

Iced tea by cold brew: herbal leaves in pitcher with infuser in fridge+ liquid stevia

Iced coffee in pint jar:

2 tsp medium roast instant coffee

Half dropper liquid stevia

Hot water to 3/4 filled

Heavy cream 1/4 jar

Add all but cream to jar. Allow to cool to room temperature. Add cream and into the fridge!

Egg salad:

4 or 5 hard boiled eggs

2 tbsp olive or avocado oil mayo

1 tbsp preferred mustard

1 dill pickle chopped finely or dash of Plurk

Salt

Pepper

Paprika (not hot variety)

Mash it all together with a Tattie Beadle or potato masher (for you Americans). Serve on toast.

Home made Keto ice cream:

I use a serving of Keto Chow plus heavy cream. Run it through the freezer over night. Then 2 runs through the ninja ice cream maker on light ice cream. On the second run, I add some cream to make it softer.

Blather: Quiet days of summer. Beloved Son is home, farm is quiet.

Saturday : hanging out with my son in Glendale, knitting