CogKNITive--A Knitting + Psychology Podcast: Episode 299: Blather On!

This episode will upload Sept 5, 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 :

ChrisAah: thank you so much for your appreciation of my forever and a day bloodroot tee!

DrewKaitlin: yes, I got teary when I saw your post about supplies for the attendee gift. And that’s all I’m gonna say. I’ll be so glad to see you again! It gets a little hard to keep the faith every time with the CFR’s and I know it’s the attendees, now more than ever who make it special!

SagePecas: love to you and all our sibs in Minnesota! Thank you for the message, I’m so gratified to know I’m a part of your weekend rituals. And big love to Mason!

DCAlaneKnits: Warm hugs! I may deserve a break, but I am grateful for your warmth.

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: nada

In Progress:

Stash toss 2026 (27 in, 107 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! 6” of body and probably about 9” to go!

Oceanside Top: Now on color #4 and onto the flutter sleeves section

Quilt squares and organizing—we are at 69 finished so far. 10 more in the early stages. Fusible interfacing pre-cut rectangles for t-shirt quilts.

I have a ten-block strip pinned!

Dizzy Blondes: nope.

Using the electric eel 6.1.

Strategy: phases, not forevers

AW shoot! Bike desking , 3-4 miles/day

Upcoming:

Be the Light 5K: Sept 26, 2026

SC Marathon 5 K: Nov 6, 2026

Oceanside 5K: Nov 26, 2026

Fluffy Books:

Listening: The Wizard’s Butler

Finished: The Heretic’s Apprentice

Reading: Smallhope and Pennyroyal 2: A Family Affair

Something I Really Like: Dolly Parton: over 300 million books to kids, $10,000/family in her hometown after fire destroyed it, scholarships through her Dollywood foundation, support of gay/trans people, the list is endless. She refused to be a billionaire; she redirected her wealth to support people. America has lost one of its greatest heroes.

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

Hate AI? https://airesistlist.org/

Put a Lid on It: summer recipe:

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

Blather: College has begun. Computer science free, for the masses

Saturday at Remainders in the stunning heat.

Sunday and the quilt blocks…

And then Saturday the next: crocheting with EMDR (See next episode) on the Oceanside Top and the first clipping of a strip to eyeball the measurements. Also some random cooking and errands.

And then Sunday the 30th: giving blood, eating sashimi, and fabric at Michael’s for $42 (24 yards of fabric!)