BrainyThing:  27:30     Behind the Redwood Curtain: 32:45   What We Are Learning from Our Knitting: Margaret was inspired by the  Maya hat and mittens  designed by Theresa Schabes http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/maya-hat-and-mittens-set using  Viking Norway Nordlys which is a thick fingering weight 75% superwash wool 25% nylon single loosely plied yarn.  What is striking about the yarn is the intense colors.   They have long irregular stripes that are what I call a true gradient  — they seem to blend into each other unlike some gradients that just seem to strop abruptly and switch to a different color. Margaret points to Elizabeth  Zimmerman's   Knitting Workshop  book (and video) https://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Zimmermanns-Knitting-Workshop-Zimmermann/dp/0942018001/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1480640438&sr=8-1&keywords=Knitters+workshop   Catherine finished her small projects and started another  Bunnymuff’s Mystery Knit-along for September  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sept-mkal-2016.   She's using Wolle’s Yarn Creations gradient yarn in peach and sand color which she finds easier to knit than she did before.   Practice makes better!   Brainy Thing:   In addition to increasing oxygen to the brain, exercise bolsters brain health in a number of ways.  Margaret reports on this.   Behind the Redwood Curtain The city of Arcata in 2012 taxed excessive utility use as a measure to reduce illegal marijuana grows in residential houses.   Knitting Tip: Rolenstone on our Ravelry group says that you can use recycled bleach wipes container to hold yarn (be sure to rinse out thoroughly.)   Links: Facebook:  Also, join our Facebook Group  https://www.facebook.com/Teachingyourbraintoknitpodcast/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel Ravelry Teaching Your Brain to Knit Group  http://www.ravelry.com/groups/teaching-your-brain-to-knit website https://teachingyourbraintoknit.com/ for show notes, photos of our knitting and crochet projects, Behind the Redwood Curtain places and things and anything else we decide to post.   Today on Teaching Your Brain to Knit: Learn how Exercise can improve your brain in many ways, Do you always need a class or a tutorial  to learn new techniques, will repeated practice with a challenging yarn can increase your skill, How the city of Arcata found an innovative way to increase the availability of housing, and a tip on how you can upcycle a wipes contain to become a useful yarn tool