A few weeks ago, I was contacted by YarnCanada.ca to review Red Heart's Heart & Sole (catchy name) sock yarn. I've been busy studying for an English degree, finished a 2nd novel, trying to get first novel polished and published AND trying to get my heirloom shawl pattern finished and up on Ravelry. So you'd think I'd decline the invite to review, right?
Ask any knitter or designer if they'd turn down the opportunity to test drive a yarn and they'd likely say yes too. plus, I figure I could squeeze in knitting a sock.

When a cute little box arrived with 4 balls of yarn, I went to the library and found "Sock Knitting Master Class" by the amazing Ann Budd. In it, was the lovely Pussy Willow Stocking by Cat Bordhi:

I began knitting with Heart & Sole and was surprised by its softness (73% wool/27% nylon). I don't usually like to knit with super fine yarn, and I probably should have picked an easier sock to knit. I began by knitting a moccasin toe with two circular needles. Master Class indeed!

Small beginnings. Well, I got busy again; papers due, editing workshop, my birthday, and all this with an underlying pinched sciatic nerve problem (from Labour Day weekend!). So my sock knitting is slow, very interesting, but S-L-O-W! 

But I have to say, the yarn is beautiful and I can so see it looking fab in Cat's Pussy Willow pattern. Like anyone who wears or knits wool socks, I love the warmth, but also they have to be comfortable. I'm not finished yet, but now the cold weather is coming, I feel inspired to knit. So I'll post the finished sock in time. Please be patient with me. Thank you to Cat for the challenging pattern and thank you Tiffany for the invitation to try this great sock yarn! I love the colour "Skyscraper" and, Sock Knitters, if you want to buy the yarn, check out YarnCanada.ca where you can buy a ball for $6.55 and orders over $35 are with free shipping!

Was published Thursday at CommuterLit!!! Click below to read and I hope you enjoy it!

Had a blast at OWC, with zero sleep the night before, but manage to stay awake and focused with the sheer excitement of being there. The most useful and fascinating workshop was Anne Maclachlan's Social Media session. The camaraderie and networking was priceless.  Wayson Choy was a wonder to listen to and he was so welcoming to me the first night. I met agents and writers and the wonderful organizers of the conference. I came away stoked to write, write, write. And I am.

On another (knitting) note,my Heirloom Shawl is done and Joan the test knitter is almost finished hers. Can't wait to post it to Ravelry!

...is published today on CommuterLit! Thrilled to bits! My husband wondered why I picked that photo...Geez!
Hope you all like it!
JY
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At these prices, I'm hoping they go quick - I need to make some room here! If you're interested, head on over to Etsy and have a browse.

UPDATE: No longer available. Thanks to all.

      
As some of you know, I'm crazy about writing stories (as yes, designing knitwear too!). While some of my short stories are out there in the world waiting to be published, I participated in PitMad, an author pitch party last Friday, kindly hosted by Brenda Drake. 
     We could post 3 tweets to pitch my book, "Love and Terror" from 8AM to 8PM.
I carefully composed 3 tweets of 140 characters or less, complete with hashtags. I participated, hoping any agent would heart my tweet (that's the way it works), so I could query them directly, but what I was really hoping for, is that a particular agent that I think would perfectly represent my writing found me.
     She didn't.
     Somewhere, with maybe a half hour to go, she posted to tweet her directly win the next 30 min to make sure she saw your adult or women's fiction, so I did. A few minutes later, she hearted my tweet, "Art dealer Kate falls for Afghani artist Salim. CSIS investigation casts doubt. Someone is the terrorist – who? #PitMad #A #S." and my own heart grew three sizes that day!
     Off went my query and 10 pages to her inbox and my fingers are crossed, my toes braided and my heart is doing a jig, - yes jig; they still do those in the world…I'm certain.
     Now, begins the waiting game. Not any waiting game. The kind of waiting game that would have writers second-guessing themselves. But we mustn't do THAT!
     Instead, I’ll write Chapter 11 of my next novel, "Off the Grid" and knit the edging of the Heirloom Shawl (nearing the end!) as say a little prayer with each stitch, "I hope she loves it! I hope she loves it. I hope..."
   I don’t say her name because that’s too much pressure, but if my knitting prayers work, I’ll spill; I promise!
 
Happy knitting (and writing)!
 
Joanne

Thanks to Isobel and Alina - test knitters for these two new patterns of mine available on Mary Maxim. The yarn is lovely and cozy and both patterns will test a knitter's skills, but won't make you crazy. Hopefully an enjoyable knit for all.

Trying to hunt down the pattern for this edging as my B. Walker's are packed. We don't move in until mid October, and then the unpacking nightmare begins. Can anyone help and send me the 4 rows of this lovely edging?

Eternally grateful,

JY

I prefer gypsy to saying I'm living in limbo. Life isn't too tough, staying at the cottage, but I'm with my husband and daughters who are staying with friend's and can't work from solely a laptop. We have no WIFI here; I'm using my cell's hotspot as I write. Designing is trickier. I've packed my stitch books (I know, stupidly), but brought my latest fav wool to work with.
Joan is currently knitting the Heirloom Shawl for "Nine Months of Knitting" with Handmaiden Maidenhair in Crema - my follow-up to "Twelve Months of Knitting" and my stitch for the edging is packed! I pray the Parry Sound library has my Barbara Walker stitch book otherwise, I'll be pulling out the edging from the shawl I knit and writing it out - not fun!

Thankfully, I have all the patterns for the ebook (to be made avail here and on Ravelry) and will knit booties, hats and other such delightful items for expectant moms and babies. Ask me when it will be made available? Mmm, I'll say I'm aiming for January, but early Spring will be more likely - throw in a move in October and you'll see my point of view.

Happy knitting,

Joanne

Last Saturday, my best friend and her hubby of 25 years renewed their vows at their 25th Anniversary Beach Party. It was heart-pulling and romantic. The fun had by day on the beach, was followed with a soft guitar and singing to bring on the evening's re-nuptials. Not a dry eye on the beach that day. After all the guests had left, my best friend and I sat under the tent in the rain and gabbed until 3AM. These are the days to remember. Jox