The latest...

What to start with? Mmm. Some of you know I've been working on an English degree. For many reasons, I've put my middle age brain through the paces and it revealed it still works. I've discovered that I've enjoyed university and delving into literature among other studies and that it really is just good old discipline that gets one through it. I think I was just as smart (or average intelligence) before uni as I am now, but I started this venture to improve my writing and if I was going to call myself a writer than I had better have some weight behind it.

For the past 4 years, I've taken courses through the summers. This year, no, which brings me to the freedom I've rediscovered. Designing knitwear while studying novels, short story, poetry and...ugh...grammar had slowed me down. In my Patons days, we churned out many designs, one booklet after another. It was fun work and I miss those days with Gayle and Svetlana and Sarah.

As soon as I decided to take this summer off, I picked up the needles and began creating. I found a few funny things had happened. The business of designing had changed a lot since Instagram took hold. Ravelry has exploded into a vast cache of patterns and a fantastic resource for both knitters (and crocheters) and designers, not to mention yarn companies. So I created a knitwear designer Instagram account and decided I need some new material.

I'm a slow knitter than before; a forefinger surgery gone-wrong is the reason. Yet, I'll soon have a lovely easy, yet challenging shawl/scarf pattern ready. Easy? Challenging? Which is it, Joanne, you may ask. I say easy, because most of it can be knit while watching TV (GoT, The Wire, True Detective, Criminal Justice, Big Little Lies, Peaky Blinders, Taboo - oh my!) . However, there are some easy, yet challenging lace parts that I've realized I can't knit while watching TV (esp. GoT), no matter how much I think I'm paying attention. I promise you, it will be a rewarding project. I'll just give you a hint: I'm using Handmaiden's Casbah and its scrumptious!!!  I can't wait to share it with you!

On the writing side, I'm editing my novel and attempting to get a few short stories published (you can read two at CommuterLit.com/link under my writing tab). And writing, writing, writing! Is my garden suffering? Probably. As well, a few other things, as I know I only have until September to catch up with things, and be buried in books again until Spring 2020. There's always Christmas knitting and writing! In the meantime, I hope you're also doing your favourite things!
Joxo