I've sold these needlepoint kits at various shows including the Creative Sewing & Needlework Show in Toronto. They are a great item for Pandemic hobbies or a guilt-free pleasure while watching all those Netflix shows. It's time to let these babies go. As such, I have marked them down on Etsy. Check out my page here: http://www.joanneyordanou.com/needlepoint-kits.html or click this link for Etsy.

We made it out of 2020!

​Happy, happy, happy new year to you all! Aren't we all glad for it? 
I've tried to look on the bright side all of year 2020:

• ​My health - I survived Covid-19 back in March 2020.
• Finishing novel #2 - "Off the Grid" - hunting down an agent now.
• Class of 2020 - graduating Queen's U with a degree in English Literature & Language.
• Beginning a Reno at home, like everyone else on lockdown.
• Built another website for my writing - www.joannesteelyordanou.com
• Knit another designer's pattern - WIP.
• Learn to bake sourdough bread.
• Enjoyed the outdoors as much as I could.
• Had a lot of time for writing and knitting.
• You! Thanks for reading!

Joanne

Yes, I'm an old fart graduate of the Class of 2020, Queen's University, English Language and Literature, along with a Certificate in Academic Writing. I say this, yes proud of it (it was a lot of work!), but also because I want to talk about an elective course I took. Film 240 challenged me, more than I thought it would, as I slid into the Home Base of graduating. The final project took me into a world I thought I'd throw some punches at, climate change and waste and Nike. It has become increasingly worrisome about our world's health. Instead, Nike surprised and even impressed me. My project was about Nike and its Sustainability mandate. And if anyone cares to see it, you'll find it here:  joanneyordanou.wixsite.com/mysite
​Hats off to Nike.

I soon finish my Queen's University English Degree (at the end of July-whew!) and have a pile of bestsellers waiting for me to read. However, my passion for classic lit and great novels will forever stay with me. It's been a wonderful way to improve my writing and understand the subtleties of character, plot, setting, dialogue, etc. I saw this video today and the diversity within its pages intrigued me. Has anyone read Ulysses by James Joyce? If so, what did you think of it?

​Joanne

In partnership with Bernat & Patons Yarn (where I used to work), these good folk at YarnCanada.ca and Bernat & Patons are giving away $2000 worth of yarn to 12 different charitable individuals / groups. They're hoping to get as many applicants as possible to ensure the yarn goes to wherever it can do the most good.    
There's less than a week left to apply.
Find details here: https://www.yarncanada.ca/for-good

Happy New year! And Happy Knitting!
Joanne
xox

For 3 days only starting Friday and ending Monday at midnight, all my patterns on Ravelry are 50% off! Happy long weekend!
And Happy Knitting,

​Joanne

Available on Ravelry at: https://www.ravelry.com/designers/joanne-yordanou
​on August 19/19.

At last, the Boho Sunset Shawl is finished and the pattern is ready on Ravelry! It took me so long because of life ups and downs, injuries, school, and a cottage renovation. Add a grand-puppy that I suddenly have to puppy-sit with my own good boy Shaq, and you have some very slow knitting. That's me. Not you, necessarily. This is a very easy shawl for the average bear. It's all Garter Stitch with an easy Lace Stitch which grows in rows. The tricky part is being very, very careful not to drop a stitch during lace sections (or any other), as the lace will unravel back to where you started it. So don't put you knitting down in the middle of a lace row unless you absolutely have to and even then, be mindful how and where you left it. I say this from experience. Otherwise, this is my new favourite pattern and a joy to knit with great results!
Here's the stats:
​Size:
Asymmetrical: 60 ins [152.5 cm] W x 37” [94 cm] x H x 70” [203.5 cm] slope.
 
Materials:
2 skeins Handmaiden Casbah 3-ply (80% Merino/10% Nylon/10% Cashmere. 
Note:Colours are one of a kind. I used a custom dye made for Linda’s Craftique in Port Credit, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada (my home town). Linda inspired Handmaiden to dye Casbah with a photo of a Port Credit sunset as inspiration. Linda showed me the photo and the yarn and I was smitten. I had to design something. This asymmetrical shawl uses the Port Credit dye as (MC) with a matching purple (A) to finish it off plus the fringe. I look forward to seeing your own colour creations! 
 
Happy knitting,
Joanne

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

If you haven't heard, I've been at it again after a whole lotta things keeping me from knitting. Here's the latest: Twilight (you can find it on Ravelry).