planning ahead

Did you see that the Edinburgh Yarn Fest programme of classes and talks has been announced? As usual, Mica and Jo have put together an amazing programme, in which I’m really pleased to be included. I’ll be talking about my new book, Handywoman, on both the Friday afternoon and the Saturday morning.

Handywoman covers a range of different themes, from my own experience of brain injury, to appreciating the design of assistive devices, to learning how to use my left hand and walk again, to understanding myself as a disabled walker, to the importance of craft and making — both to myself as a creative individual, as well as in more general terms. It’s the latter topics I’ll be speaking about at EYF, so if you want to hear me talk about my hand-made childhood, and my post-stroke experience of the knitting community, then do come along. There’s feminism! Jumble sales! And a slide show! Unlike the other classes, I think tickets go on sale with those for general attendance in a couple of months time.

Next spring will be very busy: as well as Handywoman, we’ll be anticipating the publication of the book associated with my new collection / club. I’ll have a lot on my plate. This year I found EYF really physically demanding, as well as difficult to plan for among our other projects, so I decided not to go for a stand in 2018. But though you won’t find us in the marketplace, you can come and chat to me at either of my talks, after which I’ll be meeting folk and signing books.

If there is one thing my stroke has taught me, it is to try to pace myself. I’m still not terribly good at it, mind you.

We love having a stand at EYF and will hopefully be able to find a way to be back in the marketplace in 2019. And in the meantime, I’ll be putting my energies into the two big projects on which I’m currently really enjoying working.

Photos taken during a lovely walk at Bracklinn Falls last week. In a couple of weeks I expect the autumn colour here will be extraordinary.