Hello yarn friends -

I’m away in Shetland at the moment on one of my Stitchtopia tours. While I was re-listening to this episode of the Make Joy Podcast, I was struck by how the themes of community and shared connections in our knitting are the same wherever makers come together - just like they have on this trip. Once again, a group of knitters who don’t know each other have been joined up and made new friends as they travel and learn together, united by the yarn that connects us.

My guest on the podcast this week is Salina Jane of Salina Jane Art, a British artist and avid knitter of Indo-Caribbean descent. If you’ve been to a yarn show in the UK, chances are you’ve possibly run into Salina - either as an enthusiastic knitter embracing the yarn fumes, or perhaps selling her own illustrations of knitters, spinners and makers, or even drawing vignettes of the festival. Salina and I talk about community a lot on this episode of the podcast, and the joy that comes from knitting and how fortunate we feel to be part of it.

Art and making have always been part of Salina’s life, so it makes sense that one the subjects she returns to again and again in her art are makers. Salina has a bespoke series of illustrations called Let Me Illustrate Your Life and Loves that capture an individual’s personal story, memories, hobbies and the things that matter to them.

As a storyteller, Salina is also conscious of the opportunities she’s had in spaces where she hasn’t seen herself reflected so it’s incredibly important to her that the stories she tells showcase those who are underrepresented.

Our conversation meanders quite so this is a longer episode, but hopefully you can feel the joy we had while we were recording it! And for those curious about Salina’s favourite knits they can be found on Ravelry here (in no particular order):

* Edie

* Love Note

* Ranunculus

* Limestone Pavement Beret

* A “vanilla” sock (I’ve linked to my own favourite, which is the Rose City Rollers)

I hope you enjoy this episode as much as Salina and I enjoyed chatting together. Salina will also be drawing Make Joy this year, so make sure you come along and say hello! Speaking of, do you have your tickets yet?

Next week’s episode is one I recorded while I was in Canada, so make sure you’re subscribed! It’s a colourful discussion you won’t want to miss.

Keep making joy!

Allison

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