Day Five: Joanna Johnson
I met Joanna Johnson for the first time at TNNA in January, after having reviewed Phoebe’s Sweater, one of her adorable children’s books, for Knitting Today!. We became fast friends over our mutual understanding about the need for sleep and food even in the midst of a buzzing trade show, among other things. I was so happy to get to have dinner with her again a few weeks ago in Denver.
Look at her Owls sweater! I’m so jealous!
Joanna and her husband Eric produce awesome children’s books that include knitting patterns for the key characters and their accessories, so that knitters can bring the story to life for their kids. I just love this concept, and when I read Freddie’s Blanket, it actually made me cry a little bit –not because it was sad, but because I could truly feel the love that went into it. Seriously. Joanna writes the stories, and her husband illustrates them–magnificently, I might add. Together they make a great duo and I can tell they pay attention to all of the details to produce the best work they are capable of.
At our dinner, Joanna told me that her nine year old daughter has recently become very interested in crochet, and I asked her if she’d “lapped” her yet with her skills. (The answer, of course, was yes.) I love the bonding that goes on over a hook and some yarn, so I’m hoping the two of them will be able to make a project from the book at some point.
If I were you, I’d head right over to Joanna’s blog post, because I hear she has something to give away. Something soft and pretty.