Yes, I am “THAT Jeny” of Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bindoff. I love to tinker and solve problems, and I am fascinated by all the different ways that people think and learn. I challenge conventions. Not because it’s fun (although it is), but because existing knitting conventions don’t serve me well. Standard row by row instructions read to my brain like noise. I’m not dyslexic; I can comprehend the words and abbreviations just fine. But they are, for me, an obstacle to visualizing my path forward. And that makes my knitting experience much less fun. This has inspired me to write for others like me. I know you’re out there!

For me, coming up with my own formats is a form of self-advocacy. Standards and conventions are important because they are a shared language. But their existence need not stop us from seeking other ways to do things. I generate and express my designs in my native visual language, the one I speak fluently. The one I dream in. To accommodate others I also provide the standard format, even though that language does not come naturally to me.

The patterns I write tend to be challenging, but I make a big effort to make them enjoyable experiences. I value every bit of critical feedback I get from testers and purchasers, because that helps me improve the patterns and make them intuitive to more knitters. They are my offerings to the fiber community, my labors of love. ❤️