warm welcome webinar wayfarers!

Yesterday Interweave announced my upcoming June 5th webinar :  Photographing Your Knits. poof ! walla ! and ta-da!, I have never had so many visitors here.

Not even that time I was giving away 4 pounds of Starbucks coffee! (Though that was pretty cool,  right?)

Not even right after Shear Spirit came out, and all the sheepy/goat/alpaca folk I'd met in my farm visits and travels came to call.

crias at Victory Ranch in Mora New Mexico

Not even the times my work with the Red Scarf Project /Foster Care to Success got all linked  (you know about the Red Scarf project? If not please take a peek )
The blog's been here for eight years, so browse around and welcome to my world.

a rare appearance by Dave, who appreciates the handknits but models reluctantl

I hope you sign up for the webinar. I got hip to webinars last year.  A webinar is essentially watching a live (or, recorded live) slide talk presentation, with me chatting but your monitor filled with images (photos!). You can type in questions that the moderator , the Knitting Daily Empress Kathleen Cubley,  will ask me, and I'll answer, either during the slide talk or immediately after. I won't rush off, and the scheduling is flexible. The cool thing is you can watch as little or as much as you wish, and then come back and watch the rest--or watch it again. I cram in a lot of helpful tips, so the ability to re-visit is awesome.

an image from Craft Activism, a good example of a simple way to shoot handmade..and a favorite of mine, shot at granny square goddess Ellen Bloom's house in LA. I heart granny squares, and Ellen is to blame.
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My commercial website is Gale Zucker Photography. Plenty of sheep shots there, too. 

(almost)all shawl

Were I a squeee-er, that'd be my opener right here. Because! It is official! I am teaching an Interweave webinar, Photographing Your Knits!  Sign up now, action starts June 5th. 

the Catalina shawl, from Green Mountain Spinnery. Crocheted. I know, right?

If you've never tried a webinar, this is a good one to give a whirl,  I promise it'll be a fun hour and you will learn. Plus: pictures! many many!

  

Meanwhile, back at the ranch,   I pounced on the Mothers Day shawl request project.  I was struck with inspiration to knit  Caliz, by Romi Hill. *

It's been in my queue ever since it was a club pattern** from A Verb for Keeping Warm in 2011. And, I've been admiring the Anzula Oasis yarn at my LYS for a while.  When I realized it may be the same base yarn  Verb dyed for the club version of  Caliz -   70 silk/30camel blend with a slightly loose ply that gives it a natural look-- I knew I had my match.

I am loving knitting this. Garter stitch in purl, lace that is just my level of enjoyment:  engaging, easy to read, no tricky bits.  M1purl, a new move for me but easily mastered.

 

I shot the above optimistically, Saturday morning , thinking I'd show you how I spent my weekend. (also? I adore the colors of this early 70's paperback book cover) . Not so much reading happened, but I did take in 5 episodes of Breaking Bad season 4. So that is something, right?

 

I also thought I'd get in some gardening , also put on hold. Not for the lack of the best helper around. 

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* thanks to all for shawl suggestions in the comments from the last post. Really good ones! I may get into a shawl knitting jag as a result.Maybe a round up in another post of all the fab options.

**so, I was not actually a member of the Pro-verbial club but I watched someone who was, knit this shawl. It's kind of modern and slightly rustic, lacey but not fussy, I think my mom will love it.  If for any reason she doesn't , I will gladly keep it and knit her another option--which is to say good thing I am publicly declaring it for her so I don't get too attached.

little treats

There's been no big splashy stuff here lately, and I can't seem to finish anything. But I'm finding great delight in the small. Like this cuff on my sleeve,  tipped in handspun. I could stare it at all day.

My Shell Seeker sweater has been almost done for ages. I can't get the bottom hem right. First, it was too short, and I did the split hem ribbing too loosely and it was flipping up. Second try, too tight and still not quite right. Soon as that second cuff is done, I re-do the bottom again.  But the sleeve cuff ? Did I mention I like it?

The shapings on the front, also happy-making. You decrease on the sides and increase along two front  lines. No kangaroo pocket in my version though. Pearl Ten Malbrigo, how I love your not-purple-not grey-not-black ways.

On Mothers day I got two unusual knitting gifts. First, my mom, who is a)an amazing knitter and b) famous for not liking anything by her neck, admitted she is starting to feel drafts and wants a a little shawlette to sit on her shoulders. She asked me to knit her something! I am overjoyed. Her request:  lightweight, not overly lacey but some open-ness is good, not too large--and  neutral. Not black or white --maybe pink or orange. Which, in my family, is considered neutral. (This is where I should tell you I grew up in a house with a bright yellow front door, and an orange ceiling in the kitchen and dining room). I got a crazy amount of pleasure from poking around Ravelry on her behalf- I'm thinking Simmer Dim or Henslowe (considered and rejected Citron for fear of never finishing) -- I can't wait to get some yarn for it this evening. If you have any pattern suggestions, I'm all ears.

Second, Yliana, last seen  here modeling knits,  mentioned wanting to learn to knit a few times.  Anyone dating a son of mine  figures out that saying nice things about knitting makes me happy to see them,  so I was all  "'Oh, OK, whenever" .  But Yliana meant it. We found ourselves with some spare time Sunday and next thing you know, she's cranking out the garter stitch. Happiness all around.

a classy weekend (with gratuitous name dropping)

Very classy! Last Sunday I debuted a new Photo for Knitters workshop: Photographing for Your Ravelry Projects Page, held at  Knit New Haven. My classes are always hands-on but this one was especially focused.  As a group, we worked on one project from each student at a time.

 

I'd say Julia Bogardus (Sorrento on Ravelry) nailed her Taygete shawl by Romi Hill, doncha think?

 Everyone there made beautiful images, too, here's one from Michelle, aka MMDube23 Yliana was our fabulous model this time. I've found bringing an assistant who poses with the knits helps the class really flow. Bonus:  no one taking the class gets stuck in front of the camera-- unless they want to.

I am attempting  Ann & Kay's burst'o'blogwords writing initiative, but my 15 minutes do not yield anything read-worthy. Plus, I always have more to say.  Like, I can't leave out Saturday, at the Fairfield Woods Library DIY Crafts Salon. What a lovely group--I talked about Craft Activism, then I lead a project, inspired by Virgina Fleck. I was only slightly (cough,understatement, cough) intimidated that the previous presenter had been Denyse Schmidt.

And, considering the date, I  MUST mention what a fabulous gift a copy of Craft Activism * makes for Mothers Day.  Or, a gift certificate for a class. Just saying!

*absolutely true story I swear: Barbara Walker's son got her a signed copy of Craft Activism as a gift a few months ago. NO SH*T !!  I didn't know who he was but he asked me to inscribe it to his mom, Barbara. I asked " Does she knit?" To which he replied, "uhhh, you could say so..." and then revealed her full name. I was left with my mouth hanging open saying something like "ohmuhgawwwwww".

 another from Julia Bogardus/ sorrento,   her Inspira cowl

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A few more classes soon--May 18th, a Photo Safari with The Village Knitter in Babylon NY, and starting May 16th in the evening, a 3 session class at Webs. This will be a rare chance to do a class where you get to shoot, return, review & discuss later --which is wonderful for letting new ideas seep into your photo habits. The class is in Northampton MA at Webs on Thursdays May 18, May 30 and June 6th, from 5:30-8, signups here .

And not coming up that soon, but I hear these fill up fast: I just got an email that the registration for the Rhinebeck workshops (NY Sheep & Wool Festival in October, if you want to be all formal about it) are open as of now.

let's talk project page...

I say not to judge a book by its cover, or wine by its label, but do I live it? Ummm..NO.  First glance is what catches me. Content next. No mildly snazzy impression? I'm gone. Buhbye. Especially on your Ravelry projects page.

Above is mine. Please ignore that I haven't finished what was to be my all-purpose-winter-sweater. {cough, moving on, cough}

 Here's a friend's. Not naming names...unless you recognize her gorgeous knitting. Thar be some empty squares!  And she truly is an awesome knitter. If only you could see. Familiar?

 Unlike photo shoots  for clients, or book projects or pattern releases,  my Ravelry Projects photos are not big productions at all. A couple of minutes of effort plus a teeny bit of planning, a good crop. Ta-da. That's it.
  Which is why my friends at Knit New Haven invited me to teach a workshop on this very topic:

Photography for Your Ravelry Projects

Sunday May 5th 10-1:30

Knit New Haven (New Haven* CT)

call tor stop in to register in advance  (limited space)  203-777-KNIT

This will be fun--well, I try to make all my classes fun, and usually succeed- but with our goal all being the same, we can play with color, composition, backgrounds and I will have a wonderful model there just to pose with your FO's--so everyone can leave with a few of their squares filled in.

We will spend a bit of time, too, on easy photo editing using online (no cost) software, so you can goose those images and make them fly. 
You can work with a Point & Shoot, a DSLR or even, shutthefrontdoor, your Iphone.

See you there? 

* New Haven has a handy train station, if you want to make this a day trip to join us, jump on the MetroNorth.  I'll get you  a ride over to the shop and back to the station later, close by.

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See my other classes coming up, a Photo Safari at The Village Knitter on May 18th, and a 3 session class at Webs starting May 16th...and then Fiber College and Rhinebeck in the fall. Check the listings here.

posing, posting, passing by

I have a nice blabby post in my head about posing people in knits for photos. Do you think of flabby & blabby together? I do. My head is full of flabby blab. But so little time! Instead, tonight, I have another quick peek from the big fat Green Mountain Spinnery shoot to post.

 

This is Gillette , a crescent shawl in fingering weight. Want.

and a brand-new-just-posted list of classes and workshops* I'm teaching in the coming months. Go take a look.  I've got a little bit of everything going on.  Classes, plans, projects, maybe even some destashing...I feel like spring has sprung! How about you?

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If you see a class or workshop you'd like me to teach at your venue, drop me a note.

anatomy of a knitwear photoshoot

 I was blabbing with a friend about my activities leading up to a photo shoot for Green Mountain Spinnery last week, and she was surprised at all the stuff going into it. I thought maybe you'd like to know, too?  We haven't done the final editing, so consider these a peek.

Looks like a simple photo, right? Here're all the parts:
•  The design itself:  the Gulfoss sweater, by Cap Sease.  (The sweater link is to their existing image, on Ravelry.  I am updating their look.)
• The rest of her wardrobe. I shopped for the shirt (borrowed & returned after the shoot). I was a teeny bit obsessed with finding plum & white gingham. The jeans & boots belong to the model, who brought 4 pair of each that day,  at my request.
•  Karen, my model, is a real person.  Yes, she looks like this. I know, it is unfair.  She's an acquaintance I've been keeping in mind in case the right sweater came along for her.  I recruited her and her hubby for the shoot.  (It took a bit of persuasion).
• Her hair & makeup, by Jill, my super talented makeup/hair/groomer wizard. She knows what she is doing. Everyone looks like a best version of themselves-  fabulously natural. 
• Her hairstyle--in the weeks leading up to the shoot, I collected images on a Pinterest board with the feel, or detail, or  textural combination, or pose, that related to this shoot in my imagination. A styling moodboard.  I sent a link to the board to Jill, who figured out how to do the fishtail braid just right for sweater modeling (stylish, outdoorsy , and doesn't block the sweater yoke!).
• The location: I spent a day (plus some)  driving and stomping around sites that were close to each other, had good colors or textures for the background, fit the theme I was imagining, checking where the light was falling, and not too far from our homebase where changes and makeup (and warming up) were happening. Scouting is more time consuming than you'd think.
•  Posing- well, you need to direct the scene. Otherwise the most important details of a sweater might get lost.  I was trying to get the yoke to appear against the upper color of the boat, to sort of frame it.

Pretty sure this won't be the select for the scarves, but it's good for my post. Love these two!

The shopping and wardrobe can be the hardest for me . What you put together, and the little details,  can totally change the look of the knitwear. Which is why it is called styling. I like coming up with the ideas or the themes,  but I just don't like shopping that much.  If there is budget, a photo stylist does this important task. I love photo stylists. Like, here, both models are wearing pairs of my boots. I shopped for the shirts, and the bracelets and earrings were a combo of borrowed & shopped for.  Giuliana (on the left) is wearing a  pair of vanilla jeans that belong to Yliana, on the right. Both are freeeeeeezzzzzzing.

You can tell  the temperature by how the client, Margaret from Green Mountain, is dressed. And she is a Vermonter! It.was.so.cold. The shawl went to my queue, stat.

So, when I scouted, there was a beautiful sleek horse next to one location,  who just wanted to be petted and nuzzle me. When we were shooting, instead of my loveydovey, there was a grizzled older horse in the pasture--and I'm not so sure he's into knitwear fashion.

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Two comments about links and a (literal) footnote:

If you click on the Green Mountain Spinnery link in the first 'graph, you'll find some really excellent stretching /PT advice for sore wrists and handstress on their front page.

Cap Sease, who designed that Icelandic influenced cardi,  is the author of the best selling Cast On, Bind Off, which is linked to her name, You ought to own this book!

and finally, the boots on the left that Giuliana are wearing, are mine courtesy of Ann of Purling Swine and The Village Knitter. Ask her for the story behind them, it's a good one.