Dyeing wool with Kool Aid – immersion method
Posted by Suzie, Friday 26 March, 2010 22:38
If you’re new to dyeing, there is no quicker, easier, safer or more reliable introduction than immersion dyeing wool with Kool Aid. Read full post…
Features
Photographing your work: Studio lighting on location
Posted by Suzie, Tuesday 19 January, 2010 23:34
I wanted the photography for my first paid-for pattern to be special, so I enlisted the help of a couple of talented friends; model and actor Kathryn and photographer and studio lighting enthusiast Joseph Hughes. We headed for Hampstead Heath, which had been transformed by a blanket of powder into the most incredible winter-wonderland I’d ever seen. This was my first shoot with studio lighting, I was amazed at the difference it made. Although this is an advanced technique it was much easier than I’d thought and I wanted to share the basic principles. Read full post…
Tried and tested: Super-chunky yarn
Posted by Suzie, Tuesday 24 March, 2009 13:06
I love fine gauge yarns, but it’s always nice to see the instant results that you get knitting super-chunky yarn on big needles. Chunky yarn gives you the freedom to experiment, knowing that you can re-knit in no time if it doesn’t work out.
There are some lovely patterns around for Rowan Big Wool, but it’s not the cheapest, or softest, or most hard-wearing yarn in the world, so I decided to check out the alternatives. Read full post…
Photographing your work – part 2
Posted by Suzie, Tuesday 10 March, 2009 17:51
In part 1 I discussed some camera basics and tips for setting up your shoot. In this post I’ll look at how to address some common problems using camera settings and low-cost equipment. Read full post…
Photographing your work – part 1
Posted by Suzie, Saturday 21 February, 2009 21:03
We knitters like to photograph our creations for lots of reasons; to share on blogs, to keep a record and of course to self-publish patterns. Photographing garments is tricky as the techniques involved fall somewhere between fashion, product and portrait photography. These are studio-based disciplines, and not suited to the point-and-shoot ethos. Read full post…
It’s a wind up
Posted by Suzie, Sunday 23 November, 2008 18:06
I have often looked longingly at pictures of neatly wound yarn on Ravelry after spending hours standing over an upturned table, fending off two cats while hand-winding metre after metre. The thought of hand-winding 900 m of Colinette Jitterbug was actually deterring me from using it, so it was time to invest in a ball winder. Read full post…