When Caro Sheridan offered to teach a class at the store, we jumped at the chance!  Not only did we know that our customers would enjoy spending time with her because she is so lovely, but she also offered great ideas for how to bring crafts to life through styling and photography.  Between blogs, Ravelry, other social networks and physical craft journals, we find ourselves taking pictures of our finished objects all the time.  It is great when the photo shows just how wonderful the handmade item is! But it can be disappointing when the image doesn’t do the object justice.   Photos can be even more important for anyone designing a pattern – the image is the first impression a person gets of what the pattern holds. 

If you want to learn the tips for capturing a photo that is just right, you’ll want to check out Caro’s workshop on Saturday, March 17th from 1:00pm – 3:00pm!  This is all about staging – no camera needed!

We recently chatted with Caro about her class:

What do you enjoy most about styling and photographing knit and crochet projects? 

Caro: I love highlighting the hard work and technical details that go into handmade items. Every centimeter of fibre has passed through a maker’s hands to build an everyday object like a sweater. I’m a knitter, so I know how just how much time is in each of the objects I photograph. To me, getting to photograph that FO is so much more than just documenting something you made. If I do my job well, it’s honouring the knowledge and experience surrounding that object by showing the beauty in the details.

(Photos by Caro Sheridan)

Why is styling important?

Caro: Styling helps set a mood and ultimately will help you sell more patterns. Be it inspirational or aspirational, if you can help people see the finished item in their own closet (or their own dream closet) you’ll be more likely to reach them. I liken it to selling a house. Some people can walk into an empty house and picture their own furniture and paint colours on the wall and know whether it would fit their lifestyle. Other people need a sprinkling of furniture here and there to spark their inspiration and imagine themselves living there. Styling your pattern photographs works the same magic as staging a house to sell.

What can students expect to learn in your class?

Caro: There will be a little colour theory, some composition recommendations, tips on posing, choosing backgrounds. They’ll learn to look at a scene and see it from the camera’s eye.

If someone isn’t a designer, what will they take away from this workshop?

Caro: They will come away with plenty of ideas on how to improve their everyday photography and improve even snapshots that they take with their camera phones. A lot of the methods we discuss are applicable to photos of family life, so they’ll improve not only their finished object shots for Ravelry, but also their photos of friends and family for Facebook.

Can you give us one quick tip for improving the styling of our finished objects?

Caro: I can do better! I can give you ten!  The one biggest thing I would recommend is to tidy up. Not your whole house, not even a whole room; just the two feet around where you’re shooting. Nothing spoils the mood you’re trying to create faster than a pile of junk mail or dirty dishes in the background.

For more information about Caro Sheridan’s class, visit our website.

Registration opened today for our Winter/Spring 2012 classes. We have a nice mix of longtime favorites with some classes that we’re offering for the first time. Look for the new tag highlighting these first timers. Below are a few classes that the staff at WEBS is buzzing about.

Knitting Classes

Advanced Lace with Beads & Butin: A Beaded Necklace with guest teacher Laura Nelkin – I am super excited to host Laura here at WEBS!  She is an absolutely fabulous person and her beaded designs are absolutely stunning.  Her classes aren’t until April but you will want to sign up early to ensure you get a spot! > Kathy E.

Sock Basics – I wish I had access to a class like this when I was learning how to knit socks. It was really hard to try to teach myself and this would have made the learning process so much more fun. In this class, Lindsey walks you through each step of making a sock from cuff to toe. Socks are great projects and they’re one of my favorite things to knit. There’s nothing better than putting on a pair of hand knit socks that fit your feet perfectly! > Grace H.

Crochet Classes

Design Your Own Crocheted Cowl – WEBS offered this class for the first time earlier this year but the time didn’t work out with my schedule. Two of my office mates did take the class and it was so exciting to hear about it and see the progression of their designs. Sara Delaney is a great crochet teacher. Her classes are always so much fun. This class would be a great way to spend my Friday evenings in February. > Dena C.

Weaving Classes

Weaving for the Advanced Beginner with Scott Norris  – I’m really excited for this class with Scott. He’s a great teacher and this is a wonderful way to learn more about different weave structures. The class is geared for those who have taking beginning weaving and want to move on from that. > Leslie Ann B.

Other Classes

Pattern Photography and Styling for the Indie (and Budding) Designer with guest teacher Caro Sheridan – I’ve long been a fan of the photos featured on Caro Sheridan’s site and of the photos she has taken for other knitwear designers. So I can’t wait to discover all of her tips and tricks for styling items in a way that makes knitters want to run off and grab their needles and yarn to get started! > Tina M.

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Guests: Caro Sheridan and Stitchy McYarnpants share what’s up next for them – a self-published collection online. Caro also discusses the photography that she has been doing for knitting designers, Cooperative Press, and Knitty (check out Amy Herzog’s design in Valley Yarns Sheffield). She is also considering teaching some classes, so make sure you stay tuned to our class schedule in the future.

Steve’s Yarn Picks

• S. Charles Diamante
• Arucania Rinihue
• Opal Rainforest 7
• Opal Sport
• Cascade 220 Tweed Closeout
• Cascade Pastaza Discontinued Colors
• Cascade Pima Tencel Closeout
• Lexie Barnes Lady B Closeout
• Lexie Barnes Flo Closeout
• Lexie Barnes Coco Closeout
• Lexie Barnes Libby Closeout
• Lexie Barnes Pearl Closeout

Spinning and Weaving Week at WEBS
October 3 – 8

Join us as we celebrate Spinning and Weaving Week at Webs, America’s Yarn store. We will be hosting a week of activities, demonstration and classes to highlight these fiber crafts. Featured during the week will be:
• Daily demonstrations (free) from 11 – 1
• Mini Workshops ($5 each) from 2 – 4
• Spinning Open House on Tuesday October 4 from 6 – 9
• Meetup Day all day Wednesday

Daily Demonstrations 11am – 1pm, free
Each day we will demonstrate weaving or spinning in many forms including spinning wheel, inkle weaving and others. Schedule to come.

Mini Workshops 2 – 4 pm, $5
These mini workshops will offer a taste of spinning and weaving techniques.
Monday: Rigid Heddle Weaving for Knitters
Tuesday: Loom Dressing
Thursday: Drafting for Spinners

Spinning Open House Tuesday 6 – 9 pm
The store will be open late Tuesday night in conjunction with the monthly meeting of the local spinning group. We will have a demonstration of the various wheels available at Webs, the store is open for shopping and it’s a great time to visit with other spinners and meet the local group.

Meetup Day Wednesday
We welcome weavers and spinners from near and far to meet each other and enjoy the company of like-minded fiber fiends. We will have goodie bags, raffles, a room with refreshments to hang out in and more! Barbara Elkins, Webs founder, will give a demonstration of weaving on a computer loom from 11 – 12 and Gail Callahan, the Kangaroodyer, will demonstrate dyeing roving for spinning from 12 – 1. We encourage people to bring show and tell and look forward to lots of laughter and fun.