How Do You Color Your World?

On one of the forums in Ravelry, there was an interesting discussion on color versus black and white photography for simple patterns for a beginning knitter’s class. As this is a topic on a forum for designers, it was interesting how the topic went in different directions.

From a marketing standpoint, at least in knitting and other crafty hobbies, color photography is seen as a higher quality. Interestingly, you are not always able to see the best detail with color photography. In the case of the thread that started the topic, they are simple patterns with (I have heard although have not seen) a very good quality black and white. One of the reasons they are given in black and white is to keep costs down for the beginner students so they don’t have to shell out so much.

Another interesting observation on the topic was how black and white photography (art photography) has value. Think Ansel Adams. Of course, we live in an instant gratification, more is more, huge is more, all the bells and whistles is more society. We do judge a book by its’ cover…or rather, color. Photography, that is. One thing that surely makes or breaks a pattern in that very small amount of time a consumer spends looking at things before picking it up and looking further. If the photography is not eye catching and well done, chances are the pattern will not be looked at.

For myself, I honestly cannot enjoy a sense of intimacy with a black and white art photo. I can appreciate it’s beauty, but I don’t want to live with it. It feels sterile and devoid of passion. Color greatly affects feeling, emotion, sense of well being. Color can make you feel energetic or languid. Color communicates, and we internalize what is communicated.

I am sure you all have seen some tone on tone rooms done in beige or off white. I know they can look sophisticated, but again it tends to not be my thing. Right now I am picking out carpeting and paint colors for my studio. I already have a sofa going into it that I am pulling colors from the upholstery, but deciding on a final color scheme has been somewhat tricky. I don’t want my studio of all places to be devoid of color, and so neutral it has a neutered feel.

The upholstery is a wonderful tapestry with ducks swimming in water, grasses and cattails, leafy trees, and some ducks flying. The ducks are mallards. There is an amazing variety of colors in this tapestry. The problem is if I have too much color on the walls and floor, the tapestry will not be a focal point. If I go with too neutral of a scheme, there won’t be enough punch in the room to look like anything but the home of someone who cannot commit, someone who doesn’t know color, or someone who enjoys an “artsy” or “sophisticated” no color kind of palette. I am none of those. I was on the Dean’s list when studying metal smithing, but I can say without hesitation that there are things about the world of fine art that are needlessly high brow.

I enjoy color. In my home, I want a peaceful environment while feeling energized. I want a welcoming environment, so I want it to feel warm. I also want it to feel like a creative space. I want it to feel like it has personality.

In the end, for the carpet, I picked out a light colored neutral for the carpet. The walls will be a yellow green (a color that is in abundance in the tapestry upholstery, as is the light colored neutral). The upholstery also has some mauve, royal blue, blue green, yellow, orange,rust, and other colors. I plan on picking up some of the mauve and purple colors in accents. This ended up being a good compromise between not enough color and too much color. There is enough of a chic feel with the yellow green on the walls to fill the artistic and creative needs (I thought some orchids would be a nice touch in that room too). There isn’t such a huge wow between the carpet and walls that nothing else gets noticed either. In designing the room, I had to decide what was going to be most important and make choices based on that. Not everything can be the “subject”. In design, some things have to more important, and other things have to recede and play a supportive role.

Peace and Knitting, JoLene Treace

Here we go for Round Two: More Knitting Needed

Let me just say off the bat that this post today is just a wee bit whiny. Plain and simple, I am tired and I miss my husband. One of the bad things about him being gone is that I cannot show him the swatch that I just did and tell him what I want to do with it. We have been together long enough that he smiles and says “What does it want to be?”. Part of the fun of designing for me is showing him what I am coming up with.

Right now I am working on some baby projects going into an Interweave Press book. And that is fun, but it is more fun when I have someone to share it with. Don’t get me wrong, I get to see him on average twice a month so it could be worse. And I get to talk to him several times a day.

I actually was able to show him the swatch for the baby sweaters when it was done, as I was working on that when I went and visited him a few weeks ago. The baby sweaters have a little Intarsia on the chest, and a simple all over texture. Nice little details at the bands, too. I won’t go into more detail but when the book is out I will scan the swatch or post a picture of the sweaters (and the baby blanket).

I know there are many knitters out there who are knitting in a vacuum, and the Internet has been a boon for that. But there is nothing like getting together with other knitters (or someone who enjoys what you do) and spend some time together. I find it calms my mind. I had to go to the dentist today for some fillings, and took my knitting with me. I did actually get some knitting done, too, while I was there. I was actually pretty embarrassed that I had a few cavities. I haven’t had any in years, and I think I was just so sickly and feeling crummy over the past couple years that I didn’t brush as long. I had had bronchitis and pneumonia, and frequent chest colds after the accident I was in. My asthma kicks up and I wake up coughing. I relied on cough drops to go back to sleep, and often would put one in my mouth, between my cheek and teeth. I had three cavities on the side that I did that. I am going to make sure, when in similar situations, to make sure the cough drops are sugar free from now on.

I also knit during the sermon at church. I listen better with mindless knitting in hand.

While I have not posted pictures of the remodeling our house has gone through (which I hope to soon, as I have some really great pictures), I have been planning phase two, in between knitting for books and trying to get something new done for my own line of pattern leaflets. I am finally getting my studio done. Our current garage is getting converted to living space, and will be my studio. I will have a fireplace in the corner, and french doors on the front and back. I have so much yarn literally all over the house. The only room the house does not have yarn in (in some manner) is the bathrooms and laundry room.

There is a lot of planning involved. Just today, I have been looking at carpet samples and paint samples and making final choices.

And now I am ready to sit and knit. It is 5:30, and I am going to sit and work on the baby blanket for the Interweave book. It is repetitive, and a perfect antidote to an overloaded day.

I often wonder if knitting would not contribute greatly to stress reduction programs.  I think that is what we all need, more knitting.

Peace and Knitting, JoLene Treace

Book Submissions: Interweave

I found out that I have two designs, a baby blanket and a baby sweater set, going into a book of knitting gifts that Interweave is doing.

The baby blanket was designed with my grandaughter Jessica in mind, and the sweater set was designed with my grandson Ian in mind, although both have in mind that sometimes we don’t know the gender of the baby we are knitting for.

I will let you know the names of the designs when the names are finalized.

Kazumi will be in Simple Style, and when the book comes out I will let you know.

Peace and Knitting, JoLene Treace

Knitterlogue: I have Googled, and Now it Is

Travelogue: a travel documentary, a diary written during a journey, or a work of literature describing a journey.

Knitterlogue: a knitting documentary, in my case a knitting documentary of the design process, a diary of the design process. The story behind the knitting.

Yes, I did Google Knitterlogue, but nothing came up.

I don’t believe many of you know about a book project I have had on the back burners for some time. The idea is to have a book of designs that are inspired by animals at the zoo. None of the knitting looks like a particular animal in a representative way, rather the knitting has classic and yet up to date projects that have elements chosen as an abstraction of the inspiration. An Orangutan inspired design for example will not be the color of an Orangutan or have an Orangutan face on it. Rather, design elements are chosen for what I want to communicate about that animal. What stuck out in my mind, be it color, line of body, habit or habitat. Or what sparked in my imagination from thinking about the animal in question.

Traditional or classic types of techniques can still yield some very artful abstractions, without obviously being abstract art. For those of us who like designs that lean towards the classic (think Interweave Knits), that can be quite a revelation.

To be honest, there is a lot of abstract art that I don’t like because I don’t know how to relate to  it.  I don’t speak it’s language. I guess that is one of the reasons why I put the story out there. For those who want to design, reading about the process and the choices helps them think of their own choices and methods of expression.  All of my designs tell a story. I try and put that in each of the patterns, so the knitter has a sense of what my vision is and why I chose the things that I did to support the design. I think it makes for interesting reading, and when you are wearing it, it is like having a special little secret you are privy to that not everyone else knows.

I have showed that collection of swatches to a number of individuals in the business, and have been encouraged to pursue finding a publisher.  I did submit it to one publisher, but  it did not fit with what they felt their vision was at the time (and, my submission was inadvertantly returned to another designer, fortunately someone I knew who has scruples and would not “borrow” any of my designs…probably why I have been loathe to do anything with it since).

After having my work in Handknit Holidays, I was fortunate enough to talk with Melanie Falick at TNNA last summer (The National Needlearts Association trade show in Columbus OH). I talked with her about my ideas and she told me when I had it fleshed out more to let her know. I really need to get it in gear and talk to her about it. I don’t know whether or not it is a project she would want to take on or not, but it is one I love the idea of.

There are changes now in the market which lead me to think maybe the time is better now for this book, as there is a return to the types of designs that I like to do. And, there are now books that have that creative process as part of the book. Breaking into new territory or niche knitting in a successful book is not easy if you are not one of the better known designers.

Two books that caught my eye that are new include fine gauge knitting (Knit So Fine ), and design (Inspired to Knit). I was quite happy to see both publications, as I love talking about art, inspiration, and the design process, and I love fine gauge knitting. One of my distributors did not know I love fine gauge knitting, as so many of my designs are in worsted weight. What she did not know was that was because it suit the market.

I have all you sock knitters out there to thank for the wonderful array of fine gauge yarns that are coming out right now, as sock knitting is very popular. I personally don’t knit anything heavier than worsted weight. It just isn’t me.

Anyway, when I finally do a book, it will have a story as well. A story of many little stories, each one about the design process of something which sparked my imagination.

I dream about it, and it is a journey. They are all journeys, in their own way. With each design I pick different things to express what it is that has fired my imagination. But that is only the beginning of the story, or the start of the journey. I only deal with the first chapter, and it is up to each knitter to to take up the story in their own way.Peach and Knitting, JoLene Treace