The final count for the Spring Gallery garments is in—and the
results are very telling: Everyone wanted to see those little
cardigans, the ones that caused so many comments last week, both
positive and negative. Here's the lineup you chose for our Gallery Gals
to model for you:
Me, fussing over the Holly on Sarah
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Pam Allen's Flutter Sleeve Cardigan
Connie Chang Chinchio's Printed Silk Cardigan
Jennifer Tallapaneni's Mirabella Cardigan
Theresa Schabes' Holly Jacket
Robin Melanson's Sylph Cardigan
Chrissy Gardiner's Auburn Camp Shirt
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View the Knits Spring 2008 Preview
Why are there six sweaters when the instructions said to vote for your "top five"? Because
the Sylph and the Auburn Camp Shirt came within THREE votes of one
another (out of thousands!). So I called it a tie. :)
Peek Behind The Scenes: The Gallery Photoshoots
We started shooting the photos on Thursday with the first group of
Gallery Gals—originally, I wanted to do the shoot outside, so the light
would be better...but it was 25 degrees yesterday here in Colorado.
Short-sleeved tops plus thin silky fabrics plus below freezing weather
equals blue-skinned models, generally a fashion no-no (at least on this
planet). So we gathered in the lunchroom, raised the blinds, turned on
all the lights, and had a blast.
Annie is a supermodel!
The
days when we shoot these gallery photos have become something to look
forward to, for many of us who work here in the Loveland office. Even
the folks who aren't modelling find an excuse to wander past the bright
corner where we are shooting and add their two cents' worth to the
banter. We ooh and ahh over each garment, we admire the drape, the
feel, the stitches. We praise, we covet, and each model adds her own
creative commentary along the way: "If I were to make this, I'd have to
make the waist a bit lower, and do less bust shaping." Thus, it becomes
a learning experience for all of us about fit and flatter.
Each
time I do a new Gallery, I try to coax some new models into the mix.
This time, I was very mindful of the commenters who complained that the
garments would look silly on older women—and so this time, we have a
couple of gals with silver in their hair. Granted, we could not put
these particular sample sweaters on a wide range of models—the biggest
sample, the Mirabella, was 37", and there wasn't time to make a larger
garment. We'll talk about the issues of sizing and shaping next week,
when all the Galleries are ready for you.
Trish, ready to model the Flutter
It's
always fun to watch the new models gain confidence in front of the
camera. Like most folks, our Gallery Galz are initially a bit
camera-shy. But those of us taking the photos, as well as our little
"studio audience," encourage, make jokes, talk like stereotypical
photographers ("Work it for me, baby, c'mon, give me all you've got!")
and laugh our heads off. I've never had a Gallery Gal say she never
wanted to do it again. In fact, I've got a waiting list!
Part of the growth in confidence comes from trying on garments they
might otherwise never have been talked into wearing. (I can be very
persuasive, in a charming sort of way.) Trying on unfamiliar styles
leads to some pleasant discoveries for these women: "Wow, I never would
have thought I could wear something like this!" We all learn so much
about ourselves and what looks good on each of us by doing the
Galleries...and then comes the best part: Sharing what we have learned
with you!
We have a few more photos to take, and then some webpages to
build, so check back next week when we proudly present The 2008 Spring
Knits Gallery!
Past Sweater Galleries
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Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.
What's on Sandi's needles? Secret Project Sleeves...well, the first one, anyway.