For some makers, including me, a make isn’t finished until it is photographed and documented. I love having a visual record of my making.

Going back to when I first started knitting, I wasn’t on Instagram yet and really didn’t take any progress pictures of things. As I got more into Ravelry and Instagram, I started taking a few pictures. Very often, they were very dark. My desk is black and that doesn’t provide the best backdrop:

Not terrible, but I’ve gotten to where I like my pictures a bit lighter. I’ve tried different things, from white walls to carpet to the back of a white box:

Once we moved into our current house, I found my absolute favorite spot. The floor by the back porch doors gets the perfect amount of soft light twice a day, and it is my go to for progress and finished object shots.

The only trouble is, not everything is best displayed lying flat on the floor. Now, I am by no means a knitwear photographer. But with a lot of Instagram scrolling and looking at other people’s pictures on Ravelry, I’ve learned new ways to place and pose items. It’s take a bit of practice and patience! Sometimes a finished object will sit for days waiting for sunshine, or for me to be home during daylight to get a picture.

Shawls can be tough because they are so large:

Hats can be a bit tricky to photograph on your own head:

And then there are mitts. For other people? Easy peasy.

On myself? Another story. This past weekend I finished up the mitts I’ve been working on for the last week or so. Since we had family in town, I enlisted Madelyn–she takes excellent pictures–to help. Except when she said move your feet and legs back, I didn’t go back enough and you can see my football Sunday sweats.

Back to the drawing board. How about holding a coffee mug? Well by this time, I had to take the picture myself. so we’re one handed…

Not quite right, not loving the coffee mug from the top. How about if I set a timer and hold the phone under my chin?

So blurry!

Better, but still pointed to far right.

Better, but weird perspective and really too dark. Plus vitamins.

Ugh. I took one last go with the aerial view.

I’m ok with this one. And so, until I take a photography course, get a tripod, or hire a photographer… here are some pictures of the mitts lying flat on floor.

I must say, these are fantastic. The alpaca is so rustic, they feel like I should go out and shovel snow with them on. This was yarn given to me by Judge and Crystal for my birthday. It’s from Apple Hill Farm in Banner Elk, NC. 100% alpaca from a sweet guy named Frosty, and this is his natural color. The pattern is Raw Honey by Alicia Plummer. I highly recommend this pattern. It’s easy and the chevron is lovely. I’d imagine it would equally well in a smooth, round merino yarn.

I’m still learning and working to get better at photographing my makes and my making process. It is definitely fun to look back at how far I’ve come in that regard.

YoM day 306: Sock and mitt knitting

YoM day 307-308: Mitts plus some secrets!

YoM day 309-312: Sock knitting and secrets

Happy making!