I recently photographed Knitter 0119 for the 1,000 Knitters Project. You may have heard of her: Charlene Schurch, author of Sensational Knitted Socks
and More Sensational Knitted Socks, et al. If you've been hanging out in here for a while you know I'm sort of That Way about Charlene, so having her in my living room was quite an event. I gushed and burbled, and we talked, and then at last I did get around to taking her picture. And she kissed me.Burble. Giggle.
(No, that's not Charlene at right. That's Sheila, Number 0041. Hi, Sheila!)
Those of you who've sat for me (or who are planning to) might be interested to know that in addition to Charlene a number of other noted hands have worked their rows on the scarf, including Karen Frisa, Joan Schrouder, Leslye Solomon, Beth Brown-Reinsel, Sally Melville and Nancy Bush.
I love chatting with the knitters while I photograph; it's one of the best parts of the project. But shooting folks whose work I have admired from afar can be a little daunting. You can't break the ice with Nancy Bush by asking, "So, what do you like to knit?"
There have been several calls for 1,000 Knitters swag (t-shirts, bags and so forth) in the shop. At first I hesitated; but then I realized that I could put money from sales towards the expenses of the project, which are considerable. Watch for news of additions to the shop in the next week or so.
In the meantime, sitters who keep a blog might like to help themselves to a blog button, with my compliments and thanks. It's a mere token, but I hope you will like it.
Shooting at Loopy Yarns
I'm pleased to announce another public shoot in Chicago, this time at Loopy Yarns (719 South State Street). The atmosphere should be akin to Carnival in Venice, as on the same evening (Friday, September 7; hours TBA) they'll be celebrating their second anniversary. I foresee a naked conga line of yarn-wielding hooligans snaking around the block before the party is over. You know what those people at Loopy are like.
Oh I so wish I could be there. Houston is just so far away and it's not fair. I will be telling Cynical Knitting Gal and Chicago Sara to get in touch with you. They will have to fill in for me....
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this project with us. You are a remarkable man indeed.
Damn, this is one cool idea for a project. I am afraid I am not going to make it to Chicago, so the best I can say is when a canny publisher picks it up for a lovely coffee-table book, al la 'Crowns', I'll buy one.
ReplyDeleteso wish I could be one of the thousand but sigh I am in Atlanta.
ReplyDeleteSweet! I don't work all that far from Loopy so I guess I'll have to drop by. :D
ReplyDeleteLovely lovely. I'm looking forward to the final project being published as a coffee table book? no? maybe? yes?
ReplyDeleteI just hope there's some way I can look at all these knitters when you are finished... I love pictures of people doing ordinary things (like knitting) because it gives such a sweet glimpse into their life. Thanks for taking it on and sharing the project with all of us voyeurs.
Go, Franklin!
ReplyDeleteThat is an impressive list. I loved this project from the beginning, and I can only imagine what exeriences you will have collected once it is completed.
I wish I lived in Chicago or visited more often; I would come to every photoshoot you had. You think I could disquise myself and pretend to be someone new?
Any chance you'll be at Rhinebeck? Or anywhere in the NY/NJ area? I'd love to be one of the 1000, but Chicago isn't in the budget (Rhinebeck barely is).
ReplyDeleteSell schwag; you deserve to have the costs defrayed, dear.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you met Charlene and she is of the 1,000! She's a whiz-bang knitter and all around good person. Thanks for the two "teasers" you've put in the blog so far of pictures of the 1,000. This is going to be a fabulous project, and let me again invite you to Seattle to stay and take pictures of some very wonderful Seattle knitters. MaryB
ReplyDeleteOhhhh, are you possibly coming to Rhinebeck with this? I would LOVE to be in on it!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the button Franklin...I can't wait to see the swag
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad this project is working out well for you! Unfortunately I seem to be always passing through Chicago rather than stopping. Some day, perhaps.
ReplyDeleteI will try to make it!
ReplyDeleteYou make me really want to get to Chicago somehow and be one in a thousand. I am sure the shoot will go well. Your love for the project will carry it forward.
ReplyDeletehmmm... I wonder if it'd be doable to swing done since I'll be in SE WI for the sheepy fest that weekend. *ponders*
ReplyDeleteI'll second the invitation to Seattle. We have a large Guild here and could round up lots of knitters, plus room and board, I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteJust don't come during the holidays, please, as I'll be gone.
i beg thee, come hither to upstate ny. its not even THAT upstate. just kingston. there are tons of us knitters out here who want to play too!!
ReplyDeleteAny hope for the west coaster who wants to be one in a thousand ? Alameda is only a bit from SF, mmmm, yarn shops.....
ReplyDeleteYes, come WEST, young man, mayhap as the end of this incendiary summer draws near...
ReplyDelete(In AZ, of course, that'd be November...)
Any chance of having a Flickr gallery? :-D
ReplyDeleteOr a button/link that us non-sitters can post on blogs so that people can drool over, yearn for, and anticipate the finished product. (I really hope it's a book.)
I'm thinking we need fundraisers to get Franklin to all the cities where people are begging him to come shoot. ;) And 1,000 schwag? Lovely! So is that button, Franklin. I covets it, I do, even if I don't know enough to modify my LJ template so I can use buttons! I can't afford getting to Chicago, but I swear, if you ever make it to Seattle for a shoot, I just might try instigating a PDX Knit Blogger's carpool up there! (Hm. 83 of us. Charter a bus?) Give us lots of notice, huh?
ReplyDeleteLovely portrait of Sheila. And Charlene Schurch? Oh. My. I'd be burbling and giggling too! Hey, when are you going to glom onto Stephanie? [g]
DAG... Naked conga, hooligans & yarn. Three of my favorite things (sigh). I only wish I could be there. What a beautiful picture of a beautiful lady. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI just continue to adore your photographs from way afar in Kentucky. I sincerely hope this will someday be a classily-glossy book that can sit prominently on my coffee table!
ReplyDeleteWe LOVE those people at Loopy! I already sat at Stitches, Franklin but I'll see you there regardless!
ReplyDeleteYeah, you never did say if you were coming to Rhinebeck or not...
ReplyDeleteI am. I am waiting for my hug, sir.
When are you coming to Toronto?
ReplyDeleteEvery photo you've shown so far has been beautiful.
And I bet even "famous" knitters like to be asked what they like to knit or about what they're currently knitting.
You met her? And took her picture? And she kissed you? How unutterably cool. I bet you didn't think things like that would happen when you started this.
ReplyDeleteYou absolutely deserve to defray your expenses, by the way.
I'll say it again, come to Denver(ish)! I'd even endure an outdoor winter shoot for you, but I can't guarantee how well I could manage the needles in those circumstances.
Wow. I can't wait to see your photos when it's all done. Wish you would come to Santa Barbara to shoot!
ReplyDeleteFranklin - there are lots of knitters here in Dublin who would flock to your studio should you care to set up here across the Pond.
ReplyDeleteLovely work!
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping for a southeastern shoot site, perhaps sometime during the six unbearable months of winter? I'd happily go to DC (which JFK called a city of Northern charm and Southern efficiency) or Atlanta, and I would do a cartwheel if you were able to get to the Triangle(NC), home to amazing Indian food and Bollywood movies.
I second the Rhinebeck question.
ReplyDeleteAnd I think you could break the ice with Nancy Bush (or, insert name of other famous knitter with whom Franklin hobnobs here) by asking, "So... you work out?"
Just catching up on your recent posts. I've always wanted to knit a real möbius (one that is not made flat then twisted and seamed). Maybe it is time to try.
ReplyDeleteCan you stand one more comment about Buddenbrooks? I read it for the first time this summer! There is a second reference to knitting in the story. In part 9, chapter 4 (after the mother dies) Mann writes about Frau Antonie knitting furiously and the sound the needles make. So Mann did know the difference; the narrator in the early part does not.
I enjoy your blog and the beautiful photography!
LauraG
Oh, puh-leeze do a photo shoot in NYC!
ReplyDeletePut up loads of merchandise - all the UK knitters will shop and then you can visit us in the UK (staying in our homes of course) and we can feature in the project - come on you know you want to.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could be 1 in a 1000. Alas, I have moved away from Chicago. I just wanted to pop in and say how beautiful Sheila is. As is her picture.
ReplyDeleteOK, so you know how you felt when you meet Nancy Bush? That's how some of us feel when meeting you! But you made the photo process so easy and pleasant that I forgot to be starstruck.
ReplyDeleteNow if I can just figure out the best place to put the button on my blog....
And I hope to see photos of the Loopy event ;) This is one great project!
ReplyDeletePlease, Please, PRETTY-PLEASE... come to DES MOINES!!!!
ReplyDeleteRemember the first anniversary -- where Kwicky popped out of the cake!
ReplyDeletemy verification ford is "fockrhrd". I'm positively scandalized.
I really want the 1000 knitters button, but I can't figure out how to get it onto my blogspot blog :( any help? (you can email me so as not to interrupt Franklin's comment space) Thanks!
ReplyDelete~yarnkat
kmtamburro @ yahoo . com
How I wish you started this project last year when you came to Malta. Franklin I would have been honoured to be one of the 1000 knitters to sit for your photoshoot.
ReplyDeleteAny plans on bringing the project to the twin cities?
ReplyDeleteok, so far two places across the pond were offered. I like to throw in Germany. Apart from having lots of great knitters and fabulous yarnshops, I live here *bfg*! But since it is more than unlikely that I or any of my personal knitting friends will feature in the project, I'll give my best to spread the equally fab button around. Great stuff.
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