Wow. Wowwwwwwwww. We have never (ever, ever) had such a wonderful response to a giveaway in the history of SpaceCadet giveaways! It was mind-blowing!
By the time the entry period closed on Friday, almost one thousand of you had entered, and it was just so exciting to see that kind of enthusiasm. And the best bit? Reading all the fantastic, heartfelt messages you left for our generous SpaceCadet community member who made this giveaway happen. We really do have a wonderful knitting and crochet community!
What Made You Enter?
So first, I’ve gotta ask you, what was it this giveaway that appealed to you so much? Was it the fantastic prize? (a year’s worth of smooshy SpaceMonster yarn is pretty hard to resist!) Or was it the incredibly generosity of our SpaceCadet community member who sponsored it? Or maybe both?
I would love to create moregiveaways that speak to our community as much as this one did, so please, won’t you click here and take just a moment to let me know? I’d be so grateful!
And the Winner Is…
Ok, let’s not wait any longer! After putting all the entries into the Random Number Generator, the winner of the SpaceMonster Giveaway is…
#47: Debra Houser
Congratulations, Debra!
Please send an email to info(at)spacecadetcreations(dot)com with your postal address, and we’ll send your first SpaceMonster parcel right out to you!
Thank you so much to our lovely community member who sponsored this giveaway. And thank you to everyone who participated — really, our sincere thanks because it was just so much fun — and keep your eyes on your inbox for more tips, updates, and exciting giveaways in the future!
Back before the holidays, you may remember that I wrote a series of blog posts sharing some ideas and tips to improve your project photography (if you haven’t read them yet, check them out here, here, and here). Then the holidays hit and… well, here we are in February and I’ve still got one last juicy post to share with you. And this one is loads of fun because it’s all about shiny new tools that you can start using right now.
Tool #1: Take the Best Selfie Project Shots with CamMe
Just like the previous photography posts, let’s start with one of my pet peeves: there you are in the photo you just posted on Ravelry to show off your fabulous new hand-knit sweater — it’s gorgeous, every stitch is perfect, you are so proud — and right there just behind your smiling face and fabulous sweater is… your toilet. Or your unmade bed. Maybe even with a pair of dirty socks in the corner. Ohhhh noooo…
Because, of course, to get a good shot of your sweater, you have to take the picture in a mirror, and most people’s mirrors are in either their bathrooms or bedrooms, so that background is pretty unavoidable. I’ve seen countless images like this on Ravelry and, while I totally understand, it just never makes that finished object look as good as it should.
But there’s an app for that and it solves the problem so well (and is so much fun!) that you’re going to be stunned you haven’t been using it all along. With CamMe, you set your iPhone at a distance and then hold up a hand to tell it that you want it to take a selfie. When it sees your hand signal, it gives you a three second countdown and snaps a picture — setting you free to take finished object selfies anywhere! Try it next to a sunny window in your house, or outside in the dappled shade of a tree. Get adventurous and set it up on a shelf in the library while you leaf through a book, or prop it up in a shop window and snap yourself walking down the sidewalk in your lovely new sweater.
Sounds kind of amazing, right? It is! Here, check out their awesome little video showing exactly how it works:
If you can’t see the embedded video, just click here
(Also, while I think this app is perfect for the knitting and crochet community — exactly what we need to show off our projects ourselves — I don’t think the folks at CamMe have realised that at all. It’s is available only for iPhones, but if a bunch of us contacted the company to tell them we need it for other phones too, we might be able to wake them up to a whole community of customers they never even knew were there. Click here to send them a quick message.)
Tool #2: Make your Images Gorgeous with Snapseed
When it comes to quick, on-the-go photo editing, I really don’t think you can beat Snapseed. I know other apps have filters and editing options, but Snapseed’s controls go deeper than anything I’ve seen in its price range. The cropping is more advanced, the colour correction is more precise and, together with all the other tools in its arsenal, I am able to take the most hastily-snapped phone images and turn them into something really spectacular. I often even use it before I upload a photo to Instagram — it’s just too powerful to ignore.
Use Snapseed to crop your project photos right in to the most important details. Adust the Saturation and Ambiance to get the colour just right (look under “Tune Image”) . Or change the Structure and Sharpening options (under “Details”) to really bring out your stitchwork. You’ll be blown away by how stunning your project photos become!
Oh, and what is its price range? Well, that’d be… free. Plus, it’s available for both iPhone and Android. Brilliant!
Tool #3: Learn from a Pro
I think the one thing I did that improved my photography the most was to take Caro Sheridan’s fantastic class on Craftsy, “Shoot It!“. Caro is a professional photographer (you’ve seen her work allll over Ravelry, snapping for some of the biggest designers out there), knitter, sewist, and the co-author of Knitting It Old School, a collection of designs inspired by the 40s, 50s, 60, and 70s.
And why is Shoot It! fantastic? Because it’s a photography class that is designed entirely around photographing knit and crocheted finished objects. Seriously. There’s no taking photos of food, or jewelry, or kids, or pets… This class is all about the fiber arts and only about the fiber arts. What could be more perfect?!?
Caro walks you through everything you need to know to make your projects look stunning on Ravelry: how to frame your photos, how capture project details, how to work with a model. She covers the best backgrounds, great tips for editing, how to put your model (and yourself) at ease during a shoot …and, if my memory serves, she even dips into choosing the right underwear (it’s important, people!). Taking Shoot It! opened my eyes to a ton of easy fixes I could make to the way I took photos and I was amazed by how quickly my photography improved.
BONUS: Get Shoot It! for 50% Off!
Now, this is something just fantastic… When I told Caro I was going to feature her Craftsy class on the blog, she graciously offered to give all of you 50% off the regular price of Shoot It! Just click here to go to the class page, and you’ll see the discount is automatically applied. Isn’t that just terrific of her?!? So go on, take her up on the offer — your finished objects will thank you!
A while ago, I was interviewed in a local paper for an article about a yarn show we were attending. The reporter asked me what I enjoyed about doing the festival and my answer came easily: more than anything, I love getting to meet our customers in person. We spend a lot of time squirreled away in the studio, working on our own, and even though we hear from our customers by email and on social media… sometimes it can feel a bit distant. Going to shows is when we get to put faces to names, projects to makers, and really be part of the amazing community of knitters and crocheters that makes everything we do at SpaceCadet feel worthwhile.
And when I say community, I mean it. Go to our Ravelry group and ask a question — for knitting help, for a pattern idea, for anything at all — and people will post right back with help and suggestions. I just love that! I honestly believe that knitting and crocheting bring out what’s best in people but, sometimes, I am still taken completely by surprise.
The Most Amazing Email
The SpaceMonster Mega Yarn Club opens for subscriptions for two weeks only twice a year and if you miss it, you miss it. But this past December when we opened the club, we got an email that just blew me away. One of SpaceCadet’s long-time customers wrote to say that they wanted to share a little fiber-love with the rest of our community, and had purchased a one year subscription to the SpaceMonsters for us to give away!
Can you believe that?!? A one year membership in the club that is filled with big, smooshy, colourful yarns and those fabulous SpaceMonster gifts. Twelve months of quick-knit yarns delivered right to your doorstep! Along with the opportunity to get more for a larger project. And a super-fun gift every six months. All paid for — all completely taken care of — by an incredibly wonderful, generous, yarn-loving member of our community.
Seriously, knock me down with a feather!
Get Entered!
So, shall we get this giveaway on the road?!? Entering is super easy: justclick here and give your name and email address, and that’s it — you’re in!
Plus, when you enter, you’ll join our mailing list where we give first notice of new colourways, fantastic project ideas chosen especially for SpaceCadet yarn, heads-up notice when our clubs are opening, exclusive special offers, and all kinds of fibery goodness! We pop into your inbox once or twice a week, and every email is filled with good stuff. So hop on board, this giveaway is about to take off!
But hurry — we’ll be sending out the next SpaceMonster parcel very soon, so the giveaway will be open only until Friday, Feb 13. Click here to get entered quick! (see official rules below)
Say Thanks by Sharing it!
And then, please take the chance to thank our wonderful community member by sharing their generosity with your knitting and crocheting friends on Twitter, Facebook, and Ravelry. And just like the last giveaway, for every share you make, you just know the Universe will send you a cosmic wave of good luck. Because, with a prize like this, you want all the good luck you can get, right?!?
For Facebook: Whoa! SpaceCadet is giving away a year in the SpaceMonster Mega Yarn Club! Click here to enter: http://wp.me/p1TnPQ-1Vs #SpaceMonsterGiveaway
For Ravelry: SpaceCadet is giving away a year in the SpaceMonster Mega Yarn Club! Click here to enter: http://wp.me/p1TnPQ-1Vs
Or, just leave a comment on the blog post to say thanks to our wonderful community member!
There’s always small print! Official rules: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to entrants worldwide, age 18 or older. Void where prohibited. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received. Sweepstakes ends 11:59 p.m. EST on February 13 2015. Official entry is made by entering name and email address here . By entering, contestants agree to join the SpaceCadet, Inc mailing list and be contacted via future emails. Limit one entry per person. One prize, consisting of one (1) year’s subscription to the SpaceMonster Mega Yarn Club (consisting of 6 parcels, one each in Feb, Aprl, June, Aug, Oct, and Dec 2015), valued at $194.00. Total prize value: $194.00. Winner will be selected by random drawing. Prize cannot be redeemed for cash. Prize cannot be substituted. Employees and family of employees of SpaceCadet Inc are ineligible. A list of winners will be available on the SpaceCadet blog on or after Feb 16 2015. Sponsored by SpaceCadet Inc, PO Box 113312, Pittsburgh PA 15241. For full official rules, go to https://spacecadetyarn.com/2015/02/06/giveaway-win-a-years-subscription-to-the-spacemonster-mega-yarn-club/
Whoa! You guys completely blew us away with your response to the Curls giveaway!
It was so exciting to see your entries come pouring in and, honestly, they were absolutely fascinating to read because each one gave us insight into what makes a design appeal to you. I told Hunter, “You gotta go read these comments!” and when she did, she was as excited about them as I was.
And the Winner is…
But wait! Before I tell you who the winner is I want to tell you that we’ve got a another fantastic giveaway that I’ll announce tomorrow. And I think this may possibly be the best giveaway we’ve ever done. I won’t give much away until then but do you want a little clue?
So make sure you open your SpaceCadet email tomorrow, ok?
Ok, the Winner Really is…
Here we go! After assigning numbers to all the entries, I used the Random Number Generator to pull one entry out of the hat. And the winner is…
Bronwyn
Congratulations! Please send an email to info(at)spacecadetcreations(dot)com and give us your name and address, and we’ll send you a brand-new copy of Hunter Hammersen’s new book, Curls, and a skein of SpaceCadet Oriana yarn to go with it. Woooot!
See You Tomorrow!
And if you didn’t win, don’t worry. I’ll be back with another fantastic giveaway tomorrow!
We’ve got some beautiful Mini-Skein Pattern Picks for you this month but, before we get to that, I’ve just gotta share something with you. We’ve had so many awesome changes to the Mini-Skein Club lately (such as the innovative 360° blend of the Start Anywhere™ Ombre&Gradient Mix and the stunning month-to-month flow of the Never Ending™ Gradient) that I really wanted to update the club page to reflect that.
And what I really wanted was to to show it all off in a new video: something bright, happy, bouncy, and fun — everything that the Mini-Skeins bring to our club members every month.
Now, the trouble was that I really didn’t know much at all about creating videos. But I decided to try to teach myself Premiere Pro and, after a really steep learning curve on and a lot of frustration(!), I finally got the video I was hoping for. And I’ve been dying to share it with you ever since! I hope you’ll forgive me just a little showing off, but I’m just so darned proud of it. Here is our new Mini-Skein Club video:
(Squee with me?)
January’s Mini-Skeins
This month, we took our Mini-Skeins in a moodier direction. Both the Multicolour and the Ombre&Gradient went a little darker and pensive — and I have to tell you, I loooove the way that plays into the Never Ending spectrum. After all those bright colours, a little depth looks really amazing. Where do you think we’ll take it next month?
Maybe it’s the shorter days, or that everything outside has gone gray, but I’ve been craving bright pops of colour lately – and this crocheted blanket has plenty! With options for large and small circles, varying yarn weights, and adjustable dimensions, it’s an extremely versatile way to use 3 (or more!) bundles of minis and a contrast colour. The colours (either the new never-ending ombres or bright multis would be stunning) will pop against a white or pale shade (like Sliver) or dazzle against a black or dark shade (like Dark Skies). And the best bit from our point of view? They look a bit like planets in space!
I came across this shawl in early November, and knew it would be perfect for ombre or gradient minis, if it just didn’t require so much yardage (960 yards, which would be at least a double subscription!) That very problem, though, is exactly what makes it so perfect for the never-ending ombres – the delicate drape and smooth stockinette stitch would showcase all the subtle shifts in colour, and the size of the shawl ensures that you’ll flow through at least two full gradients and into a third!
And if you’re looking for something for just one bundle of minis, try this gorgeous pullover that features a feather-and-fan accent at the yoke, cuffs, and hem. It looks great in two contrasting colours, but how much fun would it be with an ombre or gradient bundle against Sliver, Drizzle, or Dark Skies? You’d only need 1 bundle of mini skeins, and depending on size, 3-4 skeins of a contrast colour.
Last Chance to Enter our Giveaway!
Don’t forget to enter our fabulous giveaway for a copy of Curls, Hunter Hammersen’s stunning new book of patterns, and a skein of SpaceCadet Oriana yarn to cast on with. All you have to do is click here and leave a comment at the bottom of the post, telling us what you love most about Hunter’s designs. But hurry — the giveaway closes Sunday night!
For full official rules, go to http://wp.me/p1TnPQ-1Uf
Some days are just great mail days, aren’t they? From the sounds of our Yarn Alliance members on the Ravelry forum, they got a great mail day when their parcels began arriving earlier this week. And if you’re in the SpaceCadet’s Mini-Skein Club, you’ll be getting a great mail day very soon. As a business owner, most of my mail tends be bills and other (boring) official business, but I had a really fantastic mail day last week…
Hunter Hammersen, the author of the Knitter’s Curiosity Cabinet series and designer of some of the most deliciously delicate patterns I’ve ever seen, sent me a copy of her latest book, Curls. Based on wonderfully curved shapes that drape beautifully around the neck and shoulders, Hunter’s patterns can become a cowl, a scarf, a shawl, or something even more dramatic. And because they can be knit in any size yarn at any gauge, the creative options are wide open.
I pulled the book out of the packaging and flipped through it quickly. I was looking for one particular Curl — the one that I knew Hunter had designed in SpaceCadet yarn. It’s Ianthine and it uses the incredible drape of SpaceCadet Oriana yarn to full effect. The smoothness of the yarn allows the beautiful lace stitchwork to really open up, and the fantastic hand of Oriana’s 8-ply construction is perfectly suited to the drape and shape of one of Hunter’s Curls. I can’t tell you how excited I am that she chose this yarn for her beautiful Ianthine!
But you know what’s even more exciting? There was a second copy of Curls in the parcel that Hunter sent me. So now, let me see… What should I do with that?
Giveaway: A Copy of Curls and a Skein of Oriana!
How about I share it with one of you? That’s right, let’s give it away to one lucky winner! And because nothing is more torturous than having a wonderful new pattern but nothing to cast on with, I’m throwing in a skein of Oriana yarn too! How fun is that?!?
To enter, just leave a comment on the blog post, telling me the thing that appeals to you the most about Hunter’s designs (be sure to enter before Feb 1, 2015 — see official rules below).
And then, please take the opportunity to pay it forward by sharing this giveaway with your knitting friends on Twitter, Facebook, and Ravelry. And for every share you make, I promise the Universe will send you a cosmic wave of good luck. Because, seriously, who doesn’t need a cosmic wave of good luck?!?
For Facebook: Woot! The SpaceCadet is giving away a copy of Hunter Hammersen’s new book, Curls, and a coordinating skein of SpaceCadet yarn! Click here to enter: http://wp.me/p1TnPQ-1Uf #SpaceCadetCurls
For Ravelry: The SpaceCadet is giving away a copy of Hunter Hammersen’s new book, Curls, and a coordinating skein of SpaceCadet yarn! Click here to enter: http://wp.me/p1TnPQ-1Uf
Grab a January Pullover kit before they go!
This weekend is your last chance to grab a January Pullover kit and join in Jenise Reid’s fantastic KAL. We’ll be closing the listing on Monday evening, so click here to get yours now!
There’s always small print! Official rules: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to entrants worldwide, age 18 or older. Void where prohibited. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received. Sweepstakes ends 11:59 p.m. EST on January 31, 2015. Official entry is made by commenting on the SpaceCadet blog post titled “Giveaway! Hunter Hammersen’s New Book, Curls” . Limit one entry per person. One prize, consisting of one (1) copy of Curls by Hunter Hammersen, valued at $21.95 and one (1) skein of SpaceCadet Oriana yarn, valued at $28. Total prize value: $49.95. Winner will be selected by random drawing. Prize cannot be redeemed for cash. Prize cannot be substituted. Employees and family of employees of SpaceCadet Inc are ineligible. A list of winners will be available on the SpaceCadet blog on or after Feb 3 2015. Sponsored by SpaceCadet Inc, PO Box 113312, Pittsburgh PA 15241. For full official rules, go to http://wp.me/p1TnPQ-1Uf
