Selecting the right colors for a project can be the difference between something that inspires “Oooohs” and “Aaaahhhs” and one that inspires yawns.

Knerdy Knitter Chris Bahls is the resident color expert at The Knitting Tree in Westchester. This is an informal distillation of his color wisdom.

• There are no ugly colors – just ugly combinations. Everybody has colors they hate – burnt orange, neon lime green, cotton candy pink, khaki or you name it. But there are times when that so-called “ugly” color provides the perfect contrast or bridge between other colors to make a project sing. “Don’t be afraid to just try something,” Chris said.

1. Love your favorite colors – just don’t use them for everything. It’s so easy to turn to our favorite colors because, well, we LOVE them. Before long, you’re in a rut. “If everything you buy or knit is in the same favorite colors,” Chris said, “those accessories will do nothing to accent what you’re wearing.” 

Some people say no knitting or crocheting photo is finished until you’ve taken the photo.
 
No matter what kind of camera (or smart phone) you’re using to take a photo of a project – and no matter whether you just want to email a friend the photo, post it on Facebook or attract buyers on Ravelry or Etsy, the tips that follow can help you create a better photo of your work.

Before you pick up that camera, be sure your project is well blocked (if appropriate), free of fuzz or stray fibers and is displayed without distracting or distorting wrinkles or folds.

1. Use natural light whenever you can. Natural light will show the colors truer. It will also avoid the harsh shadows or hots spots that wash out details of texture and stitches that happen when you use a flash or indoor lighting. Arrange your fiber project either outdoors or inside next to a window or open door with good light. The best light will be in the morning before 10 a.m. or in the afternoon after 3 p.m.

A huge hurrah for the nine Knerdy Knitters who entered the Los Angeles County Fair this year. They submitted a total of 42 entries and took home a Best of Show ribbon, 10 blue ribbons, 12 red ribbons and 14 white ribbons.

Here are the winners, their entries and their ribbons:

Ginny Mateen – submitted 11 entries. She won Best of Show for a grey shawl made of yarn she had spun. She won blue ribbons for a baby sweater, another shawl, a sweater, a brown lace shawl, a shawl in purples with a colorful border and a cabled baby sweater, and a red ribbon for a baby sweater.

Lydia Cowger – submitted five entries. She won three red ribbons for a purple and lilac shawlette, a blue and white entrelac scarf and a pair of brown baby booties; and won white ribbons for a grey and white striped scarf and a multi-colored scarf.