Tech editing class with Knitgrrl + Alexandra Virgiel

Available in the Knitgrrl virtual classroom space, a new class on tech editing, co-taught by experienced technical editor Alexandra Virgiel and Shannon Okey. Class will cover:

Ease, sizing standards, fit, set-in sleeves and sleeve cap calculations, grading (and how to do it for knitting patterns!) grading set-in sleeve pullovers, grading top-down pullovers, grading around design elements such as motifs and special topics, such as grading for men and children, how to draw schematics using Open Office, charting software, and much more.

Experience level: intermediate, you should already be writing patterns, even if you haven’t published them yet, and have some idea of what goes into a pattern, element-wise
Price: $65
Class begins: as soon as we hit enrollment limits, and continues for a month afterward (can be longer if we decide it is appropriate)

Update 15 June: We’re taking enrollment for the next tech editing class, which will start the first full week of July (after the holiday weekend). Class is $65 and we expect it to sell out immediately, given the interest on the Knitgrrl Ning alone.

Get Published! (with Knitgrrl)

bookshelf, originally uploaded by chotda

Have you always wanted to write a book? Now’s your chance!

Whether you want to submit your work to large publishers or do it yourself, Shannon Okey has the insider knowledge to help you succeed! Author of 12 major-publisher books and owner of Cooperative Press, which has been publishing craft-related titles since 2007 (including forthcoming title The Knitgrrl Guide To Professional Knitwear Design: How to Keep Your Knits About You), Okey reveals the processes behind:

• building a successful book proposal
• brainstorming a book: discovering what you have to offer the market
• publishing it yourself for greater profit and control
• finding a printer or an appropriate print solution

and many other topics of interest to creative people of all kinds, not just crafters.

Class begins 29 March. $85.

Marketing & Branding with Knitgrrl

Title: Marketing & branding with Knitgrrl (Shannon Okey)
Fee: $75
Format: Online via web browser
Enrollment: Fill out this form
Class begins: at discretion of instructor, likely by end of February 2010
Class ends: one month later

Description:

People get squicked out by the word “marketing,” and for good reason. A lot of the people out there who claim they’re going to teach you about marketing come at it from the absolute wrong perspective. Marketing does not have to be sleazy. Marketing is really:

1. putting your best foot forward
2. communicating effectively
3. meeting the needs of your target audience, information-sharing-wise.

I want to be sure that the class members have something to teach each other, too, whether it’s because they are from a different discipline, or because they sell their products in venues the majority of students don’t, or… [etc].

Why the emphasis on diversity? I’ve learned a lot watching creative people in other disciplines (such as Jenny Hart of Sublime Stitching), and I’m willing to bet the reverse is true, too. For example, Sublime Stitching now offers PDF patterns as well, which the knitting world has done for some time now.

I’m going to limit enrollment numbers in each session, so if you’re interested, now’s the time. This class will be $50 if you fill out the form before the 15th and $75 after. As with all my other classes, there will be a lot of talk about the subject from the crafty perspective, though of course noncrafty people are welcome, too.