Show Notes:
Franklin Habit talks about working in higher education administration (and elsehwere) before eventually finding happiness in his current profession within the fiber arts. He discusses some of the blind alleys he explored, including museum work, opera stage directing, web design, and online marketing.
Building a Career in Knitting
Franklin shares how he learned to knit from a veteran knitter and classmate, Eliza Lake. He describes how his blog about knitting took off, leading to a book deal and a career in teaching and writing. Franklin recounts the early days of his blog, starting with a department lecture where he first heard the word "blog." He describes how he initially thought his blog was private and was surprised by the comments and traffic it received. Franklin mentions attending the Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool Festival, and meeting major figures in the fiber arts community.
COVID and Transition to Teaching and Speaking
Franklin discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic affected his in-person teaching and speaking engagements. He explains his transition to online teaching and to Patreon, which helped him maintain income during the pandemic. Franklin shares how he enjoys making videos and audio pieces and adapting his in-person classes for online audiences.
Living in Paris
The conversation turns to Paris, why he moved there, and his life in Paris, including his love for walking and discovering hidden places. He mentions attending performances and visiting museums and galleries. Franklin talks about his Instagram account, where he posts about his daily life, needlework, and animals in his neighborhood. He explains how he balances posting about knitting with other interests to keep his followers engaged.
Harvard Reflections
Franklin reflects on how his art history degree from Harvard influences his knitting and teaching. He mentions professors James Ackerman, John Shearman, and Seymour Slive, who taught him valuable research and teaching skills. He explains how his background in art history helps him connect historical and cultural elements to his knitting, and he uses his knowledge of art and architecture to design and teach knitting patterns. Franklin explains the complexity of knitting, including the mathematical and three-dimensional aspects. He mentions teaching students how to knit using pre-literate methods and the connections to ancient systems like the Kanon of Polykleitos. He also discusses the gender perceptions and prejudices associated with knitting, and his upcoming project with Knit Stars, a series of classes and documentaries about notable needleworkers.
Timestamps:
03:12: Discovering Knitting and Blogging
05:43: Franklin's Unique Style and Books
11:11: The Early Days of Blogging
17:05: Transition to Online Teaching and Patreon
20:45: Life in Paris and Instagram
29:42: Influence of Art History on Knitting
51:09: Complexity and Satisfaction in Knitting
51:29: Gender Perceptions in Knitting
51:46: Franklin's Online Presence and Future Plans
Links:
Instagram and Threads: @franklin.habit
Bluesky: @franklinhabit.bsky.social
Patreon:patreon.com/franklinhabit
Knit Stars:
https://knitstars.com/masterclass-franklin-habit/?ref=567&utm_campaign=franklins-season-10
YouTube channel: youtube.com/franklinhabit
Society6 (art prints and merchandise): society6.com/franklinhabit
Spoonflower (fabrics and wallpapers): spoonflower.com/profiles/franklinhabit
Foxe and Boxe Project: foxeandboxe.com
Featured Non-profit:
The featured non-profit of this week’s episode is recommended by Pete Schmidt who reports: “
Hi, I’m Pete Schmidt, class of 92. The featured non-profit of this week’s episode of The 92 Report is the Davis Phinney Foundation. Davis started this Parkinson’s disease patient advocacy organization to focus on how people with Parkinson’s disease can be empowered to take charge of their condition and live their best lives now. I've worked with the foundation for over a decade and served on their board for six years and am currently serving as chairman. You can learn more about their work at dpf.org. And now, here's Will Bachman with this week's episode.”
To learn more about their work, visit: dpf.org.
