The Bestest Camp Ever
I hauled my stuffed suitcase home this afternoon (well, now I guess I should write "yesterday afternoon")--marking the end of a wonderful Knitting Camp weekend! I don't have many pictures yet, but we had an unofficial camp photographer this year so I could sit back and just enjoy myself without worrying about my camera's habit of pausing ever so slightly before snapping the photo, a habit that allows all models to be memorialized in grossly unflattering positions.
This year, I flew to Chicago, where I was picked up by my friend Holly. Holly is an extremely good knitter and very kind friend who has a yarn shop in Vermilion, Ohio, that I can heartily recommend: Love to Knit Yarn Shop (no web site; 5780 Liberty Ave, Vermilion, OH 44089. Phone: (440) 967-4073). Here's Holly talking to Meg Swansen, who, although reigning as Knitting Goddess Supreme, is a regular person with a great sense of humor and a gentle, patient manner.
We spent the night at Holly's sister's house and then picked up Nancy at the airport early the next morning. For about 5 hours we drove across Illinois and Wisconsin, working our way northwest to Marshfield, smack dab in the middle of the state. We stopped at Susan's Fiber Shop, a warren of rooms stuffed with yarn, fiber, and books, and had a fabulous lunch at Earl's American Cafe in Columbus (HIGHLY recommended if you are in the area).
Now, you might be disappointed to learn that Knitting Camp is not held around a campfire under the scented pines--no sir, we stay in a fine Holiday Inn with air conditioning, chairs, and pool. We found that our other Camp Buddies were already there: Greg, Lucy, and Anne. We met at camp several years ago and although not every one of us can go to camp each year, we try.
Actually, I didn't attend Knitting Camp, I attended Knitting RETREAT 2.75. At the Camps, Meg does a lot of teaching (totally marvelous experience). The retreats concentrate more on camper show and tell and mini-workshops. For example, here is Sue, modelling her Adult Surprise Jacket with stunning quilt pattern inserts. Un-freakin-believable! Stuff like this, over and over again.
Even though there are about 60 campers, we can all see because a video camera sends images to the TV screens throughout the room.
The mini-workshops, as usual, were varied and interesting. For example, Linda L. taught us how to knit with fabric strips; Bridget Rorem showed us a great way to make a smooth increase into a double-yarn over in stocking stitch lace. (By the way, Bridget is hard at work on her forthcoming book of lace designs--just you wait, you'll be totally blown away. Bridget's show and tell this year included a shawl that brought tears to my eyes it was so quietly and deeply lovely. You'd better believe that I intend to make it as soon as that book arrives on my doorstep!) M'Lou Baber taught us double knitting, and I actually completed a double-knit headband. M'Lou's book on the subject will be published by Schoolhouse Press.
Camp is like that--we learn so much from each other.
Speaking of Show and Tell: I crocheted Sashiko's steek in the car on the way to camp and cut it that night. A quick steam blocking and it was ready for viewing the next morning. That was close. Of course, technically it's not quite done.... The good news is that it fits me well.
Meg Swansen is such an encouraging presence in the knitting world--the line up of forthcoming titles from Schoolhouse Press makes me drool: Katharine Cobey on diagonal knitting, Anne Claxton on patterns that can be viewed from both sides, M'Lou on double-knitting, Bridget on lace, and a small book that she and Joyce Williams are preparing on Armenian Knitting. She also mentioned that she will soon be filming some new videos, which is good news for those of us who have watched the old ones a million times.
The last day was spent on the camp contest. Each year we vote on a topic; this year's contest was Movies. So much laughter! There were some 27 First Prizes (because all knitters are winners, per Meg) and some brilliant entries. Next year's theme is The Devil Wears Zimmermann. If you have any great ideas let me know, OK?
When not in the classroom, food seemed to dominate our thoughts. Meg's sister Lloie has a small restaurant--The Kitchen Table--that serves fantastic food. We have breakfast there every day, and the waitresses remember us from year to year. We go to a biker bar for traditional Wisconsin fish fry on Friday night. Culver's was the place for dinner the second night--we celebrated Anne's birthday with a frozen custard cake. Strangely, according to the Weight Watchers scale this morning, I lost 0.7 pounds last week. Go figure....
When camp was over, the goodbyes said, the final lunch at The Kitchen Table eaten, we headed off to Chicago again, managing to drop Nancy off just in time. I flew out the next morning, waking up at the unGodly hour of 4 am to make my flight. Once again the patterns of the land revealed themselves until the majestic Cascade range outside of Seattle came into view and I knew I was nearly home.
I met (and re-met) many wonderful knitters. I won't try to list them all. The thing about this retreat is that people come back year after year, and quickly or slowly you get to know them all. We were saddened to learn that some women had lost their husbands, happy to celebrate Cat's pregnancy, sorry to learn of Poppy's plumbing disaster, encouraged to see Jean's improved walking--we enter each other's lives this way. Once again, I had tears in my eyes as I bid people good bye, hoping that the coming year will be kind to us all and that we will meet again.
What a beautiful description of the "camp" experience! And it was a great pleasure to meet you at camp this year! Knit on until next year...
Posted by: Terry | July 19, 2006 at 04:02 PM
How fabulous your Sashiko sweater turned out. Camp sounds like such a great idea. Ooh Culvers, home of the butter burger! It's impressive the scale moved down. Congrats!
Posted by: Barb | July 19, 2006 at 05:11 PM
Just because Camp is over (sob!), that's no excuse for putting Sashiko aside. Get it done!!!! You'll be able to wear it soon . . .
Posted by: Sarah | July 19, 2006 at 08:47 PM
color me emerald ;-)
sashiko is stunning!!!!
Posted by: vanessa | July 19, 2006 at 10:18 PM
You're making me so sorry I didn't go this year. :(
Posted by: Jessica | July 19, 2006 at 11:47 PM
Sashiko made me gasp. As did the sight of Meg on your BLOG. I mean, damn. You're livin' right.
Posted by: Rachael | July 20, 2006 at 12:59 AM
What a great week. And Sashiko is just stunning. I can't wait to see what your neck treatment is going to be.
Posted by: CarolineF | July 20, 2006 at 05:12 AM
I met Meg's sister Lloie during Christmas of 2004. She is just the most wonderful person. And the breakfasts at the Kitchen Table...Wow. My SIL Linda used to own the Quilters Garden Quilt Shop that shared the little parking lot by the Kitchen Table in Marshfield.
Posted by: kitkatknit | July 20, 2006 at 08:48 AM
So great to meet you at camp! Nobody told us that Sceeter and Otis was a biker bar - great fish though! I loved seeing sashiko in person, and it will be great to see it done. Thx for putting up the pic of my sweater. I was so thrilled it got a "wow" from Meg. Wasn't it just a great week? (I'm with Sarah - sob.)
Posted by: Sue | July 20, 2006 at 12:16 PM
Oh wow! Sounds like a wonderful time was had by all at camp and Sashiko is STUNNING! What a great design Janine! You inspired me, I picked up some sewing patterns this week to explore different perspectives on shaping and construction. Thanks!
Posted by: DeeAnn | July 21, 2006 at 05:10 PM
Oh, you make me so sorry I wasn't there. What a fantastic description.
Posted by: Stephanie | July 23, 2006 at 09:13 AM
Aw, man, that looks like fun. Glad you got to go sample the Culvers experience. Culvers makes me proud to be from wisconsin, what with their signature dish of Butterburgers. (And where is the butter in a butterburger?? there are many theories...)
Posted by: Emily | July 23, 2006 at 10:28 PM
Just back from Camp 2 tonight...and so glad to see your and Sarah's postings. Wait till you meet me (us) in Franklin's photos!!!
Posted by: Nancy J | July 25, 2006 at 06:35 PM
Wow - I had no idea it was going to look like that. That's amazing and fabulous. Welcome back, btw.
Posted by: Theresa | August 03, 2006 at 03:09 PM