So, the UK has gone from having zero (or seriously close to zero) major knitting get-aways to having two in one year. Not even in a year, in a summer! First up is Knit Nation which is being held the 29th, 30th and 31st of July this year in London. It’s three days of shopping and classes with the likes of: Cookie A, Judith MacKenzie McCuin, Clara Parkes, Nancy Bush and many more. The Ravelry team is going to be giving a talk as well in addition to an awesome market place being in the works. It’s being held at the Imperial College in South Kensington which is right by the Victoria and Albert museum as well as a bunch of other stuff. I have signed up to take a Spinning for Lace class with Janel Laidman on Thursday, the Estonian Lace Sampler class with Nancy Bush (OMG!!) on Friday and a half-day class with Clara Parkes on Saturday called the Wonders of Wool (UK). Since it is “just” in the city, I plan on taking the train with my friend Tini who will be staying with us for that weekend as well. It should be interesting taking my Ashford Traveler on the commuter train into the city that first day:-)
I’m glad that Knit Nation is so close that I don’t have to worry about accommodation as it leaves me more money to spend a few weeks later at the UK Knit Camp 2010 which is being held in beautiful Stirling, Scotland. This knitty adventure is going to be a bit longer than Knit Nation as it is going on the 6th through the 13th of August. It’s being held on the campus of the University of Stirling and the accommodation is really reasonable. To stay in one of the dormitories for 6 nights, it is 150 pounds. That’s a really good deal for a room anywhere in this country, especially in the summer! The classes that they are offering are pretty amazing, with instructors like Jared Flood, Annie Modesitt, Lucy Neatby, Norah Gaughan, Franklin Habit, and Ysolda Teague all teaching there. There are also going to be excursions to local mills and whiskey distilleries as well as much fun and craziness had by all I am sure. Just imagine, dormitories all filled with fiber freaks! I have a feeling it’s going to turn into a huge, more-or-less, slumber party at some point! Sign-up for classes for this yarn porn week open in January, though you can book your space to sleep now. My friend Malin is planning on coming over for this one and I plan on driving up there so there is sure to be lots and lots of adventures!
So, it seems that the UK has sort of gone from zero to sixty in the span of a year in terms of knitting camps. Hopefully this will become a regular thing that all of the British knitters can enjoy!
Sarah Jane Humke 