Knitcamp 2010 - Major organisational fail, but the people made it great.

So it's been a very long time since I posted, but boy has it been a busy summer. I went from one extreme to another. Last year, I did nothing with my summer and it dragged by slowly. This year I definitely planned way too much and it has flown by in a flash.

Many of you will know that I was hugely excited about attending KnitCamp. I started knitting only a year ago and have found it to be a great hobby. I was keen to learn new skills and techniques and when I discovered that there was a 'KnitCamp' to be held near my mate Lith's place, I knew it was fate. I booked 4 classes, and my flight and began my holiday dreaming.

I know I am far from being the only person who got burnt by British Yarn's Knitcamp, and I have tried hard to remain fair about my comments. Thanks to the many cancellations, Tutors being deported and utter lack of communication, by the time my holiday came around I was dreading it.

The british yarn terms and conditions clearly stated that they would contact their customers to notify them of any changes or cancellations. Well despite my giving them 2 different email addresses, I was not notified about any of my 4 cancelled classes. I found out through ravelry, and either other members, or indeed tutors. despite these cancellations, I tried to remain positive and even went so far as to book another class, an excursion and even 3 nights accomadation at the camp itself. The new class I booked also got cancelled, as the tutor was deported for lack of the correct working visa. I purchased a KnitCamp zip-up hoodie which I have yet to receive and despite my contacting the organisers a week ago, I've still heard nothing about either a refund or actually getting my jumper.

Despite the many, many cock-ups and massive organisational fails, KnitCamp was great. The hundreds of fabulous knitters who attended from all over the world made it great. The atmosphere was amazing and I learnt so much that by the end of the week I was fairly sure that my brain was going to explode. There were official classes and then the unofficial (and often drunken) 'oh that's eeeeeasy, I can show you that. Have you got dpn's and spare yarn on you' classes. Naturally the response to that was always 'but of course' ;)

The tutors who did make it to the camp were expected to 'make do and mend', and use their initiative to help their classes run smoothly. To give those men and women their due, they did a corking job. They were (mainly) friendly and helpful, and very down to earth. They were informative in class and out and it was kind of like rubbing shoulders with the rockstars of knitting. I have to say a huge thank you to Joan McGowan Michael who shared her lunch and dinner with me several times and was a free flowing fount of knowledge to this relatively new knitter. She really was kindness itself and if she visits the UK again and needs a bed, she'll always be welcome Chez Tootsie.

As for my final thoughts on KnitCamp, well they are a little mixed. I will never again attend anything organised by Jo Watson's British Yarn company. However, the concept of KnitCamp is a very sound one and I sincerely hope that someone attempts it again in the future. I think it could work as something that is run every 3 or 4 years, which would give people a chance to save their money (cos damn but it was expensive all round) and it also would give people a chance to put the skills they learn to use and practice before learning new ones.

I do think I've tried to be honest and fair here, but I'd love to hear peoples comments on my thoughts