Easy Wrap Jacket

Sally wore her beautiful wrap/jacket at Camp and many of the campers tried it on. It is amazing! Easy to throw on and simple to knit.

The pattern is now available on Ravelry.

I called this a wrap jacket, not because it overlaps or ties in front … but because it is a cross between a wrap (a rectangular shawl) and a jacket—and functions beautifully as both!

It is a one-size-fits-all piece that is both easy to knit and to wear. For two weeks after I made it, I wore it every day—over a dress, a shirt, a sweater, even my pajamas! I am now thinking I need to knit a second version, in an alternate colour, but am finding the chartreuse surprisingly versatile!

What makes it easy to knit is that it has absolutely no shaping and only 2 tiny, near-invisible seams.

What makes it easy to wear is that it is spacious enough to slip over most anything!

There are notes in the pattern for how to add circumference or how to choose an appropriate substitute yarn. And there is a photo for the two tiny seams you will execute!

Two More Sleeps

It's almost here. The van is packed and we're ready to go.

Here is the updated weather report.

Safe drive to everyone and we'll see you soon.

Camp Weather Report

I hope the weather man is correct - it looks like a nice weekend for Camp.

Don't forget your umbrella. It rains every year on Camp weekend. Some years lots and some years just a sprinkle but it always comes and usually on Friday.

Homework

Friday morning

Sally - Two Colours, Two Hands

Homework: With DK or finer yarn and appropriate size circular needle, long-tail cast on 120 stitches (or whatever number of stitches fits comfortably on the needle). Join work, and knit 1 round.

To Bring:
more homework yarn
part ball of another colour

Fiona - Walk on the Wildwood Side

Homework: none

To Bring:
small quantities of yarn from your stash
needles
usual project bag goodies (stitch markers etc)
pencil & paper
coloured pencils
graph paper
inspirational images (optional)

Saturday morning

Sally - First Choices, Basic Shapes

Homework: none

To Bring:
tape measure

Fiona - Creating Cables

Homework: none

To Bring:
If wishing to work on a blanket or pillow project a ball of light coloured DK or worsted weight yarn

if wishing to work on a mitten project a ball of light coloured sock weight yarn
yarn appropriate needles
cable needle
pencil & paper
graph paper

Saturday afternoon

Sally - Essential Skills

Homework: none

To Bring:
yarn
knitting needles
crochet hook

Fiona - Thumbs up for mittens

Homework: none

To Bring:
ball of light coloured sock weight yarn
yarn appropriate needles
cable needle
pencil & paper
graph paper
tension swatch over an interesting stitch pattern / stranded colour work / cable pattern

Sunday morning

Sally - The Most Common Mistakes

Homework: none

To Bring:
measuring tape
calculator
the following are optional
a swatch
more than one swatch in the same yarn
a pattern whose tension does not match the swatch
a sweater that did not work
a favourite garment
yarns of similar weight

Fiona - Fun with I-Cords

Homework: with worsted weight yarn and 4.5mm-5mm needles, cast on 30 stitches. Work in stocking stitch for 6". Leave the stitches on the needle or on waste yarn.

To Bring:
part ball of medium weight yarn
pair of yarn appropriate needles
pair of double pointed needles (yarn appropriate).

Weekend Agenda

Today is Camp day. I'm working on the homework email and it should be going out today or tomorrow. If you're registered for Camp, please watch your inbox.

Here is our weekend agenda  

Thursday September 22
4:00-6:00pm    Registration in Crusader Lounge
6:00pm    Dinner in Echo's Dining Lounge
8:00pm    Meet in Cedar Room

Friday September 23
8:00am    Breakfast in Echo's Dining Lounge for those registered for Option #1
8:00-9:00am    Registration in Crusader Lounge for those registered for Option #2
9:00-11:45am    Morning session of classes. 
12:00pm    Lunch in Echo's Dining Lounge  
1:00pm    Free time. Meet in the Cedar Room. Knit by the Lake. Take a nap.
4:00-6:00pm    Registration in Crusader Lounge for those registered for Option #3
6:00pm    Dinner in Echo's Dining Lounge
8:00pm    Fashion Show in Cedar Room

Saturday September 24
8:00am    Breakfast in Echo's Dining Lounge
9:00-11:45am    Morning session of classes
12:00pm    Lunch in Echo's Dining Lounge
1:30-4:15pm    Afternoon session of classes
6:00pm    Dinner in Echo's Dining Lounge
8:00pm    Student Fashion Show in Cedar Room

Sunday September 25
8:00am    Breakfast in Echo's Dining Lounge
9:00-11:45am    Classes
12:00pm    You must be checked out of your room
12:00pm    Lunch in Echo's Dining Lounge

Sunday Morning with Sally

We still have room for a few more Campers.

Sally's Sunday morning class looks like a great way to finish the weekend

Sally was once asked what was the most common mistake knitters make, and the words that flew out of her mouth surprised her. So she started asking knitters the same question. Their answers were never “dropped stitches, wrong colour, bad seams”—all the things we address in technique classes. Their answers addressed more serious issues, which were various and valid.

This workshop will discuss the answers Sally's heard over the years—and students may use their own swatches, patterns, and garments to see solutions to each of these "mistakes."

The workshop will then end with a description of her answer, her reasons for that answer, and the many ways we have to avoid this all-too-common mistake that stands between us and successful garments.

Download the brochure and join the fun...

Saturday morning with Sally

First Choices

 

No matter how advanced or experienced we are, we run the risk of making a garment that looks awful. Why? We make decisions in the first 20 minutes that have everything to do with the success or failure of a project. What are those decisions? Yarn, color, stitch pattern, silhouette.

This workshop gives diagnostic skills to look at these decisions. And it then follows with basic pattern drafting for the set-in sleeve--our most universally attractive style. So even if you never design your own knitting, you'll have the tools to alter what you do knit to produce the best possible result.

From Sally

The class includes the drafting of a set-in sleeve, which I make simpler than anyone believes possible! 

So We Call it Camp, But It’s Not Really Like Camp

Knitting Camp is nothing like the camp you attended as a kid. At Knitting Camp you get to choose your day’s activities. Go to class, sleep in, take a hike - totally up to you. Super comfy accommodations with someone else making your bed. And the food is incredible and seemingly endless. The one way it is like camp though, is that you will make great new friends who you will look forward to seeing year after year. Come as a group, a couple (non-knitting partners love camp too!) or on your own. Don’t worry you’ll all be included in the fun.

Thumbs Up For Mittens

Fiona's Saturday afternoon class looks like fun.

In the 1st part of this workshop we will look at mitten construction; including ways that the thumb gusset & the top of the mitten can be worked. Fiona will review a variety of increases and decreases – knowledge that you will be able to apply to other types of projects. But that’s only the beginning….

In the 2nd part of the class you will use the swatch worked in “Creating Cables” (or another pattern swatch you may like to bring) as a springboard to devise creative ways of incorporating the patterning into a mitten of your own design.

This workshop is geared towards knitters who have a little experience right up to those who are very adventurous

Friday's Classes

The brochure is almost finished but I wanted to start sharing the amazing workshops with you. Campers are going to have a hard time choosing. They look great. Here are the classes for Friday morning.

Sally 
Two Colours - Two Hands

Two color stranded is one of knitting’s most glorious traditions. This workshop explores the techniques we need to make beautiful fabrics with heavy emphasis on alternative methods of using your hands (and even your neck) to manage the yarn.

Fiona
Walk on the Wildwood Side

This year Fiona is offering something very new for camp when she becomes your very own camp counselor. This workshop will be centered on finding & exploring your own unique creativity, using the wonderful surroundings at camp. 

After a short introduction on sourcing material, you will be set free in the camp to forage for your own inspiration; cataloguing your ideas in sketches, descriptions, colour stories, photographs and swatches.  Using special one-on-one and small group sessions with Fiona, you will learn how to turn your inspiration into new knitted creations.

At the end of the day the class will reconvene to share their ideas and discuss what they have learned.

Camp 2016

The dates for Camp are set and now our instructors are too. Two of our favourite people are coming back.

Sally Melville and

Fiona Ellis.

More information coming soon.