When I decided to attend Knit Camp UK in Scotland I really scrutinized the class list. There were originally something like 49 instructors (called tutors in the UK) and each had about 4 classes. For some odd reason I printed out that original class list and poured over it for days choosing the perfect classes. There were several American teachers from whom I had taken classes in the past, so I eliminated those folks; there are techniques that I have tried and don't enjoy ( intarsia, modular knitting) , so I eliminated those classes. Although I am a die hard spinner I knew that my wheel, even my lovely Majacraft Little Gem, would not be making the trip. Out with the spinning. And there are a couple of things that I am really good at, like gloves, that I do not need to take a class in. That narrowed it down a bit, but I still found 8 or 10 classes that I knew I would thoroughly enjoy. I HAD to take a class with Liz Lovick. I was lucky enough to do a swap with her a couple of years ago on the Traditional Knitters Yahoo group and we have casually corresponded over the years. I really wanted to take a class from Gudrun Johnston as I admire her work, and though she lives not too far from me, I have not been able to take a class from her. Plus she is a an authentic Shetland Knitter. I really wanted to take a photography class, to improve my blog, because I am, in all honesty, a crap photographer. And a couple of other classes intrigued me. I kind of cast fate to the wind, signed up for four classes, received a receipt and went about my life.
A couple of months later, maybe March, I checked the Knit CampUK website and noticed that one of my instructors was no longer listed. I got out my original list and found that several other tutors names were missing. My naive thought was that those classes were full, no longer available, these were pretty famous knitters after all. Then, several weeks later, I decided that I just HAD to take a class with Jared Flood. I bought a book by the instructor for my Wednesday class and decided that perhaps we would not be a great match. So I requested a change to Jared's Baby Surprise Jacket class. I received no reply. Tried again, no response, used a different email address, nada. That is when I joined the Knit Camp UK Ravelry group and became aware of rumblings about the administration of the event. I admit, I then sent a pretty surly email, demanding that I at least be notified whether it would be possible to change the class. Canned email that the person was on vacation... Well, I got a bit hot under the collar and eventually, after several exchanges, received an email from a new person, hired to " put out fires". Class changed, all was well.
{As an aside, I really had no interest in the baby surprise jacket. I have made several. It is not a pattern that I enjoy, and I think it looks kinda dopey on babies. It was Jared Flood I was interested in. Not him, personally, just taking a class from him, and it fit in my schedule. Never did take the class, but I got to sit next to him at breakfast one day}.
Time went by, I faithfully watched the Rav boards and became curiouser and curiouser about what was to come. Things were hoppin'. People were up in arms, classes were canceled willy-nilly. And communication from the powers-to-be at Knit camp UK ground to a halt. But there was this other person who did put out fires. She seemed lovely. In fact she was lovely. I met her. Weeks passed. Then one day in July I received an email that my photography class instructor would not be attending. Double booked...so sorry, but we have this other person, Mary Jane Mucklestone, well qualified, who can teach you class. I googled her, I already read her blog. I was happy. And well I should be... she was absolutely brilliant. In fact I had considered one of the classes that she was supposed to teach, but now she was switched to do the photography. Photography class settled.
Just before I went to Scotland I checked the website for Knit Camp UK and noticed far fewer tutors. The numbers changed almost daily from 49 originally down to 29, a low of 24 and up to 29 again. I had to stop looking as I had made a not small investment in this trip, and I was planning on getting the most out of it. At this point I was signed up for 4 classes, three of them neither the original class or the original teacher that I signed up for. But I was still pretty happy, and optimistic that the whole thing would be world class.
Part two to follow... the actual Knit UK Camp. Dum-de-dum-dum-dummmmm
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