. . . Knitting Camps and Retreats

Knitter's choice:

Baby Surprise Jacket
$18

Meg Swansen's Knitting Camps 2012

(or paste https://fs10.formsite.com/schoolhousepress/form18/secure_index.html into your web browser).

The application will be posted online on this page through February 8, 2012. You must apply between those dates for your application to be considered. All applications submitted during the application time frame are pulled by lottery for available spaces in the camps and retreats. If you have questions, please call us at 715-884-2799 (8:30-3 CST, M-F) or send us an email.

Dear Knitter,

2012 marks the 39th year of Knitting Camp! Knitting Camp came into being when Elizabeth Zimmermann began teaching a weekend knitting course at an extension of the University of Wisconsin. Elizabeth Zimmermann passed the torch to her daughter, knitting designer Meg Swansen, and Camp has evolved into four sessions offered during the four weekends of July.

General Info, Knitting Session Descriptions, and Tuition

Arrival for all camps is Thursday after 3 p.m. for check in and an evening welcome supper. Meg Swansen teaches during Friday, Saturday, and Sunday morning from 9am to 12:30, with a mid-morning break. Show and Tell is after lunch, run by knitting camp staff. During Camps, staff is available for individual help in the classroom each evening.

CAMP 1: arrive Thurs, July 5- depart Monday July 9

Meg covers updated details of Elizabeth Zimmermann's Percentage System (EPS) for circular, seamless garment construction plus color-patterns, steeks, and assorted techniques and tricks. There will be small project hand-outs from which to knit during the session, plus optional Show-and-Tell. We recommend reading at least one of Elizabeth Zimmermann's five books prior to your arrival, or watching some of her DVDs. Attendees must have at least a basic knowledge of knitting (cast on, knit, purl, increase, decrease, cast-off) and preferrably have completed some garments. We also ask attendees to arrive with plenty of technique questions; camp is part-teaching/part-Q&A that stimulates conversation. We are prepared to converse about any or all techniques the group wishes to discuss.

Retreat 2.75: arrive Thurs, July 12 - depart Monday, July 16th

A mixture of intermediate and expert knitters; Retreat 2.75 will include Show-and-Tell, mini-workshops by camp teachers and volunteer participants, group discussions, and a contest (Contest 2012: Knitting Under the Influence) to highlight the session. This retreat is based almost entirely on discussion and Q&A.

CAMP 2: arrive Thurs, July 19 -depart Monday, July 23

We will review Elizabeth Zimmermann's Percentage System (EPS) for circular, seamless garment construction, as well as other techniques touched on in Camp 1. For those knitters already familiar with EPS and Elizabeth's books, we will explore additional territory based on questions and offer handouts for small projects to knit during class. In past years, we have covered topics such as: double knitting, lace knitting, Armenian knitting, twisted stitch, two-end knitting, Fair Isle knitting and more. As usual, camp is part teaching based and part discussion based. We rely on knitters to bring their technique questions, and we are prepared to converse about any or all techniques the group wishes to discuss.

Retreat 3 : arrive Thurs, July 26 - depart Monday, July 30

A mixture of intermediate and expert knitters; Retreat 3 will include Show-and-Tell, mini-workshops by camp teachers and volunteer participants, group discussions, and a contest (Contest 2012: Variations on Knit One Knit All) to highlight the session. This retreat is based almost entirely on discussion and Q&A.

Housing:

We stay at the Holiday Inn Conference Center in Marshfield, WI with all the amenitites you expect including fridge and microwave in the rooms, indoor pool/hot tub and more. We have a large conference room for our classes, a private dining room, living room, and a knitting supplies marketplace. There is a bar and restaurant attached to the hotel.

Meals:

A supper buffet will be served from 6:00-7:00 pm on the evening of your arrival and a continental breakfast will be set up each morning. You will also receive a coupon for a free breakfast at the Kitchen Table restaurant (most excellent fare) the morning of your choice (Closed Sunday). Lunch is catered each full class day, and we have a daily mid-morning coffee or tea break. If you bring a non-knitting companion, he or she may join us for meals. Please note: This applies to one non-knitting companion based on the non-knitting companion fee.

Transportation:

By air: Madison, WI, Minneapolis, MN, Milwaukee, WI, or Chicago, IL airports all have feeder lines to Central Wisconsin Airport (CWA, phone:715-693-2147) in Mosinee/Wausau, WI (35 miles east of Marshfield). A van shuttle service from CWA to the hotel is available through the Holiday Inn (call at least two weeks in advance, 715-486-1500); the cost is $50 per person-one way (see camp literature regarding more exact costs and stipulations).

Or, you can rent a car at either CWA or a major airport (Madison, approx drive time: 2.5 hrs, Milwaukee, WI approx drive time: 4 hours, Mpls, MN, approx drive time: 3 hrs, Chicago, IL approx drive time: 5.5 hours, CWA approx drive time: 35 minutes) (More complete travel recommendations will be added to acceptance letters.)

2012 Camp Fee--includes tuition, lodging, and some meals:

Single ($975) knitting participants only; if a companion is joining you, please see Double with a non-knitting companion.
Double w/knitting camp roommate ($780) choose your own knitting roommate or we'll pair you with one
Double with a non-knitting companion ($1050) includes one room for knitter plus one companion and some meals for one companion. Non-knitting companions may not be present in the classroom.
Off-campus ($650); does not include lodging, but includes continental breakfasts, one dinner, and lunches Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Transportation is not included.

Questions? Call us at (715) 884-2799 or send us an email.