Excuse me, I dropped a few days

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Sock Camp is in full swing here at Port Ludlow, and I can’t even begin to tell you of the antics. Classes in the morning (I’m teaching Knitting for Speed and Efficiency,Tina’s teaching dying,

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Cat’s teaching a cool new sock architecture, and Jc is teaching a whole morning full of Cast-off’s. ) The afternoon is crafts and yoga, and the evenings are full of group fun.

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Last night it was Knitter’s Jeopardy. (“I’ll take Knitting history for 300 Debbie”) and tonight… I’m not sure what tonight is. No idea. I thought I had a really good grip on what we were doing until the crab races at breakfast…

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and now I just don’t know what’s going on, and I’m definitely not going to try to explain it to a non-knitter.

How was your day?

129 thoughts on “Excuse me, I dropped a few days”

  10. what’s up with the hammers? You cannot knit with a hammer. You cannot spin with a hammer. (you could kill crabs with a hammer, but those weren’t the right sort of crabs)
    Please clarify the hammers!

  11. Aaaaaand… that’s what happens when Firefox freezes up… makes me look like a crazy comment stalker.

  13. I have crabs like those!
    Sounds like you’re having a lot of fun. I would envy you, but I’m too busy getting ready for the sock summit to waste the effort on envy. I’m trying to master all the “advanced beginner” stuff so I can take all “intermediate to expert” classes.

  14. I was starting to wonder if you’d been kidnapped! Happy April Fools! My day was not as fun (or as puzzling – what up with the tools?) as yours apparently, but at least I can go knit a little now that the day is done.

  16. Sounds like so much fun! Please, explain the hammers, because I cannot see how they relate to fibre in any way?

  19. I am sitting in the corner with my thumb in my mouth. I’m jealous. I’m pouting. I’m misera…uhm…wait, dropped a stitch….oh nuts, nevermind. All lies (except the “jealous” part). And I’m adding my voice: what’s with the hammers? CRAB RACES? at BREAKFAST? {sigh} Well, I’m going to a wee little local knitting camp in August, so neener neener. Oh – and tell everyone I said “HI GUYS, HOPE YOU’RE HAVING A WUNNERFUL TIME!”

  20. My day was not nearly as interesting, creative, or fun as yours, apparently.
    Besides, who gets to go to camp in April?
    And whatever it is for, that is one handsome hammer collection.
    Think I’ll start playing the lottery now so I can come next year.

  22. Any chance of developing a copy of knitting jeopardy for us all to play and love? It would sure make for a lively knit night!

  23. So are the hammers for one of those “Who can knit with THESE?” contests? Or are they for taking out the loser’s crab? 🙂
    I cannot wait to hear about all the antics at this year’s Sock Camp! Do you have the same stunned bartenders as in previous years?

  25. I knew you were off having fun… while I was home reloading my stupid computer for the second time in 2 months. Wish I was with you instead.

  26. I’m a just a tad concerned by the fact the picture of the hammers comes right after the phrase “and the evenings are full of group fun.”
    I’m sure it’s got nothing to do with the “dying” class…right?

  27. Wow! My day sounds awfully boring compared to crab races. 😉 Wish I was there!

  29. I’m just a tad bit concerned the picture of the hammers falls directly below the phrase “and the evenings are full of group fun.”
    I’m sure it has nothing whatever to do with the “dying” class…right?

  30. My day just got a whole lot awesomer now that I have a glass of wine and my knitting within arm’s reach.
    I say nothing says “this is going to be a great day” like wind-up crab races at breakfast!

  31. Just watched Monsters Vs. Aliens in 3D. What fun. Happy Foolish Day. Hope sock camp is a blast. Off to knit a shawl for my Mom’s Birthday.

  32. A good day–had 2 Yarnissima kits arrive. But I’m not sure even that beats a good crab race for sheer smile mileage.

  33. I’m just a tad bit concerned that the picture of the hammers falls directly below the phrase “and the evenings are full of group fun.”
    I’m sure it has nothing whatever to do with the “dying” class…right?

  35. Ahhh…your day sounds divine!!!
    I feel like I’ve got a layer of wet dust all over my hands after cleaning the light fixtures in the house.
    Real exciting stuff compared to how you spent your day, eh? Bet you can’t wait to get to the real world…NOT!

  36. Hammers confused me too- but then I noticed the little grommet thingies there next to it and now I am just intrigued. Sock camp looks like a blast, and makes me wish my own knitters weekend away with friends had lasted longer (and not ended with a group stomach virus!)

  37. Well, apparently it was no near as much fun as yours. I had to work, and we laughed a lot, but we had no crabs, no hammers, no yarn – oh, but there was dyeing…..

  40. How was my day? Other than looking for a job and wishing I could afford things like Sock Camp? Uneventful. Glad you guys are having fun.

  41. AWWW! Jenn, I wish I could help you find a job. I had my Granddaughter all day. Had to take her to the Doctor for a recheck on her ear infection but it was good so we celebrated and made cupcakes! Nothing says love like sugar does! Come to Kentucky Jenn, I’ll help you find a job.

  43. I want to take the class on ‘knitting for speed and efficiency’ and the 2nd one on ‘how to create time to knit’. Are both offered online???

  45. Sounds like loads of fun! But am I the only what curious about Knitting Jeopardy? I’ll take knitting history for $200

  46. Sounds like loads of fun! But am I the only one curious about Knitting Jeopardy? I’ll take knitting history for $200

  47. Well, I must admit that my knitting abilities only extend so far as slowly knitting. Your site is so inspiring and that dyed wool looks fantastic. I am going to have to learn how to make something other than scarves! 🙂

  48. How’s my day? Let’s see first a color and cut, then lunch with my knitting friends (yeah!), dentist (ugh!) and then the UPS man brought me Cookie A’s sock book! Yeah. So, this evening will be a glass of a good red wine and sock reading. Sounds like a good day!

  50. Do other people really think those are REAL crabs?..I went to work. I talked about your sock summit and people looked at me funny..well they do anyway. They watch me knit during breaks and lunch, and then say something like..”How can you move that fast?” “Oh My Gawd. I could NEVER do what you’re doing. I’d just mess it up”.. and other quotes that most knitters would find familiar. Then I came home, and my daughter made supper. It was great! I’m getting ready to put up my feet and finish an afghan so I can start more socks.

  51. It looks like so much fun! Speed knitting, I need that class!
    Have enough fun for all of the rest of us!

  52. Hey Steph, What’s it like on your side of Puget Sound cause it snowed for HOURS on the Edmonds side. Thank God it was too warm to stick. So the weatherman plays an April Fool’s day joke on a whole population that had 4, yes that’s 4, sunny days in the entire month of March. Some of us a feeling a little “crabby”. Have a wonderful time. Wish I was ther, etc. etc.

  55. I bought some sock yarn to make mother’s day presents(I hope it’s as soft as it says in the description)because I’ve now made 2 successful pairs for myself. I also dyed strips of cotton in my organic chemistry lab, which was neat, especially Congo red. I’m really and truly envious of sock camp and the sock summit. I guess I’ll just have to wait until stitches east. Glad you’re having fun, but what are the hammers for, and where are the socks?

  59. Unless the hammers are for “hammering out” knitting problems (there is a place where puns come to die, and I have just reached it), I’m having a hard time guessing what they’re they’re for…fighting off moths?

  60. My day had knitting in it so that makes it a good day. And after carrying around my car knitting for monthes, I am finally seeing the end of the long sleeve shrug I am knitting. Which proves that even knitting a few rows at a time eventually gets you to the end. I knit-Husband drives.

  61. I think it would be ***amazing*** to take “Knitting for Speed and Efficiency” from you. (P.S. I don’t know if you still remember knitting that square for Rebecca’s Blanket a couple of years ago, but I thought you’d like to hear that she had a baby girl today: Sierra Ann. You know, since you like babies and all…) 🙂

  62. I used to know a joke that involved crabs and a hammer.
    P.S. to Marina @6:26 – never admit it.

  63. People! Stephanie wrote that Cat was teaching a cool new sock architecture. That leads me to believe it involves hammers. 🙂

  65. Glad to hear you’re having fun. Pretty much the only notable thing that happened to me today was that the wii fit said “good” instead of “oh” when I stepped onto it.

  66. I knew you were having fun at sock camp, I’m so glad you found time to share;-)
    Today, I finished row 250 of my sister’s Peacock Feathers Shawl! Tomorrow is cast off. I’m so very excited. So today and tomorrow are good, but not sock camp.
    Have fun for all of us.

  67. Hammers? You’re playing with hammers… without me?
    I don’t know how I feel about this.

  68. Please please please… for those of us who are really slow knitters (needle slow that is) would you please consider making your next publishing effort (book or Dvd) ON YOUR SUBJECT OF (fracking caps lock) Knitting for Speed and Efficiency. Please, then I could do my part in the economic recovery and have a reason to buy more yarn. Oh and knit more stuff of course. Sue B

  69. so jealous of sock camp. but how does anybody choose between those classes? speed knitting? dying? mysterious new sock architecture? yes please!

  70. I’ve been reading up on the Sock Camp blogs and other knitters’ blog about Sock Camp and every time I just about die of envy.
    We have a small group of knitters here in the UAE who I would like to think I’ve influenced enough with my posts about sock yarn and my sock knitting to actually do our first sock knit along. We’re due for a ‘sock health check’ tomorrow actually. Now we’re also throwing ideas around about something like a weekend knitting retreat, or maybe a full-blown knitting camp during the summer. I know it will be fun because even with just a few of us we manage to chat and knit away an entire afternoon at the local coffee shops. Imagine what an entire weekend would be like!
    I guess what I’m asking is, how would any of you and your fellow sock/knitting teachers like to come by and visit us in Dubai?

  71. That is a great class – knitting for speed and efficiency. I usually get the best rhythm only after about 30 minutes, so pegging how to get that ‘flow’ quicker is a great idea. My day was fast/furious at work, but the bosses are off to UK so next 7 days should be organized and I can get the bits done. Have a terrific time!

  72. A busy day, not as much housecleaning as I hoped, dinner with a group we’re helping, and ending perfectly– laptop, knitting, both kitties, and comfy chair in front of Mythbusters. Glad you’re enjoying Sock Camp. I can hardly wait til _registration_ is possible for Sock Summit. . . please make it soon!
    From the Sock-shaped State, ==Marjorie

  74. Ah, that looks fabulous! I shall not be envious, as next week I am on holiday in a lovely cottage in Wales with 4 other knitting friends (including my mum 😀 ) and our partners.

  75. Oooooh Dyeing class!!!!!!!!! I wish I was there! My day was way too mundane by comparison so I won’t bore you with the details. You guys should do a sock camp for the east coast, and a Sock Summit too!!! That way maybe, just maybe, I could go too. It sounds like great fun and I love learning any and all new fiber/knitting things. I hope you have a great time.

  76. i cannot believe how jealous i am! its not good. i am at the stamping my foot stage coz i wanna knit socks all day and its not fair!!!
    hope you all have the most wonderful time.
    please post lots so i can share from here.

  77. Hi Stephanie,
    All I can say is that when you get back, I hope you’re planning something really fun (like sock camp) in the Toronto area. Why do those folks from the West get all the fun?????

  78. Crab races, here I thought there would be a bunch of knitters on hands and feet trying to scootch sideways with sock needles in mouth and sock yarn on belly. Would be pretty freakin funny!
    Sounds like a blast though.

  79. Sigh. I told Aaron last night that all my buddies were at Sock Camp, and how I had made it to every year, and this was the first year that I missed. He totally called me out – and said – Isn’t this just the third year? Ah well.
    Hug everyone for me. I’m going to send a picture of Cameron in his Spaun Of Bra.un sweater to show around.

  80. Ditto what Cece wrote. I miss you guys and miss being at Sock Camp this year for all the antics!! I could cry that I missed a dying lesson from Tina. Well, it’s the sacrifice I made so I could attend the Sock Summit instead (I bought my plane tickets!). I’m sure it will be worth it. Wish I could have done both. I know I don’t have to wish you a good time – that will happen regardless. Looking forward to another post about camp.

  81. Looks like great fun! I agree with the previous commenter about your next book being on speed and efficiency!

  82. You opened it, Good luck. Tonite at midnite your true love will realize they love you. Something good will happen to you at 1:00-4:40 tomorrow, it could be anywhere. Get ready for the shock of your life. If you break the chain you will be cursed with relationship problems for the next 1o years. Karma.If there is someone you loved (or still do) and cant get them out of your mind, repost this in another city within the next five minutes. Tonite between 1 and 4 am they will remember how much they loved you as well. You will get the shock of your life tomorrow

  84. This is totally inspiring! I have plans to pull out my sock yarn and books this weekend, so I can “sing along” as it were, back here in New Jersey. Just bought smaller circulars, so I’m set!
    I wish someone did this on the East Coast!

  88. My day? I finally finished updating all the prices in the work computer(dive shop, not yarn), unpacked, priced, and stocked an order of new masks, then it was time to pick up the Super Simple Sleeping Sox I’m knitting as a gift for my Durwood. He has cold feet.
    Maybe when I’m sleeping through the night my kids’ll send me to sleep-away sock camp. Looks like fun.

  90. I want to go to Sock Camp!!!! Soooooo badly…..I’m glad you are having fun. Keep taking lots of pictures for us.

  91. Looks like you are all having a lot of fun…wish I was there. Yesterday was craziness all day at work, one of my knit nights (yes only one…Guild is tonight) and recovery from Malabrigo March. I fell asleep with #9’s in hand knitting on a Just Enough Ruffles around 11pm. 😉

  93. I would love to learn how to knit for speed and efficiency but I’m afraid to fly 🙁 How about a book? 🙂

  94. Thanks for asking! Had a very interesting evening rehearsing for a film shoot on a Dracula multi-media project. I play one of the undead brides(Nosferatu) and spent the evening in fangs (custom made just for me – how cool is that!)and an old tattered dress luring poor Lucy to her fate with Dracula. Hey, if I can’t join you for Sock Summit or a beer I might as well practice on my undead blood lust. 🙂

  95. Knitting for Speed and Efficiency? C’mon Stephanie. aren’t you missing the point? (Opps, sorry about that one.) I came to the realization yesterday that when I knit, it’s the adult version of thumbsucking. It’s what I can crawl inside of to shelter me from my “kids and responsibilities.” Speed and efficiency are the last things I want to worry about while I’m knitting, thankyouverymuch.
    Meanwhile, I loved the photo of the crab race. I assume those little reds guys were moving all over the place. What a riotous thing to do as one is enjoying one’s first cup of coffee.
    Love to you and all, Stephanie.

  97. am puzzled… How do hammers relate to knitting? Is anything to do with sock architecture? Must be a really big foot involved if it’s knitted with hammers.

  99. Sock Camp looks like too much fun!
    “A whole lot of things I never done –
    I never had too much fun.”
    What’s up with the hammers?

  100. Obviously, not as fun as yours!! Will have to try and get that camp into the budget one of these years.

  102. Gosh darn it! Your breakfast beats my week. Note to self: must get weirder! If need be, employ friends to enable.

  103. my day is certainly not as enjoyable as yours. the only crab around here is me.

  104. There’s something that seems fundamentally NOT RIGHT about being a mere 20 miles away from sock camp, especially now that I’ve overcome my sock-knitting phobia and am wearing a pair of socks spun and knit by my own self at this very moment. But. I’m also stuck in an office in Port Townsend at this very moment and not knitting, which is my heart’s desire. Enjoy, and know that I’m thinking of yall way too much.

  105. You really, really don’t want to ask me that. It involved 9 hours in the ER for no discernible reason.

  106. *sighing with jealousy* Turning green? Who, me? This just sounds way, way cool.

  107. Well, (some might say unreasonably), they expect teachers to be in their classrooms the first week of a new quarter, in spite of such temptations as Sock Camp, so I’ve been dutifully teaching and grading papers. Thankful to be employed, and love my students, but at this moment, would much rather be with you all, knitting to my heart’s content and getting silly before breakfast. I think one of your previous posters said it well–I need more giggles in my life… which you so often provide for us vicariously! Thanks for helping keep the rest of us grounded and sane, even when we can’t participate in person. Best, randmknitter

  108. I had a very nice day, thank you for asking. I went on a school field trip to Madison Wisconsin. It’s the 4th grade trip to the capitol. There was not a lot of knitting time, but it was very interesting history and time with my beautiful daughters! Have fun at sock camp.

  109. I’m glad I’m not the only one concerned about the “dying” and hoping it should be “dyeing”, but as you asked, I’m enjoying a lovely sunny autumn day in NZ – beautiful blue skies, not a cloud to be seen and forecast for 22 degrees C all weekend. yay!

  110. Gee, I can’t imagine why you were picked to teach “Knitting for Speed”!!!! (Just kidding!) I’ve always been a bit incredulous at your prolific output, both knitting and life in general! Keep on keeping on!

  111. Hi there, I love your page a day calender and wanted to quote the one about housework on my blog. Is it okay if I do so? thanks…..The blog is http://sparkliegems.blogspot.com/
    I just thought it was funny and so true about putting off certain kinds of housework. It really does save time!

  113. “Dying” is when your body stops working.
    “Dyeing” is when you color an item.

  114. “Dying” is what I’m doing here contemplating a sock camp with complete crab racing, hammers, and classes and with me on the other coast.
    After reading the sock summit class list, “plotzing” more or less described the state I’m in contemplating yet ANOTHER grand event that I’m going to miss.

  115. I’ve got one of those crabs. The puppy (11 months old now) doesn’t like it at all and barks very loudly at it, usually while standing behind me. Not exactly a protective dog but a very loud one.

  116. Well, you are having a whole lot more fun that I am! Preparing month end sales tax for several states is about as much fun as watching paint dry. I’d rather be knitting! or watching the crabs!

  119. My day was cool…my yarn shop boss and I went out for the day…visiting another yarn shop! we had lunch, got lots of goodies came home…it was a perfect day!

  120. Sounds great! I for one want to hear all about Knitting for Speed and Efficiency.

  121. If all you have is a hammer, does everything look like a nail? Even at sock camp?

  127. Hope you’re still enjoying camp — and yes, I totally get the crab races. I learned long ago that things follow the written schedule for, at most, the first 12 hours.
    After that, it’s all free-form fun.

  129. Dude. Someday, I am totally taking your class on knitting for speed and efficiency. I sincerely hope this isn’t the last time you’re teaching it.

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