I got back from Squam on Sunday, because from Massachusetts it is only about 2.5 hours driving. The traffic was light, the day was warm, and we were all talking about our classes and experiences over the weekend. A lot of what we discussed was from the perspective of having been to Squam Art Workshops multiple times as this was my second time and Jenn's 4th. The class mix still has sewing, printing, photography, embroidery and knitting, but at least to Jenn (I'm not quite experienced enough to be sure yet) it felt like more of the non-knitting classes were a bit basic. It's not completely a surprise. The range of people attending Squam is huge, and a large number of people are working on things that are outside their general comfort zones, so a photography class will have to spend some time going over the basics, the sewing class might involve a bit of discussion on machine basics, and the embroidery classes definitely spend some time going over making the basic stitches. That is not a bad thing, because it makes the classes accessible to a wider range of people and a good teacher can expand their teaching for the students who are already more advanced than the basic level of the class.
The knitting classes at least in the spring Squam tend to be less basic at least to my mind, because so many of the attendees already knit and knit fairly well. The only class that might be appropriate for a true knitting beginner (someone who is still learning how to knit, purl, cast on and cast off) is probably the knitting salon, but I'm not sure that is the best forum for that either. Like any physical skill it takes both time and practice. For many people, it is just not possible to learn to knit in a weekend.
So, that said, I took 2.5 classes (the half class was something called a Squam extra, which was lower key than the other classes). I took Knitting as Meditation with Fiona Ellis (not Mediation as someone kept reading), Community Blanket with Natalie Selles, and Custom Monogram with Jessica Marquez. The classes were excellent. Let me reiterate this: my comments below might make it sound like I didn't have fun and learn in the classes. I did. These are just my comments to explain things that might make it either even better or help someone on the fence about what classes they want to take if they are offered again.
Somewhere along the line in the past couple of years I have progressed from an intermediate to advanced knitter. This makes a difference in a class like Knitting as Meditation. In this class, we were given different exercises that were knitting analogs to poses and theories of yoga. We had exercises that challenged us to be more aware, to focus on the soothing meditative qualities of knitting, to stretch past our comfort zone and to work on balance and trust. The value of these exercises were easier to achieve if you had to think less about knitting and could thus devote a larger portion of your mental space to the sensations and awareness that surrounds the knitting. For something that sounded so new agey, I had a wonderful time and have incorporated a couple of the exercises into my general repetoire.
Community Blanket was a hoot. Most blankets are separate squares that are then sewn together by one individual or a small group of individuals, which takes a group project and makes it surprisingly solitary and usually not cohesive. That is fine, but if you have a large group of knitters, you can make a community blanket where 4 people are knitting on the blanket at the same time in an endless spiral. It is fun and full of camaraderie. Natalie did an excellent job in explaining what needed to happen given that the flip board she requested didn't arrive until almost 40 minutes into the class. We also got to knit outside in the sunshine. Double win!
My last class was Custom Monogram, an embroidery class taught by Jessica Marquez. This class was a little different from what I was expecting. We learned about a half dozen basic stitches (backstitch, satin, chain, stem, split, fishbone) and then we applied them as we wished to a template that Jessica provided (that's the custom part). For some reason, I was expecting the class to be a little more about how to place elements and design a piece. I learned some truly useful things that I had been putting off (like how to transfer designs and a couple of stitches were new to me). It was an excellent class, tons of fun, but a little bit easier than I was expecting. No biggie.
I'm hoping that next year's classes will build on these, so we can move to more advanced skills. It would be great to learn with more of a design focus. Some of the knitting classes I didn't get into were like that, as were the sewing classes, so one of my goals for the year is to become more comfortable with sewing in general and my machine in particular that I can take one of the classes without feeling like I'm monopolizing the instructor's time and detracting from the other students.
A general takeaway for those who are considering Squam or any other craft-based retreat is to consider the class descriptions carefully, be prepared to ask questions, and be open to new experiences. Even the classes that were too easy for me contained things I happily learned, or provided opportunities for me to learn more about myself. Like LARPing, sometimes it takes a couple of tries to get the perfect mix of learning, comfort and fun. I'm learning that I need a bit more learning and a lot less comfort.
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