Now tell me the truth—could you actually explain a YarnCamp or BarCamp to someone without Googling it halfway through? I definitely couldn’t… at least not until earlier this week. Thankfully, there’s Wikipedia, and here’s their definition:
A “BarCamp is an international network of user-generated unconferences primarily focused around technology and the Web. They are open, participatory workshop-events, the content of which is provided by participants. […] The format has also been used for a variety of other topics, including public transit, health care, education, and political organizing [and has been] adapted for specific industries like banking, real estate and social media.”
Right. So… that’s what it is? Kind of? Or wait—what was it again? 🙂
Let me try in human language: A BarCamp is basically a conference that isn’t really a conference. It’s an “unconference.” Which already sounds slightly rebellious, doesn’t it?
It’s a group of people who are all interested in the same general topic—let’s say yarn, for obvious reasons—meeting up in one place at one time to learn from each other. No fixed program. No hierarchy. No rigid schedule. At least not beforehand.
Instead, everything gets created on the spot by the participants. You show up at a YarnCamp, you suggest ideas, and then people vote on what actually happens.
So if I suddenly want to learn how to knit socks, or show others how to crochet flowers, or finally understand the mysterious consequences of yarn-bombing in public spaces, I can propose it. And then it might actually become a session at the YarnCamp.
You can teach something. You can learn something. Or both. Or neither and just sit there happily knitting.
Sounds pretty good, right?
So why am I suddenly blogging about a YarnCamp?
Because the lovely Ms. Elise from “Gemacht mit Liebe” (“made with love”) pointed me toward the first-ever German YarnCamp. Fifty tickets. That’s it. And guess what? I’m going!
Well… sort of. One part of me is definitely going. The other part is currently negotiating terms.
“It’s far…” – “Take the train.”
“But someone has to look after the boy …” – “He’ll be with his dad. They’ll survive.”
“It’s on a Sunday…” – “Take Monday off.”
“I’ve never done anything like this…” – “Exactly. That’s the point.”
“What would I even do there?” – “Knit. Talk. Meet people. Eat snacks. Repeat.”
So this is where I am right now: slightly uncertain, mildly negotiating with myself, but mostly excited.
I am going! And I’m really happy about it 🙂
Over the years, some of the photos that used to be here got lost – thanks to a total blog crash, a stolen hard drive, and whatever else can possibly happen to images along the way. The same goes for the link to the pattern – it seems the instructions have disappeared from the web as well. If I happen to come across either of them again, I’ll be sure to add them back in. Thanks so much for your understanding.
It’s funny how that happens sometimes—what starts as a struggle turns into something you don’t want to put down.