Oct 21 2006
Sock Story
A supplement to my overall interview with Nancy Bush, in October 2006, for Socktoberfest. This is the transcript of part of my phone interview with her (you can hear the .mp3 here).
Here she tells me about one of her most memorable sock knitting experiences. .
Okay, I think it was in 1997.
<Okay>
I was to teach a workshop, a sock knitting workshop, at the home of Tasha Tudor.
<okay>
[She] has written a number of children’s books and illustrated them, probably the most famous book that she illustrated was the story of The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett’s story.
<oh, okay>
She is a woman who has lived in the 1830s most of her life, like she has lived her life as though she is living in the 1830s.
<wow>
…and she lived in southern Vermont and for people who are interested in British things, you know, she sort of is the American Beatrix Potter.
<oh, okay>
She raises Corgi dogs, so people who have Corgi dogs all know about Tasha Tudor. Anyway, she called me. It was sort of like being called from Beatrix Potter. She asked me to teach a workshop at her home. I spent about five days there, and she had a group of friends there and everyone stayed there. It was at her wonderful hand-built home, by her son in southern Vermont.
<wow>
It was pretty awesome. It was autumn, in early September, and the garden was still wonderful. She is a wonderful gardener, and she raises Nubian goats…
<oh my goodness>
…anyway, it was very interesting … and it was basically about socks. She had read Folk Socks and she wanted me to come there. To me, it was a great honor to be invited to do that and to have that opportunity to spend the week with her.
<Had her friends – did they know how to knit socks?>
Um, yeah, they did. Basically what we did, I went very prepared to teach a proper class, you know, but we mostly just hung out and knit[ted]. They all knit socks, and when they had a question, I answered it. It wasn’t a formal class with a classroom, mostly we were in the garden…
<wow>
…or in her parlor, and we had to light candles at night.
<Because it was 1830…>
1830, yeah, exactly.
<That is fascinating.>
Oh it was really wonderful, a wonderful experience.
<So you were actually knitting outside during the day?>
Yeah, because it was nice weather, early September, and it was really nice, so we were outside at a table with chairs.
<Well, that sounds wonderful>
Anyway, for me, that was a highlight. You know, one of them…
I am just writing to tell you that I totally enjoyed your blog. So, you can teach an old dog new tricks. I hope that you will enjoy the silk garden sock yarn. I will think of you when the new shipment comes in and I am making mine out of a similar color.
Please visit again next time you are in NY,
Goldie
[...] Ms. Nancy Bush
 That was a nice surprise, and I talked to her and thanked her personally for the great interview I got back in 2006. I hear her classes went quite well – she did a series of Estonian lace classes on two days of the [...]