Mary Jane Mucklestone

Hand Knitting Blog & Knitting Patterns

Mary Jane

I’m Thankful

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I’m thankful that I’ve been lucky enough to make a career out of my love of textiles particularly knitting. I’ve been able to meet and make friends with so many of my long-time idols and many many new rising stars of the knitting universe! And I’ve been lucky to travel literally to the ends of the earth to teach and share what I’ve learned about knitting. I’m writing this post from Buenos Aires, in a cafe while it pours rain outside.

In this picture, I am giddy and tongue tied, meeting Barbara Walker. She is thinking, oh god, another of these vapid fan-girl-knitters. I met Barbara Walker while I was teaching at Interweave Knitting Lab in Manchester New Hampshire this fall, where she gave a great keynote speech. Here are the notes I took:

Does not wear wool
Entertained by knitting Barbie clothing
Must be precise with Barbie bosom shaping
Knits doll clothes top down
Heads stay on
Not just Barbie: Superman, Cher, Brooke Shields dolls
Barbie is a sexy flake and so are her costumes
Prefers plastic needles
Arrow
Partied her way through college
Bright young cub reporter
Small stash
Says not good at jokes
Walked thru blizzards to school
Was a waitress
Married a scientist
Minerals
Designed a tarot deck
Likes spiders

If you have the chance to attend Knitting Lab in Manchester, do it! It is a twin-treat for fiber and food. Manchester has a great variety of really good restaurants all within walking distance of the venue. The marketplace is just the right size in my opinion, small, manageable and jam-packed with great stuff, lots of it local. Yay for shopping local!

Happy Thanksgiving!

The End of the Earth

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Sorry for being out of touch…out of internet range. I rounded Cape Horn so I can now wear a gold earring in my left ear. I’ll update upon my return, we found yarn shops everywhere!

This is at the base of the glacier in Ushuia Argentina, the southern most city in the Western Hemisphere.

Casa de Ellen

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When you visit Ellen’s house, you get to sleep beneath a granny square afghan.

A different one each time.

 

There is plenty of plaid for picnicking.

 

And a variety of swimsuits should you care to take a dip.

Coffee cups – even in the bathroom.

The sideboard is ready for popcorn and ice cream floats.

Superheros and sewing machines always have your back at Ellen’s house.

 

 

Teeth too!

Where did the days go?

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Last we met, we were wandering the coast of Maine looking for locations….next – a photoshoot occurred with a fantastic team! I can’t show you pictures because I didn’t have a moment to take any. Can you imagine? Not. One. Picture…sigh…But here’s a treat, Sophie on the scouting trip enjoying Owl’s Head. The shoot was for my book Fair Isle Style which will be out in Fall 2013, featuring a passel of talented designers!

3 days later found me on Cape Cod for the Berroco Spring 2013 shoot. I love working for Norah Gaughn. I love being part of the wonderful team she puts together. We have a lot of fun. The designs are SO GREAT! I’m usually not thrilled by spring/summer knits…I can take them or leave them. This time…wow. I just wanted to STOP EVERYTHING and knit. Really. And my favorite yarn? An acrylic blend. I know. But see if you don’t like it too. BERROCO VINTAGE. It comes in DK too. In these pictures I’ve had to blur out the knits…you’ll have to wait till next spring to see them.

That beautiful girl, alone on a windswept beach….is actually surrounded – make-up artist dashing in to touch up, stylist -that’s me- going in to tape or tug a garment, the designer making sure the item is looking it’s best, and a bunch of assistants each with their own special job to do, especially Amanda, who keeps it all together!

That lovely garden scene… pouring rain!

Sometimes at the end of the day, we get to eat the props!

Scouting the Maine Coast

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Scouting photo shoot locations for my book. Up and down the coast, the midcoast mostly. Looking for sea views that with creative camera work, or carefully cropped, we might imagine to be elsewhere. It is difficult not to be able to include darling areas like the gingerbread cottages in Bayside. And unfortunately some of the best locations need a bit of a hike, not ideal for an entire crew, lugging camera gear and wardrobe; or are far apart, requiring too much driving time. Most of these are shot right out my driver’s side window!

Added Sept 24: The book is on…Fair Isle knitting…you guessed it, and so I was in search of vistas without trees, a bit of a challenge in The Pine Tree State.

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