Mary Jane

I’m teaching again at Slater Mill in Pawtucket Rhode Island, the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution in America. The setting is gorgeous as well as historic. The folks who organize the Knitting Weekend, The Community Guild Sudios are fantastic, friendly and fun. My fellow instructors are amazing! Gudrun Johnston, Adrienne Sloane, Cheryl Burke, Gina House, Helen Bingham and Beth Fitzpatrick.

January 21-23

Gudrun is hostess of our Friday night reception, with a trunk show from her new book!

I’ll be teaching Fair Isle Knitting and Andean Techniques

Fair Isle Kitting

Explore this traditional technique and the endless color possibilities it offers! Students
will venture into the world of fair isle while knitting a charming wristlet. Discussing
traditional use of color will take some of the mystery out of color selection and open
your eyes to new color relationships. You will learn much about color interaction from
your own experimentation, while being inspired by your instructor and fellow students.

Andean Techniques: Kurpas and Puntas

In this workshop we get started knitting a charming Andean style baby hat. We will learn
to make the scallopy punta edging, which can be sewn on later if desired or used for a
charming “friendship” bracelet. We will learn to make kurpas, first by knitting them in as
we go, and later as strings of popcorns that can later be applied as an embellishment
for many different projects. Come prepared to flex your brains and manipulate your
fingers in challenging new ways!

For living in the woods, it amazes me how many folks “from away”  we get to see, how many make the trip up to Maine. This past weekend we were lucky to have talented Gudrun Johnston visit Purl Diva in Brunswick, for a book signing.  My friends and I made a day of it. We lunched overlooking the river, hit the farmer’s market for pie and the flea market for enchanting vintage finds.  The cherry on top – tea and cookies with Gudrun, our hostess Ellen, and many old friends and new, including designers Carrie Bostick Hoge and Cecily Glowik MacDonald. Fun Fun Fun.

Gudrun’s new collection of patterns, The Shetland Trader, Book One – Ten designs inspired by the Shetland Islands is gorgeous! I was lucky to be the photostylist. A dream-job what with such exquisite designs, extraordinary location and talented crew. The book is a perfect gift for the knitter in your life…who might just be you!