Mary Jane Mucklestone

Hand Knitting Blog & Knitting Patterns

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Fun At Fiber College

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Fiber College 2011 was the best ever! I met my long-time idol, Beth Brown-Reinsel, I only wish my classes were scheduled so I could take one of hers! The class list this year was phenomenal; clever cheerful Amy Herzog, wonderful warm Gale Zucker who saved my day with tech-challenges, my dearest dye wizard Ellen Mason, the amazing artist Katharine Cobey,  inspiring hooper Jennifer Appleby, tatter extraordinaire  Jacquie Chalmers on and on and on.

I was Artist In Residence, which means the FC folks provided a groovy tent for a hang-out, which I decorated and inhabited. When I arrived the tent was empty save for a big brown behemoth of a couch. I threw a bright French jaquard tablecloth over it. I brought another couch with a linen slipcover, a mid-century modern coffee table, covered with an applique cloth with swingy pom-poms. I supplied purposely ugly-not-ugly stoneware mugs so we didn’t have to use paper cups. There were streamer-buntings from Bolivia and paper-flower streamers from Hong Kong;  A vintage 70’s 3 legged stool and even a zigzag afghan if anyone got cold. The perfect knitting den. I wish I had before and after pictures. I wish I had ANY pictures. Does anyone have any? It seems that being Artist In Residence shut off the picture-taking receptor in my brain!

I promised my Color Session students a list of my three favorite books on color. Since I am currently on location for a Berroco photo-shoot, at beautiful Scarborough Beach in Rhode Island, with a very infrequent internet connection I’ll share it with all of you:

The Essential Guide to Color Knitting Techniques Margaret Radcliffe

The Art of Fair Isle Knitting Ann Feitelson

Interaction of Color Joseph Albers

Fiber College !!!

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If we look at little like deer in the headlights, understand we were up at 4am in order to make it to the TV station in time!

Fiber College is providing a tent for me Friday through Sunday, and I’m bringing a couch and chairs for those who want to just stop by and hang out and knit. I should be there most of the time I’m not teaching, during the same hours that the Shopper’s Boulevard is open.

Here’s what Fiber College says about the program:

Thursday This year’s Fiber College event will get a kickoff from the second annual Knitmaine-ia fashion show Thursday, Sept. 8 at 4.30 p.m (right after FC classes get out). The event, organized by the Women of St. Margaret’s (Belfast) and Fiber College, will showcase a fantastic variety of handknitted and crocheted garments and accessories.

Tickets are $10, which includes a wine and cheese reception to follow at “The Studio” and should be purchased in advance at Heavenly Socks, 82 Main St., Belfast; Fiddlehead Artisan Supply, 159 High St., Belfast; or Searsport Shores Campground. Knitmaine-ia, which is likely to sell out, will benefit New Hope for Women. For more information on the annual event call 548-6059.

Afterward, you’re invited a cocktail party to celebrate Artist in Residence Mary Jane Mucklestone and introduce you to the fiber exhibit of this year’s instructors…then we laugh and sing at a good, old-fashioned Hootenanny (so bring your instrument) .

Friday you’re invited to the Potluck Supper in the Rec Hall (We’ll roast the turkeys and provide the place settings), followed by a Fiber Swap (do you remember the Bridal sale at Filene’s Basement?). Then sit by the fire and knit, spin, quilt or weave with others who simply want to enjoy an talking about patterns, colors techniques and life.

Saturday night there’s a show and tell and special drinks booth before the sit down dinner and slide show lecture by designer Mary Jane Mucklestone. The dinner and the lecture are free to any student who has signed up for two or more classes. (Or you can purchase a dinner/lecture ticket for $15)

On Sunday we always hate to say goodbye…so we’ll linger in the afternoon with a fresh, homemade dessert and coffee. We hope that you’ll sit down and exchange contact information…this is the final gathering of instructors, students, vendors and volunteers…usually we spend our time planning for next year…

The Classes:
Fiber College is dedicated to enthusiasts of all levels. Whether you’re looking for an introductory class or wanting to perfect your technique, with over 50 classes, there’s something at Fiber College for you. Most classes are 2 to 4 hours in length and cost $59 to $79 each. With bargains like these, why not take several and learn new skills for the long winter months ahead? Class sizes are limited. You are also welcome to attend the college, shop the boulevard and participate in the free demonstrations without taking a class.

See you soon!

PS My book won’t be out till October, but those who take my classes will get a sneak preview!

Crochet from the Mists of Time

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While in Seattle, my mom and I went through boxes and boxes of old photographs. We found an enchanting palm sized green leather album full of faded pictures. On the left is William Harrison, backwards since it is a tintype, probably taken in the early 1870’s. He had a sister Carrie, so she might be the girl on the right. See her wonderful crocheted vest? Most inspiring.

Below is a picture that hung on the wall my entire childhood. I spent hours and hours studying it mesmerized by the clothing and hairstyles. My great-grandmother Lulu Harrison is in the third row, second from left. She’s a younger half-sister of William and Carrie. She was born in 1871, in Ventura California, and moved to the Pacific Northwest when she was 2. This is the Denny School in Seattle, around 1885 I would guess.

I love the girl in the first row with the  tasseled hat.

Kirkwall Knee Socks!

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These were both fun to knit and fun to design. I love working with Kate Gilbert, the super talented editor of Twist Collective.  She’s decisive, knows what she wants and has a flawless eye.

What I like the most about Kirkwall, is that they can be modified easily to fit many different legs. The pattern bands are each composed small  6 st repeats – just shy of an inch.  So each pattern band can be modified for a perfect fit. The decreasing is done in the first plain round after a pattern band, making adjustments easy.

The yarn! I love Quince & Co, Chickadee,  soft, squishy and comfy…and the colors…oh boy – almost edible they are so lovely. Pam Allen is a genius.

I’m working on a second colorway. I might just make them short socks, because I am impatient and I’m also feeling nostalgic for the days of short socks, Doc Martens and short skirts.

Find Kirkwall Here

We Have A Winner!

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Congratulations to our winner Diane and Happy Birthday too!  Yay!!!!  You get a free pass to one of my classes during Fiber College. What an adventure we will have. Please contact me at mjmucklestone(at)gmail(dot)com for details.

Thank you to everyone who left a comment. I think we could knit some pretty fabulous fair isle with all the colors you mentioned. I especially love the descriptions, I had so much fun reading them. If you haven’t read them yet, be sure and take a peek. Your favorite places were fun too, a little tour of Maine in that list of comments.

Now, don’t be strangers!!!!! Come up and say “hey”! For those of you who can’t make it this year, there is always next year, plus Maine is nice all year round and you are always welcome!

Did I trick you with the image? Not Maine, but Stuart Island Washington, looking over to the Canadian islands of  South Pender and Saturna. I’m in the Northwest this week for my mom’s birthday. Can you believe there is a schooner? Never have we see one off the point before! Crazy.

Hope to see you soon!

Fiber College Blog Tour & Giveaway: Day Two

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What better place to spend a week in September than Maine?
This year I’m Artist In Residence, which means I’ll be at Fiber College the entire time.

…except when I visit nearby Belfast Maine to get yarn, ice cream, embroidery thread or beer all of which will make me a better knitter.


Searsport has a lot to offer too – a fabulous Maritime Museum, and the charming Left Bank Books. Many beautiful towns, Camden, Rockport, Blue Hill and Deer Isle are all just a hop, skip and a jump away; and of course there’s spectacular Acadia National Park.

Please leave a comment here to enter to win free admission to one of my classes at Fiber College.  To make things interesting, share with us what colors you imagine when you think of Maine, or your favorite place to visit in Maine.

You’ve got two weeks, because I’ll be out of internet range, on a remote island in the San Juan’s of Washington State … so! The winner will be randomly chosen on 8/09, 11:59 P.M. and will also receive sweet gift bag of Shetland wool from me, which I’ll present to you at Fiber College.

I’m teaching one class each day.

Friday September 11 – Color in Traditional Fair Isle Knitting

In an intensive three hours, we will explore color relationships in traditional fair isle knitting by knitting a simple wristlet. Choose to follow the “rules” precisely, or use them as a jumping off point to develop your own signature color palette.

Saturday September 12 – Colorful Andean Accents

Some of the most interesting elements of Andean knitting are the decorative edge treatments. We will learn to make a charming checkerboard edging, a darling scalloped edging, and cheerful “instant” popcorns, which can be knit in as you go, or added as an afterthought.

Sunday September 13 – Color Session

Learn more about color in a relaxed knitting circle atmosphere. We’ll touch on the principals of color theory by arranging a huge pile yarn by hue, value and saturation. We will knit speed swatches to experiment with our colors, discovering the importance of color placement.

There are so many great classes to take! Weaving, tatting, spinning with Katherine Cobey!!!! Rug hooking, Latvian Braid, Irish Crochet, Hula Hooping, Silk Screening, Dying, Quilting with Mary Ellen Kranz!!! Book Making, Wood-cut Printing, Silkscreening, and more more more!

Be sure to visit all the stops on this blog tour to read what other instructors have to say about this lovely event.

A random winner will be drawn from each site!

Monday July 25  Beth Brown-Reinsel http://knittingtraditions.com/blog/

Tuesday July 26  You’re here!

Wednesday July 27 Amy Herzog http://www.amyherzogdesigns.com/blog/

Thursday July 28 Ellen Mason http://odacier.blogspot.com/

Friday July 29 Gale Zucker http://ezisus.blogspot.com/

Tell all your friends!