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Mary Jane Mucklestone

Hand Knitting Blog & Knitting Patterns

Travel

Scandinavian Week

February 12, 2016 by Mary Jane Leave a Comment

MJMuckleston_ScandiCowl

Hey! Come join me at the John C. Campbell Folk School March 20 -26 in Brasstown North Carolina, during their annual Scandinavian Week!

I’ve wanted to attend since I was in high school, so it is a real honor to be teaching.

In our week long workshop we’ll explore choosing and altering pattern motifs to suit this cowl project and many of your future projects. Plus everything else I can manage to cram in!!! This happens in an incredible rural location in the hills. The school was established in 1925 in part to keep alive the folk traditions of Appalachia, inspired by the rural folkehojskoles in Denmark.

There are totally amazing classes besides mine, lure your if non-knitting friend or partner to come along – pottery, jewelry making, music, printmaking, sewing, weaving, basketry, woodcarving, woodturning, rosemaling and what I want to take – blacksmithing – all with a Scandinavian theme!

Hope to see you there!

Ps…for a gallery of finished Stopovers from the Mason Dixon Knitting #BangOutASweater KAL on instagram
search for #Bangfinisher

Filed Under: Events, Knitting, Travel

Look At The Sky

November 20, 2015 by Mary Jane Leave a Comment

WestEndSky

It’s the time of year when things should be slowing down here in the Northern Hemisphere.
It’s getting dark, and it’s getting colder. 

For a lot of us, the pace of life just doesn’t seem to slow down like we’d like it to. But I urge you to try. If only for a moment or two. Give yourself some time to do absolutely nothing.

Once you catch a breath, you can begin to plan for future adventures. I’m lucky that my work takes me all over and I get to visit strange and wonderful places. Maybe I’ll be in your neck of the woods this coming year. I’ve posted a list of places I’ll be teaching  on my classes page. Some you might just be able to pop in, others might take a little more planning.

There’s a piece of advice I was given, that I come back to again and again when I veer towards panic and my head threatens to fly off –

Look at the sky.

It helps.

Just look at the sky.

Sky

 

 

Filed Under: Knitting, Travel

Squam 2016

November 3, 2015 by Mary Jane 4 Comments

Squam2016

I’m teaching next spring in New Hampshire, at Squam Arts Workshops. Most of you will already know about this most fabulous of knitting retreats. It is one of my favorites because of so many things, but my favorite thing of all is the location. An old school New England camp. Guests stay in charming, old fashioned cottages, each with a screen door that slams, a rock fireplace and it’s own dock on Squam Lake.

To. Die. For.

The classes next spring are just so amazing. I honestly want to sign up for each one, only I can’t because I’m teaching. What am I teaching? A special Fair Isle Squam Style class…we will have so much fun – exploring Squam and forming ideas inspired by this wondrous place. We’ll bring it all into our knitting, making our own special fair isle cuff, to capture our experience. A fair isle totem!

My companion knitting teachers are favorite friends, my fellow Grand Shetland Adventuress Gudrun Johnston, west coast friend Andrea Rangel – such a versatile talent that lady, and I’m sure you all know Kate Atherley the tech-wizard of Knitty.com.

Besides knitting there will be weaving, dressmaking, woodworking, rug hooking, bookmaking, Japanese embroidery, drawing, photography, poetry you name it!

Admire the list of teachers below and follow the links to their websites…or really…Just go to the Squam Workshops website to get a feel for the wonder of the event, and then to the specific Squam Spring 2016 for all the class descriptions, schedule etc.

Note especially that Kristine Vejar of The Modern Natural Dyer fame is teaching. WOW. Be sure to post a comment on my last post for a chance to win a copy of the book and a kit to go along with it!

Squam Spring 2016 Teachers:

Helene Dujardin

Natalie Miller

Rachel Hazell

Kristine Vejar

Beth Miller

Kerry Lemon

Andrea Rangel

Sarah Sousa

Jody Alexander


Donna Wynn

Sarah Waldo Jagger

Kate Atherley

Gudrun Johnston

Terri Dautcher

Filed Under: Events, Travel Tagged With: retreat

Tigre!

May 26, 2015 by Mary Jane 2 Comments

Joj & Ale _ El Tigre

One of my favorite outings was visiting Tigre, a town just outside Buenos Aires situated on the Paraná Delta, the world’s only river delta that does not empty into the sea but into another river, the Rio de la Plata. The Paraná river system is the second largest in South America after the Amazon, and the third largest in the Western Hemisphere after the Mississippi.

ArtMuseum_ El Tigre (5)

Tigre, named for jaguars that once prowled the area, is a hot tourist destination on the weekends. Joji, her mom Virginia, Ale and I were fortunate to visit mid-week and had the place to ourselves!

El Tigre

A nearly private boat or laucha, was our transportation – there were only two other guests, and one of them was napping!
Tigre (2)

A perfect way to idle the day away enjoying lunch at the wee onboard restaurant and knitting on top in the sun.

Tigre (1)

MJ & Joji _ El Tigre

We traveled a labyrinth of waterways, among several of the thousands of little islands that make up the delta. The islands closest to the mainland are dotted with beautiful little holiday homes, each one cuter than the last.

ArtMuseum_ El Tigre (6)

Tigre (7)

Virginia lived there at one point; looking at the map, she could pick out where, and Ale remembered her grandfather’s swimming route.

Tigre

Further out the islands get wilder and less inhabited. If you live way upstream you can buy vegetables and other goods from boats that serve as shops.

It looked to me like a place to return to and stay a while. I always imagine which little house on stilts I’d choose. I’d have a fine time painting and knitting, and kayaking around the network of streams. I’m so sad I can’t find the map we got, with guest houses listed, where I will stay next time!

The mainland town of Tigre was originally organized as a port for fruit and timber exports. In the 20th-century belle époque it became an elite tourist destination. We visited the stunning, “are we in Disneyland?” Museo de Arte Tigre which is located in a former society social club built in 1912.

ArtMuseum_ El Tigre

ArtMuseum_ El Tigre (4)

ArtMuseum_ El Tigre (1)

ArtMuseum_ El Tigre (3)

They have a nice collection of prominent 19th- and 20th-century Argentine artists, as well as a rotating contemporary art show.

Joji&Ale_TigreMuseo

There is a market where you can buy souvenirs as well as great plant shops. Joji got a lemon tree for her new patio!

LemonTree

Filed Under: Knitting, Travel Tagged With: Argentina, Paraná Delta, Tigre

I Traveled to Argentina

May 21, 2015 by Mary Jane 2 Comments

Joji, MJ & Ale on the Patio
Joji, me and Ale on the new patio!

I traveled to Argentina to see my friends! And to meet new friends while serving as a group leader for Behind the Scenes Adventures Knitter’s Argentina and Uruguay.

The Family!!
A delicious meal with the family!

I arrived a few days before the group so I could spend time with Joji Locatelli. A knitwear designer extraordinaire and Buenos Aires native, Joji was my city guide, translator, mate instructor, taxi driver, knitting consultant, gaucho pants finder, inspiration and so much more! What an amazing lady…what an amazing friend…I can’t even begin…and her FAMILY!!!! The best, the sweetest!  I felt so welcome and loved that I didn’t want to leave and I can’t wait to return. I also can’t wait to return the favor – I want to show them my Maine!

Patio Planting
Joji’s patio plantings

I was away for over a month. Before heading below the equator, I flew to the west coast of the US to teach a Vogue Knitting Live. Upon my return I briefly visited friends in New York City and then taught at Kent Needle Arts Retreat in Connecticut. I’m still a little travel-charged – and words, particularly written words are not coming out as … poetically…as I might hope. So lets just look at some pretty pictures for the next few days!

UrbanSky La EsperanzaDeLos Asccura Charley
For a jumpstart and current events, check my instagram page.

Filed Under: Travel

Vogue Knitting Pasadena

May 2, 2015 by Mary Jane Leave a Comment

VKLivePasadenaPalm1 VKLivePasadenaPalm

Vogue Knitting Live Pasadena – palm trees, swimming pools and knitting. What perfect combination. A special treat, especially after the winter we had in the East.

MJMucklestoneFairIsleClass

Gorgeous student work – Beautiful location – Superb organization – Thank You Vogue Knitting!

VogueKnittingPasadena

Great energy – I made fantastic new friends and reunited with dear old friends.

TheLittleKnitteryWeavingClass TheLittleKnitteryMacrameOwl

I was especially lucky to be able to visit my friend Kat Coyle’s yarn shop The Little Knittery – a hive activity and creativity. Not only knitting and crochet, Kat offers basic weaving and macrame too.

Next time I’m in California, I stay longer – get a van…a van tricked out with a little salon for knitting, just like yarn rep Mona has – Then I’ll take a road-trip-knitting-tour of the Western States!

PS: Right now I’m in Argentina with Cynthia LeCount Samake’s Behind the Scenes Adventures “Knitter’s Argentina”. I’ll be posting as best I can, though I’m having computer problems…the new “Photos” program keeps crashing. Till I get that sorted out you can follow our trip on my Instagram feed, and also on facebook.

Filed Under: Knitting, Travel

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Happy Fair Isle Friday. The sea brings solace. V Happy Fair Isle Friday.  The sea brings solace.  Veesik from my book Fair Isle Weekend knit with DK weight @jamiesonsofshetland Shetland wool. 
#fairislefriday #fairisleweekend #maryjanemucklestone #shetlandwool #fairisleknitting 📷 @jenireid 💃🏽@ellagordondesigns #fairisle
9 from last year. It was a wonderful year for me i 9 from last year. It was a wonderful year for me in so many ways, despite the strange and scary times. Number one was your number one too, baby Otis!  Thank you for all your support this year and the outpouring if love for my new book Fair Isle Weekend. 🙏 we’ve got some adventure and exploring ahead! Even if it’s in our own neighborhood. 🏡 🏔I’m glad we’ve started a new year. May it be happy and safe for everyone. ✨⭐️✨ 
Now go eat some black eyed peas! 
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#topnine #granny #fairisleweekend #fairisleweekendbook #knitting #norwegianpurl #demo #wearalltheknits
Have a lovely evening! #maine Have a lovely evening!
#maine
Happy Sunday in Maine! Clearing our heads at the b Happy Sunday in Maine! Clearing our heads at the beach.
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Twelve21 hats fresh off the needles ~ still 15%off through tonight. Secret code 1221
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#maine #twelve21hat @hiravelry #knittersofinstagram
Happiest of Holidays! Leelee the Wonder dog, Empre Happiest of Holidays! Leelee the Wonder dog, Empress of the Universe extends her love and benevolence to you all and every being on the planet and in our solar system and all other solar and other systems ✨ blessing on us all. On a personal note, Vogue Knitting Magazine arrived Christmas Eve! Such a gift!!! And and slide 3 The Man from Cebu Borneo is surrounded by special snowflake light!
✨ 
MeRrY mErRy🌟
Twelve21 !! Happy Solstice 🌞New pattern today! Twelve21 !! Happy Solstice 🌞New pattern today! Use code: 1221 for 15% off on @hi.ravelry thru Sunday ~ link in bio. Cozy cozy with super bulky or bulky yarn. Two skeins of @quinceandco Puffin made 2 hats (not including pompous) One already gifted and away! Many thanks to busy mommy Sophie for agreeing to an impromptu photo shoot. Pandemic make do - safety in the backyard! 
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In 3 sizes, shown grey in large, black in small. Medium was absconded with 🤣 I mean...gifted
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Newsletter subscribers check your on box for a special discount✨
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#Twelve21Hat #quickgift #knitgift #strandedknitting #strandedcolorwork #maryjanemucklestone #knittersofinstagram #knittingaddict #newpatternrelease
Happy Fair Isle Friday! Kuvvel is a cowl with a tw Happy Fair Isle Friday! Kuvvel is a cowl with a twist! Knit as a tube, given a turn and grafted together. I love testing out different color combinations. The two swatches on the left are simply rearrangements of the same 5 colors as the original. The monochromatic swatch on the right uses 4 shades of @woolfolk_yarn Tynd. The possibilities are endless! I even have a swatch that used glitter yarn, but it’s so hard to photograph! Which one do you like best? Have a great weekend friends - have some fun! Swipe for an example 😂
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 #fairisleweekend #kuvvel #fairisleweekendbook #fairisleknitting #shetland #fairislebook #knittingbook
#maryjanemucklestone #fairislefriday 
#lainepublishing #lainemagazine #strandedknitting #stickning #tricoter #stricken #neulonta  #編み物  #フェア 📷 photos 2&3: @jenireid
So happy to share with you what I was working on t So happy to share with you what I was working on this summer. Such an honor to work alongside editor and chief Norah Gaughan and art director Emily Jones, and with all the talented  designers, writers and photographers. Teamwork ❤️ 
Photo: @gretarybus 
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Repost from @vogueknittingmagazine
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From pandemics to politics, the world has changed. I think you’ll agree that the next issue of Vogue Knitting has also changed radically. The issue is inclusive and diverse, and represents what Vogue Knitting is known for: solid, painstakingly accurate instruction and our signature fashion-forward designs. I want to thank Norah Gaughan and her team who put together such a uniquely different publication. I truly hope you find enjoyment in this well-crafted collection.⁠
⁠
Art Joinnides⁠
President⁠
SoHo Publishing Company

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