Mary Jane Mucklestone

Hand Knitting Blog & Knitting Patterns

colorwork

Springtime in Maine

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The days are getting warmer…at least some of the time! That means outdoor adventures that can finally include knitting without fear of frozen fingers. Last weekend I visited Arrowsic Island, home of Squirrel Point Light, an easy day trip from Portland. After a ramble down a long dirt road it’s an easy hike out to the light on the Kennebec River. Walk a little further for fantastic views from Bald Head. We watched hunting ospreys and bald eagles nesting.

If you haven’t already, sign up for my Newsletter! I’ll have special offers and that’s the only way to get them!

Although the earlybird rates are over, you can still sign up for Knit Stars. The team will be visiting me here in Maine, I’m hoping to take you to some of my favorite places to knit! Places that inspire me are where I get my best ideas. Use this link: https://knitstars.mykajabi.com/a/4441/nntkGo6u

Where is your favorite springtime place to knit?

My Maritime Mitts are perfect for this weather! Find them on Ravelry – Just click the pic!

Be a Knit Star Earlybird

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Hey All! A reminder that Knit Stars Earlybird enrollment ends Friday night April 20, 2018, and I don’t want you to miss out!

Sign up here: https://knitstars.mykajabi.com/a/4441/nntkGo6u

How do the classes work?
Knit Stars occurs during three-weeks in November. Every other day, a new class will appear on the Knit Stars site, where you are enrolled. You’ll be able to watch classes on your computer, your phone, your iPad—at any time of the day. You’ll have access to the classes and resources (including patterns and class handouts) forever. So you can watch them any time you want!

The Knit Stars film crew will spend this summer traveling around the world visiting a dozen instructors in their home studios. That means Norway, Finland, Denmark, Nashville, Seattle, Victoria BC to name a few. They will be coming to my home in Maine, you won’t believe where I live! My funny tiny home!

What are you teaching?
I’ll be teaching the principles of Fair Isle knitting and how they make colorwork easy and efficient. I’ve got a new cowl design for Knit Stars students to have before anyone else. It’s not strictly Fair Isle knitting, and I’ll explain exactly why. We’ll study other northern stranded knitting traditions and see their similarities and differences. And of course we’ll discuss color. I’ll share tips for choosing colors and blending the shades you have on hand, and what to look for at your LYS…and so much more!

Who else is teaching?
Oh my goodness, such talent! Ann & Kay of Mason Dixon Knitting, Ann Budd, Andrea Rangel, Arne & Carlos, Carson Demers, Cecelia Campochiaro, Christel Seyfarth, Lorilee Beltman and Veera Välimäki.

When is the online summit ?
Knit Stars 3.0 happens November 26 – December 14, 2018.

I’m a Knit Star!

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I’m thrilled to announce that I’m a teacher in Knit Stars 3.0!!!

I’ll be teaching alongside eleven other designers and instructors this winter (or Summer in the southern Hemisphere) in the online teaching conference, KnitStars 3.0. Anyone around the world can join in on these online workshops. It’s the world’s biggest online yarn fiesta!

When you enroll you’ll have access not just to my workshops but you’ll learn from all twelve of us–

Andrea Rangel, Ann Budd, Ann Shayne and Kay Gardiner of Mason Dixon Knitting, Arne & Carlos, Carson Demers, Cecelia Campochiaro, Christel Seyfarth, Lorilee Beltman, Lorilee Beltman, and Veera Välimäki.

How about that? Super duper fun for all!

There’s an Early Bird offer right now, but that only lasts nine days. Find all the details here:
https://www.knitstars.com/a/4441/nntkGo6u

Oorik Pattern Reveal!!!

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Oorik_MaryJaneMucklestone

I’m pleased as punch to reveal my contribution, Oorik, to the great new book A Year of Techniques by the ever-clever duo at Arnall-Culliford Knitwear, Jen and Jim.

Oorik is a sweet vest for the toddler in your life, the word Oorik which means “small person” in old Shetland dialect.

Knit in the round with just four colors. Of course never more than two are used in a single round. The sweet vest features two border patterns alternated with a single peerie pattern. I feel the colors are suitable for all genders, but they are easily substituted for you to dream up your own color scheme, which would be really fun. I can’t wait to see what folks come up with.

Steeking is the technique you’ll learn with Oorik. As with every project in this stellar book there is a technique to learn and master. Jen and Jim have made a video tutorial which will be go live on Mason-Dixon Knitting on 1st Feb 2018, the same date as a KAL will begin.

A Year of Techniques (with complimentary ebook) costs £19.99 plus shipping, or you can buy the ebook only for £19.99.

Visit Arnall-Culliford Knitwear to purchase.

A kit with the yarn will soon be available in their shop as well.

I hope you’ll join us for the KAL in February…if you can wait that long!

If I ever need cheering up I look at the many photos of Jen and Jim’s niece the vest. I know full well how challenging photographing a toddler can be – she is the cutest!!!

jen_ac_bath_138 jen_ac_bath_101 jen_ac_bath_097 jen_ac_bath_155 jen_ac_bath_157 jen_ac_bath_162 jen_ac_bath_125 jen_ac_bath_141

Green Beanie – Just in Time!

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GreenBeanie_smile_crop

Because you might just need something new and fresh for the final holiday knitting push! It was all I could do not to make another…so many possibilities. I want to make one in grey and white! As my holiday gift you can get my Green Beanie pattern for half off through the end of Christmas Day!

I confess that I made Green Beanie a while ago and promptly forgot about it. I just found it at the bottom of my stack of winter stuff…we haven’t needed much this year since it’s been so mild. I decided to write the pattern up before I lose it again. Sophie obliged, and we walked around her neighborhood for the snaps.

GreenBeanie_back

It starts with a slight curl in the cast on fabric, proceeds to corrugated ribbing creating vertical stripes. Meanders with a little stockinette stitch graced with a favorite motif found….in many cultures… and found in my book 200 Fair Isle Motifs: A Knitter’s Directory, motif #153.

GreenBeanie_

 

I used Quince & Co Lark, because I have a lot of that lying around (lucky me!) because it is local to me, and I like it. You could use just about any worsted weight yarn, or heavy DK. The ever present Cascade 220 comes to mind. I’m going to make my next one in Berroco Ultra Alpaca.

GreenBeanie - 1

I chose two greens, very close in value so the stranded colorwork pattern is subtle. Sometimes I just don’t want a loud pattern, only a hint. The vertical stripes of the ribbing are the main event. Students: See how different placement of the same colors show up differently? File under experiments with color.

GreenBeanie - 5 GreenBeanie - 6

Deets:
Finished Size To fit head circumference 19 (20, 21), with about 1 inch of negative ease.
Yarn Beanie shown in Size Small Quince & Co Lark, (100%American wool; 134yd [123m] /
50g). MC #130 Split Pea, #128 Snap Pea, 1 skein each. Any worsted weigh yarn should work.
Dive into that stash!
Yarn Amounts You will need about 130 yds of MC, and about 80 yds of CC.
These amounts are generous, you might use less!
Gauge after blocking 9 sts x13 rnds = 2 in (5cm) in corrugated ribbing using smaller needle; 10 sts x 11 rnds = 2 in (5cm) in fair isle pattern using larger needle.
Needles US 6 (4 mm) & US 7 (4.5 mm) 16” (40cm) circular needles, US 7 (4.5 mm) double pointed needles.

Find the Green Beanie pattern on Ravelry!
Happy Holidays!