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Mary Jane Mucklestone

Hand Knitting Blog & Knitting Patterns

handknitting

Cushing Cowl

February 20, 2020 by Mary Jane 1 Comment

I love a cowl. Cozy and warm! And they won’t blow off or strangle you in the wind, but rather stay put and do their job.

Say hello to Cushing Cowl, inspired by the diagonal knitting of Maine fiber artist Katharine Cobey. I was scheduled to teach my Contemporary Stranded Knitting class at the Farnsworth Museum in Rockland Maine, who are having an exhibit of Katharine’s work. Wanting to add a little of her influence, I got to wondering how to apply her ideas about diagonals to stranded colorwork. I went a bit wild in the process, making zigzags, arrows, chevrons and diamonds that all stemmed from one little pattern repeat.

I began by playing around with diagonal lines, and settled on a 6 stitch x 6 row, diagonal pattern – 3 stitches of each color marching to the left. I flipped the motif horizontally to see what would happen. I discovered that if I added another column of stitches, I could make an arrow shape (above right) I’ve outlined the original 6×6 pattern in red so you can see. Next I flipped that whole new bit down, and added a row to make a diamond shape! That’s how it starts. The possibilities are endless!

I wanted a graphic look for my cowl, so I dove into my stash and came out with two skeins of local Maine based, Quince & Co. Lark, worsted weight yarn in Pea Coat, a nice dark navy for the Main Color. I wanted to pair it with an off-white. I didn’t have a full skein of anything, but found a couple of partial white balls, Audouin, sort of an oatmeal color, and a little ball of Egret, a bright white.

Necessity is the mother of invention, I used them both! Plus, I think having the two slightly different whites are what really make these solid colors work so nicely. The effect is very subtle, but so much more lively than if I had just used one contrast color.

MJM iat the town landing in Falmouth Maine, wearing Cushing Cowl and Dash Happy Hat

I’ve been wearing my version ever since! Here I’m at the end of the dock in Falmouth Maine, at the town landing.

Olivia, my wonderful intern for the last few weeks, willingly took on making a second sample. She choose Lark in River, a medium blue color and a wonderful variegated yellow called Salty Dog, in Dream State, by Spincycle Yarns out of Bellingham, Washington.

We were both delighted with the resulting cowl, the colorplay of the Spincycle yarn is effortlessly beautiful! Olivia herself is extra extra, agreeing with only a tiny hesitation to being my supermodel at the drop of a hat, twice!

I can not thank her enough, she’s the best!

Estimated Worsted Weight Yarn Amounts

  • Version 1 MC 165yd [150m],  CC1 60yd [55m],  CC2 30yd [28m]
  • Version 2 MC 165yd [150m],  CC  90yd [83m]

Cushing Cowl

20% off with code: 2020

through midnight

Sunday February 21, 2020

on Ravelry

My thanks to you!

Further Reading: Diagonal Knitting: A Different Slant, by Katharine Cobey


I LOVE seeing your MJM WIPs and FOs! Please tag me so I don’t miss them! @mjmucklestone #maryjanemucklestone

Filed Under: Knitting Tagged With: Classes, color, colorwork, colour, colourwork, cowl, design, handknitting, inspiration, knitting pattern, Maine, quick knit, quince&co, ravelry, spincycle yarn, stranded knitting, winter accessories, wool, yarn

Knitting in Peru

October 24, 2019 by Mary Jane Leave a Comment

Petra shows Mary Jane Andean Knitting techniques

Today sign ups begin for Knit Stars 4.0: Alpaca My Bag 🌟

It’s the world’s first and only, all-online, multi-star knitting (and crochet) festival! 🙌

  • Learn from some of the most skilled knit designers in the world with Knit Stars 4.0: Alpaca My Bag.
  • Featuring breathtaking videos from Peru, courses from 10 expert knitters and crocheters, and exclusive kits only available when you join the course.
  • Visit Manos del Uruguay in Uruguay.
  • Find out how here!

Those who know me know that I love traveling, especially when I’m traveling to learn new-to-me knitting techniques. I was lucky to visit Peru on a number of occasions where I learned so very much. This new season of Knit Stars should offer some great armchair travel for those of us hankering to visit themselves. I know I want a return visit, and since I can’t go anytime soon I’m looking forward to watching Knit Stars 4.0.

Above, images from my own past trips to Peru, learning from the masters.

You can also sign up for my Knit Stars Workshop from Knit Stars 3.0. I teach stranded knitting and what makes Fair Isle knitting special.

Sign up for Knit Stars 3.0  and all the other seasons!

Mary Jane Mucklestone Knit Stars 3.0

Filed Under: Events, Travel Tagged With: Alpaca, artisinal, color, craft, crochet, fiber, fibre, handknitting, handmade, handmade craft, KAL, knit, Knit Stars 3.0, Knit Stars 4.0, knit-a-long, knitting, knitting pattern, Mary Jane Mucklestone, multi-designer, Peru, South America, women apparel, workshop

Shetland in July

July 6, 2018 by Mary Jane Leave a Comment

July means Shetland for me this year! Beautiful Shetland! Above you see St. Ninian’s Isle, connected to Mainland Shetland by the UK’s largest tombolo. St. Ninian’s is one of my favorite places to take a walk. We are blessed with stunning weather so far. Shetland is a WiFi challenged location, but I’ll try and defy the odds!
Tomorrow I visit Fair Isle with a few friends who are helping me with a secret project. Subscribers of my newsletter will get the first details, so sign up if you’re inclined!

Knit Stars Special Offer!
Production has started for Knit Stars 3.0 and I can’t WAIT to share my lesson with you! I’m developing some of the content while I’m over here in Shetland. November is still a ways off, though, so if you can’t wait and want a some fresh inspiration and fantastic instruction RIGHT NOW, you can get a special deal on Knit Stars 1.0 and 2.0 for the next week! Click  HERE  for more info and to see who’s teaching what. Offer ends July 12th.

Summer also means small project knitting. I’ll be making a hat while I’m here because I forgot to bring one and I already needed one last evening! What’s your favorite summer knitting project?

Weston Beanie

Maritime Mitts

Kanoko Socks

Filed Under: Events Tagged With: apparel, color, colorwork, colour, fair isle, fiber, fibre, handknitting, handmade, handmade craft, knit, Knit Stars, Knit Stars 3.0, knitting, Mary Jane Mucklestone, shetland

Be a Knit Star Earlybird

April 18, 2018 by Mary Jane Leave a Comment

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.

Filed Under: Events Tagged With: apparel, artisinal, color, colorwork, colour, craft, fair isle, fiber, fibre, handknitting, handmade, handmade craft, knit, Knit Stars, knitting, Mary Jane Mucklestone, stranded knitting, wool, yarn

I’m a Knit Star!

April 12, 2018 by Mary Jane Leave a Comment

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

Filed Under: Events Tagged With: apparel, color, colorwork, colour, craft, fair isle, fiber, fibre, handknitting, handmade, handmade craft, knit, Knit Stars, Knit Stars 3.0, knitting, Mary Jane Mucklestone, stranded knitting, yarn

North Stars Rising

April 11, 2018 by Mary Jane Leave a Comment

Exciting Announcement Tomorrow!
★
North Stars Rising!
✭

Filed Under: Events Tagged With: artisinal, color, colorwork, colour, craft, fair isle, fiber, fibre, handknitting, handmade, knit, knitting, knitting pattern, Mary Jane Mucklestone, North Stars Rising, wool, yarn

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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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