New Favorite

I have a new favorite photography website, lens culture which introduced me to the work of Ingar Krauss. I wish I could invest in this portrait. I love it. I love her. I love her outfit. What about her shoes? I love her shoes and feet. Those little squared toes lined up.

Wait to you see lens culture's book selection....
heart-stopping.

Fuchsia Macaroons

Time for a cookie break. I fulfilled a deadline, knitting for nearly 72 hours straight...sheesh...it felt good to get out and walk around the sunny city of Montréal....we had the $10 dinner at Fuchsia...flowers in every dish...all the back issues of Martha Stewart–from the start, and, a favorite book " The Family of Man".

and least I forget...a sweetheart of a dog!

Escaped Swatch

Felt, originally uploaded by maryjanemidgemink.

Escaped into the wash.

Creative Director Kate and I were trying to move into the Blue and Brown territory. I really didn't have enough of those colors in my arsenal, so I headed bravely toward Brown and Green.

At last, happy and satisfied with my color choices, the crafty swatch escaped into the wash, and felted. Felted nicely I must say, not too thick, sturdily flexible, remember that about Sunday Knits Yarns. I needed one more swatch which found me still working with color placement, I went with the bottom top, just below the double-espresso break...Hmmm I could use a double espresso break right about now. Cheers!

Luke's Diced Vest

Koo koo Banana Head Swatch

I mixed it all up, grabbing colors I hadn't tried....

Swatchland

The continuing saga of "Luke's Diced Vest...In Swatchland"

I hate it when blogger won't format things properly. Apologies.
I swatched and swatched.

I really liked the pumpkiny part so I made the one below....

I loved this swatch, you can't see it well in the picture but it has a lovely halo of fuzz, due to Sunday Knits Yarns Angelic which has a  smidge of angora in it. 

 Kate wanted me to try one less stripey... It really isn't stripey in real life, however, since most people will only see it on the screen, and understanding the perils of magazine photography, I forged ahead... I just started grabbing yarn and going for it.

Lordy, I got more stripey...

to be continued...

Luke's Diced Vest – Backstory

These images started it all for me. I love this picture. It's from   Traditional Fair Isle Kntting by Sheila McGregor, an oldie but goodie. For some reason I've always thought that Magnie was her cousin. I like to study the background of vintage knitting pictures, who is wearing that houndstooth blazer? The sister who knit Magnie the vest? Does Magnie play the piano?

When the call for Spring Twist went out, one request was a man's garment, one you'd like to knit, and one a man you know would actually wear.  Hmmm. My husband shys away from fair isle, his style leans toward the Amish,  which is good, and I understand.  But I really wanted to knit a diced vest...So Luke Randall! Of course. Luke is unafraid to wear pink. Luke is a snappy dresser. So we made a deal, I make a vest and trade it for a painting. 

Next comes the yarn choices...Kate Gilbert suggested Sunday Knits Yarns and we discussed a few colors, esspresso agreed to be one of the major colors. Carol, the color and fiber wizard behind Sunday Knits Yarns sent me the color card....I chose a few, mussed about a few more and Carol, the dear sent me lots. 

   But look what happened! I went wild with the reds...I think that Luke would wear this combination, I know I would wear it...but would readers dismiss it and declare it not manly enough...I started going for a bit of dark at the top...got some suggestions from Kate...and went back to swatching....

   The colors I used for this larger motif roughly translate to the pattern as:

rnd 14: curry •  chestnut
rnd 13: curry • chestnut
rnd 12: pumpkin • raisin
rnd 11: pumpkin • raisin
rnd 10: tomato • espresso
rnd 9: tomato • espresso
rnd 8: melon/berry • iris/pickle ( either or!)

Oh, Luke has a new website that isn't quite up yet, I'll keep you posted. Can't wait for the trade.

Heartfelt

It's true... Luke's Diced Vest....not for my husband....

Twist!

Spring Twist is up!

And in it you'll find something I made for my favorite painter Luke.

He has been waiting patiently.


















There are loads of irresistible sweaters to knit,  inventive toys,  way cool baby blankets, socks and scarves; it's humbling to be included with this bunch of designers. As usual this issue includes wonderful articles. I confess a weakness for scholarly ones and find Kate Davies delightful article on Jane Gaugain, adding to my already severe longing to visit Scotland.....someday.....!

Happy Birthday SOSO!!!!!!

Heading to SPA in Freeport

Heading to SPA in Freeport, originally uploaded by maryjanemidgemink.

Always at the eleventh hour, my friend Kristin and I are heading down to Freeport for the New England Textile Arts SPA, where participants do absolutely nothing but hang out and knit, or spin or get a massage...whatever we want to do! I may be suffering from a blasted head cold but no matter, we must sometimes make difficult choices!

See you there!

While I was Away

Away in Puppyland that is. How time flies when your husband goes merrily off to Puerto Rico surfing, allowing blissful yet long days- into- nights knitting, plotting, planning and charting. The week flew with little I can talk about...which indeed makes for a dull blog...never mind...I'm sorry...Vacation over and a new adventure begins:

Miss Leelee

Yes, it is very easy and perfectly allowable to bring home irresistible puppies from Puerto Rico as carry-on baggage.

Life as we know it has changed. The nest is empty no more.

All yarn safely stowed above reach from tiny nipping teeth.

Hang on!

Happy Valentines's Day!

Happy Valentines's Day!, originally uploaded by maryjanemidgemink.

Spring Preview! Sweet Tee!

Finish it in a jiffy!
Interweave Knits Spring Preview is up. Yay!
Do you want to hear a behind the scenes story? I had planned to submit a proposal for this sweater when the call for Knits Spring 2009 went out. Things at home and work got busy as they will and I missed the deadline. To my surprise and delight Eunny emailed and asked if I'd like to contribute. Hell yes! Fortunately I had this design in mind. She suggested Manos Del Uruguay Silk Blends, a luxurious yarn I'd been longing to try out, and the color selection! visit Purl Soho and see if you can resist the shimmering presentation, make sure you click on each color, I can get lost here, just watching the colors change. Time passed and no yarn...I didn't want to pester, they are very busy folks there at Interweave....and then I got an email saying garments due next week! Yikes! Speedy exchanges, yarn re-ordered....tick tick tick....yarn arrives...it is the wrong yarn!....tick tick tick...yarn sent back....tick tick tick...at last! Yarn arrives and my husband and I are off to visit a friend on Tybee Island Georgia, right by beautiful Savannah... So there my friends, is where I finally knit this baby! Fortified with beach walks, Shrimp Grits and good company.
At first I was alarmed by the wild variation in the color, called Dove. In the picture it looked to be a uniform pale grey, in real life it ranges from ivory through pale pink to nearly olive. As I worked with it, I grew to like the moire effect the variation lends it, like beautiful Victorian Silk. (see the red-violet hat and ecru ballgown here, but don't miss the pink corset, or the floral dress stamped Biddeford, Maine).



Sweet Tee
by Mary Jane Mucklestone
Finished Size 30¼ (33¾, 37, 40½, 46¼, 48)" bust circumference. Sweater shown measures 30¼", modeled with plenty of negative ease for a close fit.
Yarn Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend (70% merino, 30% silk; 150 yd [137 m]/50 g): #3019 dove (MC), 4 (4, 5, 6, 7, 7) skeins; #3014 natural and #3049 henna (pink), 1 skein each. Yarn distributed by Fairmount Fibers.
Needles Body and sleeves—size 7 (4.5 mm): 24" circular (cir) and set of 4 or 5 double-pointed (dpn). Borders and neckbands—size 5 (3.75 mm): 16" and 24" cir. Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.
Notions Markers (m); stitch holders; tapestry needle.
Gauge 19 sts and 35 rnds = 4" in St st on larger needle.











PS: Knitting, Saturday February 7th, Noon at my house!