My Inspiration
Her skills with colour have made Mary Jane a go-to designer for beautiful Fair Isle knits
Mary Jane Mucklestone on the places and people who inspire her work
AMERICAN DESIGNER
Mary Jane Mucklestone has a passion for Fair Isle knitting. She has been sharing her love of stranded colourwork with knitters around the world through her many patterns and books, including Fair Isle
Style and 150 Scandinavian Motifs, and through her workshops and online classes.
Who inspired you to take up knitting?
“My neighbour taught me to knit when I was five. She was a teenager, so I expect I would do just about anything to bask in her presence. I remember very clearly making a pale green garter stitch blanket for my troll doll. I didn’t take up knitting again until after high school, when a friend came home from Sweden knitting continental style and I thought she looked cool. I’ve been at it ever since.”
Do you have a favourite artist, writer, poet or musician who inspires you?
“I’ll choose Natalie Chanin, who founded Alabama Chanin. She started a line of couture clothing in her home town in Alabama, employing the townspeople whose jobs in the former ‘T-shirt capital of the world’ had vanished. The elaborately hand-stitched garments were pricey, so she started selling the materials so folks could make their own! This DIY aspect has grown to become the multifaceted School of Making.”
Which designer has most inspired you?
“I’m inspired by the contemporary knitters in Shetland who are taking their traditional craft to new levels of sophistication. The textile degree programme at the local university is developing a yearly crop of talented designers. I find their work incredibly energizing.”
Tell us about the colours, landscapes or architecture that inspires your work.
“There is something about the landscape and colours found in Shetland that motivates me to get some knitting on the needles! There seem to be so many impossible colours contained in every view, be it across a long windswept blue voe, or even the square foot of heather and moss beneath my feet…”
What is your favourite knitting book?
“It’s Knitting in the Nordic Tradition by Vibeke Lind. I got it when I was a fairly novice knitter. There are so many treasures between its covers - vintage photographs, close-ups of swatches, profiles of traditional garments. Lots of techniques are discussed but with not many how-to instructions… a fact that made me a better and more curious knitter, ndI think. This was before YouTube and I had to puzzle out things on my own.”
What fibres do you love to work with?
“Wool, wool and Shetland wool… and wool. Traditional wools, old fashioned Scandinavian wools - I love how naturally shiny it can be… the least processed the better. My friend Jani’s Nash Island Yarn from Maine is a favourite. There are so many small-batch makers now, producing rare gems - it’s an exciting time to be a knitter.”
Which design from your portfolio are you most proud of, or is most special to you?
“My ‘Stopover’ pullover. I knitted it out of necessity because I needed a sweater for a trip I was taking later in the week. Requirements: 1. Quick to knit; 2. Warm; 3. Very light in weight, because of airline restrictions; 4. Durable, because I will stuff and squish it into my bag. ‘Stopover’ fits all the criteria. Lettlopi knit at a loose gauge makes the sweater fast to knit, it’s light and airy, very very warm and durable… and boy, can you squeeze it into a tiny space! There are hundreds of versions on Ravelry and each one is prettier than the next. ‘Stopover’ covers one more important element: fun to knit. With just four colours, there are endless hours of amusement deciding on your favourite combination.