Inspiration
It’s Here! Field Guide No. 19: Marls
Just in time for prime knitting season, we are proud to announce the arrival of something very beautiful.
Hello, hooray, welcome to the world, Field Guide No. 19: Marls!
Order your copy right here.
The star?
The one and only Cecelia Campochiaro.
What’s the game here?
Marling. You know, that thing where you knit while holding more than one strand of yarn at a time.
Cecelia brings us a new world of knitting that allows for all sorts of play with color and texture. We thought we knew what marling was about before we started working with Cecelia on this Field Guide. Well, let’s just say we’re lifelong learners.
This is knitting that is full of surprise, and ease, and unpredictable beauty. We’ve been itching to make these projects for months now, so it’s going to be a great season for that thing we all love to do: exquisite, simple knitting.
We have brought in Cecelia’s favorite marling yarns for this Field Guide, so there’s a whole new world of yarns for us to play with. Three brand-new yarns, in huge palettes. We hardly know where to begin.
The Lookbook
If you want to dive right in and see all the designs and yarns in an easy-to-shop form, here’s our brand-new lookbook.
The Designs
Cecelia’s designs explore marling in five very cool projects. There’s something for every knitter, simple to spectacular.
Striped Marl Hat. This is Woolfolk Tynd, a yarn we have admired for years. It is called Ultimate Merino because of the careful way it is made. It is sometimes mistaken for cashmere. We’ve never seen a merino like this before, and it’s a great way to start your marling journey. Two skeins gives you the chance to try out marling on a sweet little hat.
Marlogram Scarf/Cowl. What happens when you marl two yarns that already have a slow gradient shift to them? Who knows? That’s the fun here. With Freia Fine Handpaints Ombré Merino Lace, you’re creating a superbly lightweight fabric with a one-of-a-kind color story. If you got lost in Cecelia’s Parallelogram Scarf from Field Guide No. 5: Sequences, this one is your next obsession.
Spectra Sweater. Cecelia turns her marled stripes vertical with a sideways construction. This is four pieces of knitting, starting at the center seams and working toward the cuffs. Stripes are different on the front and back, so the whole thing is an exercise in Seeing What Marling Does. We’re going to make ours oversized for max cocoon effect. Cecelia chose Isager Tvinni for this sweater—a light, classic wool yarn that we’re carrying in 20 colors.
Swarf. Is this technically a dickie? Yes. Are we making up a new name for a time-honored garment? Absolutely. This is such a cool, modern layer to add—that layer that we crave when we don’t crave a bunch of extra sleevage. And the yarn here, Woolfolk Tynd, is as luxurious and subtle a yarn as you could ever want.
Color Explosion Throw. Here’s the project that has us starry eyed. Cecelia gives us 11 colors of Rowan Felted Tweed and shows us the potential for combining colors in a stunning range of pairs. This is 55 different marls. We made a Color Explosion Throw bundle of Felted Tweed (25 balls, 11 colors!) so you can get lost in a world of marling.
What’s Ahead
So much! Watch for the knitalong that begins shortly.
If you’re interested in these new yarns, we’ve brought in what we think is a heroic supply, but we are often wrong these days. So spend some time with the Field Guide No. 19 lookbook and find something that piques your curiosity.
I think this is my favorite Field Guide yet, all of the projects are stunning and useful.
perfect timing for me!! I wanted a marled sweater!!
Love the color and the faux turtle neck design of the swarf. Could it be transformed into a knitted sleeveless sweater? Just continue down the back to match the front. Then sew the sides. Probably some adjustment for arm holes so they are more finished. I love the idea of not having bulky sleeves, but I would like to be able to wear it even without a jacket.
Looks like the “swarf” sizes vary only in length, so you would have to make sure the width was sufficient!
Gorgeous designs. Congratulations, this looks like another amazing field guide.
On my needles – the Color Explosion throw.
For the first run with this pattern I’m making a smaller version baby blanket in a washable cotton. It’s a fun easy pattern great for TV and travel knitting. After that then the full blown Rowan Tweed version for me.
See you in Nash-Vegas on Sat. for the knit in at MDK World Headquarters.
What a great idea to use all the felted tweed colors!!!
Wish I could be there with you. Have a beverage and think of me.
Woo hoo!
could you substitute Tvinni for the tynd or could they be used together. d
I’ve got my field guide and ordered yarn for several projects. The scarf and hat. Maybe I’ll try the sweater at a later date. I wish I could be in Nashvill but that’s not possible so I’ll wait for Zoom. Happy Marling.
Wow! A swarf for Kay to add to her swoncho and skort! A new throw for Kermit! (Cecilia’s designs look great!)
I love these designs! But also: Where can I get that purple coat the model is wearing????
A marl convert here! My lifelong dislike of marling was instantly flipped to “must do marling now” after seeing these pictures. But seriously, that dickey thingie needs to be a vest. Easily converted, of course, but odd as is.
swarf. Need the swarf. Will add a back to it… me thinks.
What the price per ball for the Swarf in Canadian dollars?
I think that the swarf is pure genius, warm, light (not bulky), and very pretty. The projects are lovely, especially the blanket, which is drop dead gorgeous!
$275.
Will you be having kits for the sweater? I love Cecelia’s colors for the sweater so much!!
I’ve loved marls since I first saw the long discontinued Classic Elite Beatrice. Ideas for a marled sweater have been swirling in my brain for a few months. This field guide couldn’t have come at a better time.
This is going to be such joy to explore. I’ve got a not insubstantial quantity of lace weights ready to marl.
Oh…such good, beautiful ideas and knits. LOVE this workbook. Serious lace weight games starting soon.
Cecelia and MDK are what my knitting dreams are made of. Great Field Guide!!
Thanks to a wonderful long-time knitting friend, I am now hooked on MDK! I just downloaded Marls 19 and, even though it’s difficult to choose a favorite, SWARF is at the top of my To Knit pile. It’s perfect for pulling on over a cotton turtleneck. Marlogram Scarf next and then Spectra Sweater with those necessary vertical stripes 😉 . . . There just aren’t enough hours in a day!