In other words, 1.4kg of Frangipani 5-ply Guernsey wool in traditional “Falmouth Navy”. I intend to knit Flamborough I from Patterns for Guernseys, Jersey, and Arans by Gladys Thompson.
I’ll knit it to fit my husband. He’s all ruddy and Celtic and stuff, and he has a beard. When it’s finished I’ll do a photoshoot of him wearing it, run the pictures through a grainyblack-and-whitefilter, and post one hell of a blog entry. Then I’ll probably buy a sweater blocking frame and hang the damn thing on the wall.
Nothing to take a picture of yet. I tried to get a gauge of 8sts/in, but the yarn is so solid that even on a 2.25mm needle I can only get 7.125sts/in, so that will have to do. To get it any tighter I’d have to pull it harder when I knit, and that’s not on.
No matter how many times I measure my husband’s chest, it’s still 44 inches, dammit (though maybe I’ll measure a few more times. For science.) With the recommended 2" of ease, that’s a lot of knitting, though at 7.125sts instead of 8sts that’s only 328 sts/round instead of 368. I’m grateful for small mercies.
I had to order a 2.25mm circular needle with a long enough cable. My favorite Susan Bates Quicksilver maxes out at 29" at that size, and that won’t work, so I went with KnitPicks, which is the closest analogue for slipperiness and shape of point, though not nearly as whippy.
As in, because I’m a bad influence, or as in, for the first time? If the first time … eeeeek. I apologize for what I’ve done.
A warning about their yarns, though: I think they’re made of shorter-staple fibers than premium knitting yarns. They tend to fuzz and lose their shape a little more than usual. Still, they’re a fair bargain if you want to knit a sensible everyday wool sweater for under $100.
How do their interchangeable needles work for you? I bought some right when they came out, and they wouldn’t stay locked, so I sent them back. Have they improved?
I’ve been having issues screwing the needles into the cords…I don’t know if they’re stripped or not. I got another set along the way somewhere and it’s working fine. I have TONS of regular needles.
At this point I begin the gusset increases under each arm, which means I’m about 3 inches away from dividing the front and back chest to knit them flat. I considered steeking the armholes, but this is worsted wool and that’s not the traditional way to make a gansey, so my Knitting Guru–a British woman who doesn’t approve of nonsense–has convinced me to knit them flat. Sigh.
This is nominally for my husband and his 44" chest, so it is 46" or 330 stitches around. Knit of 5-ply Guernsey wool on size US1/2.25mm needles.
Do share your handy work with us when it’s finished.
