# I just bought a deconstructed gansey **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 15, 2016, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-bought-a-deconstructed-gansey/759994 "2016-07-15T18:47:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2016, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-bought-a-deconstructed-gansey/759994/1 "2016-07-15T18:47:10Z")
In other words, 1.4kg of Frangipani 5-ply Guernsey wool in traditional “Falmouth Navy”. I intend to knit [Flamborough I](http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/flamborough-pattern-i-diamond-moss-and-cable) 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 [grainy](http://www.bbc.co.uk/staticarchive/38355041e8789e86870f4e66b8097ae2b234f066.jpg) [black](http://somebodyandsons.com/shop/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Dutch-Ganseys-2.png)-and-[white](http://littlechurchknits.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/gansey13.jpg) [filter](https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/73/ba/78/73ba786ea96f24cb29dd4721d9502283.jpg), 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. When I finish. _When_. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2016, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-bought-a-deconstructed-gansey/759994/2 "2016-07-15T19:05:11Z")
I’m working my way through [this book](https://www.amazon.com/Great-American-Aran-Afghan/dp/1893762173/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1468609341&sr=1-1&keywords=great+american+aran+afghan). ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2016, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-bought-a-deconstructed-gansey/759994/3 "2016-07-15T19:20:26Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > I’m working my way through [this book](https://www.amazon.com/Great-American-Aran-Afghan/dp/1893762173/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1468609341&sr=1-1&keywords=great+american+aran+afghan). I knooooow, you’ve been posting the squares to Facebook. What yarn are you using? ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2016, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-bought-a-deconstructed-gansey/759994/4 "2016-07-15T19:26:21Z")
Some acrylic I picked up at Hobby Lobby. I wasn’t going to spend a ton of money when I was going to have to buy at least a dozen skeins. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2016, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-bought-a-deconstructed-gansey/759994/5 "2016-07-15T19:34:19Z")
You don’t want a woolen blanket, anyway. All the afghans I’ve done were Red Heart. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2016, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-bought-a-deconstructed-gansey/759994/6 "2016-07-15T19:42:07Z")
Definitely do not want woolen blankets in Florida. One of the patterns is twinging my trypophobia, so I may have issues with that one. ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Mama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5ac83/32.png) [@Atomic\_Mama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Mama)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-bought-a-deconstructed-gansey/759994/7 "2016-07-19T11:49:32Z")
Wowza! to all of you. I can knit, purl, and that’s that. And I am always unable to finish my projects … I get bored. ☹ 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2016, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-bought-a-deconstructed-gansey/759994/8 "2016-07-20T03:58:05Z")
Have fun ravelling! (It’s the reverse of unravelling a sweater). ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2016, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-bought-a-deconstructed-gansey/759994/9 "2016-07-20T04:57:34Z")
I am impressed! Pictures please. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2016, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-bought-a-deconstructed-gansey/759994/10 "2016-07-20T05:31:18Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2016, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-bought-a-deconstructed-gansey/759994/11 "2016-07-20T12:17:11Z")
I salute your talent (and ambition). Also, I only understood about 10% of the words in the OP 😛 Do share your handy work with us when it’s finished. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2016, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-bought-a-deconstructed-gansey/759994/12 "2016-07-20T14:29:43Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > 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. Damn…now I have to go look up KnitPicks for more supplies. Rowr. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2016, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-bought-a-deconstructed-gansey/759994/13 "2016-07-20T14:43:12Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Damn…now I have to go look up KnitPicks for more supplies. Rowr. 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. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2016, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-bought-a-deconstructed-gansey/759994/14 "2016-07-20T17:52:27Z")
Oh, I’ve shopped Knitpicks before…got patterns and yarn and interchangeable needles. So yeah, I’m well aware of the siren song that is Knitpicks. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2016, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-bought-a-deconstructed-gansey/759994/15 "2016-07-20T18:01:44Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Oh, I’ve shopped Knitpicks before…got patterns and yarn and interchangeable needles. > > So yeah, I’m well aware of the siren song that is Knitpicks. 🆒 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 love their fixed circulars, though. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2016, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-bought-a-deconstructed-gansey/759994/16 "2016-07-20T18:23:18Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2016, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-bought-a-deconstructed-gansey/759994/17 "2016-08-25T14:38:48Z")
Okie dokie, everybody … I have the body of the gansey knit up to the underarm gussets. Pics cuz it happened! [The whole body](https://c5.staticflickr.com/9/8385/28870230620_54c7d72e37_z.jpg) [Closeup for the pattern](https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8107/28870230160_f4f6a2c70f_z.jpg) [Upside down, for some reason](https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8219/28535898944_d9850ba015_z.jpg) 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. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2016, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-bought-a-deconstructed-gansey/759994/18 "2016-08-25T16:07:23Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > In other words, 1.4kg of Frangipani 5-ply Guernsey wool in traditional “Falmouth Navy”. I intend to knit [Flamborough I](http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/flamborough-pattern-i-diamond-moss-and-cable) from _Patterns for Guernseys, Jersey, and Arans_ by Gladys Thompson. I just had a flashback: > **[14 k of g in a f p d](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=398132)** > > What is the answer to this? It is one of those questions along the same lines of: 7 D in a W = 7 days in a week. but I can’t figure it out, any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2016, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-bought-a-deconstructed-gansey/759994/19 "2016-08-25T16:31:33Z")
Wow! Good job. 😃 I knit scarves and socks, so I am duly impressed!