Hello everyone,
Time for a quick update on the latest commission, I have been busy I promise. Below are photos that chart my progress over the last three weeks.
How long has it taken?
I am always asked ‘how long does it take to knit a Gansey?’
So this time I am timing myself as I knit, so the last photo is where I am currently and the Gansey is 11”/28cm.
Are you ready for the breakdown of the timing?
It takes 20 minutes to knit one row, so that is 1 hour to knit three rows…
So, to date, this has taken approximately 33 hours to knit and I am only just beginning to start the body patterning.
What Tools am I using?
I thought, in my infinite wisdom that knitting the Golden Gansey would be easier on a circular needle, with no long pointy needles waving around, just gentle knitting in my lap.
But, dear reader, I was wrong.
The easiest way to knit a Gansey at the gauge I am - (5ply Gansey yarn and 2mm knitting needles) - well, it turns out that double-ended needles and the Shetland knitting belt is definitely the way to go. It makes it easy to knit, and I do not need to spend a large amount of time on each row having to move the stitches around the needle. Because the Frangipani yarn is sticky, not in a bad way, just in a very solid woolly way, it does not slide on the circular needle cable.
Vintage Knitting Item
This is a Shetland Knitting Belt held by The Scottish Fisheries Museum and is unique in that it is the only one in their collection made from seal skin, although the post does not say how old the item is.
The Facebook post is here
Knitting Oddities
This may or may not become a feature on the posts, it all depends on what pops up in my newsfeed, or if you come across a weird story that is knitting or yarn-related feel free to share them.
Last week I heard a news story about a knitted satellite…
Yup, the story is real. Two British companies have come together and created an innovative gold-plated tungsten ‘wrapped rib’, knitted on a knitting machine, which will be part of the antenna, and it is due to be launched next year.
For more information on this story click here.
Well, I think that is enough from me for one missive, I will be back next week with another update - spoiler alert I have started the second row of arrows design, and it looks amazing.
Take care, everyone, until next time.
Tracy x
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Until next time, bye for now.
Order Your Own Gansey
I will be shortly opening up my order book again for commissions if you would like me to design and knit a Gansey for you, please either watch out for the announcement or drop me a line for details.
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