It is the Little Details

Collars and Cuffs

Hello everyone,

Firstly, I would like to say a great big hello to all the new subscribers, it is great to have you along for this adventure.

Welcome to the first update on the RNLI Gansey. I have been focusing on the details in the design before embarking on the large swatch that will be needed for knitting the full-size Gansey.

Collars and Cuffs - Swatches

As you can see if you look closely at the image there seems to be cabling or something similar at the collar and cuffs of the jumper - this is also evident in the younger T Cass’s jumper. This is where the fun starts - trying to recreate the image in knitting.

So I started with some small swatches to recreate the look from the photograph, using 2mm needles and Wooly Knit Guernsey Yarn.

A 4 x 4 cable pattern, it has a nice stitch pattern but is not very stretchy, so not suitable for collars and cuffs.

A 4 x 2 twisted stitch, which looks nice, but doesn’t have the depth of twist shown on the photograph.

A 4 x 2 cable - this is the nearest to the original photograph and gives a lovely stretchy piece of work suitable for collars and cuffs.

A 2 x 2 twisted stitch, the general opinion was that it would be best for a Gansey knitted for a teddy bear, but done as a 2 x 1 repeat, as the 2 purls gave too much width between the twists.

All the samples were washed and blocked the same as the finished Gansey will be.

Next Steps

Having chosen the 4 x 2 cable rib for the collar and cuffs, I am now knitting a larger swatch. I will be experimenting with the Isle of Wight knitted motif, to find one that pops within the knitting, more on this next time, then on to the body patterning.

I am knitting the large swatch on 2mm needles, 180 stitches, in the round, as per the finished garment, and I have added 6 extra stitches for a steek so I can lay the swatch out flat for counting the stitches and rows.

The next update will be about this swatch and some knitted fish for an event I will be part of in April, more on this nearer the time.

I think that is all for this update, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask in the comments or drop me a message. Take care, everyone, until next time.

Keep knitting.

Tracy xx

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Until next time, bye for now.

Order Your Own Gansey

My order book will be closed for commissions while I work on the RNLI Gansey. It will re-open later this year for commissions, so, 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.

Links:

Wooly Knits Gansey Yarn

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