And here you have the completed item, pinned out to within an inch of its life. The calculated stitch gauge – 8 st/in and 15 rw/in – wasn’t achievable during blocking. As a result, the gansey is a couple of inches wider and an inch longer than the hoped-for measurements. But better baggy than tight, and shorter than longer. If the length were any greater, it would be a tunic. The extra-long gussets were sewn shut before blocking. On the outside, you might not notice the odd gussets, but on the inside, it’s lumpy. But even so, I am pleased with the result.
Umbellifer
This week, the Caithness Orchestra started its rehearsals for the coming season, and I decided to go back. Last year, I was away so frequently it didn’t seem fair to only occasionally attend. I managed to get some playing in at this first rehearsal, but it still sounds horrible. There were also lots of notes that were beyond my current sight-reading skills. Perhaps I should practice more.
Another umbellifer
The rehearsals are in the evening. Consequently, I need to drive home in the dark, or near dark. Although I used to regularly drive at night, now I avoid it when possible. Other cars’ headlights dazzle, especially modern LED lamps. The edges of the road are less distinguishable, particularly on country lanes. So I was curious to see how the car’s ‘auto headlights’ would perform as I’d not yet driven it at night. They worked brilliantly. The low beams jumped to high beams and back to low beams almost as if I’d done it myself.
The sewing of the new summer jacket continues. The photo shows some of the hand basting. The purple is the backing fabric for the blue embroidered fabric, which was too lightweight on its own and needed bolstering. The circular item is the padstitched collar. The padstitching gives it a curve and adds structure. Presently, I’m sewing the lining and outer together at the centre front.
We haven’t had words for a while, so here are a few: in 1975, ‘cling film’, ‘debit card’, ‘greenhouse gas’, ‘internet’, ‘lightsaber’, ‘psychobabble’, and ‘wide area network’ were added to the Oxford English Dictionary.
Still another umbellifer
I’ve been knitting on the next gansey too but haven’t included a photo – an inch of k2 p2 ribbing isn’t that interesting! I have chosen the pattern, and again it will be based on a Johnston Collection photo. The name on the plate is ‘John Nicolson’, and shows two fishermen, but there’s no way of knowing which sitter is Nicolson. One of the ganseys has a pattern of large diamonds and chevrons, and the other has narrow panels of chevrons. It is far, far simpler than the blue gansey just completed, and was chosen for this very reason. The hope is that it can be knit far quicker, too.
Hi Margaret,
Handsome sweater!
My husband and I have had cataract surgery, which removes the “filter” and makes bright lights appear brighter. Our optometrist gave us special brown-lens glasses that we leave in the car. Huge help with oncoming LED lights.
That is a particularly nice design. My sister and I will be in Wick (and surrounding areas) in late September and I will be looking out for ganseys as well as the ancestral sites!
There’s a display of Gordon’s ganseys at Wick Heritage Centre, 18-27 Bank Row. Allow a couple of hours for a visit, as it’s bigger than it looks on the outside. For genealogical info, the best place would be the Caithness Archive at Nucleus, opposite the airport.
Oh, even better! Thank you so much for that information.
Some eye doctors recommend yellow lenses for night driving.
The gansey definitely passes the trotting-horse test!
Pad stitching! I read about that in a book on tailoring. I had no idea you were a trained tailor.
I am by no wise a trained tailor! I’ve picked up various techniques over the years from books, magazines, and the internet, but not from formal training.
The new words certainly trigger with me. It is amazing how these have become so much a part of our lives and we’re nothing before 75.