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Downsizer Forum Index -> Make Your Own/DIY

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alison
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 12918
Location: North Devon

Posted: Wed Jan 05, 05 1:08 pm Post subject:
HWH, How long do these last, with normal wear. They look great.

hardworkinghippy

Joined: 01 Jan 2005
Posts: 1110
Location: Bourrou South West France

Posted: Wed Jan 05, 05 4:40 pm Post subject:
Hi Alison I have about fifteen pairs and some of them are more that 8 years old. I do have to darn them sometimes, but at least they're worth darning because they are as good as new. I wear them all year round and mostly wear boots, wellies and sandals. I'll ask some of my pals how their socks are doing and post some replies. HWH

Sarah D

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 2584

Posted: Wed Jan 05, 05 5:53 pm Post subject:
Another darner! I thought we were extinct............ I find it very therapeutic.

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Wed Jan 05, 05 6:19 pm Post subject:
Making up problems can be avoided by knitting in the round and grafting. That's something for you to look forward to! True Ganseys are knitted with no seams! (Ganseys are like arans, but usually navy worsted yarn with ornamentation only on the shoulders and at the welt.) Bet you didn't know there was so much technical codswallop to knitting! When I taks some pics. I'll post some of my work.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45676
Location: Essex

Posted: Wed Jan 05, 05 6:21 pm Post subject:
Blimey this is turning into the downsizer hand knitters club. Jolly good

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Wed Jan 05, 05 6:25 pm Post subject:
Well, I got fed up with all the techno-speak! At last I've found something I know about!

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45676
Location: Essex

Posted: Wed Jan 05, 05 6:26 pm Post subject:
Well all that knitting talk is the same to me, so carry on... By the way what is a worsted yarn?

alison
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 12918
Location: North Devon

Posted: Wed Jan 05, 05 7:08 pm Post subject:
I knit mine on 4 needles, so no seams, but I have only had them for about 18 month and younger (I have a sock permenently on the go, in the car, while waiting at school) I always darn my good boot socks, or proper jumper elbows, but these days shop socks just tear into a big hole they are not worth doing.

Sarah D

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 2584

Posted: Thu Jan 06, 05 1:27 pm Post subject:

Traditional British knitting is one of my hobby horses - more on the Ganseys. Worsted yarn is spun from a wool with a long staple - makes it stronger. Wool for Ganseys is quite often oiled as well in order to help the waterproofing; the sleeves are longer than usual to keep wrists dry. The patterns are distinctive to each area - patterns knitted in the north east will differ from those in the south, and quite often vary/varied from port to port. Thus, when a fisherman drowns, it is easier to discover where the poor soul came from due to the patterns on his Gansey. Initials are quite often worked in as well. The patterns are based on everyday items in the fishermens' lives - ropes/cables, nets, wave patterns etc. They have knitted gussets under the arms to facilitate easy movement on the boats. Knitted from good quality wool, they will last for years.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45676
Location: Essex

Posted: Thu Jan 06, 05 1:37 pm Post subject:

Sarah D wrote:

Worsted yarn is spun from a wool with a long staple

Ta, I've always wondered

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Thu Jan 06, 05 2:19 pm Post subject:
And a long staple is.....?

hardworkinghippy

Joined: 01 Jan 2005
Posts: 1110
Location: Bourrou South West France

Posted: Thu Jan 06, 05 2:21 pm Post subject:

I love darning too Sarah, but not too much! I loved your explanation about the jumpers, I don't think a lot of people realize the history and significance behind them.

Tahir, I note a certain

in your voice. A long "staple" is a long straight length which means the spun yarn is stronger because the staples are wound around themselves to make the yarn. So you can pull at the wool and it doesn't break easily.

A short staple gives a fluffy but weak yarn (like angora rabbit) and the longer the staple the stronger the yarn (some acrylics would cut your finger off before they broke!)

Angora has a long staple, but is crimped (there's another thread somewhere...

) which makes it strong and comfortable to wear at the same time.

It also is a dream to dye.

Here's a link to show what I mean:

https://www.totalfrance.com/france/gallery/irene

HWH

PS Can you tell Sarah & I went to the same textile college folks?

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45676
Location: Essex

Posted: Thu Jan 06, 05 2:26 pm Post subject:

hardworkinghippy wrote:

Tahir, I note a certain

in your voice.

Not me, worked in textiles since I was 10, just never got round to finding out what a worsted yarn is. I can tell you combed from carded at 10 paces

Sarah D

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 2584

Posted: Thu Jan 06, 05 3:49 pm Post subject:

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45676
Location: Essex

Posted: Thu Jan 06, 05 8:49 pm Post subject:
Need a bit of advice the missus is knitting a chunky scarf in a jersey knit, how can she stop it curling in? Or is that just the nature of the stitch?

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