Originally published Thursday, October 8, 2009
Yes, dear reader, Norfolk is completed–knitted, washed, blocked, the whole shebang. What a fun sweater to knit. I love knitting Ganseys anyway, and this one is especially fun because it is simple and quick, and the directions are clear and free from error. The yarn I used, Knit Picks Gloss fingering weight, which is a blend of 70% merino wool and 30% silk, yields a very nice fabric at 7.5 stitches per inch, firm but not stiff, with excellent stitch definition, even after washing. The sweater did grow a bit when I washed it. The sleeves, which were just a tad short when I finished the knitting, grew about half and inch in length and are now perfect.
The finished sweater is lightweight, making it very versatile. It will be suitable for cool weather when worn by itself, and in cold weather, it will be nice and snuggly worn over a turtleneck. And this yarn is so soft that it feels wonderful against my bare skin. I could wear this sweater very comfortably without a shirt underneath it. YMMV, of course. A person’s sensitivity to the itch factor is a very individual matter.☺
I wasn’t quite sure what I was going to do with the neckband. I knitted it according to the directions, but I wasn’t sure I wanted such a deep neckband. I was afraid it would act as a big neon arrow pointing to the sagging skin under my chin. LOL As knitted, the neckband is long enough to make into a folded neckband, so I had that option. After consulting with Himself and looking at it both ways, we both concluded that a folded neckband would make the sweater look somewhat ho-hum, while the larger neckband makes the sweater look really special. If ever I change my mind, it would be a simple matter to fold the neckband and tack it down, but I’m very please with the neckband as is, even if it does emphasize my “old lady” neck.☺
Only time will tell how well the Knit Picks Gloss holds up to wearing and washing, but my impression of the yarn up to this point is that Gloss would be a good choice for any sweater that is knit to a gauge of 7-8 spi. Unfortunately, Knit Picks no longer offers Gloss in this lovely coppery burnt orange color called Pumpkin. I’m glad I bought 20 skeins. I used 10 for this sweater and have plenty left to knit a pair of socks and a shawl.
Now for something completely different. Thanks to the gentle poking and prodding of Cindy in Texas, last night I finished fixing the second sleeve of my Dale of Norway Gjende …
and today I may just work up the nerve to cut the armholes and sew in the sleeves. I really do want to wear Gjende this winter, and seeing as how it is already October, I need to get crackin’.
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All Kinds Of Knitting 