Update Jan 2016
The chap never did want it lengthened (hurrah), although I would have made it just an inch longer, maybe, if I could.

Notes at finishing point
It’s a moot whether or not this is finished: the chap would like it longer, but he’s wearing it all the time anyway, so it can’t be so bad at its current length.

I’ll see about maybe lengthening it later in the year when he want to be wearing something warm, and there’ll be more light to see my knitting by.

My first gansey, which I’m knitting based on various gansey recipes and my chap’s measurements. I’m half-heartedly blogging this as I go over at http://maedchenimmond.tumblr.com/tagged/gansey-knitting-a...

Progress

CO 260, long-tail, with 2 strands for tail, 1 strand for loops. 2x2 rib.

3 inches of ribbing.

Increase 28 sts (=288 sts) evenly around (groups of 9, 10, 3x9, 10, 2x9, 10, 3x9, 10, 9, twice)

Stocking stitch: gauge after 3 inches = 8 sts and 10.5 rows per inch

Stocking stitch: gauge after 7.5 inches = 8sts and 10.6 rows per inch

At 100 rows of stocking stitch, total = 12.5 inches.

Divider = purl row, knit row, purl row, knit row (with incs - 28 sts total)

Pattern: k1, moss st over 19, k1 (’knobbles’); p2, c4 (cross every 4 rows), p1, c4, p2 (’cables’); k1, chevron on 19 sts, k1 (’chevrons’); cables; knobbles; cables; chevrons; cables; knobbles; gusset.

Round gauge in pattern = 24 rnds / 2.25 inches = 10 2/3 rnds/inch.

3-and-a-bit inches for the gussets, and now I’ve split for front and back. The photos show better that real life how my gauge has slipped a bit now I’m working flat…

13 chevron repeats in total for the back. Have now started on the front (6 repeats, 30/06/13) (9 repeats, 14/07/13).

Turns out it needs 11 rpts for the front, and 14 for the back.

11 rpts for front completed (29/7/2013). Split for neck: 53 + 15 each side, decreasing to 53 each side over 30 rows.

144 sts picked up/knitted for collar. 8 rnds in 2x2 rib, then bind off p2 * return 2 to lh ndl p2tog, p1 * etc

7/9/2013 picked up 144 stitches for arm

12/10/2013 Sleeve decreased to 72 stitches, then ribbing started. After try-on, determined only needs to be about 20”.

13/10/2013 WE HAVE A SLEEVE! Now to make another…

3/11/2013 second sleeve finished.

First weekend in December 2013: added 2.5” to each sleeve and reknitted the cuffs.

SWATCH:

Pre-washing

Stocking stitch = 8 sts and 11 rows to 1 inch

Pattern = 8.75 sts and 12 rows to 1 inch

Post-washing

Stocking stitch = 8 sts and 10.8 rows to 1 inch

Pattern = 8.75 sts and 12 rows to 1 inch

Swatch:

CO 64, 2x2 ribbing for 20 rows. Increased 6 sts (YOs ktbl) for stocking st section (70 sts), purl st and end each needle for faux seam.

Patterns to swatch

Domnick book:

Staithes B p. 64
Mrs Redford p. 66
Wick p. 66 (chevrons)
? Buckie and Mallaig p. 69
Step from Staithes p. 77

Thompson book:

Filey IX p. 59
Filey V p. 50

Useful library books:

http://hooke.lib.cam.ac.uk/cgi-bin/bib_seek.cgi?cat=ul&am...

http://hooke.lib.cam.ac.uk/cgi-bin/bib_seek.cgi?cat=ul&am...

http://hooke.lib.cam.ac.uk/cgi-bin/bib_seek.cgi?cat=ul&am...

Useful website:

http://www.ganseys.com/