Guernsey Jumper Kits are here!

Guernsey Jumper Kits, a Heritage knit

Guernsey Jumpers are traditionally made with 5ply wool yarn, and feature stitch patterns which are local to the harbour or fishing village where they are made. (The initials of the fisherman were worked into the underarm gusset too.) Around Cornwall, there are many stitch patterns with names such as Lizard Rope, Polperro Diamonds, Eddystone lighthouse and Porthleven. The 5ply wool was usually knitted “in the round” on 4 long DPN needles, size 14, in old money, and the firm tension of the work made the jumper a snug fit with the inherent waterproofing of tight knitted wool. Nowadays, we don’t wear our jumpers so tight, and so a Guernsey jumper is knitted on size 2.25 but still made in the same way, in the round, then divided at the chest to knit the patterned yolk parts separately, joining at the shoulder, and working the sleeves in the round top down. This is so the cuffs could be unpicked and reworked when they got worn. Have a look at this link for more interesting history

I knitted my husband a Guernsey jumper about 10 years ago, and it still looks as good as new. I used Frangipani Guernsey 5 ply, and a great friendship with Jan and Russ Stanland who run Frangipani Guernsey 5ply also began that day.

Gorgeous Yarns not only stock Frangipani Guernsey 5ply in all colours, and in 250g and 500g cones, but we now have a limited number of Guernsey Jumper kits too! In the kit you get 1kg of yarn (which should be enough to knit a Guernsey Jumper for an average size adult), 2 patterns, (one for a traditional jumper and one for a women’s garment that I have designed using Frangipani Yarn) and a small bottle of “Soak” wool wash, all in a neat hessian shopper bag, and all for £50, instead of a combined price of £71. So, if you have always fancied knitting a Guernsey, grab one of these kits and have a go. (They were very popular at StitchFest SW last weekend, so don’t wait!)

I have been redesigning several of my patterns; the Petit4 kit is having a revamp, and the Lake Como shrug is being reviewed. I’ll let you know how I get on. Did you know, Gorgeous Yarns have a few patterns on Love Knitting available to download? We have more planned for Love Knitting in the New year, I’ll keep you posted.

Talking of patterns, when you buy a pattern from our website, don’t worry about the high postage, we know about the glitch and will refund £2.50 to you after your order has been processed.

I’m busy crocheting this jumper. The pattern is from Inside Crochet, issue 82 called Sara by Rhian Drinkwater. I’m making it in Pirkka Lanka in this lovely blackberry colour. I’m trying to finish it so I can wear it at New Year. I’m also planning to do a mini CAL, using the 25g balls of yarn I hand dyed with natural dyes earlier this year. Read next week’s blog for all the details, pattern links etc.

Bye for now,

Caroline