15 April 09
Gansey Physics
One of my fellow Ravelers has spent a tremendous amount of time and effort investigating the history of knitting, in particular the knits used by fishermen in the past. In the days before microfiber, wearing something that would prevent hypothermia while at sea was literally a matter of life and death. A store-bought gansey that was not in the least bit wind-resistant launched Aaron Lewis into the quest for how they REALLY did it.
Aaron has a large number of excellent posts but the current one is a great place to start. I am wearied in advance by his stitch-count-per-inch but recognize its wisdom. Added, then, to the blogroll, and at some point in my life I will learn exactly how to use a knitting sheath. (I get the concept, but not the mechanics quite yet, though the sight of those beautifully turned wooden objects that actually have a function has me reeling…)
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I think the people using the sheath end up having a somewhat shuttle-like knitting motion (rather like the motions used by the current fast-knitting record-holder – she’s worth searching for on YouTube, if only to have your jaw drop at the sight).
Right, Rana, that’s how I knit when I have a needle under my arm, but I can’t do that with dpns or circs! which is why I’m interested. It’s definitely a shuttle-type motion.
I’ve seen that video and yes, it’s jaw-dropping, I don’t knit anywhere near that fast, but I do knit quite speedily (vs., say, purl or rib) when I’m on a roll with long (14”) needles.
I’m impressed. I’ve been teaching myself to do a sort of rock-and-back motion that’s similar, but I’m a bit handicapped in that I can only do knit stitches that way, and I am a hard-core “thrower” (though in my case it’s more of a pinch-the-yarn-and-wrap-it than anything resembling “throwing”).
A fast knitter I am not: I finish things by being able to knit while watching tv or reading a book. ;)