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From: "hlmw" <>
Subject: [CORNISH] Guernseys and Knit Frocks
Date: Mon, 1 Nov 2010 11:04:44 -0600


My daughter has just returned from a visit to Cornwall with a book
writtenby Mary Wright: "Cornish Guernseys and Knit-frocks. I have read about
the garments as they were knitted and worn in the past but was quite amazed
to see in the phortographs the patterns, some of which I have worked on a 6"
square this week just to see what they really look like, however, here is
something I have wondered about:
'I noticed that the knitting needles called for are sizes, ll, 12 or even
13. According to my experience with knitting and checking Canadian and UK
needle sizes which are the same, 11 and 12 are what I knitted baby clothes
on, they are very small needles. Also, I noted 5 ply worsted, which is a
fairly heavy yarn unless Cornish yarns are different.
I am doing my practice work on size 7 Can/UK needles with a fairly heavy 4
ply yarn so that I can see the patterns as they emerge.
Where is all this leading? I want someone who knits or who has seen the
Guernseys and Knit-frocks to tell me whether they are knitted on very small
size needles. I can only think that a tightly knitted garment would keep out
the cold and rain better than something loose and bulky.
The photos in the book are excellent as are the diagrams of stitches and
other information. I still want some first-hand knowledge from knitters who
usually knit for 2 small parrots ... well, let's not go into that yet!
Lorna May in Alberta, Canada

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