The first day of walking in a snowstorm this year, I wore my thick wool (felted fabric) coat that hangs down to my knees and helps protect my legs from the cold. However, it was soaked in about a half hour and made it hard to make any time in the wet as it got heavier and made it that much harder to make time against the wind that was also blowing (I don't mind walking in those conditions, as I love the cold and snow). The next time it was snowing when we went out, and I wore a PVC waterproof jacket with hood. It was insulated and kept me warm enough, but rather than getting soaked with the wet snow, the snow piled up on the top of my body. The legs were then exposed, though, and got really wet and cold, so I'm going to look for a pair of waterproof pants to match the jacket. They remain lighter weight and being waterproof and pretty much wind proof as well, will make it easier to keep up the pace when we are out exercising in all kinds of weather. So I'm choosing modern technology over old. I don't have access to unscoured wool AKA "wool in the grease" to make a nearly waterproof reproduction sweater, or I'd be tempted to try it out to see how effective it is and how long it lasts in those conditions. I'm wondering what wet sheep's wool in the grease smells like after being repeatedly in those conditions, too.
True, but I still think humidity contributes. If we have the swamp cooler going at work when it starts to get hot, it feels colder than AC at the same temp due to the dampness it puts out.
Sounds like a great sweater. Do you have any pics posted anywhere of your sweaters?
A "real" fisherman fishes. A real "fisherman's sweater" keeps a real fisherman warm. I fish. If my sweater (knit in the traditional style) keeps me warm, than it is just as much a real fisherman's sweater as a sweater made in the 1930s or even the 1830's. This thread is about my discovery that knitting methods that were still common into the 1930's produced much warmer garments than what we produce today and call "fisherman's sweaters." And, this thread is about my concerns that these traditional knitting methods are being lost. The tools for those traditional knitting methods are no longer being mass produced, and one by one, suitable yarns are no longer being spun.
We agree that a sweater knitted in the traditional style, worn by a Irish fisherman fishing for cod on the Finnish Sea in 1830 was a real "Fisherman's Sweater?" Likewise, we agreed on the one worn fishing the Flemish Cap in the 1930's. How about one knitted in the same style worn fishing the Grand Banks in the 1950's? How about one knitted in the same style worn fishing Bering Sea in the 1980's? How about the sweater worn fishing in the Gulf of the Farralons in the 1990's? The correct answer is: The sweaters that kept their fishermen warm were real fishermen's sweaters.
I got real cold fishing in the Gulf of the Farralons in 1996. I was wearing a sweater that I bought as a "fisherman's sweater". That sweater was a fake fisherman's sweater! Even packing it away for 200 years will not make it a real fisherman's sweater, because it never had the essential warmth that defines a real fisherman's sweater. In 200 years, some museum academic sitting in her warm office, might see that old and worn sweater with its thick oiled wool, cables, and think -- This is a "real fisherman's sweater!" She would be wrong. In fact, that sweater would had survived because it was not warm enough to be a practical fishing garment. In truth, that was a real mall sweater, just right for Christmas shopping in California.
Real fisherman's sweaters are real, not because they are old, but because they work for fishing. You think of them as old because there are not many of them being made any more. That day of freezing misery started me to wondering, "How DID those old fishermen stay warm?" At the time, I thought I was wearing a garment knit in the authentic style of a fisherman's sweater. It had the cables, oiled wool, and seemed thick. Then, I did not understand, that it was not knit tightly enough to be warm enough to be worn fishing -- even in warm California. The label claimed that it was a "fisherman's sweater." There was no disclaimer on the label that it was only knit in the approximate style of a "Fisherman's Sweaters," and was NOT as warm as sweaters commonly worn by authentic fishermen.
The fisherman's sweater that is sitting on my 5 long steel needles will be a real fisherman's sweater. Strictly speaking, now it is only being knitted in the style of a fisherman's sweater. But, when it gets worn in the wind and the saltwater, when it gets smeared with fish blood and fish slime, when it smells of herring oil and diesel, then it will be a real fisherman's sweater.
Aaron
My Mother's Mother had a King James Bible with her when she filled out the paperwork for my birth certificate. She believed that Bible, and only that Bible was the 'real truth'. As you pointed out earlier, the KJB changed English. The spelling of my name is one of those changes.
Wet wool is heavy. And, wool with "grease" can be smelly when wet. (Wet dogs and mules do not seem to mind, but everyone else seems to object.)
And, there is always that little problem of wet wool losing its strength. (There was a period of extended rain in the Adirondacks when my wool pants just sort of disintegrated.)
And after having been wet, synthetics are easier to wash, and they dry faster.
But, wool has beauty and personality. A pair of handknit wool socks says love in the way no mass produced sock ever could. Any handknit sweater is a joy.
I just think that we should push wool to its limits.
Go for it Aaron, and create your own great woolen sweaters, from hand spun to hand knitted, Way to go.
Otto is agreeing with you about the hand knitted socks. His mother knitted his sockswhen he was still at home, with a tight knitting hand. After Otto's mother died (at 91), a friend's mother took over and she knitted Otto's socks much looser. He loved the soft socks, but went throught them like butter. Naturally, when I started to knit his socks (only in the last 5 years,) mine are the best, and yes they are always woolen socks, although I do cheat, knitting them from super wool. I have allways felt about knitting socks, like I feel about growing my own potatoes. Lots of work and the bugs are way ahead of me, by the time I get to harvest them. The way Otto wears socks, it is faster and easier to buy them. But, love.....won out, LOL, and his constandly telling me that his mother could do it so much better.....LOL (clever man), put me on the sock knitting trail. Yes I do a lot of re-knittting of the toes. My price is that Otto shows all his socks to everyone telling them that I knitted them for him. Funny twist to this story, is that Otto is very very colour blind, so I knit him the wildest socks you can imagine. There are great colourful sock wools on the market today, and I have lots of fun with tham. Everyone is amazed that my conservative Otto is so wild in his sock choices...LOL
As i wrote before Aaron I respect your work and research, I have read many researches about such materails. I would advice you to look at publications , by variousTextile Institutions, as well as Nasa .. who researched many materials for use in Space travel etc. I am now back into my own researchand my own art/craft making after the exhibition. i have written my points of view. Have no intention, nore the time to repeat any of my words. Wensday i have a meeting with Art teachers from the North of the country , in the Exhibition were 5 of mine take place, The subject i was asked to talk about is "The Creative process that lead me to make those work"...thus have to think if i take some added work. On Saturday i have a Bus full of people in the other exhibtion [the one i curated ' A Present for Eve & her daughters" , the subject there is "Other Kinds of Art ". Over the years i deal with Students who study for Masters degrees or Doctorates, [ in various categories somehow related to Textile , Sociology of it or History ]. From Time to time , i get to speak to , or teach persons who for some reason want to reconstruct some amcient or Antique technique. And it is ok. This is the way we all particiapte in this wonderful world of Textiles. I am very very lucky that i have so many opportunities to see it from so many sides , other cultures , other periods , other points of view.. I never stop to learn more to read more to hear more.
People change points of view and we all are better off when we can freely say, this is my point of view , those are my findings, But also respect Other points of view , other findings.. There are so many researches done over the world. I am a great believer in the "Spirit of the Time " = the Zeitgeist... if i thought about something , it is VERY possible that Others thought about it as well ... And we all contribute to the Common knowledge... Researching something is wonderful , telling about it to others is wonderful, esp if those others are interested. This isn`t a cult or a religion that you have to try and PROOVE your findings at all costs. I trust you write to us about YOUR findings, I also trust that there have been researches like this before. Every research makes us richer in knowledge. You have stated your point about the use of the term REAL , i have explained to you my point of view, why and how i use the term REAL. And i thought we could moove on to exploring other things. Thus i don`t understand this repeated post. I am sorry that you feel that you have to Hammer it into my mind like that. i have said i UNDERSTAND that this is YOUR DEFFINITION of it. Thank you for the effort you put into it. mirjam
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