It's a Stitch Up

As well as socks, I’ll be taking other hand-knits to keep me cosy in Norway. My grey Cash Iroha sweater was knitted for this purpose – double-stranded in the body with double-thickness collar and cuffs.

Cash Iroha sweater

My Big Wool cardigan, of course, will be coming with me. This is Constance by Kim Hargreaves. It’s always been to warm to wear in the UK and I’m not that fond of it. Hopefully it will prove useful.

Big Wool cardigan

My Butterfly cardigan is also pretty snug, despite the gaping front. Noro Silk Garden and Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk Aran make a very warm combo. The pattern is from the book Noro Knits by Jane Ellison(Ravelry link), beware the sizing, mine came out enormous and had to be taken in at the shoulders on my sewing machine.

Butterfly cardigan

To prevent face-freeze (that’s a technical term), I made myself a looped cowl in my new favourite yarn, Colinette Cadenza. With yarn held double, using 6.5 mm needles, I provisionally cast on 56 stitches and worked in double moss until it was long enough to wrap around twice, then grafted the ends together, adding a full twist. I just can’t get grafting right on moss, I forget that it effectively adds two rows. No matter, no one will notice and I will have a warm face.

Cowl in Colinette Cadenza

I have a fantastic collection of merino layers to wear under my hand-knits, I use them for cycling and cold everyday wear:

• 2 pairs long Johns
• 3 T shirts
• 3 vests
• 1 pair glove liners
• Long sleeved base layer
• Long sleeve mid layer

And since, rather than shying away from adventure, I will be hiking in the mountains:

• A down jacket
• Gore-tex trousers
• Fleece-backed leggings
• Gore-tex boots
• Waterproof gloves
• Gaiters

If that lot wont keep me warm I’m not sure what will.

What will I be packing all of them into? My gorgeous new Orla Kiely oversized bag of course! I CAN be warm and stylish at the same time.

Orla Kiely quilted leather bag