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| This Le Tricoteur Guernsey was purchased over thirty years old via Herm. All photos by Salt Water New England |
The authentic Guernsey Jumper is a hard-wearing and durable sweater/jumper, comfortable to wear, and will last for decades.
With a real Guernsey, there is no front or back and the jumpers are unisex. Made of tightly woven English worsted wool, these were made for Guernsey fishermen in the 16th century, and block wind better than any other sweater/jumper.
Thanks to this blog for introducing me to this remarkable garment, featured in the BBC's "History of the World in 100 Objects". Tough, water-resistant and warm, this sweater is ideal for when the weather gets rough. The Brigadier of the British 7th Armored Division commissioned hundreds of Guernseys in Khaki for the current generation of the famed 'Desert Rats' in Iraq. The Royal Tank Command wears them in Black. Of course, the Royal Navy favors the original color, worn by some of Admiral Nelson's crew at Trafalgar.
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| Real Guernseys are only made on the English Channel Island of Guernsey. |
From their site:
"Every garment made by Le Tricoteur is finished by hand and carries a label signed by the knitter responsible. a knitter who is very likely to be a descendant of those ladies whose skill formed the basis of the whole industry."
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| Navy is the best and automatic first Guernsey color to get. |
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| This striped version is very popular with the yachties who visit the island. |
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| Knitted From Tightly Twisted Oiled Wool |
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| Indigo Blue |
From their site:
Nice sweaters!
ReplyDeleteVery nice! Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteI own a navy one. These are truly fantastic sweaters!
ReplyDeleteI got one from Wool Overs many years ago, and it is still a favorite.
ReplyDeleteOn a trip to Guernsey in 2017, I bought five Guernsey sweaters. However, I bought them from Guernsey Woollens. It's a family run business, and less expensive than Le Tricoteur. Paul and his son were very gracious, showed me their operation, and even delivered the sweaters to my hotel. Even better, they were 55 pounds, as opposed to the usual 78. Whattah bahgan! As much as I like the original wool Guernsey, I find that my "go to" sweater is a cotton, crew-neck one that I bought. It's a great weight - substantial, but not too heavy - and can be worn year round.
ReplyDeleteI concur that these jumpers are great products. What's more, I found it easy to purchase for delivery here in the US, there were no billing surprises or lengthy delays. The jumper is durable, versatile, and a real staple in windy, chilly weather.
ReplyDeleteProper ganseys here: http://www.propagansey.co.uk
ReplyDelete