Requiem for a jumper

Dear Jumper,

Just over thirty years ago, on the 27th of December 1989, you were born in Heddal, a small village in Norway. In a house about 100 yards away from the famous Stavkirke.

100 yards from Heddal Stavkirke

It was cold, even at daytime, but luckily it stopped snowing.

Minus 19ºC at daytime

I had just decided to get divorced, and my whole world was about to change.
But you would be my companion in all the good and bad times to come.
You even accompanied me when I moved to the UK. And together we spent many hours at the tiller of WRT.

But sometime last winter you began to fall apart. You started to become (w)holy.
And I knew I had to face a time without you.
Which seemed impossible. I still loved you.
So there was only one thing I could do: clone you.

Before going to the UK I scanned your pattern, and the yarn was still available.

Lusekofte* Pattern

So 30 years, between two jumpers (and the maker, of course).

New jumper in the make

And if the picture above is not enough proof of there being two jumpers, this will do.

Two Lusekofte

Dear 1989 jumper, rest in peace…

PS Your replacement is still way too warm to wear inside the boat (as you were, when you were young), but it won’t be long before I’ll be on the tiller again, in wind and rain…

*The lusekofte (Norwegian for lice jacket), also called the Setesdalsgenser (Setesdal sweater) is a traditional Norwegian sweater, dating from the 19th century. The original sweater features a black and white design, the name referring to the isolated white stitches.