i have been looking for a union suit pattern for ever now with no luck.
does anybody know of a pattern? i could probably figure out somthing but i would much rather have a pattern to follow. please help me. i’m moving to alaska in a week and am looking forward to keeping warm. thanks.
Union suit?
Really seriously, when it gets cold up there again, go for store bought stuff. And, one piece things aren’t great, as you want to layer so that you can remove or add as needed. For the $ and time you’d put in, you could have a lot of really nice things like gloves and scarves. Just MHO.
Don’t have a pattern but I have a union suit and as soon as it wears out I’m going to pitch it and never buy another. Unless you’re a man they can be a pain. Try going to the bathroom when out on a dogsled and keeping your dogs from running off. I suggest buying a good pair of thermal underwear, possibly some lighter weight ones as well as a heavyweight pair. Layer with fleece tops, sweaters, etc. depending on how active you are outdoors. A thin liner sock under a heavy wool pair is good. Buy warm boots rated to -40 and remember ratings are usually wrong. I have been looking for underwear patterns to knit in washable wool. Knitting Almanac by Elizabeth Zimmerman has knitted tights for adults and children. A good warm hat with earflaps is a necessity up here.
Couldn’t find a pattern, but I agree. Knitting one would probably not be the best option for something like that. I think you’d probably be warmer in something made specifically for that purpose…and two pieces are easier than one for sure!
Make some wool socks and sweaters though!!
Hi,
I belong to Knitting Paradise and someone there just posted a knit union suit. She said she was trying out the pattern and that it would soon be available.
Goto knitting paradise dot com and do a search in the user list for “luvmypip” then go to her to “topics created” and select and select “2 days of knit and crochet” there you will see pictures of the union suit. It is just darling.
Best of luck.
Robin in MASS
Here in Wisconsin, it’s not unusual to have 30 below zero temps. The weatherman tells us if that or a blizzard are coming in advance. You make a trip to the store to stock up just in case. Get gas for the snowblower. Throw a few more layers of clothes on. Life is good. We’re used to it. Not a big deal.
As the other posters said, learn how to layer. Layering is actually better for you because you can just take something off if you get too warm. You have to find a bathroom if you want to remove long underwear. You’re probably better off layering with sweatshirts and jogging pants. That’s what we do. You’ll need mittens, hats, and gloves in a worsted or bulky weight, all wool. You’re probably better off with a wool jacket. My next best choice would be a down or a snowmobile jacket. Get good snowmobile boots. You’ll thank me for that. Snowmobile jacket and pants are great during a blizzard, especially when you’re outside digging out heavy, wet snow.
I learned from experience that the wind cuts right through the bulkiest acrylic mittens and hats. And you sweat a lot in them but can never get warm. Wool warms you and wicks away moisture to keep you dry. They’re waterproof to a certain extent. Wool stays warm even when wet. There’s nothing worse than waiting around for a bus with dripping wet acrylic mittens when it snows, shivering from the open winds.
No matter what you decide to knit, I can tell you how to do a thermal knit stitch. You cast on a multiple of four stitches. Knit the first row. Purl the second row. For rows 3 and 4, you will knit 2, purl 2 all the way across. Repeat these four rows for the pattern. It looks like the waffle knit in long underwear.
OTN: Glittens with this thermal knit pattern. A baby winter jacket in superbulky yarn with the thermal knit pattern. It’s time to get prepared for Wisconsin winter.
Another thing nice to have in winter is a leather jacket that goes down to your thigh to keep your behind warm. They’re waterproof. They’re extremely warm with a sweatshirt underneath. I like coats with patch pockets because you can put your mittens and hat in them when you hang it up. Handy for car keys as well. Coats with hoods are a must. You can wear a hat under them to keep your head warm. Hoods keep the wind off your neck.
I wear a circle scarf under my jackets. It’s like a headband but wider. You can use any yarn, any needles. Use a hat pattern, but just don’t close it off at the top like you do with a hat. The total height will be about 9-10 inches. It’s best done in a rib pattern in wool. I can pull this up over my face if the wind blows and I don’t have those annoying scarf ends blowing around. I think it uses less yarn, too. This all keeps me nice and toasty, as I walk in all kinds of weather.
Cuddls (just like it’s spelled) long underwear is great. It’s lightweight. You don’t roast in them when you’re indoors, but they’re great for warmth when you’re outside in the cold breezes.
For your car you will need: a heavy duty car battery like a Sears Diehard, a battery charger-- preferrably one that will jump start your car if needed, a long outdoor extension cord. Keep in the trunk: warm blankets, drink boxes and snacks that don’t need refrigeration, sand or cat litter for traction if you get stuck, a snow shovel, jumper cables. Always make sure your cell phone is charged.
Don’t forget a battery operated weather radio, candles, and flashlights for blizzard power outages. The weather isn’t that scary, honest. But you should be prepared.