It’s that time of year again. The winter months are upon us and with the cold weather and dry air comes the desire to snuggle up with a warm and cosy sweatshirt. But when the wind is howling and the snow is falling, how does one wear their warm and cosy new purchase?
Well, you might be wondering, how on earth does one wear a hockey sweatshirt? To be honest, you can’t really lace a hockey sweatshirt. The material is too thick and, well, it has a collar! So if you want to wear your warm and cosy new purchase during the winter months, you’ll need to remove the collar and hang it on a rack in the closet. Otherwise, the wind will just freeze you to your core.
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Understand The Differences
The title of this article might make you think that you’ll simply need to know how to lace a hockey sweater. However, understanding the differences between a hockey sweater and a regular sweater will prevent you from wasting your time and effort trying to lace the former. A standard wool sweater has a collar and a body, with the material getting gradually thinner as you move towards the edges. On the other hand, a hockey sweater has several layers, with the thick collar, the armholes and the neck being the only regions where the material gets thinnest. Naturally, the materials and the construction of a standard wool sweater are much more flexible than that of a hockey sweater, making it far easier to lace. This is why it’s generally accepted that you cannot really lace a standard wool sweater.
If you’re planning on wearing a hockey sweater in the winter, you’ll need to make allowance for the cold weather. The thick and stiff material will make you shiver even when it’s not cold, so make sure you’re warmly dressed before you set out to lace one.
Choose The Right Location
Since the wind chill is very unpredictable and can increase the temperature by a considerable margin, you might want to avoid areas where the wind is howling and swirling. You might also want to think about avoiding areas where there are a lot of people, as you’ll have more chances of being seen and recognised. If you live in an urban area, cross-country skiing might not be the best option for you, as your neighbourhood might be full of people who know you and your family. If you absolutely want to lace a hockey sweater despite the warnings, you could always try and find a location that’s as isolated as possible.
Take Your Time
This probably applies to most activities that you do on a day-to-day basis. However, when it comes to lacing a hockey sweater, you cannot rush the process, especially since the thicker the sweater, the more time it’ll take to lace. So instead of trying to catch the bus or walk to work a little before the usual time, you could always decide to walk a little bit later or take the bus. This will all depend on how far you’re going and whether or not you’re carrying a hockey pack. Naturally, you don’t want to overdo it and end up taking too long. So, whenever possible, you should try to avoid traffic and leave plenty of time for your activity. This includes finding a good location and taking your time.
Find A Good Position
You’ll need to find a good position if you want to accomplish lacing a hockey sweater. For some people, it might be easier to lace the sweater from the front. For others, it might be easier to lace it from the back. It really depends on the individual sweater and your personal preferences. However, you’ll need to make sure that you’re comfortable and that the position is suitable for the task at hand. If you’re using a chair to lace the sweater, make sure that the seat is high enough and that the back is against a wall or a support. It might also help to have someone else assist you, especially if you’re struggling with certain areas of the sweater. A quality pair of gloves might also come in handy, as it would eliminate the need to constantly tear your hands apart while fiddling with the sleeves.
Remove The Collar
The last step in the process of lacing a hockey sweater is to remove the collar. This is the part that you’ve been dreading all this time, as when the wind is howling and the temperature is declining, you’ll be the one shivering your arms off. So instead of dreading this step, you should be glad that it’s the last one, as once you remove the collar, you’re free to wear the sweater as usual.
To prevent the wind from getting in and freezing you, you can either wear a long-sleeved t-shirt under the sweater or pop a couple of buttons on the shirt. However, if the air is really cold, it might be better to take off the sweater entirely and wear only the shirt. Naturally, you don’t want to overdo it and have too many clothes on, as this will make you even more vulnerable to the elements. So, depending on the temperature, the wind and how long you’ll be outside, you might want to remove a couple of buttons or the entire shirt to feel better. Ultimately, it’s up to you how you want to wear your new purchase.
Lacing a hockey sweater is certainly not easy. Like most activities that you do, it takes time and effort to learn how to do it properly. However, since there’s no right or wrong way of doing it, the only true mistake is to rush the process. You’ll gain experience with each subsequent attempt and become more efficient at getting the job done. Eventually, you’ll be able to lace a full-length, pure wool hockey sweater in no time flat and without any trouble at all. So, even though it’s not really possible to lace a hockey sweater, it’s certainly highly doable and very much within the realms of possibility.