Gansey sweater history book

Before jumping into this book it might help to explain what gansey means. Pattern description from interweave knits, winter 2004. We first go to a gansey festival at old st stephens church above robin. What the gansey sweater can teach you about utility knitting. My favourite knitting book sticka efter gamla nordiska monster written by. Its great book for those who love fishermens sweaters. Ganseys versus arans august 10, 2016 by polwygle in knitcation, knitting, talking about knitting. Whether as a coffee table book, or a pattern book, or a road map to making your own gansey, i dont think you will be disappointed in this book. Using a tightly spun 5ply worsted wool popularly known as seamens iron the intricately patterned gansey is knitted in one piece on five steel needles. The complete book of traditional guernsey and jersey knitting rae compton on. The book knitting in the old way by priscilla gibsonroberts and deb robson 2004, nomad press is for knitters who fall somewhere in betweenthose who need information on the basics of sweater construction, but who also want the freedom to choose yarn, gauge, finished size, and. In todays article, i will be sharing more about the history of the gansey sweater to inspire you to knit garments that are both beautiful and practical.

Based on original designs and incorporating elements from them, author stella ruhes contemporary recreations. The patterning to back and front and, in some cases, the. Early tv knitter, james norbury, also visited the history of knitting in the introductions of his many knitting books, and traditional knitting. Free knitting pattern for a mans old way gansey sweater. Rae compton, author of the compete book of traditional guernsey and jersey knitting 1985, writes that throughout the british isles the fishermans garment is known in some places as a guernsey, in others as a gansey, and in others it has always been and still is a jersey. Gansey sweaters were traditionally knitted by the fishermens wives and the pattern was passed down from mother to daughter through the generations. Gansey sweaters were designed for fishermen who spent their days at sea, so they were knitted with tight textured stitches to ensure that the sweater. Oct 02, 2016 the most beautiful sweater of all is the gansey or guernsey, originally designed for fishermen. Geansai arann is a style of jumper that takes its name from the aran islands off the west coast of ireland. Rather, it is a fascinating history of knitting in yorkshire, including the. The yarn contributed to the long life of the sweater and made the sweater more wind and waterresistant, but it sure didnt add to the wearers comfort. To get the knitting patterns, scroll down the page to the individual pattern you want and click on the link to that pattern. The history of the guernsey jumper guernsey woollens ltd. One of the reasons ganseys attract attention from both researchers and knitters is the range of patterns used as surface decoration.

I enjoyed knitting up the sample sweater and learned a few new techniques. A gansey crochet home free books epub truepdf azw3 pdf. I found exactly what i needed, and for that alone, the book was worth it. A gansey is usually knit with a hardwearing dark blue yarn with a very tight twist. In fact, they work so well that ive recommended this book to new knitters who just want to get a feel for knitting a sweater, any sweater, before they cast on a fullsize project. The gansey was the utility garment of the fishing workforce. I have been privileged to meet thousands of knitters on this path. Apr 09, 2018 so, the question of the moment is how do i knit a gansey like daniel daylewiss. Knitting history was largely ignored until the middle of the 20thc, when a few pioneers, like gladys thompson, started interviewing gansey knitters, and collecting and publishing their patterns. A guernsey, or gansey, is a seamans knitted woollen sweater, similar to a jersey, which originated in the channel island of the same name, sometimes known as a knitfrock in cornwall, especially polperro.

Taking the book s approach enough information for the basis of. Therese inverso introduces you to the characteristics of a guernsey\ gansey sweater. Dec 09, 2015 rather, it is a fascinating history of knitting in yorkshire, including the origins of ganseys, gansey motifs including superstitions and folklore about said motifs, and even a chapter on a yorkshire knitter, an ancestor of the author, who emigrated to america in the early 1800s. Therese also provides information on various books and yearn sources. New descriptions and photographs of the traditional tools knitting wires, belts, and sticks show the relationship of the tools to the method, and the method to the garment.

Each port along yorkshires coast has its own unique gansey jumper that fishermen wear to identify them if lost at sea. There are detailed photos of the projects and detailed instructions. Nov 24, 2018 the gansey sweater was a garment developed on this island and became a staple of fishermen, as they required a hardwearing, warm and comfortable garment that would withstand the spray of the sea. Gansey pullovers are made from a tightly spun 5ply worsted wool popularly known as seamens iron, which is knitted in one piece on five. For some knitters, knitting a sweater without stepbystep instructions is intimidating. Every picture tells a story and then some as we learn of the myth behind the fisherman sweater. A look at the origins of the gansey sweater attire club. That sweater is not a gansey, and now i am scouring my stash to select just the right yarn for my next gansey.

Traditional knitting patterns of the british isles. The original sweater styles, with a diamond insert at the underarm for ease of movement, were worn primarily by guernseys fisherman, the jumper later became popular throughout coastal britain where each seafarer wore a gansey. This book explains the origins of the gansey sweater and what makes it different from other types of sweaters. This book has good information on the history and design elements of traditional gansey sweaters. A traditional aran jumper usually is offwhite in colour, with cable patterns on the body and sleeves.

Making ganseys was also a business, as many families supplemented their incomes by making these jumpers. Rita taylor set up the gansey scheme for the knitting and crochet guild and is the author of several knitting books, including a stitch in time. Until the coming of the machine age in the nineteenth century, most industries were smallscale and craftbased. It tells of love, it tells of tragedy, it tells of healing. History the guernseys knitting industry can be dated back to the late 15th century when a royal grant was obtained to import wool from england and reexport knitted goods to normandy and spain. The history of the gansey sweater the gansey or guernsey sweater is a hardwearing, seamless sweater worn by fishermen who spent their days at sea.

The gansey look originated from the island of guernsey over 400 years ago. Gansey patterns are inspired by the sweaters worn by fishermen around the coasts of the uk which were called ganseys or guernseys. A guernsey, or gansey, is a seamans knitted woollen sweater, similar to a jersey, which originated in the channel island of the same name, sometimes known as a knitfrock in cornwall. Through the process, she discovers the power of forgiving, and a place to call home. Nov 17, 2015 as an adult, i borrowed mary wrights book, cornish guernseys and knit frocks from our local library with a view to designing a cornish gansey for a magazine commission. Local women then altered the sweater and began knitting an allover pattern. My mum is a yorkshire lass, and taught me how to knit and i would love the book. See more ideas about knitting patterns, knitting and pattern. Knit along with beth with stepbystep instruction and demonstration of a dollsized sampler sweater. Loved learning of the history of the gansey and arans and differences between them. But its nice to have a book that makes you feel gansey knitting is contemporary and. Sep 01, 2017 elsewhere in the british isles, the aran sweater, which hails from the aran islands off the coast of ireland, was adapted from the gansey sweaters brought by fisherman brought in to help improve the local fishing industry. I doubt that i will ever knit such a sweater but the book is so well written on such an obscure subject.

Reading dicksons book has reignited my interest in the gansey sweater. A look at the origins of the gansey sweater attire club by. I enjoyed reading the historical sections on the dutch fishermen, the fishing villages and how each village had its own design for the gansey sweater. Loved the tools of the trade as i have some of the curved needles myself, charted variations of stitches and how they are worked. Publication of the bestselling book dutch traditional ganseys in 20 renewed interest in the sweaters, and dozens more old photos were discovered that inspired the creation of a second book that includes 65 brand new gansey patterns. See below for the button to click to purchase the digital, downloadable version of this dvd. The historical preamble covering the known history of the gansey or guernsey, or jersey, or knitfrock is notably expanded. The book is bigger and brighter than before, but still full of reverence for the tradition of clothing that you love. Originally the jumpers were knitted using unscoured wool that retained its natural oils which made the garments waterresistant and meant they remained. The complete book of traditional guernsey and jersey knitting.

Mar 28, 2008 a gansey or guernsey is a hardwearing, hand knitted, woollen jumper which has been worn by fishermen around the coast of britian for many years. The he gansey is quite clevercotton mixed with superstretchy poly makes this sweater hold its shape sheeplessly. Ideally youd want to complement it with some of the other books covering which patterns were associated with which region, and which tell you something of the history behind the knitting. For his birthday, my son asked for a thick, warm sweater that would help him get through our tough canadian winters.

A gansey is a distinctive woollen sweater, originally designed to provide protection for fishermen from wind and water but which is ideal for all outdoor activity. This book takes a similar approach to thompson, pearson, compton et al, and covers the ganseys of dutch fishermen region by region. The result is a recipestyle design, which knitters can adapt to suit their own tastes and needs. A gansey or guernsey is a hardwearing, hand knitted, woollen jumper which has been worn by fishermen around the coast of britian for many years. See more ideas about knitting, knitting patterns, sweater pattern. This book contains historical and new photographs, sketches and charts for all the ganseys, which you can use to knit a gansey from your favorite fishing village. A gansey sweater is a hardwearing, seamless sweater worn by fishermen who spent their days at sea.

Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Gansey or guernsey knitting patterns in the loop knitting. In this guide, we will explore how the sweater evolved to be the classic wardrobe staple it is today, and how to find a good one. Even if you never actually knit a complete gansey, a few hours spent working through the miniature can change the way you knit. I think time and effort that it takes to invest in one of these sweaters. The garments have also been known as knitfrocks, fisher shirts, and. To strike a balance between a sweater that would be interesting enough to keep me knitting, but not so interesting that it would draw attention to itselfthe classic problem when knitting for most men. The fisher gansey patterns of north east england by michael r. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options.

Beth brownreinset has even broken down the steps of a sweater from caston to finishing and everything in between. They feature combinations of stitch patterns using just knit and purl stitches. Also, there is a good stitch dictionary of stitch patterns suitable of gansey garments. Lots of history, techniques, charts, pictures, and references. The history of the guernsey jumper our guernsey jumpers are derived from the traditional sweaters developed in guernsey in the 17th century. One of the interesting things in my study of the gansey is the abundant information available for the aran sweater which is also known as the fishermans sweater. Gansey patterns fishermans gansey knitting patterns. Ganseys are a rich well in the land of knitting history tables full of books have been written on the subject and were just scratching the. That was my first clue that this wasnt just a book of gansey patterns. But its nice to have a book that makes you feel gansey knitting is contemporary and relevant, and not a historical recreation. These are mostly created from simple plain and purl stitches, combined to make repeating pattern elements, which have been given names like nets, herring bones, marriage lines, ladders, etc. The she gansey is slimmer fitting and incorporates waist shaping, a more.

A book titled fishermens sweaters by alice starmore has some beautiful gansey patterns including a childs sweater similar to ddls. Sweaters help dapper men transition between the seasons, add texture and layers to outfits, and stay warm in chilly environments. The construction, while not traditional, means that with the exception of the first few rows, the patterns are worked with the right side facing, making them easy to knit. Then there is a selection of designs and suggested yarns.

Mar 01, 2012 knitting history was largely ignored until the middle of the 20thc, when a few pioneers, like gladys thompson, started interviewing gansey knitters, and collecting and publishing their patterns. A staithes gansey isnt a subset of the genre, its simply from that place patternwise, as is a sheringham gansey or a whitby gansey. The gansey or guernsey sweater is one of the most practical garments in the history of knitwear. That there is still interest in my book is a testament to the enduring qualities of the humble gansey sweater itself. Gansey is typically associated with knitting, but now you can crochet gansey designs that mimic the look of knit designs. Gansey, a term which crops up in the writings of both samuel beckett and james joyce, is a dialect variation of guernsey. Full of old photographs and pattern charts, like its british counterparts its a social history and knitting pattern book combined. Knitting books are expensive and it is nice to now that this has multi purposes. For me, the book arrived just in time, as i was stuck on a sweater id designed myself, but couldnt get the neck quite right. These books are the foundation of my small library on guernsey knitting and. It originates from the island of guernsey, where it was developed over 400 years ago. The photos intrigued me and as i read through the chapters i became immersed the social history surrounding the sweater. This book includes an interesting history of traditional gansey sweater knitting.

The guernsey is the mainstay of guernseys knitting industry which can be dated back to the late 15th century when a royal. From the author of the classic bestselling book on gansey knitting, this dvd provides an introduction to the tradition of this elegant, practical sweater. History the guernseys knitting industry can be dated back to the late 15th century when a royal grant was obtained to import wool from england and. The most beautiful sweater of all is the gansey or guernsey, originally designed for fishermen.