Knitting Ganseys

Ganseys are hardwearing sweaters traditionally knitted for fishermen in and around the British Isles. Today, the styling and history of ganseys is as popular as ever and this collection of stitch patterns and projects brings the history of ganseys to a new audience. Learn all about the techniques used for knitting ganseys with this comprehensive sourcebook from experts in the subject, Di Gilpin and Sheila Greenwell. Di and Sheila are knitwear designers and makers based in Scotland where they teach regular workshops on traditional gansey techniques. Discover all the techniques you need to make an authentic gansey sweater with their special features which were developed for warmth and comfort in what were often, harsh conditions out at sea. Ganseys were designed with a special under arm gusset and a shoulder seam which prevented chaffing and improved movement for the wearer even when the jumper got wet and heavy. The authors explain these techniques with step-by-step instructions and artworks so you can replicate these details in your own work. Another key element to the gansey is the stitch pattern which was specific to the local area and often had a symbolism beyond the pattern itself and, some hoped, would act as a charm to keep the fishermen safe while they were out at sea. This collection features a comprehensive directory of 150 gansey stitch patterns so you can choose your favourite designs and motifs and learn which patterns were important to the fishermen in different areas. There are also 10 patterns for garments and accessories so you can practise your skills. The projects include a child's traditional gansey sweater so you can try out your skills on a traditional sweater but on a small scale. There are also some contemporary takes on the traditional gansey using lighter weight yarn and design details: these include a beautiful sweater with a gansey yoke; a contemporary take on the fisherman's kep; a gansey stitch cowl; a pair of mittens and socks; and light linen tank top. The smaller projects such as the mittens and hats are great for practising your skills before you attempt one of the larger projects.

Fully illustrated guide features 82 patterns for traditional fishermen's sweaters. Collected from sources throughout the British Isles, these sweaters and cardigans for men and women range from lightweight jerseys to heavier guernseys.

Includes many delightful contemporary photographs, and detailed instructions and charts show how to knit a Cornish guernsey incorporating one of 30 local patterns

In the period between 1875 and 1950, Dutch fishermen wore sweaters with distinctive knit and purl stitch patterns and sometimes cables. The sweaters were knit out of sturdy blue, natural, grey or black wool. The women from the fishing villages along the Dutch coast would use their own patterns, and because of the close-knit character of many fishing communities, these patterns could be linked to specific towns. A fisherman could be identified by his gansey: the motif could for instance be traced back to Urk or Katwijk. Stella Ruhe collected many patterns and motifs and had the ganseys reknit using modern yarns. 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. Of course, the historical context of these ganseys is as important as the objects themselves. That is why the book is also full of stories and interesting facts about the daily life of fishermen - with a few fishy stories as well! The combination of history and modern patterns make Dutch Traditional Ganseys a unique book for knitters, and a great read for everyone interested in craft, culture and heritage.

Between approximately 1875 and 1950, Dutch fishermen wore sweaters with characteristic knit and purl stitch patterns, sometimes cable. These jerseys, known as ganseys, became and intrinsic part of the identity of the Dutchmen who wore them, and their daily lives as fishermen.Publication of the bestselling book Dutch Traditional Ganseys in 2013 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. Based on original designs and incorporating elements from them, author Stella Ruhe's contemporary recreations of these historically important garments keep the Dutch fishing heritage alive.Each design is accompanied by knitting diagrams, sketches, photographs and guidance on sizing, and all can be knitted for adults as well as children. With a wealth of fascinating background information and historical photos of the original designs, this is a unique and inspiring book for knitters, and a brilliant read for anyone interested in craft, culture and heritage.

What do these things have in common: the oldest surviving knitting needles in England; the first written evidence of a professional knitter; the earliest known knitting sheath? They were all found in Yorkshire. Yorkshire has been described as the "centre of the wool universe" for the eighteenth and nineteenth century. To know about the history of Yorkshire knitting is to know about the history of knitting. After a painstaking search through the archives in search of original documents and images, the "Knitting Genealogist" Penelope Lister Hemingway brings you the fascinating stories behind that iconic nineteenth-century knitted garment, the gansey (or guernsey) sweater. Hemingway shows us that much of what we thought we knew about these sweaters is actually myth. Luckily, the real stories are even more interesting!

A translation of a book published in Germany in 2004, this book includes knitting patterns for traditional-style Guernsey, Jersey, and Filey fishermen's sweaters, as well as how to adapt the textural motifs from these sweaters to modern garments.

"Knitting Sweaters from Around the World brings together a sampling of patterns from Scandinavia, Europe, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the East, and the West, featuring creative works from well-known designers"--Provided by publisher.