06.12.07
Ganseys
At this stage of my knitting, I’m finding that there is so much to learn and so many things I want to try. So I was delighted when I received a new knitting pattern from a friend. This pattern is of a “gansey” sweater. When I looked through the instructions, I was immediately struck with how clever the design was. The sweater is knitted in the round so that there are no seams. The great majority of patterns I’ve seen here in the states are knit in pieces then sewn together. Not so with ganseys. From subsequent searches for more information on ganseys, I have come to just love these sweaters. Apparently, Ganseys, aka Guernseys, are traditional fishermen sweaters from around the British Isles. Since these sweaters were originally handknit by family members, each fisherman had his own unique patterned gansey. Some say that one of the advantages of each sweater being unique was that if a fisherman were to be washed on shore, he could be identified by the pattern on his gansey, and thus his body could be properly returned to his family or at least his village. Some families had more than one male working as a fisherman, and so their initials were also commonly knitted into the sweater. And since these sweaters were for hardworking fishermen exposed to the elements and harsh work conditions, these sweaters had to be warm as well as rugged and utilitarian. And hence the unique construction of these ganseys.
Ganseys are commonly worked from the bottom up, and knitted in the round. When the work approaches the underarm portion, increases are made under the arms to form a gusset. What this gusset does is allow more room for the wearer to move his arms freely without causing the sweater to ride up. Since the elbows are common areas for wear and tear, the ganseys are made so that the fronts and backs are the same, and the sweater can be turned around to help avoid the elbows from wearing down. And since the sleeves are also knitted in the round from the armpits down to the wrists, if the elbows were to wear out and need repair, all that was needed was to unravel from the wrist to the area in need of repair and then just knit right back up. Clever! And so practical, I love it! Not only are these sweaters cleverly designed, some were also adorned with intricate designs.
I definitely want to work up the gansey pattern I received. The pattern cover pictured above is designed in the spirit of the Manx designs, which are believed to be much plainer or simpler in decorative design than that of other fisherman from other regions. So I looked up what other ganseys looked like and found a book at the library called, Knitting Ganseys by Beth Brown-Reinsel. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in knitting sweaters. And I just found that Beth has a blog! Not only does Brown-Reinsel explain how to construct ganseys, but she has clear instructions on how to make a “sampler” gansey so that one can learn and go through all the steps to make a gansey before actually having to work on a full-sized sweater. Below is a picture of the sampler I was working on after I got one sleeve worked up.
And coincidentally, it fit Nine Lives perfectly! Here is Nine Lives wearing his first completed gansey!
He is sitting on one of those “modern” artwork benches at the library.
Pictured on the right is a closeup of the shoulder area of the gansey. I love the shoulder strap attachment technique, which allows for a pattern to run down the top of the shoulder down to the sleeve. Notice how there is no visible seam and the pattern looks continuous. It may be hard to see in this picture due to the shadowing and if you don’t know what to look for, but at the bottom left portion of the sampler gansey is the initial “B” knitted in reverse stockinette stitch. This is a common area for the wearer’s initial to be placed as well as under the arm on the gusset. The yarn I used was some old left over stuff, so not the quality one would want to use for a real gansey. Traditionally they are worked up in 5-ply wool. Solid colors help to make the knit designs more visible. I read in a couple articles that it was common for the Scots to have black ganseys and the English to have dark blue ganseys. They are also more tightly knit with smaller needles. (Plus I did not block this one, so it doesn’t drape very softly). For instance the pattern I received calls for a size 2 US. Which incidentally for any new knitters, I found a website that has a nice chart for the conversion gauges from Japanese, U.S., and English knitting needles. Basically, U.S. needles are opposite British needle sizes. The larger the number for a U.S. needle, the smaller the British needle. So a size 2 US would be a size 12 (according to the link chart) British. (Although the pattern I received says a size 11 British or 2.75mm, which would be the 12 British according to the link). The Japanese needles are somewhat closer to U.S. numbers, but still a lot different as the link chart shows. I just happened to stumble on that site when looking up Japanese patterns. I have found that they have some excellent knitting, too!
Anyway, I have another gansey book on reserve at the library and am really looking forward to getting my hands on that one. In the meantime, I really have to thank my friend for introducing me to ganseys. It has really opened up my view on sweaters and has already taught me so much regarding designs and techniques and I have not even made a full-sized one, yet!
Before Nine Lives and I headed home, I let him recline out on the grass for a while. He looked so comfortable and like such a good model, that I couldn’t resist taking another shot of him. Doesn’t he look comfy, heheheh?
Marlakins 
Andrea said,
June 12, 2007 at 6:41 pm
Hi Marla, I love your little bears, and I love those sweaters. I have a very warm spot in my heart as well for all your references to the Isle of Man. I have never been there, but my grandfather was born there, and in the 70s my uncle went back and found the old Kelly farm, Balladda, owned by generations of John Kellys, my great grandfathers going back many years.
My father was always proud of being Manx, and it’s always been a little issue because my maiden name is Kelly so people always assume I’m Irish Catholic, when in fact IOM is Protestant. My great-grandfather was in fact a preacher.
Many people have no idea such a place as IOM even exists, and think that “Manx” only refers to a cat! So it’s been heartwarming for IOM and things Manx to get so much attention on your blog.
Andrea
Administrator said,
June 13, 2007 at 8:34 am
Oh, that’s neat, Andrea! So you’ve got Manx blood running in your veins, eh? I do think they have an interesting history and appear to have pride in their heritage. Can you speak any of that Manx Gaelic?
I have planned to visit IoM, but plans kept getting twarted. Originally I was going to go last Oct, but because of the unstableness of the airlines with the bomb scares and stuff, we postponed thinking that we would try for May. But that plan also got scrubbed because of my son’s ankle problem. Now I’m not sure when we’ll be able to go, but I’ve still got my eye on it and ideas of what I want to visit if I ever make it there.
Funny how you mention the Manx cats! I recently found out that they are known for not having a tail? Then coinicentally I recently received a 1935 video called No Limit which featured the TT races on the IoM and a short appearance of one of the Manx “tail-less” cats. Ha! That reminds me, they just celebrated their centenary for the TT races just this last May 26-June 8th. Wish I could have been there, but at least I got a cap and T-shirt. . .
So do you still have relatives who live on IoM?
Take care,
Marla
Andrea said,
June 13, 2007 at 5:21 pm
Only very distant ones, it would be hard to dig them up. When my uncle went in the 70s, I do believe he looked up a second cousin, but she was quite old at the time and is probably gone now.
However, the old Kelly farm, Balladda, was in the process of being made into a B and B then–perhaps someday I’ll get to stay there! And I have precise directions to the plot where many grandfathers and grandmothers are buried. Of course I want to see it someday. There’s even been talk of having a family reunion there! The Kelly family is now spread out from California to Maine, but we did have a splendid reunion in July. However, since it was to honor my 90 yo aunt, we had it in her hometown of El Dorado, Kansas.
How did you get interested in IOM?
Andrea
Administrator said,
June 14, 2007 at 9:29 am
A family reunion there sounds like a lot of fun! All the pictures I’ve seen of that place look lovely (probably why so many parts are called “balla” something, ie. ballabeg, ballasalla, etc. since I think balla means beautiful, or something like that, I think).
I learned of IoM from another AAer. We kept in touch for two years, then he relapsed and shortly afterward died. That was about a year and a half ago now. I still keep in touch with his parents. They are very sweet and funny, too! His mom is Manx and his father is English, but has lived on IoM for more than 20 years now. So I kinda know what you mean regarding the “issue” of not being full Manx. My friend seemed to be a bit torn about being proud of his English lineage, but yet a bit disappointed about not being full Manx. He really loved the IoM.
Marla
Andrea said,
June 15, 2007 at 10:14 am
Interesting. You meet the nicest people on the AA forums!
I definitely need to take up knitting. I volunteered/was drafted for the Church and Ministry committee here in So. Maine, a very interesting committee to be on, wonderful people, but–long meetings! Think of the sweaters I could make! Last night I was at a meeting that lasted 2 and a half hours! So, one of my goals is to get out my needles again. Maybe I’ll even start with a Gansey, with Manx yarn–wish me luck.
I probably should put this on a different thread, but I do want to report that I just washed and clipped Missy and –NO fleas, NO ticks. The organic vinegar spritzing, plus frequent lavender baths, seems to be doing the trick!
TTFN
Administrator said,
June 24, 2007 at 6:19 pm
Thanks, Andrea, for the update on your natural dog treatments! I shall move that info onto your Natural doggie page.
Do let me know if you do end up picking up your old knitting needles again! If you like, I can even forward you a copy of the Manx gansey instructions that I received. It’s a simple one, so may be a nice place to start if you want to go easy at first. Did you do a lot of knitting before?
Okay! TTFN!
Marla
Leanne ganey said,
July 26, 2010 at 4:59 am
Hi
I am researching my family history and read messages from Andrea. I too have s link to Kelly’s from Balladda. Great article re; gansey’s.
Is it possible to contact Andrea via email. Family here in Victoria, Australia .
Leanne