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Re: Fishermen Knitting Faster

The colors of the Manorhouse yarns are close to boring. Yarns by other

> suppliers have wonderful colors, but may be a slightly different weight > that > will require a different needle size to produce a traditional gansey > fabric. > I merely remind friends that is possible to inexpensively make knitters > tools, and that for some projects, those inexpensive homemade tools will > be > better than expensive commercial products.
5 ply is traditional gansey yarn. The yarn from Manorhouse is spun from sheep found in Yorkshire, and the colors they offer are traditional colors. The lifesaving museum in Portsmout,UK has a wonderful collection of orginal ganseys. DA
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DA
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The Yorshire 5-ply was serviceable and inexpensive. It really was a great value. It was the right weight for a garment to wear every day. Yorshire

5-ply became commercially dominate -- therefore traditional. The colors offered today, are from the inexpensive synthetic dyes developed after 1870. These colors dominated because fishermen's wives are ever so thrifty. However, that does not make the ganseys knit for the various fishing fleets any less traditional, when those ganseys were knit from wool grown near the fleet's home and/or home-spun, and/or home-dyed with vegetable colors.

And, if those fishing fleets could use other wools to produce a traditional gansey, than I can do the same. I am going to put scores of hours into knittng a traditional gansey. Do I pick a yarn that is traditional because it was serviceable, inexpensive, and fishermen's wives were thrifty? What if that yarn is no longer inexpensive? High cost destroys the very reason that the yarn was traditional! Or, do I pick a yarn that I really like? When we were in GB, I touched and felt theYorkshire wools, but never bought any.

I am glad to know about the gansey collection at Portsmout.

Aaron

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<agres

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I've been knitting/crocheting since age 4, but I have missed something here. I have no idea what a 'gansey' is. I guess a type of apparel warn by fishermen, but exactly what, I don't know. Is there a picture?

Reply to
Joan

Excellent explanation and pictures here.

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DA

Thanks, DA. That's the link I meant to put in my msg but didn't do it right.

Reply to
The Jonathan Lady

Fascinating!

I was unaware of the many differences between the "jersey", the "guernsey/gansey" and the more "recent" aran patterns. I am awed by the accomplishments of these crafters of the past who made do with minimal education and tools.

I was taught Manx quilting by a woman from the Isle of Mann, and it had a similar tale to tell of our forbears. Make do, use everything, minimal tools, etc.

Thanks for the history lesson.

Reply to
Cheryl in Oz

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Thanks so much for the link and the Pictures! Now I understand - I may even attempt one of these for myself - would be nice to have a 'gansey' here during some of the inclement weather we have in New England.

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Joan

DA

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DA

DA

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DA

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