The Gansey Diaries (ep 6)
Gansey progress
Swatch of the motif pattern
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I have not analysed historical ganseys in detail, but I know someone who has. Deb at Propagansey has looked at loads, and this little detail, where the motifs come together to create a knitting rhythm, is something she sees in many of them. It allowed the knitters to just get on with the many other things they were doing, allowing the knitting to lead them through the pattern without the need for fiddly stitch and row counters.
I like this pattern as there is a nice balance to it. What I mean by this is that each time the diamond pattern reaches is narrowest or widest point, I am ready to create the twist in the cable. This is every 8 rows, but I do not need stitch markers or row counters. The diamond motif is made by moving 3 purl stitches one stitch to the side on every round, expanding diagonally outwards from their narrowest point. At their widest point, there are three knit stitches between the diamond motif purls and the cable motif, so I know when I’ve reached that point without having to count rounds. The motif purl stitches then return back to the narrowest point again, when the next cable twist occurs.
You can find the free pattern for the mug warmer here
Does anyone else have something which is normally tied to a particular time of year, that they use all year round?
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This need to keep knitting while doing other things was also supported, literally, by the use of knitting belts or sheaths, where a needle could be anchored and be one less thing to worry about! This allowed these amazing women to carry on with chores while knitting, such as carrying peat back from the fields (on their backs) and travelling to markets. And we think we have busy lives...
My next focus is when I need to start the gusset. I know the number of stitches I want the gusset to be at its widest point, which will sit under the armpit, so can calculate how many rows it will take me at my chosen rate, to reach that point. I also know the armhole depth I want (I measured Mr Wrinkled Thistle) and can combine the two to calculate how long the gansey needs to be before I start the gusset. More on the gussets in a future episode!
It’s that time of year, in this part of the world, where summer is giving way to autumn, dusk is creeping in a little earlier each day, and thoughts turn to cosy evenings by the fire and copious amounts of steaming tea.
I am a sucker for a warm white fairy light and have them around the top of the living room walls all year round. They are starting to come into their own again, throwing a gentle, warm light around the room. They are definitely not just for Christmas in this house! I also have some in the bedroom, and am looking for the perfect set for my office, as the set I had in there have just decided to give up. The key for me is they are static as soon as they come on. I do not need to have 8 sets of flashing options before I just reach the calm, static state.
So I'm good to go. Time to settle into the rhythm of the knitting again, where I can hopefully reach my flow state where I know what I’m doing but have to pay just enough attention to keep my focus on making sure the pattern is correct.
I’ve done it. I’ve only gone and done it! Despite all the other chaos happening around me, I have completed the stocking stitch section of this gansey and have moved onto the pattern section. OK, so I’ve only ‘just’ moved on, but there is a definition ridge and the first couple of rows of the pattern. It's still looking quite vague so I've included the swatch as a reminder of what it will look like.
The Wrinkled Thistle
Heritage Ganseys | Modern Knitting
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