The Melancholic History (and Knitting technique) of The Gansey, Rajiv Surendra's favorite Sweater
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- čas přidán 3. 06. 2024
- The gansey is a traditional fisherman's sweater (commonly navy blue) with a rich history. Rajiv loves his ganseys and wears them almost exclusively during the winter months. This garment is the perfect example of when function, form and purpose result in the creation of something with intrinsic, timeless beauty.
All of Rajiv's ganseys were custom-knitted by The Flamborough Marine knitting collective in Yorkshire, U.K. For more information on ganseys, or to place an order for one, please visit
www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/fl...
Wait times are currently approximately 6 months.
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★ TABLE OF CONTENTS ★
• 0:40 Knitting project
• 1:50 History of the gansey
• 2:20 Practical garment for the coast
• 3:30 Patterning of the ganseys
• 4:30 How to start making the gainsay
• 6:20 Sleeves and stitching tips
• 7:45 Purl stitch and the knit stitch methods and differences
• 9:00 A true gansey is from worsted wool
• 10:10 Handling the yarn in making your gansey
• 11:20 Knitting collective to make the sweaters by hand
• 13:00 Keep the tradition alive
💡 TOPICS IN THIS VIDEO 💡
• How to knit a sweater
• Gansey
• Traditional fisherman sweater history
• mechanization of knitting
• Workman’s garment
• Coastline fashion
• Historic pattern and motifs of the sweaters identify origination
• Patterns create pockets for more insulation
• Gusset added to aid in the sleeve
• Purl stitch vs. the knit stitch
• Tightly spun yard of a long staple length
• Worsted wool spun in Yorkshire
• Lanolin from grease from the sheep
• Michael Pearson’s traditional knitting
• Commision a Gansey
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This will sound creepy.. I just love you..I am a 60 yr old woman who gets what you are about. Authenticity..humble, and kind... You are a beautiful soul.... I enjoy your channel . So glad you decided to share and bring some dignity to U-Tube and the world... 😇 such a joy...
Not creepy at all.
Just what I feel but was unable to put into words.
Not creepy! He’s super cool and authentic and educational! What’s not to love
OMG...I can literally ditto your comment ( same age also) !
I have to tell you, my 97 year old mom was in love with Ryan Gosling, and that gave her so much fun to feel🤗 I too love Rajiv,
For all of the reasons you do!!!! He also reignites my desire to learn!!!
Wonderful video and yes I am 70 and think he is wonderful too.
As a knitter, to hear the appreciation for our work spoken so emotionally is so uplifting. Thank you.
I have made three of these. Each one with the traditional Yorkshire worsted. Each one took me a year!! Respect for the ladies who could produce one in three weeks!
Rajiv...it is so comforting to know that there is someone like you in this world, who cares about what's really important in this life. You dont seem to take ANYTHING for granted. Im sure there are others like you in this world but it seems to be growing more and more difficult to find them .❤
I am an old girl but when one of your videos come out I forward them to certain friends. Here’s the clincher, I always say “my boyfriend has made a new video.”😊❤
Im totally fangirling as well.
😂❤
I'm also a fangirl big time.
My husband loves his hand knitted gansey which he wears only for best ! His family are Cornish and were mariners . His grandpa and great grandpa would have worn their gansey everyday working hard in all weathers out on the schooners . ⚓ Enjoyed this video and love that you are keeping the tradition of hand knitting these beautiful ganseys . 🐬🦈🐟🐟
I live next door to a Shetland Islander - one day he brought out a traditional gansey he has. You should've seen it! it was unbelievable - with the most beautiful things like thistles and extremely intricate patterns. It was the most impressive thing i've ever seen.. He said the women can walk along knitting and making up patterns as they go. Amazing 😮😮
We are knitters , and I didn’t have a clue about these sweaters and its history . I wrote to my neighbour and she was so excited from your video that she suscribed and will knit a Gansey for her husband who is a Teacher in history and is amazed with the information that you have given us. Thank you sooooo much😍 I will pursue the love and wonders of your teachings that are so precious to me and so many ….
Wow, I love this! I'm honored to know that this video sparked the creation of a gansey.
My mom wrote a poem... Venus De Milo had no arms, Yet she captivates the world. I have two and all I do is knit when I should have purled. By Alta Williams💜
There are other stitches. I guess he meant that’s all that’s used in Gansies.
I love this poem so much ❤😊 thank you for sharing 🙏
@@hopegold883 Really? What "other stitches" do you use? I've been knitting for 63 years and have made a lot of things, including sweaters, some of which are ganseys.
There are only two stitches - knits and purls. Everything else is just variations of or combinations of knits and purls.
@@hopegold883Hello Hope😊 I have learned so much in my 79 years & did not know the history of knitting for many years. One such tidbit was the same as another commentor stated who has been kniting for 63 years. She is correct. All the beautiful & intricate stitches we make are, in reality, the "children" of Father Knit & Mother Purl.
I have been croheting for 71 years and self-taught knitting for 64 years. My blind grandmother Pearl taught me the beauty of crochet, tatting, hairpin lace, & embroidery as a small child. Before I became a teenager, I was so hungry for knitting, I taught myself with the aid of a Paton's pattern pamphlet & yarn, two small size #2 blue aluminum needles and then later with magazines & books. That first project was for a wool diamond scarf of all knit & purl stitches for one of my great uncle's who was a merchant mariner.
I have focused my retirement years on teaching small children to teens girls & boys, as well as children & adults with special needs, ADHD, Bipolar & learning dissabilities. Knitting as we all know, has a meditative and calming effect on us. We can escape from what ails us by picking up 2 sticks and a ball of twine or yarn, or unraveling an old moth-eaten sweater or one from the local Good Will or Salvation Army, and creating a thing of pride & joy !
Oh yes.. I even taught my niece's husband and little son who are avid knitter's to this day.
When my grandson was hurt in a bicycle/vehicle accident while on vacation on an island, he asked to be taught as he was housebound for weeks. He took to kniting fiercely and with great enthusiasm. He had natural talent & his stitches were fast and uniform. 3 projects later, he was ready for more bicycle sdventures.
His baby sister 8 years younger than him, asked the same question when she saw me knitting alone in the beach cottage late one stormy night with light-up needles because the electric had gone out. I was knitting to stay awake as I need a machine to breathe at night.
She asked if I could show her "how to do that" and was knitting and purling her big brother's new hat with lightening speed before the morning sun came up.😊
If I ever did one thing right in my life it was to dedicate my time and love of knitting to everyone who wanted to learn. Seeing the astonishment & pure joy on the faces of my students & their serious gratitude has made my life worthwhile.❤
And......how miraculous that all of our beautiful stitches were born of only two...the Father Knit & Mother Purl 🤗 May God bless you & bring you overwhelming joy with your journey in creating things of beauty that you have knit your heart into.❤🙏😊
I aim to be more like you, but I swear you set the bar super high LOL
You are so elegant.
My hope is that I inspire you to be more like YOU...the very best parts of you and the aspects of your life that you always dreamed of reaching.
I can so relate! Watching Rajiv's content has literally made me want to be, and actually become (to some extent), more thoughtful and conscientious and neat, in a really good way,that I've been enjoying a lot.
@@Wandering.Homebody exactly.
@@rajivsurendra See, You are super awesome!!!!!
@@rajivsurendra I definitely get that from you. I actually like who I am, and yet I do want to be much more intentional than I already am.
I mean, I do live a considered life, but what I would like to cultivate within myself, that you seem to do, is to really appreciate deeply and only bring quality and excellence into your space, whether it is physical, emotional or mental.
We are all works in process, and I believe we are here to create and express in our won unique ways, I just find it really nice that you remind us to slow down and appreciate more.
Also try slow down and learn more.
I love your elevated sensibility without compromise.
That is what I aim for in meh own way.
Breathtaking tribute to this art! Imagine making one for your husband as a fisherman, praying it keeps him warm and safe but knowing that in those stitches cast in love , it could be used as identification of home if God forbid, he was lost at Sea and return him to his family. It elevates my love of knitting so much more now. Thank you
Knitting right now! Not a Gansey but just ordered a Gamsey knitting book. My Dad’s side of the family came from Donegal so I feel the ancestors calling.
Your sweaters are a treasure. Who could need more clothes when you have these?! On another note, I am wondering if you are going to do a Tamil New Year video? I have heard about kolams and would to know more about all the wonderful New Year traditions.
I’m from Guernsey and my mum always knitted our Guernsey jumpers .I always remember her knitting them on circular needles❤
LOVE circular needles for knitting jumpers!
Those long needles he showed were actually to be used with a knitting belt. They were made to be long enough to anchor into the belt that would hold what your right hand would normally. Thus you could do other things like walk and knit at the same time. There are great photos of children gathering peat for fires while knitting with these 18" or longer needles.
How do I learn this technique? I would love to knit a sweater like this! I went to Guernsey for my honeymoon in 1972.
@@LindaRUDYK
Hazel Tindel who is linked with Jamieson and Smith Yarn Co., has a DVD tutorial set that has great reviews. Plus her accent is fun to listen to. Also there are a few places you can order knitting belts and needles from, but not too many.
@@LindaRUDYK Check out Hazel Tindel, she has a wonderful instructional series that shows you how to knit with a knitting belt like a real Shetlander. She has also won speed knitting competetions (yes plural) knitting with this technique. It is said that there is video proof that some could knit 200 stitches a minute..... crazy! As for patterns check out a brick and mortar library for legit patterns. Good luck and happy knitting!
In the 1970’s my aunty in Scotland used to knit us Aran jumpers which are similar to ganseys. My sisters and I used to wear them with kilts. They were SO itchy. I used to cry and ask to take it off, but my mum said “no, you look so nice”.
I hope more people learn this craft, for all the people who can comfortably wear wool. You do look so nice in yours Rajiv.
FLower, you can get non itchy aran wool for those beloved jumpers that do look so stunning, especially in traditional ivory cream colour, and you would love to wear one now. Norah
Wonderful video
Who says it has to be wool?😉 Traditions are meant to live and change over time, so that people continue them. If you love the sweaters, get or make one you *can* wear! 🥰
Oh Rajiv, the gansey is such a special jumper in the UK. Thank you for highlighting this. So few people know the story of these traditional sweaters and I recently saw a plea in a national newspaper for people who might possibly be able to learn the art, to join the group of people knitting them, as there is a risk that they will die out. I would love to do just that, but currently my busy life does not allow for it. Maybe a retirement project 😊
You can still knit without being retired! I’m knitting one now on circular needles. Check out The Real Wool Company for patterns and wool. Gorgeous.
I thought it was just the irish word for jumper! I had no idea it was a thing! All pullovers were called ganseys when I was a kid by my family. Glad to have found out the origin of it!
Maybe the time you're spending scrolling and commenting could go towards doing a line or two a day? That's all I can manage and I'm half way through a cardigan ...I'm crotchetting it not knitting but I'm amazed that a line or two before bed has turned into half a garment. Please god I will actually finish it 🙏 😂
That‘s the right attitude, Padra! This is how I get socks done. Every finished row is a FINISHED ROW, period. =)
My favorite projects are crochet super-size blankets, I don’t know why. 😂
Here in Liverpool we called our jumpers Ganseys(Guernsey fishermen's sweaters) or Jersey's from the other Channel Island. Aged 84
Rajiv does more than teach me about the many valuable skills that used to be practiced as part of daily life; he, through his vast knowledge, enriches and feeds my soul. Thanks Rajiv.
When this video popped up I immediately recognized the word "geansaidh" (the Scots Gaelic word for "sweater") - different spelling but virtually the same pronounciation. :) Thoroughly enjoyed this close-up view of such incredible craftsmanship and its history. Our heritage skills won't die as long as there are still people in the world who take the time to recognize their value and beauty, a beauty that could never be faked in mass-production. Thanks as always for being you. 🙏🏼
The Irish word is geansaí, also pronounced the same
I love knitting these the traditional way. They take a while to finish, but when done they last forever.
Gansey knitting is very satisfying on many levels. The way they are knitted is so practical. They last forever. They can reflect the knitter's own personality by the patterns she (or he) chooses to use to embellish the basic garment.
I shall watch your progress with interest.
I love that you're keeping this tradition alive!
Knitting one for my son as we speak. ❤🧶
I am told my grandfather used to say things like 'It's cold so mind put on your Gansey' He died when I was 6months old and I'm 70 yrs
old now.
He was always making up words of his own that became 'family colloquialisms' and I thought Gansey was one of them.
Learn something every day!
Thank you!
My mother's family were fisherman in Whitby, North Yorkshire and wore ganseys. They lasted for years.
I wish you were in Bridgerton. I'm watching it right now, and it would be so divine to have you as a member of the cast.
But he’s a real person!!!
What a remarkable creation! Every corner of the piece has been designed for the highest functionality. This video not only fed my mind, but my heart and my soul. YOU are so precious, my dear. I want a gansey…
I am a knitter , and wanted to thank you for the history . This is something I will look into because of you and your great teaching ❤❤
Check out The Raw Wool Company for wool. Amazing.
I knew all this as I’ve studied knitting for most of my 73 years and love researching the history behind designs. My own knitting is varied but I have knit and will knit more ganseys and gansey inspired sweaters. I even have the 14 inch double point needles to use but sometimes will use circular needles too.
Thank you, Rajiv, for making my mind peaceful once again.
Thanks for watching.
I've been knitting for 60 years and enjoyed all this information about ganseys. Thank you for such an informative, nicely presented video.
I knit every day and have two cones of Frangipani, a 5 ply gansey wool waiting in queue to knit a gansey. So happy you shared these beautiful jumpers with the world❤️
I love that Frangipani yarn. Good luck!
@rajivsurendra perhaps you could share where you order your yarn !?
I just started knitting this year and I was hoping you’d do a video like this one day. I can’t tell you how happy I was to see this when I opened CZcams! Thank you so much for another wonderful video, Rajiv. I love knitting and crochet, and I appreciate how much detail you went into gansey history as well as techniques.
My grandmother in Finland was an avid knitter and taught me a little bit of that. I have not knitted in decades maybe I should try a little project.
Yes! You should!
I recently re-learned knitting (I'm 61). I had knit a bit as a teenager.
I am so glad I picked it up again ! Was a bit frustrating at first, but now I find it relaxing.
I knit my first gansey 28 years ago for my fifth child Quinn. I knit it out of cotten, so it wasn’t as stretchy as wool. I still have the sweater today but stuffed it and sewed the arms to the sides, as it’s become a pillow for my reading chair. Watching this is making me want to knit a gansey for myself. I love the border Lester wool as well, but I don’t have any to spin, but I do have a lovely grey fleece in my stash, now to go through those bags to find it. Keep up your good work❤Blessings Rajvi
When I was pregnant during the winter of 75-76, I decided to knit a pair of mittens. This was the "era" of mood rings. When I put the ring on while knitting, it turned black! Any other time it was blue. I loved being pregnant so the blue (relaxed) was very appropriate. Black on the other hand, was tense and nervous. Knitting was the ONLY time it turned black. I finished my mittens and took up crochet …
I totally understand... but for me I turn to knitting to relax! My mood ring would be black during the day and blue when I escaped into my knitting 😅
@@cheryldeville9211 If we were roommates, I could crochet you an afghan and you could knit me a sweater!
@@SpecialSP a fabulous solution!!
@@cheryldeville9211 We could do this long distance!!! I'm in Oregon. Where are you?
A wonderful video! I have been researching Gansey’s as part of a year long project and I can’t wait to get going on the actual knitting!
I think if you delve into the subject at all it becomes clear that the notion that a fisherman could be yoinked out the sea anywhere on the coast and sent home to his loved ones just by the pattens on his Gansey is a bit of a myth.
The Herring Girls were women and girls who worked on the docks cleaning the fish moved around following the shoals of herring alongside the fisherman all the way up the coast. They definitely took part in knitting Ganseys and there are interviews with knitters explaining they did take inspiration from other Herring Girls/Fisher Lassie’s stitch patterns. I can imagine Ganseys knitted by wives, sisters and daughters might have a bit more local identity but they would have been coming into contact with stitch patterns from all over the coast.
It also would mean that each town or village had its own very specific set of stitch patterns that didn’t appear anywhere else and there’s no evidence of this (I think apart from some Hebridean ones).
However, I do imagine that if someone fell overboard and they were found very locally they might be identified by their Gansey, often they had initials stitched in purl bumps either on the hem or on the underarm gussets. People would maybe recognise the combination of stitch patterns if they were around him enough.
The amazing Mary Wright book you showed has a small section on this topic and has some amazing photos and lovely anecdotal stories.
Your Ganseys are stunning and so special and it’s amazing you supported the knitting collective in Yorkshire. Looking forward to future videos, I’ve just subscribed ❤
Last year in may I started my third romanian blouse, but the most complex one.
Cutting the linen fabric (a blouse is like a puzzle), hemming the parts otherwise it will desintegrate, embroidering every part with silk thread and traditional techniques (thread counting) and finally this week I will put together all the pieces, all hand done.
It took almost a full year, ~3h/day of embroidering, but I'm over the moon with the results so far, I will wear my "haute couture" blouse (as I like to call it) for the first time at my sisters wedding 😁
I'm addicted to doing things by hand so I deeply appreciate the work that is done to create a ganzie
Oooo, that sounds fascinating! Any sources you could share ?! Videos, books, etc. ?!
Wow. I would love to see your beautiful blouse. I too love hand sewing (knitting too) but I just make pouches, small patchwork quilts and sewing books. You must be incredibly talented 🌸
Sounds like the most beautiful piece of art!
This really moved me almost to tears! Also real haute couture is just fine handmade clothing, so your handmade blouse would fit that label too ♥️
In the play, Riders to the Sea, the drowned son/brother is identified by the number of dropped stitches in the retrieved sock. I have had a wool sweater with lanolin, and it will keep a garment clean. I once had a ball point pen marked on it. Within a week, it had rubbed itself out. Truly. A wonderful history of a beautiful and practical art form. So appreciate your interest in it, your sharing, and your own artistic endeavors.
This the best video on Gansey knitting but I think that it was not just wives that did their husband knitting, I think the sailors also did their sweaters too. So at sea the sailors repaired their own sweaters since they probably made it themselves 😊 11:06 pm, Seattle time
I love how this became a spinning video 😂 shout out to my fellow string makers! Ty for explaining staple, breed etc for folks who are new to yarn life. The sheep are the real mvps and deserve their flowers!
I’m 79 and I love you too.
Rajiv…it’s time to write a book. You are incredibly talented and have many interests. Everything you do is done in the same quality of its origins. You want to keep these traditions alive??? Then tell the world. We’ll support you. Come to the uk and do a book tour with talks about your interests. Please 🙏🏻 Love your channel 🌸
Thank you so much for this. I have always loved and wanted a traditional gansey since visiting the island of Guernsey as a teenager in the 1960's. The link to the website is just what I needed as I will be able to order one of their kits. As I live in Yorkshire I have visited Flamborough many times. It can be a very bleak place on a grey stormy winter's day but has a raw beauty that is found in many of the North Sea coastlines. The bravery of the fishermen and the risks they take to put food on our tables is astounding. To wear a garment that has such a place in our history will be an honour.
Another wonderful video. My South Uist family members were fishermen and wore our Scottish fisher jerseys knitted by women in the family.
Hi Rajiv, I have knitted Aran sweaters, Icelandic lopapeysas, Norwegian and Fair Isle sweaters and simple garments and toys of all sorts, but I had never heard of Ganseys. You piqued my curiosity! Since my local library has a couple of books on Ganseys, I have put a hold on them. Can’t wait to get them, get the wool at my favourite yarn store and start knitting, so that I can add to my, my sons’ and my grandchildren’s sweater collections. Thank you so much for promoting all these crafts as well as an appreciation of all things beautiful. And, yes, it’s so much better to buy less, but buy quality; better still if you can make it yourself. Greetings from Ottawa! 🇨🇦 love, love, love your videos
I’ve never heard of a Gansey. I would definitely like to own one.
I live in the south of England UK and I love knitting, trouble is it's rarely cold enough these days to wear a full sweater of any kind. I knitted a beautiful aran hoody for one of my sons (at his request) but he has yet to wear it. I am fascinated with the gansey and will knit one one day, on a circular cable though (so much less fiddly).
Rajiv is actually a cultured gentleman
I enjoyed this so much I am a Scotswoman living in Jamaica for over 65 years . The word is still in use in Jamaica and refers to an undershirt. Lots of European settlers here were from Cornwall, Scotland and Ireland .
I gasped when you showed the work around the arm, that is incredibly beautiful.
Same in Ireland 🇮🇪. I believe origin was uk however we used natural colour of the sheep’s wool originally, I remember in early 70 s knitting circles rurally knitting these sweaters, it’s very commercial now I would say here, still lovely though. love your broadcasts ❤️
I always thought the qord ganaey wa sjuet irish for jumper! Had no idea it was a thing!!
@@Padraigp your right it is. Scot’s & Manx Gaelic words very similar. However, the knitting tradition apparently originated in guernsey and brought to Aran islands where we adapted our own around 1890’s. You learn something new every day!
@saolairde396 ah I also always thought it had something to do with Guernsey cos it sounds so similar. That's cool!
When I grew up in UK we used to get the Golden Hands magazines. How I wish I had kept them. They had easy to follow instructions for all kinds of crafts many of which I tried. Among these were instructions for Fisherman’s Jumpers. I remember that the needles were very small to allow for a tight knit texture. Sadly, my brain did not take after my mother and her sister who were both excellent knitters. They never did knit me a “Gansey” but there are other knitted “hugs” I still have even though they are both gone now. Thank you for sharing this story with us.
I grew up in Ireland, now living in Western Australia. I often find golden hands folders full of the mags in charity shops. They inspired my sewing interest. I’ll look harder now after your comment as I’m a knitter too.
Rajiv, you absolutely CAN make a gansey! You have all of the base skills, & an appreciation of the traditions of the art - you'd be perfect!
You don't have to - clearly you do a LOT with your time! - but don't say you "can't". 😉
Ganseys are my jam! It’s a subject of great interest to me. So hope you’ll finish yours Rajiv. You’ve done the hardest part with the channel cast on. The doubled yarn on such tiny gauge needles can be so tough on fingers and hands. Have you a knitting belt too? So glad you included the books which were unknown to me. ‘Knitting Ganseys’ by Beth Brown-Reisel is an excellent modern book of instruction with several patterns reflecting the different regional motifs. My husband wears his nearly every day.
I took a class from Beth Brown-Reinsel a number of years ago and made a tiny little Gansey. Her book is excellent and she’s a fine human being. She now lives in southern Vermont.
Lanolin is an oil. Therefore, water repellant and helpful for the keeping the fishermen dry and warm. A current use for lanolin is undercoating for cars which limits rust! Great video as usual Rajiv.
My great, great, great grandfather (and previous generations) were from Yorkshire and manufactured worsted and flannel cloth. My sister is a keen knitter and has promised to knit a Gansey for her son. She also mentioned that the Gansey acted as a type of old fashioned wetsuit in that the lanolin in the wool was water resistant and the wool would stay warm even if splashed by sea water. Would be lovely to also see videos on other traditional knitting styles such as Arron sweaters and Fair Isle.
I do believe I'll be able to quit taking my high blood pressure medication, as a result of watching your channel. You're an amazing, talented, and unique person. Thank you for sharing your world, your talents and your calm demeanor. Love your style, all of it, your lovely home, the music you choose, the old photos you share! I'd never heard of a gansey, but I was fortunate enough to travel to the Aran Island of Inismor and purchased a handmade Aran island sweater that I adore. Happy Easter.
.I've been knitting for 50 years and I love all the history of Gansey sweaters. Thanks for retelling the history for the new generation of knitters. Your sweaters are really beautiful.
The Guernsey is very common in Aotearoa New Zealand. They're made out of homespun. Often used as a group project where one woman makes the sleeves while another one or two take turns on the body's.
While others make up the hank's of homespun.
Knitting drives my crazy but carding, spinning or drying wool never gets boring.
I am a knitter and really enjoyed this episode. Great information. Knitting is on the rise again and more and more people are enjoying making their own garments.
I learn so much from you Rajiv! Thank you so much for sharing what stirs your heart. I didn’t even know gansey was a word outside Ireland (where it is spelled geansaí and means jumper/sweater in a general sense). Now I have learned the word comes from Guernsey, which makes so much sense looking at the words! Thanks again and hope you have a lovely weekend ❤
I'm tempted to try making one for my brother. He's a keen angler, and it's his 30th birthday next years so this would be the perfect gift for a special "big" birthday. It just looks like a gargantuan amount of very tricky and technical knitting, though 😅 Intimidating. I usually do a lot more colourwork stuff rather than cables and textures.
I still wear a gansey I knit in the 1980's from yarn first knit into a sweater in the 1960's. Its colour is like a blue ink nib bleeding into a glass of water.
Hi Rajiv, so glad to see you knitting on CZcams, men knitters are a thing in Iceland, apparently. The melancholy truth about the gansey designs is also true about the Fair isle patterns in Shetland. A fisherman washed ashore was always sent home guided by the pattern and design of his jumper😢. I love your stylish, curated videos into times past. Much love xxx
Fascinating history and instruction! Thank you!
I had a guernsey (what we call them here) as a child and I loved it. Oversized when I was given it, and far too small by the time I gave it up. I am knitting a cardigan for my friend atm but I think my next project should be another guernsey (one that I’ll never have to give up 😊)
Thank you so much Rajiv for wanting to keep the craft of knitting alive. I had knitted my first jumper just before i turned 3 and have knitted ever since as the hands allow. As a child of the 70's, early 80's i was bullied mercilessly because i knitted every where i went, the needles and ball of wool were always to be found in my school bay. I so enjoy being able to make something for someone and see them wear it, that is what gives me the most pleasure. Now, some of those same bullies want me to share and teach them how to knit, they have grandchildren coming along and want to knit something for their beloved grandchild. Enjoy your stunning Ganseys lad and again thank you for wanting to keep this craft alive. Norah, Scotland
Thank you for this wonderful video. I am a knitter and so appreciate the time and expertise that goes into making a garment like this. I truly enjoyed the history of this wonderful sweater and will be ordering one for myself in the very near future! Thank you so much!
Absolutely fascinating. I bought one of these years ago for my son when I was in the UK. He didn’t like it much but as he was only three at the time he didn’t have much choice except to wear it, it was beautiful and got passed from kid to kid for years, I love your channel.
In Norway and Denmark a sweater is called genser, even in some Swedish parts it`s called gensare 😊
That’s so fun - in Irish sweater is geansaí too.
I swear. I get into something and you make a video about it. 😂 Uncanny. We need to be friends. I am halfway thru knitting my first Gansey with wool from The Raw Wool Company. I’ve been doing all the research whilst I’ve been knitting. Di Gilpin is an amazing resource for the modern day preservation of the Gansey.
Thank you ! I didn’t know those jumper were called Gainsy. I will try to knit one! I love knitting, especially socks 🧦. Knitting is like creating a portable hug 🤗
The jumper my Mum knit for me is most precious and I feel almost invincible in it ❤. Such a lovely video!
I have to confess, I almost bypassed this video. I’m so glad I didn’t! How very interesting and informative. I gave fine Gansey patterns, but had no idea of the historical construction of a true Gansey
Rajiv, you always manage to unveil worldly objects that I’m not familiar with which I end up loving. You’re such a precious soul.
I'm so happy. I love Rajiv and I love ganseys! I have two of them - one from Hull and one from Aberdeen, two places I've lived.
They are gorgeous, classically gorgeous. I’m with you on the value of such a piece. You look fantastic in them as well. I adore the fine details you’ve shared here. The ladies were so brilliant to come up with this useful garment.
The Irish for a jumper is geansaí, which is a loanword from English Guernsey, an island in the English channel. Guernsey jumpers were brought over to the Aran islands in the 1890s, and were adapted by the local women since to use local, thicker wool and their own variations. The Norwegian genser and Scottish Gaelic geansaidh is also borrowed from Guernsey. A ‘Jersey’ is named after Jersey, which is neighbour to the island of Guernsey.
Just woke to gear up to prepare my Easter dinner. Everything can wait when I see one of your videos pop up. You are so fun and interesting and classy. Thank you for always delivering wonderful content!
This video warmed my heart! I’m from Yorkshire and I’ve been knitting since I was little (my granny taught me), I’m 24 and I have made a couple of ganseys, so know that the tradition’s not dead, just endangered! I want to make another one after watching this video. I adore the history of workwear, having grown up with fast fashion being the norm, I can only conclude that slow processes, accurate tailoring and adjustable, practical designs are the only way to build a wardrobe that lasts!
Hoping there will be a "Sheep Shearing With Rajiv" episode in the future.
Yorkshire coast fishermen still wear their Ganseys. Knitted in local pattern and family patterns. There are good museums to visit in Whitby and Filey.
Thank you for addressing the gansey sweater. My very first sweater was a simple gansey. Simple. Made out of cheviot which was a mistake. Too lofty and short stapled, but I love it. Then I made another out of our own sheeps' wool held together with a strand of mohair for a tweedy look. Love it. We have Liecester Longwool and Wensleydales. Border is hybridized out of the Leicester Longwool. You are so right about the staple being the trick to strength. Slow, slow to pill and wears like iron (almost). You could try a gansey without such intricate patterns. More of a repeat stitch rather than so many fancy cables. The gussets are wonderful. Now I am spinning wensleydale for my third. (I have UK sheep, but live in the US) Love hearing about something other than merino (or heaven forbid, acrylic) designs. Love the heritage piece.
Thank you from a knitting nerd. Lovely. If you’re interested, you might want to do some reading about the Herring Girls and their Gansey knitting prowess. 🧶❤️
This is EXACTLY what I needed to learn about the gansey, thank you! I think I learned about their existence last year... as I am not British.
Thank you for introducing these fishermen's sweaters. I think the s-e Asian word 'ganjee' (vest) might be derived from the Gansey.
i was thinking the same.
There is a similar collective called NONIA, on Newfoundland. All hand knitted garments. Gorgeous workmanship. They have an online store with their fascinating history.
Wow, this was so interesting. I had never heard of this type of sweater before. They are absolutely beautiful. Hopefully this art will never die out. Rajiv, your videos are such wonderful gifts to us all.
I am enchanted by Gansey. I have two Gansey inspired afghans going. Thank you for your wonderful videos!
the lanolin also helps keep it waterproofed. From a mom who used cloth nappies with wool wraps.
I have an obsession for Aran sweaters, and this Gansey is amazing. Wish I could knit!!
As a (self taught) knitter myself, I LOVED this video!!!
I love your attitude Rajiv. I don't have any ganseys but I do want to knit one. I love how practical the approach was, like being able to easily reknit cuffs, and leaving the lanolin in to aid with waterproofing and heat retention. They really applied the science to create a garment that was easy on the wearer and the knitter. Totally fascinating and absorbing. Thank you for sharing.
What an awesome episode! Thank you for sharing your love of Ganseys with us. My mum knit one for my Dad when she was pregnant with me. When she had my brother, she knit my Dad an Aran sweater.
I am sure you are aware of the Aran Sweater knit by hand in the Aran Islands on the west coast of Ireland. Much of the history you relate applies also to the fishing community in those islands. The difference is that they were white and very oily to wear. Often they still smell of lanolin and need an undershirt as they itch. But the Yorkshire navy is beautiful and you wear it well.
I’m watching this while knitting my Irish cable sweater - getting the immersive experience.
This was great information. I’ve noticed the ones you wear and I’ve always loved the look. I never knew what they were called, now I do. My daughter in-law knits and spins her own wool. 🤔. I may need to ask her if she could knit one. Thanks and have a great day.
Wow it's beautiful sweater and I do crochet and I am trying learn crochet fisherman sweater soon. I do crochet for 45 years. You are amazing with knit and crochet.
Thank you for this wonderful exploration of the Gansy, Guernsey, Knitter tradition. My goal in life ( one of about 100) is to knit a sweater with cables and patterns like the Irish sweaters. This is so helpful and motivating.
Part of my family came from Norfolk, where the fishermen wore ganseys. My husband and I once visited the museum at Cromer and they had a little piece about them there. I've always thought they made the fishermen look quite chic with their dark blue colour and tight fitted look, even though I understand it was a practical thing on a boat, where you wouldn't want any fabric flapping around in the wind, or getting caught in ropes. I spend a fair bit of time thinking about Solarpunk fashion, and it seems to me that ganseys are a perfect candidate...carefully crafted, long lasting, practical, beautiful and full of history. I don't know that my own knitting would be up to scratch to undertake on yet, but I will investigate the books and knitting collective. Thanks for sharing!
My grandmother (who would have adored you) tried to teach me crochet when I was a kid but I didn’t have the patience for it then. She did teach me to sew, and I still sew some, most for mending and tailoring. I have done some embroidery and enjoy that. It may be time to try another fiber craft. 😊
I was actually humming and hawing about whether I should buy a gansey (I live in NE England) and then you posted this video. Now I definitely will, to support a heritage industry!
You spun the wool for those sweaters too!!!! Omg squad goals
I’ve always loved your Ganseys. I know exactly who to buy them for as meaningful gifts. Thank you. ✨