by Alice Starmore
$24.99 CDN
$24.95 US
128 pgs, colour photos, softcover
(to order - go to Add to Cart below)
Category: knitting books

In the Author's Words....
"The stamp of a real gansey is in its details - its underarm and neck gussets, its shoulder straps and its intricate arrangement of patterns. In designing this collection I have sought to give a thorough exposition of all these authentic touches." ( pg 6)

Beautifully photographed and rich in colour and textural design, this book presents patterns and techniques from several sources, including Scotland, Britanny and Norway. There are 20 sweater patterns, predominately for women, which include 5 childrens designs, and 2 for men. Creating an imaginary voyage, the author takes us on a tour to several ports of call, for each creating designs reflective of their knitting traditions.

Starting the voyage from Scotland, the sweater designs are in traditional textures of knit/purl patterns and include shoulder straps and underarm gussets in their construction.

The styles, while more simplified in England, with patterning mostly in the upper half of the sweaters and sleeve tops, include some elegant details in collars and knit/purl patterns. Of note is the sweater 'Filey', which combines cables and textured knit/purl patterns in the tradition of this Yorshire town.

From Ireland come rich and thick textures in the form of cables, twisted stitches and knit/purl designs. In many of the sweaters cables extend from the body into the cuffs and collars, connecting these border areas with the whole of the sweater.

Off to diverse lands, there is a blue and cream heavily patterned sweater from Norway with a beautiful hem, collar and cuff design of blue and white stripes alternating with a red flower motif; from the Baltic an all-over geometric knit/purl design, with and unsual texture and geometric 2-colour pattern in the hem, cuffs and collar. In the New World a collection of designs created by the author to reflect the rich knitting heritage of the Old World, combined with newer design ideas. Of note is the 'Cape Cod' sweater in a delicate sea-shell motif knit/purl pattern, with patterned arm gussets.

For those unfamiliar with knitting in the round, there are full instructions with diagrams on making steeks, underarm and neck gussets and the Channel Island cast-on.

Canadian Orders	US or International Orders
Canadian currency Fishermen's Sweaters $24.99	US currency Fishermen's Sweaters $24.95