Brooklyn Tweed recently put out a mini collection of 8 Gansey inspired patterns, for 3 hats and 5 pullovers. The gansey is rich in knitting history as a style of sweater made for seamen from the channel island of the same name. The textured stitches and cables are cornerstones of gansey design, as it increased the thickness of the knitted fabric, were densely knitted to help repel water and keep the fishermen extra warm. This collection probably has something for everyone, as there are some sweaters that have the gansey details only on the upper body, and all three hats are beautifully done.
Let’s take a closer look at 4 of the design that I find most intriguing. And if you wanted to check them out on Ravelry (to add to your queue!), you can find them here.
The most feminine gansey of the collection features cables and a bit of lace, as well as a flattering A-line cut and a boatneck which is pretty much universally flattering. I know you have to look past the weird styling of the blue button up shirt underneath it (boatnecks don’t look good with collared shirts, but do with v necks and crew necks, so maybe the stylist only brought button ups?). It’s worsted weight, and knit from the bottom up in the round. Design is moss stitch and charted lace and cables. Also, be sure to check out the other photos to see the beautiful design on the sleeves! They are also worked top-down.
You Should Totally Knit This If: You love feminine knits, cables and lace combined, and a figure that lives for A-line everything.
You Should Definitely Not Knit This If: You don’t like to print out your patterns, because I think you’ll want to place the charts beside the directions for the front and back. For those of you thinking, “who doesn’t print out patterns?!” I’ll tell you- me. I very rarely print out patterns, I work straight from the screen 95% of the time.
This fingering weight pullover has lovely set in sleeves and waist shaping, for a more streamlined fit that is perfect for layering. Texture and great angles keep the focus on the upper half of the sweater, with a minimally finished neckline. It’s knit in the round, from the bottom up; textured stitches are fully charted. If you were looking for a wardrobe classic that would work with anything and never go out of style, this is it.
You Should Totally Knit This If: You are looking for a wardrobe staple. Knit this in a great wardrobe neutral like black, grey, navy, or cream, and you will wear it until the end of time. Also, the charts are very easy to follow, so if you like easy charts, this is just right.
You Should Definitely Not Knit This If: You are looking for more of a traditional gansey that has the boxier fit, or if approximately a couple thousand yards of fingering might put you off.
This is a warm hat, people! Knit in worsted weight from the top down, you can try it on as you go. The brim is worked separately and attached at the base, which is a bit more fiddly but yields stunning results. And if you are the type with sensitive ears, you will swear that double brim is the only kind of hat to knit.
You Should Totally Knit This If: You like being warm. And you live somewhere that gets snow.
You Should Definitely Not Knit This If: You live somewhere that is mostly warm or temperate, and are nervous about reading charts with cables, as this pattern has lots of charts.
Hooray for the quick knit! This is a bulky weight hat knit with a single skein of Brooklyn Tweed Quarry, and it doesn’t get much faster than that. Knit from the brim up, you switch needle sizes to achieve much of the shaping. Once you get it all set up, tucking a copy of the chart into your knitting bag is all you’ll need to keep tabs on this sleek little hat.
You Should Totally Knit This If: A gansey sweater is possibly a bit beyond what you are willing to tackle right now, but a gansey style hat is not. Also, if you have interchangeable needles, switching needle sizes will be a breeze for you.
You Should Definitely Not Knit This If: I’m struggling to think who might not like this pattern…. I suppose if you really and truly do not do charts or cables. But if you wanted to try, this would be a good project to learn on, as Brooklyn Tweed patterns are very detailed, and the charts on this are very straightforward.
So what do you think of the new BT collection- Feeling the Gansey vibe, or no? Do you have a favourite pattern that you admire?
