I borrowed the book “knitting ganseys” by Beth Brown-Reinsel from my local library. I was looking for ideas for a jacket I’m knitting for myself. As with much of my knitting this jacket has taken on a life of its own.

When I began I thought I could make a very plain jacket because the wool I’m using, Bloom Mulled Wine by Bendigo Woollen Mills, has a very interesting colour variation. Of course, knitting huge chunks of stocking stitch sends me to sleep so I started adding some knit and purl stitch patterns. The next thing I know this jacket has morphed into a gansey like a project of which I know absolutely nothing about (Gansey knitting that is). Hence the book.

The book contains detailed instructions for a doll-sized sampler that demonstrates and gives practice for its construction. I couldn’t resist. My only criticism of this technique is that (as I’ve said numerous times before) when I knit, I don’t want to sew. Although the garment construction is modular and hence the pieces are joined together as it is constructed, there are so many pieces that just sewing the ends in was a huge pain.

Still, my most favourite saying is that nothing worthwhile is ever easy so maybe not such a huge pain after all.

The end result of this intro to Ganseys is that my jacket is about to be frogged. In other words, ripped out and started again. Thank the universe for my new yarn winder.