Patterns for Guernseys, Jerseys & Arans: Fishermen's Sweaters from the British Isles

by Gladys Thompson

For hundreds of years the fishermen of the British Isles have gone to the sea wearing Guernsey and Jersey sweaters. Among landlubbers as well, these sweaters are perennially popular, but, especially in this country, it is often hard to find practical instructions for the patterns that are traditional in Britain. Here is a book that presents fully 82 different genuine folk patterns for both the lighter weight Jerseys and the heavier Guernseys, and...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B000V2FQC4
• ISBN13: 9780486227030
• Release Date: June 1979
• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.79 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 7.9" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

A gansey knitter's bible

I knew of this book before purchasing and when it arrived I was not disappointed. Gladys Thompson does a wonderful job of guiding a competant knitter through the tricky parts of making Cornish fishermen's sweaters (Ganseys,Geurnseas and Jerseys). Her knitting instructions are mixed with interesting history of the craft and I think the book is quite delightful.

Patterns for Guernseys, Jerseys & Arans

I was surprised at the detailing in this book. It has a wonderful history of the patterns and the areas to which each is specific. The patterns are divided into those places they originated and then what styles as well as specific stitches. Found it very intersting and the book was in excellent shape. I'm very pleased with it.

Dover saves vital crafts again

Once more Dover Publishing steps in to insure that good books whose copyright have expired don't simply go out of print forever. Thompson's book on knitting patterns for Guernseys, Jerseys, & Arans is the result of hundreds of hours of research around the coasts of the British Isles, where each seaport had its own traditional sweater pattern. While this was useful in recognizing drowned sailors, it also is part of the British Folk tradition, which is rapidly vanishing in the face of modern day pursuits, where the young have no time for the old ways. This book preserves many of the traditional patterns of knitting sweaters, called Guernseys, Jerseys, and Arans for the islands on which they originated, so modern knitters can make sweaters in the old patterns, before they are lost forever. A great pattern book for the dedicated knitter, it also preserves these traditional patterns for the time when these sweaters are no longer commonly worn, and stands as an archaeological work of preservation. Dave

Peek into knitting history

I love this book! It is part knitting book, part travelogue and very funny. It not only has many authentic patterns but tells the tale of a determined woman trying to collect patterns from real fishermen. A great read! I can't wait to make all the sweaters. A small intro helps the American knitter decode the English instructions and materials notes, which are somewhat difficult to grasp. Nell