An excellent and extensive breakdown of the design components of gansey sweaters and how they interplay to create a unique and distinctive garment with immense history. These may look like simple sweaters, but there are many small design elements that are incorporated to make ganseys more practical, better fitting, and distinctive.

A brief historical chapter on ganseys and how integral they were to the fishing communities of Britain starts off the book, then breaks down the sweater into chapters, focusing on the cast on and edging, the body patterning (complete with 12 pages of traditional stitch patterns), gussets, shoulder treatments, sleeves, and neckband. Each of these parts of the sweater have unique, traditional elements applied to them--such as the Channel Islands and other special cast ons, motif initials, definition ridges, underarm gussets, seam stitches, neckband gussets--and the breakdown is made even more helpful by including a pattern for a small sample sweater. Although I did not work the sample sweater, I love when books like this give not only detailed written instructions of the elements, but also apply them practically to a cohesive sample project.

After the breakdown of sweater parts is complete, a chapter on designing your own sweater is given, with detailed worksheets based on the percentage method (only your bust measurement and gauge are needed!) given so you can create your own gansey. This is also a very useful method for determining measurements for general, non-gansey sweaters as well.

Nine patterns round-out the book, each of them focusing on different aspects of gansey design, showing how the traditional rules can be bent and applied in unique ways, while still retaining the general integrity of the gansey elements. In other words, modernizing a classic!

I have not read the original version of this book, published in 1993, so I can't speak for how much it has been revised and updated since then.

I've perused some books on ganseys before, but these have been brief in the design elements and focused more on the stitch patterns, while Brown-Reinsel's focuses on the actual construction elements of the sweater and what makes the style trulely unique.

While the technical breakdowns might be overwhelming to newer knitters, the actual patterns themselves are quite basic--the unique elements are small and relatively optional, the basic silhouette is just a drop shoulder pullover worked in the round, and the stitch patterns are based 90% in knits and purls. For newer knitters who are looking for a challenge, without having to learn too many new techniques (ganseys are great for learning to balance multiple repeats and instructions at a time), or intermediate and advanced knitters who are looking for a simple-but-complex project, this book provides a wealth of information and patterns for you to learn from.

I'm excited to be using these formulas and elements for an upcoming project! This book was perfectly timely for my design process.

This is a must have book for knitters. Great history,beautiful patterns, clear instructions. Have already gotten my first gansey on my needles.. if you are a serious knitter you must have this book.

Knitting Ganseys, Revised and Updated, is a special edition of Beth Brown-Reinsel's classic guide. Features all new photography, patterns, and more from this seasoned instructor, whose specialty is historical knitting. Offers full-color photos with easy-to-follow instructions for an array of traditional gansey techniques, plus info on current sources for traditional yarns. Highly recommended, especially for experienced knitters.

Thanks to F + W Media and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.

#KnittingGanseys,revisedAndUpdated #NetGalley

This valuable book is an update of a book of the same name published in 1993, also by Interweave. I don't have a copy of the first edition at hand, but Ms Brown-Reinsel brings to this edition two decades of worldwide travels to hunt out knitting traditions. This book is enriched by this research. It also looks better than the first edition, she says. There are lots of cultural notes and historical photos.

The tremendously complex text is crammed with ideas, photos, diagrams and instructions for designing your own gansey from scratch. I was overwhelmed till I saw that the final third of the book is 9 ready made patterns for men and Interweave's usual slender women. Start with these and then move to designing you own. Whew!

The book reads for an advanced knitter but the stitches are not hard. The clarity of the text suggests that anyone who takes the time to read closely will do well. There is also a funny little doll sweater sampler to knit up quickly if you want to test your skills using a cheaper yarn.

One problem with the photos in this ARC is that 3-4 sweaters are shown in the traditional navy blue and there is not enough contract in these dark samples for the patterns to show. I hope the final edition has had some color adjustment.

This is a very well written book, I would say that it wouldn't be for a beginner, although if you are really good at following instructions it could be done. More than half the book is given to instructions and the patterns are achieved through varying the stitched - there is even the ability to inbed letters in the garment. There is a tiny sample jumper to have a try with, and the instructions are very clear, and I think with practice "The Gansey sleeves are knitted on the round from armhole to cuff, whilst simultaneously, the gusset is decreased away" can be achieved and more. Hence the sample jumper.
The patterns at the back of the book are fabulous, timeless and certainly enough to keep you warm in the coldest of weather.
This book is beautifully presented, the information is very clear and there are lots of photos- including step by step instructions on a tiny sample jumper.

I received a free copy of Knitting Ganseys, Revised and Updated, Techniques and Patters for Traditional Sweaters by Beth Brown-Reisel in exchange for an honest review. This book explains the origins of the gansey sweater and what makes it different from other types of sweaters. It explains each of the techniques used in crafting a gansey sweater and provides patterns for several beautiful garments. These are strictly for cold-weather wear designed to afford fishermen protection from the elements. Beautiful garments and interesting information. If you can use a snuggly sweater, I think you’d find something to love in this book.

#KnittingGanseys,revisedAndUpdated #NetGalley

This is an excellent book for expanding your knitting skills or for reference. I especially liked the history of this type of knit sweater, along with the detailed explanation of how exactly a sweater is properly constructed. I will likely use this book for ideas for making my own designs, and this use of the book is embraced by the author. I would have liked a separate set of the stitch designs featured. These sweaters are beautiful but a bit too complicated for my needs and interests. I will likely use some of the stitch patterns in my own designs, but not the entire sweater patterns. Highly recommended!

Not just another knitting pattern book!

Ganseys and their southern cousins, Guernseys, are a traditional form of textured sweater made for fishermen to keep in extra warmth and with gussets in the arms for extra freedom of movement.

This is a new edition of a book already in publication. It's well presented and has lots of good quality color photographs. It starts with a little history, explaining exactly what a Gansey is and where they come from. It goes into detail about the materials, tools and methods traditionally used, but adapts instructions for modern knitting tools.

It explains the forms and construction of this type of sweater and the reasons for such attributes as the underarm gusset. The instructions start with basic casting on and include design variations and a selection of edges the knitter might want to use for their project. It also includes instructions to make samplers for those who don't feel confident to jump right in with a full-sized pullover.

Reasons for different designs of ribbing and welts are explained and I saw some interesting possibilities for using side welts to make a more tabbard-like project. Knitting in initials was shown with a chart for all letters and my imagination took me well out of the traditional with possibilities for writing slogans on the backs of knitted projects!

There are lots charts for different traditional patterns of textures and information about how they were traditionally used. One thing that is different about this book is that it encourages the knitter to create their own designs, based on the basic elements. There is a little cabling, but most of the patterns are a matter of basic knitting and garter stitch.

Naturally a few different neckline choices are also offered. I have to say that as far as personal design in knitting goes, this is probably the most interesting and useful book I've seen. I can see myself experimenting extensively with these ideas! The way the patterns are broken down into basic squares, gussets, edges and shoulder straps and joins allows for a very personally tailored fit and completely personalised combinations of textured designs.

The knitting methods themselves are pretty basic and should be easy for any knitter to follow. Charts are given for measurements when creating your own designs as well as instruction for making the right fit. There's even a worksheet for planning out your project.

The last part of the book gives nine of the author's own patterns for those who feel more comfortable with working with an established pattern and these make good examples for the adventurous who are ready to jump in and design their own. One of the things I note is that the sleeves tend to mostly be roomy, which allows for wearing a pullover over a long-sleeved top which is likely in the sort of cold weather that would merit wearing a pullover at all.

I really liked this book. I think I may get more use out of it than any knitting book I've had before.

An excellent technical knitting book that not only provides several lovely patterns for knitting gansey sweaters, but also provides history, details and empowers the reader to design their own gansey (or adapt the designs) if desired! #indigoemployee

I am so happy to have this revised and updated version of Knitting Ganseys. I have the original black and white copy and it is wonderful to see everything in full color with beautiful photography. The book starts off with an overview of the history of knitted ganseys which is very interesting to read. Knowing what it was like for knitters of the past makes me feel more connected to my craft (and lucky that I don’t have to pump out a sport weight gansey a week in order to make ends meet!). As this book shows, we can keep our gansey knitting as traditional as we like, or branch off and use different yarns (instead of the traditional navy blue worsted spun sportwieght wool yarn).
I love that this book includes a sampler you can knit as you read. This small scale sweater is a great way to learn the components of a gansey without a giant investment in time and yarn. And, oh my, the new full size garment patterns are amazing! The Big Easy is a definite must-knit for me, and with a gauge of 4 sts per inch it’s something I can pull off with my own pattern writing, child rearing, gardening and housekeeping! Snakes and Ladders is another one I would love to knit (perhaps once school starts back up though, since it’s 7 sts per inch!). There is also a pattern for a cardigan and gansey dress!
This is a great book for any serious knitter’s collection. If you have the original version I highly suggest you upgrade for loads of inspiration and new patterns! I received an advance reader copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

#KnittingGanseys,revisedAndUpdated #NetGalley #Ganseys

A beautiful book about Ganseys. Beth shares her knowledge of this fantastic art which is the knitting of Ganseys. This is a wonderful reprint of the first edition published 25 years ago. Very good book with historical facts, easy to follow step by step tutorials and colorful pictures.

This is an *exceptionally* detailed and well-researched book. The photography is stunning - from the atmospheric landscapes and historic images, to the detailed close-ups of techniques and finished samples.

The history of the 'Gansey' makes for fascinating reading. It is endlessly fascinating to see the level of skill and sheer love which has gone into these garments in the past. Given their complexity, it is probably not surprising that they are rarely knitted by hand in these days of Netflix. But then, this just adds to their heirloom appeal when they are made.

I particularly loved the idea of starting with a wee sampler Gansey to get a feel for it, and have now added this to my knitting bucket list.

If you are thinking of making a Gansey, either by machine or hand, or simply want to borrow some of the fascinating pattern detailing (the cast-ons alone set off fireworks of possibility) then look no further. A brilliant addition to any serious knitter's reference library.

I am very grateful to the publisher, and to Netgalley, for letting me see this beautiful book!

I like that this book on knitting gansey's includes a mini sweater sampler as a way to learn the skills and methods used in knitting these sweaters. It's a great way to practice without the commitment of yarn and time that a full sized sweater would require and the corresponding disappointment when the inevitable frogging shows up. The pictures are beautiful and the pages on traditional gansey construction make the gansey more interesting and meaningful. I look forward to casting on my sample :)
The kindle edition I downloaded was awful, however. I had to use Aldiko to get a proper look at the book.

Let me start by saying that this is a revision of an older book, and chances are good if you've ever been interested in knitting Gansey, you've read the original.

In addition to illustrating step-by-step instructions, Brown-Reinsel offers an in depth history of how Gansey sweaters came to be, and the difference between a Gansey and an Aran sweater. Very informative and a great addition to any knitter's library.

vKnitting Ganseys, Revised and Updated Techniques and Patterns for Traditional Sweaters by Beth Brown-Reinsel
Wow what a treasure of information. I design my own Irish Fisherman type sweaters and afghans and really enjoyed reading this book.
Starts out with a table of contents where the chapters are broken up into what the ganseys are to all the construction phases and patterns.
Stunning high quality photos throughout this book, you can see detailed stitching. Loved learning of the history of the gansey and Arans and differences between them.
Loved the tools of the trade as I have some of the curved needles myself, charted variations of stitches and how they are worked.
Every picture tells a story and then some as we learn of the myth behind the fisherman sweater. Love that the ganseys used initials in the bottom section to identify who it was made for.
Also other aspects tell the difference-yarns used and colors of them along with patterns.
Loved seeing the different neck shapings and othervariaions throughtout the book. This is truly a designers resource book as it has it all and then some. Techniques are shown and explained how to do the stitching, or even casting on. That portion explains why you should one method over another and why.
There is a sample small gansey to make to give you an idea of the techniques that are being taught only using 4 oz. of yarn rather than making a full sweater-but that is also included here, the patterns, etc.
Lots of tips along the way. Tools and step by step instructions how to prepare for your own design are also included.
There are also 9 full size patterns.
Each pattern comes with a title, color photo, finished sizes, yarn suggested, needles, list of notions, guage, featured techniques and other notes.
Instructions for each of the sections along with charted gussetts.
I like that some are made for men and there is also a woman's section for the same gansey.
Measurements are also done in inches and metric. Resources and supplies list is also included. Abbreviations and also metric onverstions are included.
Dedication, acknowledgement and about the author are included at the end along with an index.
Other resource books from others are also highlighted if you wan to check further into the different techniques.
Loved reading parts and learning all new things along the way along with the designing aspect of this book. Ends with how the gansey tradition continues.
A KEEPER!
What I did not like was showing the patterns in very dark colors. I realize those are the true colors but for showing them in the book I felt they could've used lighter shades.
Received this review copy from the author via F+W Media and Interweave via Netgalley and this is my honest opinion.
#KnittingGanseys,RevisedAndUpdated #NetGalley

Realy great advice, and simple ways to make items that can be worn every day. Most definitely not for the beginner though. This definitely needs someone experienced in making knitted clothing.