Table Of ContentPatterns of
Jreland, Scotland and England
GWYN MORGAN
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KNITTING
Patterns of
Jreland, Scotland and England
GWYN MORGAN
The British Isles have produced some of
the finest craft knitting in the world,
principally among the fishing
communities of Ireland, Scotland and
eastern England. The Arans, Fair Isles
and Guernseys were part of the local folk
culture, and continued to be made even
after hand-knitting traditions had died out
elsewhere. But in time, even these last
outposts of craft industry were
endangered by depopulation and social
change, and it seemed likely that many of
the patterns, which had survived only by
word of mouth, would be lost for ever.
Recently, however, there has been a
revival of interest in regional craft
knitting, and with it, a demand for
written patterns. Gwyn Morgan’s
carefully researched book offers more
than 30 traditional patterns. It gives a
brief history of knitting and of the
development of woolen yarns, and
describes the knitting techniques that are
peculiar to each region. Most important
of all, the author gives the historical
background to each regional style,
explaining how the characteristic features
that distinguish them came about.
This book aims to show the infinite
variety that can be developed within the
Aran, Fair Isle and Guernsey traditions,
and to convey some of the satisfaction
that can be found in knitting these
beautiful, high-quality garments.
Jacket design: James Campus
BOSTON
PUBLIC
LIBRARY
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2018 with funding from
Kahle/Austin Foundation
https://archive.org/details/traditionalknittOOmorg
traditional
Patterns of
Jrelandr Scotland and England
GWYN MORGAN
St. Martins Press
New \ork.
Acknowledgments
The publisher and author gratefully
acknowledge the help of Gillian
Green, who edited the patterns in this
book. Our thanks also go to Stella
Clifford, Sylvia Morgan and Wendy
Page who helped with the knitting
of the patterns, and to Tom Miles
for technical advice.
We would also like to thank the
following for kindly providing
photographs:
British Tourist Authority page 18;
Royal Danish Ministry for Foreign
Affairs page 76; Geoff Goode pages 53
and 97; Hamburg Kunsthalle page 9;
Irish Tourist Board page 59; National
Trust for Scotland pages 13 and 75;
Shetland Museum and Library page
14; Victoria and Albert Museum
pages 8 and 10.
All other photographs were taken by
Michael Busselle.
CODMflM SOUARE
MAR 198?
First published by Ward Lock Limited, London,
a Pentos Company.
Copyright © 1981 Gwyn Morgan
St. Martin Press, 175 Fifth Avenue,
New York, N.Y. 10010
U.S. Edition. All rights reserved.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 80-6306
ISBN 0-312-81314-7 Pbk
ISBN 0-312-81313-9
Printed in Spain
Contents
Introduction 6 6 Colour Knitting 75
1 An Ancient Craft 7 Fair Isle Waistcoat 78
Fair Isle Pullover 81
2 From Sheep to Yarn 12
Cardigan with Fair Isle Borders 83
3 The Knitting Process 15 Fair Isle Scarf, Hat and Gloves 87
Fair Isle Zipped Jacket 90
4 Guernseys 17
Fair Isle Button Up Jacket 94
Traditional Channel Island Guernsey 20 Baby's Cardigan with Fair Isle Borders 97
Scarborough Guernsey with Monogram 23 Shetland Sweater 100
Flamborough Guernsey 26 Shetland Pullover 102
Scots Fishing Fleet Guernsey 29 Shetland Cardigan 107
Whitby Guernsey 32 Faroe Island Sweater 110
Inverness Guernsey 36 Faroe Island Waistcoat 113
Hebridean Guernsey 39
7 Abbreviations 116
Child's Lerwick Guernsey 42
Child's Filey Guernsey 44 8 Suppliers 117
Child's Guernsey Duffle Jacket 46
9 Notes for American Readers 119
Baby's Guernsey 49
10 Bibliography 120
Guernsey Fingerless Gloves 53
Further Guernsey Pattern Panels 55
5 Arans 58
Aran Polo Neck Sweater 60
Aran Crew Neck Sweater 63
Aran Cardigan 66
Aran Jacket 69
Aran Waistcoat 71
Child's Aran Sweater 73
Jntroduction
Knitting is a simple craft and the basic skill is easily acquired. It is estimated that
at the present time six million people in Britain alone possess it. In recent years
interest in knitting has increased dramatically, promoted by the growing popularity
of craftwork and by commercial fashion designers, much of whose inspiration is
drawn from the rich traditional heritage.
The British Isles have produced some of the finest craft knitting in the world,
principally among the fishing communities of Ireland, the northern isles of Scotland
and the east coast of England. But this tradition need not die with its originators; the
beauty of Aran, Fair Isle and Guernsey designs is timeless.
This book does not provide a simple introduction to knitting; many others exist
to fulfil that need. Neither is it an exhaustive study of traditional knitting. Its aim is
to encourage those who wish to progress beyond the simple knitting pattern, to be
more ambitious and creative in their craft.
Aran and Fair Isle garments are never out of fashion, yet prices have soared
recently and the quality is often low. The true Guernsey was almost an endangered
species, but in the last few years it has enjoyed a revival in popularity. This book
aims to explain the essentials of these regional traditions and to show the infinite
variety that can be developed within them.
Traditional knitting patterns have in the past been handed down by word of
mouth and printed patterns particularly for Guernseys are not easy to find. It is
hoped that the patterns published here will help knitters to discover the satisfaction
that can be gained from producing these high-quality and beautiful garments.
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