Traditional Fair Isle Gansey

This design was created for my final project in the Master Hand Knitter program of The Knitting Guild Association. I was particularly interested in recreating a gansey shape, knitted in the round with armhole steeks, and employing gussets for additional room in the upper arm area.

My sources for the Fair Isle patterning were traditional Shetland charts. I have a particular fondness for the Shetland Islands and this project was a special one for me.

I used a size 3 (3.25mm) 32 (80cm) circular needle; a size 3 (3.25mm) 16 (40cm) circular needle; and a set of size 3 (3.25mm) double-pointed needles to knit this gansey. In all, 5 colors of Jamieson’s Spindrift yarn were required.