Moray Firth Gansey Project

This project is being part-financed by the Heritage Lottery Fund, and by the Scottish Government and The European Community Rural Aberdeenshire, Highland and Moray LEADER 2007 – 2013 Programmes.

Aims

In brief, the aims of the Moray Firth Gansey Project are to:

Locate, record and conserve examples of traditional Moray Firth ganseys, patterns and traditions
Pass on the skills to a new generation
Involve communities and individuals, schools and colleges
Challenge young designers to use the skills and techniques to create contemporary garments
Promote local economic development opportunities

Project outline:

This exciting three year project, drawn up by the Moray Firth Partnership, focuses on the tradition of hand knitted ganseys in the Moray Firth’s fishing communities as a way of preserving this important part of our culture and introducing the craft – and the area’s wider fishing heritage – to new audiences.

A 'gansey' is a distinctive, seamless, woollen pullover, traditionally worn by seamen and fishermen. It was designed to be practical, comfortable to wear for work, and provide some protection from the harsh conditions at sea. Many early fishing communities are thought to have had their “own” distinctive gansey patterns or pattern combinations. Wearers’ initials or the name of the boat were sometimes incorporated into a design, and if a man was lost at sea, this might have helped identify him.

It is really important that old examples of ganseys are not thrown away - it does not matter if they are well worn or patched! We just need to be able to record the patterns and the style so that we can build up a complete picture of ganseys around the Moray Firth and to show the development of patterns in a UK and North Sea context.

If you have any old ganseys (regardless of condition), patterns, knitting pins / sheaths, old pictures showing ganseys or gansey knitters or indeed any information or stories, we would be delighted to hear from you.

In addition to gathering information about old ganseys, the Project Coordinators will be working with schools, colleges and community groups to pass on the skills and techniques, and to encourage innovative thinking about contemporary applications.

There will be a competition for design students and an open competition to create a new “Moray Firth” gansey design.

More information

Information will be added to this site as the project progresses. For more background information see the Moray Firth Partnership site

This project is being part-financed by the Heritage Lottery Fund, and by the Scottish Government and The European Community Rural Aberdeenshire, Highland and Moray LEADER 2007 – 2013 Programmes.

What is the Moray Firth Gansey Project?