Contact: ganseymf@gmail.com

© Moray Firth Gansey Project June 2018

This project was 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.

Project Outline

Aims

• 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

Outline

This three year project (2009-2012), drawn up by the Moray Firth Partnership, focused 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.

For more background information see the Moray Firth Partnership site