Gansey Knitting Preview: April 16, 2022


Model wearing knitted gansey, April 16 preview

Knitting design: Gansey

Difficulty: Intermediate

We have given the traditional gansey a fresh look this week.


Gansey knitting designs are always popular with our readers so we are sure you will love this one, too.

Gansey knitting close up, April 16

Photograph by Ally Stuart.

We choose a bright green shade (Fellside 1038) to catch the eye. The yarn used is WYS Fleece DK, a classic British 100% wool yarn created from Bluefaced Leicester sheep. Though, there are plenty of shades to choose from if green is not for you.

The gansey is unisex and comes in six sizes ranging from 76/81 cm (30/32 ins) to 127/132 cm (50/52 ins). Actual size is around 18/13 cm (7/5 ins) bigger giving a comfortable fit. However, if you prefer a looser, baggier fit, you may want to work a size bigger.

The body features over a 10-row pattern, which is quite straightforward. The Twist Stitch Border a 26-row pattern and the yoke a 20-row pattern.

Gansey knitting preview close up, April 16

Photography by Ally Stuart.

There are twist stitches and bobbles in the yoke patterning and if these are new to you, we would recommend practising them first with some spare yarn.

The bonus is that the drop shoulders mean there is little shaping. You work the sleeves from the top to the cuff decreasing as you go.

Send it in!

With our changeable weather, and heating costs rising, a sweater is always a handy thing to have and we reckon our gansey is a real winner. The People’s Friend team would love to see your creations. You can send them to peoplesfriend@dctmedia.co.uk for a chance to be shared on social media or in the magazine!


Find the full gansey knitting design in our April 16, 2022 issue of “The People’s Friend”. On sale this Wednesday!

For more crafts, visit our Craft section. Or you can subscribe to “The People’s Friend” here, to make sure you’ll never miss another one of our great patterns and projects.

Liz O’Rourke

Liz is part of our Features Team and her hobbies include knitting and crafts, reading and foreign travel which are also her main responsibilities on the “Friend”. If you walk into the office you will soon spot her desk, it’s the one piled high with knitwear and balls of yarn!