It’s not often you come across a young man interested in knitting, never mind one so enthusiastic about the craft that he has rediscovered and revived a traditional form of it.
Paul Dodwell began knitting while studying at the University of St Andrews, and a local designer, Di Gilpin, introduced him to the gansey, which is a type of woollen sweater that has been worn in fishing communities along the exposed British coast for hundreds of years.
Apart from their obvious use as a warm and durable jumper, ganseys have a sad and compelling tale to tell. Woven into each garment are intricate details of herring bones, anchors, diamonds and ropes.
Each pattern corresponds to a different fishing community and can help to decipher where the sweater was made and the identity of the man wearing it. So in the event of a drowning, the deceased could be identified.
The histories behind each design fascinate 24-year-old Dodwell. He plans to demonstrate his skills at the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival this summer. The festival takes place in Portsoy, one of the oldest fishing villages on the Aberdeenshire coast. The stone harbour dates back to 1692 and the burgh traces its history to a charter from Mary, Queen of Scots, in the 16th century.
The Scottish Traditional Boat Festival takes place in Portsoy, Aberdeenshire, from 2 to 5 July 2009. For more information, go to www.stbf.bizland.com.
Article source: http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/fashion/article6349436.ece
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