The gansey arrived on 21 August!
The colors in these phone images seem off. In reality the wool is a handsome natural grey blend.
The sweater was made by hand to my measurements, and it fits perfectly and is very comfortable. I will share more photos this fall when I am actually wearing the gansey in cooler weather.
For those interested, my initial inquiry by email was 16 March, and I paid 101 on 22 March. The knitting was completed by 4 June, and the sweater departed Tristan da Cunha by ship on 14 June.
I assume the knitter Catherine Glass is a descendant of William Glass who settled on the island around 1817, and the wool was taken from sheep which have been raised on the island for generations.
I am very excited, and am glad I decided to give this a try. I thought a bespoke island gansey would have cost two or three times much as this did. I am looking forward to wintertime, and to wearing this for years to come!
Very nice althoigh how come it took so long to arrive in the UK. Appreciate it is a remote location but surely there is at least a weekly boat?
Edit I just Wikipedia-d the island - blimey that IS remote!
Last edited by ryanb741; 23rd August 2021 at 23:40.
Br interested to know how you get on with this as I find alot of these types of jumpers to be very itchy. I had a Guernsey one a while ago and sold it on on here as no mater what I tried it just didn't seem to soften up.
Last edited by kultschar; 24th August 2021 at 08:23.
Haha - your joking.
2kg Parcel limit for airmail (Royal Mail) and that can take up to 3 weeks to arrive. Only two MOD planes a week and its the same plane for the mail as the passengers. Therefore if the plane is busy the mail doesn't always get put on the plane.
No couriers except DHL and that now gets stuck in Uruguay (no flights to S America since Covid) and arrives by boat once a month.
So yeah no Amazon Prime (cant stream Amazon Prime video either as no unlimited Internet on the Islands)
Im currently back over in the UK at the moment and to put it bluntly “stocked up”. The postman even made a sarcastic comment about all the deliveries :)
PS - no postman in Falklands either! A trip to your postbox at the local post office with your key is required
Last edited by kultschar; 24th August 2021 at 08:42.
A quick look on Google Earth and then on Google and it looks as though this place is an active volcano.
Being so remote, how would the villagers fare if it erupted. Im guessing they wouldnt.
I take your T-da-C wire wool gansy and raise it by a Herdwick. If you want the authentic wire-wool-wearing experience, buy a Herdwick.
Don't try to soften them; just love them.
Based on this very interesting thread - and on having discovered that some of my Le Tricoteur jumpers made a tasty snack for clothes moths over the summer - I've gone ahead and ordered one of these TdC jumpers. Even better, Mrs K has offered to pay for it as a birthday present (my birthday is in June...)
Mine will be plain (rather than cable knit), crew neck, and black with grey bands at collar/cuff/waist.
I confidently expect to have it in time for next winter :-)
Oh man, this forum always ends up costing me . I don't own a jumper, I don't tend to feel the cold. But I grew up not far from the North East coast & am now researching North East coast Ganseys. I like the historical aspect.
Last edited by trident-7; 3rd December 2021 at 22:40.
"Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it's enemy action."
"You gotta know when to hold em and know when to fold em".
The forum does it again. I've ordered a blue Le Tricoteur Guernsey to go under the Christmas tree. I can see a TdC in my future.
Fantastic thread and thanks for the updates regarding the delivery of the gansey.
Like several others, I have some that were hand knitted for me by a relative (to measure). They have lasted well and for a long time.
I found them particularly useful in bad weather (as they help to repel water and breathe), and when doing more strenuous or long-lasting outdoor activities.
That the area around the armpits is quite loose is to my preference.
The quality of the wool, in addition to the skill of the knitter, is significant, imho.
Nope - it's all gone very quiet.Originally Posted by williemays;5958941[mention
Last email I got was on December 6, confirming that my payment had been received. I'll wait a bit longer before chasing them, given that it's unlikely to get worn before next winter :-)
Just had confirmation mine is complete, ordered and paid early September. Here's the knitter, Jane with the jumper. No idea yet on expected arrival date.
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Very nice! See the TdC site at https://www.tristandc.com/shippinghome.php if you are curious about vessels and departure dates to Cape Town.
Mine has been completed. Just have to wait for it to be dispatched, transported and delivered now!
Sweater arrived 27th May, took 2 months to transit. Unfortunately the dimensions were incorrectly interpreted by the knitter, a 39" chest became 50" and waist 40" instead of 32". Spoke with Kelly who apologised and confirmed a new jumper is already underway, I have sent the original back. I don't know what sort of shape they thought I was.
Standard SC sizing, nest-ce pas?
Exactement!
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'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
I demand an update from Gansey and other jumper wearers.
This is an oddly fascinating topic and I must know more!
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