Knitting the Herring is here!

The Scottish Fisheries Museum is delighted to announce the launch of our Knitting the Herring website!

Over the summer, we have been busy creating the initial workings of a national database to showcase Scottish historical ganseys. The ganseys held by the Scottish Fisheries Museum and others, combined with historical photographs, knitting patterns and online events, will unravel the connection between fishing and knitting communities.

In the coming months, we will reach out to museums, family homes and our project partners in Fife, the Outer Hebrides and beyond to gather and share information on historical ganseys that were knitted for, and worn by, fisherfolk from the 1800s to the 20th century. This national collection will create an online hub of information and skills.

Find out more at: Knitting the Herring

As part of Knitting the Herring, we are creating Shoal! You can knit your own herring or bunting at home and contribute to a collaborative exhibition. Shoal will be exhibited online to showcase the shared passion for Scotland’s National Gansey network.

Visit the website for details, instructions and the herring pattern.

Our Knitting the Herring events programme will also include online knitting demonstrations, talks, knit alongs, book readings and storytelling, and a specially designed comic: Kipper the Cat’s Gansey Adventure.

Full details of our programme will be revealed online.

For more information or if you would like to contribute gansey details to the collection, please get in touch at Knitting the Herring.

Knitting the Herring seeks to capture, preserve and highlight the unique knitting heritage of coastal fishing communities of Scotland. The project is funded by Fife Leader, Outer Hebrides Leader and Fife Settlement Fund.