The Nora Sleeveless Gansay was first published in 2018 and holds a special place in the Purl &Jane collection as the very first garment knitted in the round.

It’s worked from the bottom up. The lower section is just the knit stitch with a rib detail at the sides, making it a great first project if you’re new to knitting in the round. When you reach the top, it splits into front and back and is worked in rows. This section includes a traditional pattern and might take a little concentration, but it’s so worth it.

If you’d prefer a pattern in the round without the stitch detail at the top, then the Bray Tank Top and Fabrile Tank Top are both great options to try.

This design shares the same cable and stitch pattern as the Woodhouse Gansay – a pattern that’s knitted in pieces. Like the Woodhouse, the Nora is inspired by my absolute love of traditional fisherman’s gainsays. The history behind them, and the reasons they were made, truly reflect what knitting means to me – a hand-knitted garment that keeps you warm, dry and wrapped in care.

CONSTRUCTION
The back and front are knitted in the round in one piece from the bottom up, then divided to knit the back and then front in rows. The neck edging is picked
up and knitted.

TECHNIQUES USED
Knitting in the round and rows, cast on, knit, purl, decreasing, increasing, two simple cables, cast off. Joining shoulder seams. Optional but recommended to create the feeling of joy when joining your pieces: three needle cast off.

YARN
4 (5)100g hanks of WYS Bluefaced Leicester Aran.
100% British Bluefaced Leicester wool, 166m/182yds per 100g

SUGGESTED KNITTING NEEDLES
4.5mm.
5mm long circular needle.
Cable needle.

GAUGE (tension)
18 stitches and 24 rows to 10cm/4ins square over pattern. I obtained this gauge with 5mm needles.
It is important to obtain the correct gauge so do work a swatch before you start the pattern and change your needle size to achieve the correct gauge if you need to.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
I recommend a positive ease of 2-12ins/5-30cm at the chest.

Size
1, (2)

Chest circumference
108, (136)cm
42¼, (53½)ins

Length (from top of shoulder to cast on edge)
54, (60)cm
21¼, (23½)ins

NEED HELP?
I am here for you! Pop into the Skipton studio, send an email, or check out the Purl &Jane YouTube channel for tips, inspiration and guidance including handy resources like gauge (tension) guides and how to tutorials.