Craske

“He liked to be outside when the rising sun marked a many-coloured road of light across the sea. Such unexpected colours: bronze and the softest pinks and yellows.”

Threads – The Delicate Life of John Craske. Julia Blackburn

Drawing inspiration from the Norfolk fishermen’s Gansey jumpers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Craske is a seasonless chunky British wool knit. Crafted in Nottinghamshire from the highest quality 100% certified British wool; fleece to finished jumper in under 125 miles!

This knit comes in 2 sizes and four colours; new Heather Pink, Stormy Blue, Milk White and the new bespoke True Navy Blue. This piece can be worn by men or women, a cosy go-to piece to pull on when the coastal breeze picks up or for quiet hours at home. It is knitted with a high turtle neck which can be folded down or “popped” up depending on the weather. The top half of the body is knitted in the original “hailstone” stitch taken directly from the original Ganseys on both the  front and back body with a neat central shoulder seam and chunky rib trims. The body is generous and boxy, flatteringly shaped upwards towards the front. The sleeves are slightly long with a ribbed cuff which can be pushed up to scrunch, or pulled down to cover the knuckles. Reverse knit panels run along each side seam – just like on the original Ganseys. This jumper is intentionally simple in pattern and form to complement the simplicity of the stitches.

The Craske Gansey is named after “Big John” Craske who is fondly remembered to have had a kind face. He was one of three brothers who owned two boats and saved enough money to build 3 cottages after a good season’s fishing. It is said that the chimneys on their cottages were built to resemble the four funnels of a liner. The Craske brothers also ran whelk coppers close to their homes and were successful fishermen and businessmen.