Jimmy

“After an hour or so the upward flood of the tide held its breath for an elongated moment and then it had changed direction and we were being pulled back the way we had come, down towards the meeting of river and sea…”

Threads – The Delicate Life of John Craske. Julia Blackburn

From the Olive and George collection, drawing inspiration from the Norfolk Fishermen’s Gansey jumpers of the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Jimmy pull-over is knitted in the UK from a traditionally spun Irish Donegal yarn.

This unisex chunky-knitted cable vest is boxy in proportions and ideal for layering over shirts or dresses on days when there’s a chill in the air. It has a high V neck, dropped shoulders and a neat, finished edge to the arm holes. Available in two sizes (s/m and m/l) and two colours; Navy Blue with brighter blue “flecks” or Oatmeal with dark brown “flecks”.

This style is rich in heritage stitches like “herringbones” and fishing nets or “meshes” which I have translated into three-dimensional cable stitches so that they really stand out. The Jimmy is named after Jimmy “Tar” Bishop who came from a large Sheringham fishing family in Norfolk. Their family Gansey pattern incorporated herringbones and fishing nets knitted in moss stitch.  Jimmy’s relation “Lotion” Tar Bishop had wife who knitted the family Ganseys in a “tight fit”, sometimes so tight that they made the lobes of their ears bleed when pulled over the head!

The meanings to their nicknames have been lost in time, but there is a lovely story telling of how “Lotion” Bishop once met Queen Victoria when she visited Sheringham and enquired “Who’s that handsome man?” Her attendant fetched the fisherman over to meet Her Majesty. I’m Lotion Bishop Ma’am.” “Well, I hope your lotion is a good one,” the Queen chuckled!