Recycled Crafts

Creative DIY Projects That Turn Trash Into Treasure

Giveaway-Knitting Ganseys, Revised and Updated: Techniques and Patterns for Traditional Sweaters

by

Giveaway-Knitting Ganseys, Revised and Updated: Techniques and Patterns for Traditional Sweaters

Leave a comment in today’s post by November 15, 2018 and you are in the running for this classic style sweater knitting book.

Open to U. S. residents only please.

Originally released in 1993, Beth Brown-Reinsel’s bestseller, Knitting Ganseys, is a classic in the hearts of traditional and modern knitters alike, bringing this historic tradition to your needles for 25 years! This completely revised and update version of the perennial bestseller includes 100% new photography, new patterns, and more!

This special edition celebrates with new patterns for sweaters in the traditional gansey style as well as new explorations of modern gansey-inspired patterns. Full-color, step-by-step photography walks you through a variety of traditional gansey techniques and construction methods, plus contemporary sources for traditional gansey yarns are shared, making this as vital to your knitting library as the original.

Comments

  2. I have been infatuated with Gansey sweaters ever since Fringe Association spotted the Daniel Day-Lewis sweater. My knitting group is considering knitting one as a group project. This book would be a great resource!

  6. I am planning to knit my first adult size sweater in a few months. I think this book would be very helpful. Thanks.

  7. Ganseys are my absolute favorite style to knit. Wearing some gansey-style socks today! This book has been on my wish list for a very long time. Thanks for doing this.

  8. This would be a lovely addition to my knotting books which consists of how to knot different stitches. Thank you for the opportunity.
    Lori

  9. I can’t tell if my comment is being posted

    Thank you for this lovely opportunity to add a garment book to my stitch knitting books

    Thank you
    Lori

  11. I would love to have this book. I am always looking for new designs/patterns for sweaters.

  14. To me, Gansey sweaters are virtually the ultimate knitted pieces. The elements of this sweater are unique to each knitter, and the results of this basic formula leave room for endless possibilities. I absolutely adore Gansey sweaters, and aspire to learn everything possible about them! As a fairly new knitter, I am acquiring daily skills, and MUST HAVE Beth Brown-Reisel’s ‘Knitting Gansey’s: Revised and Updated’ edition. Thanks for the giveaway!

  15. Ganseys would be a new adventure for me in knitting after all my years of projects. So wonderful to offer us this opportunity to learn and grow with our skills:)

  17. Next challenge is to knit a sweater. This book would be perfect! Pick me please!!

  19. I am just restarting my knitting hobby after a while off. This book would be excellent to restart, I started with sweaters the first time – I know, weird but the first thing I ever knit was a very large sweater. And these look amazing.

  25. This looks like an interesting book! I’ve only made one sweater so far, but I have a few on my list to make!

  27. My Irish husband has wanted a Gansey sweater- perfect opportunity to grant that wish!

  29. I’ve wanted to design a gansey for a while now. I found a good quantity of Jamieson yarn at a thrift shop which would be perfect. Because this book is more than just patterns, more like a master class really, it would be the best resource. Thanks for the giveaway.

Have you read?

DIY Review: Vintage Milk Can Side Table Makeover – Upcycled Charm with a Story

You know that thrill when you find an old, rusty piece of junk and immediately see its potential? That’s exactly the vibe I got reading the tutorial from A Pretty Happy Home on turning a vintage milk can into a side table. It’s one of those simple yet satisfying projects that blends upcycled charm with real functionality—and adds a whole lot of character to your space.

First off, there’s just something magical about milk cans. They’ve got history. You just know they’ve lived on a dusty farm porch or sat beside a barn door through decades of seasons. In this project, that history gets to shine—literally—after a little elbow grease and creative thinking.

What I loved about this makeover is how unfussy it is. The milk can wasn’t scrubbed within an inch of its life or made to look overly polished. Instead, it got a respectful refresh: a little cleaning, a bit of clear coat to protect the patina, and a sturdy, round wood top to complete the transformation into a DIY farmhouse side table.

The wood top itself was made from leftover pieces—hello, recycled wood projects—which gives this whole DIY an extra eco-friendly touch. It’s a small win for the environment and a big win for anyone who appreciates budget-friendly home decor that doesn’t look cheap.

You don’t need fancy tools or a woodworking shop to pull this off. That’s the beauty of these repurposed furniture ideas—they’re accessible. And they let the vintage pieces speak for themselves. This one, in particular, looks just as good next to a cozy armchair as it would on a porch with a cup of tea and a warm breeze.

The final result? A rustic milk can side table that’s equal parts practical and nostalgic. It’s got that collected-over-time feel that you just can’t buy from a big box store. And as someone who loves giving old things new life, it absolutely inspired me to go digging through the nearest antique store (or maybe my parents’ shed) to see what I can rescue next.

If you’re looking for easy upcycled decor projects, or a way to add authentic farmhouse style without breaking the bank, this tutorial is a perfect weekend project. Honestly, this is the kind of piece that guests will ask about, and you’ll get to say, “Oh, that old thing? I made it.”

And you will say it with pride.