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| Photo above © nikmeas |
The Gansey Afghan by Lena Skvagerson is a richly textured knitted throw inspired by the traditional stitch patterns associated with classic fishermen's gansey sweaters.
Instead of relying on cables or multiple colours for its visual impact, the blanket uses changing knit-and-purl textures to create a series of distinctive geometric sections across the fabric.
Pattern Availability Update
Older Amazing Knitting references may have described this project as a free knitting pattern. The original Gansey Afghan is currently sold as a paid Annie's Signature Designs pattern. We have updated this page to reflect its current official availability.
Gansey Afghan at a Glance
Pattern: Gansey Afghan
Designer: Lena Skvagerson
Publisher: Annie's Signature Designs
First Published: August 2015
Craft: Knitting
Category: Afghan / Throw
Yarn Weight: Worsted
Needle Size: US 9 / 5.5 mm
Gauge: 17 stitches × 27 rows = 4 inches
Yardage: About 1,580–1,600 yards / 1,445–1,463 m
Finished Size: Approximately 44 × 50 inches
Current Availability: Paid pattern
About the Gansey Afghan
Designed by Lena Skvagerson, the Gansey Afghan translates the traditional textured appearance of fishermen's sweaters into a generously sized knitted throw.
Gansey-style knitting is particularly effective in a single colour because the changing combinations of knit and purl stitches create shadows and raised textures across the fabric.
This makes the blanket visually interesting without requiring frequent yarn changes or elaborate colourwork.
Finished Size
The finished blanket measures approximately:
44 × 50 inches
This makes it a practical throw-sized project rather than a small baby blanket.
Yarn and Yardage
The original design uses Plymouth Yarn Encore Tweed, a worsted-weight yarn.
The published requirement is approximately:
1,580–1,600 yards / 1,445–1,463 metres
The original version uses eight skeins. If substituting another yarn, concentrate on achieving the correct gauge and choosing a fibre suitable for the warmth, weight, and care requirements you want from the finished blanket.
Needles and Gauge
The original pattern recommends a:
US 9 / 5.5 mm, 40-inch circular needle
The circular needle provides room for the large number of blanket stitches; the blanket itself is worked as a flat project.
Published gauge is:
17 stitches × 27 rows = 4 inches / 10 cm in pattern stitch
The Gansey-Inspired Texture
Texture is the defining feature of this blanket. Different combinations of knit and purl stitches create changing geometric areas across the fabric, echoing the richly patterned surfaces associated with traditional gansey knitting.
A solid or lightly heathered yarn can work particularly well for this style because light and shadow help reveal the stitch patterns.
Written Instructions and Charts
The official pattern includes both written instructions and a chart, allowing knitters to follow the textured sections using the format they prefer.
Amazing Knitting does not reproduce those instructions or charts. They remain part of the designer's copyrighted pattern.
Skills That Help
Useful skills for a project of this type include:
- Casting on a large number of stitches
- Knit and purl stitches
- Reading repeated stitch patterns
- Following written instructions or charts
- Using stitch markers
- Maintaining consistent gauge and tension
- Binding off
- Weaving in yarn ends
Is the Gansey Afghan Still Free?
No. The original Gansey Afghan by Lena Skvagerson is currently offered as a paid pattern.
Older pages and saved links may describe it differently because pattern availability can change over time. For the current legitimate version, use the designer/publisher listing rather than copies reproduced on unrelated websites.
View the Original Gansey Afghan Pattern
The Ravelry listing provides the current pattern information and links to the official purchase source.
View the Gansey Afghan Pattern →
Looking for a Free Gansey-Style Blanket?
Prefer a free option? There are also gansey-inspired blankets that use knit-and-purl texture to create a similar traditional look without copying Lena Skvagerson's design.
Free Alternative: Gansey Sampler Blanket
Plymouth Yarn's B225 Sampler Blanket uses a collection of textured knit-and-purl stitch sections, including ribs, moss-style texture, diamonds, and other traditional-looking patterns. It is a separate design, not a free copy of the Gansey Afghan.
Find the Free Gansey Sampler Blanket →
You can also browse free afghan knitting patterns, free blanket knitting patterns, and textured knitted blankets from the Amazing Knitting archive.
Before You Start
Check the current official pattern before purchasing yarn, confirm the required yardage, and make a gauge swatch. For a large textured blanket, consistent tension is particularly useful because differences can become more noticeable across long sections of patterned fabric.
Pattern credit: Gansey Afghan was designed by Lena Skvagerson and published by Annie's Signature Designs. Amazing Knitting does not reproduce the designer's copyrighted written instructions or charts.