An international panel of judges has just been announced to decide winning entries in the Moray Firth Gansey Project design competition. American Beth Brown-Reinsel, author of the book ‘Knitting Ganseys’, Juliet Bernard, editor of the Knitter magazine and the international knitwear designer Di Gilpin will choose the winning designs.

The winning patterns will also be featured in the autumn 2011 issue of the Knitter magazine, and the Moray Firth Gansey project’s forthcoming book, and there are great prizes on offer.

The competition has two sections – one to design a new gansey pattern (aimed at more experienced knitters), and one to design a pattern that could be used on a bag, which non-knitters could take part in. The competition closes on 04 April 2011.

There is no need to knit a whole gansey, so there is plenty of time to take part. First entries received included one from Finland – the competition is hotting up.

The winning designs will be knitted up and displayed at Ganseyfest – the International Gansey Seminar being organised by the Project, taking place in Inverness, Scotland on Saturday 1st & Sunday 2nd October 2011.

Ganseyfest will have a range of talks, demonstrations, classes, and lots of opportunities for hands on. Liz Lovick, Di Gilpin and Beth Brown-Reinsel will be among a host of exciting speakers, covering knitting, design, fashion, patterns and cultural evolution, herring girls etc. The exhibition of ganseys will include examples from the Netherlands and other areas. The marketplace will showcase the best in gansey 5 ply yarns and other yarns and accessories. The full programme and details for exhibitors will be on the Moray Firth Gansey website shortly.

Tutor, designer and researcher Liz Lovick said “Ganseyfest presents an exciting opportunity for gansey enthusiasts, social historians, designers and makers to pool ideas and knowledge, present new research and find new applications for the old skills, which will suit today’s lifestyle”.

For more information about the Gansey design competition and Ganseyfest international seminar, see www.gansey-mf.co.uk or contact the Moray Firth Partnership at: info@morayfirth-partnership.org tel. 01463 725027

This project is one of a number being carried out through the Moray Firth Partnership (MFP), with the aim of helping to keep the Moray Firth’s natural, economic, cultural and social resources in good heart, now and for future generations.

The Moray Firth Partnership (MFP) is a voluntary association promoting “Integrated Coastal Zone Management” with over 630 members representing a wide range of individuals and organisations that live, work and have an interest in the Firth. The MFP does not have any statutory powers and works by promoting agreement through open discussions, consensus and working in partnership. It is not a lobby group, and does not ‘take sides’ on issues. The MFP’s neutral status lets us bring together many diverse interest-groups and help them to develop joint actions. Membership is free and open to all those with an interest in the Firth.

The Moray Firth Gansey Project aims to:-

• Locate, record and conserve examples of traditional Moray Firth ganseys, patterns and    traditions
• Pass on the skills to a new generation
• Involve communities and individuals, schools and colleges
• Challenge young designers to use the skills and techniques to create contemporary garments
• Promote local economic development opportunities
• Increasing local income generation and employment opportunities

For more information about the Moray Firth Partnership or the Moray Firth Gansey Project, contact Kathryn Logan, Manager:

Moray Firth Partnership
Great Glen House
Leachkin Road
INVERNESS.  IV3 8NW
Tel: 01463 225530
Fax: 01463 225207

E-mail: info@morayfirth-partnership.org
www.morayfirth-partnership.org