Considering how important the gusset is to the construction of the Gansey I decided to use it as a device in a slightly different way to create a shawl combined with one of the few lace patterns which exist in Gansey knitting from the Western Isles in Scotland; Print O’ the Hoof. I love the idea of this pattern; that it could represent the horse’s hoof prints on the sand. This resonated with me having seen, as a small child, cobbles - Filey fishing boats - being taken out on a trailer drawn by horses to be launched straight into the sea from the large sandy bay.
design that give flexibility if you would like to make a longer version. Firstly, the increases occur in three places only; between the two edge sts and the main body of the shawl (at the beginning and end of a row), and either side of the centre stitch, These are also the increases we use in gussets and they create the shape of the shawl.
Secondly, there is simply one main pattern; the Print O’ the Hoof stitch pattern worked over 13 stitches with a purl stitch seam at each side. I use a double decrease for the centre of this. Working to one stitch before
the central stitch, I slip two stitches together to the right hand needle, then knit 1 stitch and pass the two stitches over it. This gives a lovely knit stitch running up the centre of the stitch pattern.
Once the Print O’ the Hoof pattern has been ‘set’ it continues to the end of the shawl. When each increase section reaches 13 stitches, a new column of Print O’ the Hoof starts, with a simple purl stitch as a seam stitch running between the patterns.