For hundreds of years, the Guernsey sweater has been a favorite among fishermen and sailors on Guernsey, a small island in the British Crown Dependencies located off the coast of Normandy, France.
Traditionally, these sweaters were hand-knitted by women in each household. They were designed without a distinct front or back, featured horizontal shoulders, sleeves attached straight out from the sides, and a mock neck (a low turtleneck). The top half was intricately knitted with patterns passed down through families, such as cables and lattice designs, while the bottom half was plain to allow for ease of movement and repairs.
While mid-gauge plain sweaters are now mainstream, The 2Monkeys has recreated the distinctive style of these old Guernsey sweaters. We've made them with a hand-knitted feel, using low-gauge yarn and a slightly relaxed fit.
