It Started With a Stitch : The Story of the Williams Gansey Project

'Wouldn't it be nice if the Williams II crew had a uniform?' This throwaway line led to an incredible knitting project.

Two long-time friends took up the challenge. And the journey has taken them to some surprising, emotional and uplifting places. It started with a stitch tells the story of Blyth-educated William Smith, a merchant captain who, in 1819, discovered Antarctica but was never credited for it.

It tells of Blyth Tall Ship, the project which began and flourished in this North East town and the ambition to recreate Smith's journey to the new continent to acknowledge his legacy. 'Wouldn't it be nice if the Williams II crew had a uniform?' This throwaway line led to an incredible knitting project, with two long-time friends taking up the challenge. And the journey has taken them to some surprising, emotional and uplifting places. It Started with a Stitch tells the story of Blyth-educated William Smith, a merchant captain who, in 1819, discovered Antarctica but was never credited for it.

It tells of Blyth Tall Ship, the project which began and flourished in this North East town and the ambition to recreate Smith's journey to the new continent to acknowledge his legacy. It also tells of keen knitters Astrid and Janice who, while having never knitted a gansey themselves, set out to research and design the Blyth gansey, fundraise, source yarn and, most importantly, recruit over 100 knitters from all over the world to complete the project. Their stories, and the stories of the Williams II crews who wore the ganseys, will warm your heart.