You just pull at the base of the gaitor and it comes free, then roll up the leather gaitor to reveal a pinch clip which locks the whole lot on. Open the ring with a small flat driver and the whole gearstick slides off.
Cant believe you cut the old one off with a stanley knife. You deserve your stiches for butchering the car - only kidding, hope you get well soon /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif