Irish Sweaters & The Aran Jumper
The History And Significance Of Irish Sweaters Knit Patterns
Irish sweaters are beautiful, warm, comfortable, practical and durable. Beyond that, the true, traditional Irish Aran sweater incorporates symbolism in its knit pattern that tells a story. In this article, we will explore the symbolism of knit patterns in traditional Irish Aran sweaters. Read on to learn more.
The most well known traditional Irish knitwear comes from the Isles of Aran. The styles of the garments and the patterns included in the needlework and weaving tell the history of the clans. Hand-knit Aran sweaters are made by hand as a home industry by Irish women. These are the real, traditional Aran sweaters, and they are in great demand. Their numbers are limited because the ability to hand-knit the heavy, traditional Aran sweater is a dying art. Because of this, you can expect to pay a handsome price for one of these unique sweaters, but rest assured it's worth it!
It can take months to hand craft an authentic Aran sweater. Each one is made up of over a hundred-thousand stitches. The traditional patterns convey a variety of meanings.
The most popular stitch seen in sweaters hand-made in Ireland is the Cable Stitch. This stitch is intended to symbolize the strong ropes used by fishermen. This pattern is found on the traditional fisherman's sweater. It was thought that a fisherman who wore a sweater knit with this pattern would have a bountiful catch.
Inhabitants of Aran who worked the land often wore sweaters sporting the Diamond Stitch. This stitch represents the small land holdings of the people of the Aran islands. It was thought that wearing this pattern while working the fields would lead to the growth of a bountiful crop.
Farmers might also wear a sweater bearing the Trellis Stitch. This stitch symbolizes the traditional Irish stone-walled fields.
Newlyweds and other married folk often wore sweaters hand crafted with the Zig-Zag stitch. This stitch symbolizes the many ups and downs of married life. Alternately, it may be worn by a seeker of meaning in life with the zigs and zags representing the winding cliffs and detours on the path of life.
Members of clans and families and parents should wear the Tree of Life Stitch. This stitch is symbolic of the strength of family ties. Those who wear it are said to have the ability to build strong unity within the clan and to raise healthy, happy children.
Those who work in community are advised to wear a sweater made with the Honeycomb Stitch. The honeycomb is a symbol of the sweet fruits of cooperative labor in community.
Sweaters made of strong, warm, durable Aran wool are gorgeous, and they are also extremely practical. People who work out of doors will not find a more useful garment in cold, wet weather. Aran wool rivals any modern, synthetic material when it comes to keeping the wearer warm, dry and comfortable outdoors in wet weather. The lanolin in the wool repels moisture, yet the fact that the weave is breathable allows sweat to evaporate from the body.
Remember that the best Irish sweaters are still hand-knit. You'll pay a pretty price for one, but it will last you a lifetime with good care. A slightly less expensive and lighter weight alternate is the hand-loomed Irish sweater. These sweaters are lighter weight and are often made of wool blends. They do bear the traditional symbolic patterns and are quite attractive. Machine made Irish sweaters are, quite frankly, cheap. They are often made of synthetic materials, and the patterns are not dramatic or defined.
Irish sweaters are beautiful, warm, comfortable, practical and durable. Beyond that, the true, traditional Irish Aran sweater incorporates symbolism in its knit pattern that tells a story. In this article, we will explore the symbolism of knit patterns in traditional Irish Aran sweaters. Read on to learn more.
The most well known traditional Irish knitwear comes from the Isles of Aran. The styles of the garments and the patterns included in the needlework and weaving tell the history of the clans. Hand-knit Aran sweaters are made by hand as a home industry by Irish women. These are the real, traditional Aran sweaters, and they are in great demand. Their numbers are limited because the ability to hand-knit the heavy, traditional Aran sweater is a dying art. Because of this, you can expect to pay a handsome price for one of these unique sweaters, but rest assured it's worth it!
It can take months to hand craft an authentic Aran sweater. Each one is made up of over a hundred-thousand stitches. The traditional patterns convey a variety of meanings.
The most popular stitch seen in sweaters hand-made in Ireland is the Cable Stitch. This stitch is intended to symbolize the strong ropes used by fishermen. This pattern is found on the traditional fisherman's sweater. It was thought that a fisherman who wore a sweater knit with this pattern would have a bountiful catch.
Inhabitants of Aran who worked the land often wore sweaters sporting the Diamond Stitch. This stitch represents the small land holdings of the people of the Aran islands. It was thought that wearing this pattern while working the fields would lead to the growth of a bountiful crop.
Farmers might also wear a sweater bearing the Trellis Stitch. This stitch symbolizes the traditional Irish stone-walled fields.
Newlyweds and other married folk often wore sweaters hand crafted with the Zig-Zag stitch. This stitch symbolizes the many ups and downs of married life. Alternately, it may be worn by a seeker of meaning in life with the zigs and zags representing the winding cliffs and detours on the path of life.
Members of clans and families and parents should wear the Tree of Life Stitch. This stitch is symbolic of the strength of family ties. Those who wear it are said to have the ability to build strong unity within the clan and to raise healthy, happy children.
Those who work in community are advised to wear a sweater made with the Honeycomb Stitch. The honeycomb is a symbol of the sweet fruits of cooperative labor in community.
Sweaters made of strong, warm, durable Aran wool are gorgeous, and they are also extremely practical. People who work out of doors will not find a more useful garment in cold, wet weather. Aran wool rivals any modern, synthetic material when it comes to keeping the wearer warm, dry and comfortable outdoors in wet weather. The lanolin in the wool repels moisture, yet the fact that the weave is breathable allows sweat to evaporate from the body.
Remember that the best Irish sweaters are still hand-knit. You'll pay a pretty price for one, but it will last you a lifetime with good care. A slightly less expensive and lighter weight alternate is the hand-loomed Irish sweater. These sweaters are lighter weight and are often made of wool blends. They do bear the traditional symbolic patterns and are quite attractive. Machine made Irish sweaters are, quite frankly, cheap. They are often made of synthetic materials, and the patterns are not dramatic or defined.