1. Irish Wool – This is wool that is taken from an Irish sheep. It can be corse and some find this type of wool in their Aran sweater itchy to wear. Aran Sweaters were knitted using unscoured wool that kept its natural oils which made the sweaters water-resistant and meant they remained wearable even in wet weather.
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What is an Irish sweater type?
The Aran jumper (Irish: Geansaí Árann) is a style of jumper that takes its name from the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland. A traditional Aran Jumper usually is off-white in colour, with cable patterns on the body and sleeves.
What are Irish sweaters made of?
The traditional Irish jumper is made of pure virgin sheep wool, naturally ecru colour, with round neck and very tight mesh. It protects from the rain and keeps a comfortable temperature. Hand knitted sweaters were true works of art. Each sweater required more than 100,000 seams and could take up to 60 days of knitting.
Are all Aran sweaters handmade?
Aran sweaters are handmade, following the tradition of the people of the Irish coast who first created these sweaters many years ago. Every stitch has a meaning, representing the lifestyle and history of the people who lived on the island of Aran, and Aran sweaters are hand knitted to be unique and beautiful.
How are Aran sweaters made?
While Aran sweaters were originally made with lambswool native to Ireland, most Aran sweaters today are made with merino wool, which is known for its exceptional softness, breathability, and warmth.
What is Irish knitting?
Aran knitting patterns are heavily textured knitting patterns which are named after the Aran Islands, which are located off the west coast of Ireland from County Galway and County Clare. The patterns are knitted into socks, hats, vests, scarves, mittens, afghans, pillow covers, and, most commonly, sweaters.
Are Irish wool sweaters itchy?
We are delighted to confidently state that our 100% Merino Wool Aran Sweaters are NOT itchy! Typically Aran Sweaters are assumed to be itchy by most due to their rugged appearance and the fact that they are made from wool.
How long do Aran sweaters last?
If you could only have one sweater in your wardrobe, the perfect choice would be an Aran, or fisherman’s sweater. It has all-season versatility (ok, maybe not all summer), and is classic yet fashionable. Luckily, since it will probably last your lifetime, it never really goes out of style.
How long does it take to knit an Aran sweater?
between 3 to 6 weeks
The intricate cables, bobbles and stitch patterns make these garments popular for a number of reasons. They are challenging to knit, lend aesthetic appeal to the apparel, and add warmth and thickness. Back then, handknitting an aran sweater took between 3 to 6 weeks to complete.
Are Irish clan sweaters real?
Whatever the marketing message, Irish wool sweaters are beautiful and distinctive. The idea that Aran sweaters (also known as Irish wool sweaters) contain special stitches to identify the wearer’s family or clan is pure fiction.
What do you wear under an Aran sweater?
Aran sweaters can be styled shorter, and so they can be layered under with a collared shirt or as a cropped top over a pair of high-waisted pants. Aran sweaters also go great with scarves, and they’re beautiful and simple enough to only require accessories as the perfect pairing.
Is it difficult to knit an Aran sweater?
The stitches that create the Aran knitting patterns are often fairly complex and the completed items are time-consuming to create. You use one solid colour of yarn and essentially make patterns and cables by using a variety of stitches and needle techniques.
Where are Aran Crafts sweaters made?
Ireland
About us. The village of Monasterevin in the county of Kildare, Ireland is the home of West End Knitwear Ltd. The company was originally established by Molly Cullen in 1957, after creating beautiful Aran designs with her mother and grandmother for many years.
Is Aran wool Irish or Scottish?
So this is where it all began! The iconic Aran sweater takes its name from the trio of islands at Ireland’s most westerly point just off the coast of County Galway.
Do Aran sweaters shrink?
2. Never use hot or cold water only, because the extreme temperatures can damage the wool fibers and cause the sweater to shrink or the wool to loose its softness.
Is knitting popular in Ireland?
Knitting has a deep history all over Ireland, not least of all in the Aran Islands of Galway, birthplace of the iconic Aran jumper. These beautiful but weather-beaten islands at the Ireland’s westerly edge endure their fair share of wet and wild conditions.
What are the 2 types of knitting?
The two basic types of knits are the weft, or filling knits—including plain, rib, purl, pattern, and double knits—and the warp knits—including tricot, raschel, and milanese.
Do Irish clans have Aran patterns?
Over the years, in line with ancient Irish folklore, many Clans adopted the Aran Sweater as the ultimate Clan symbol. Historically these patterns were safeguarded within families and passed down from generation to generation.
How do you wash an Irish wool sweater?
Presoak your sweater in slightly warm water (86F / 30C) with some mild detergent for at least 30 minutes up or overnight. Never machine wash your sweater as hot or cold water may cause the wool to shrink! Gently rinse the sweater out, don’t pull at it or wring it out as this can affect its shape.
What is a Donegal sweater?
This sweater combines a few of our favorite things: flecked donegal yarn in earthy colors, soft merino wool, and a chunky knit that makes the cold months more bearable. The yarn is woven in Donegal, Ireland, the birthplace of this speckled style.
Where does the wool for Aran sweaters come from?
1. Irish Wool – This is wool that is taken from an Irish sheep. It can be corse and some find this type of wool in their Aran sweater itchy to wear. Aran Sweaters were knitted using unscoured wool that kept its natural oils which made the sweaters water-resistant and meant they remained wearable even in wet weather.