Merino Wool.
Merino Wool – Merino wool comes from the Merino Sheep in New Zealand and is one of the world’s toughest breeds of sheep. There are many benefits of merino wool that has seen it become the most popular yarn used in Aran sweaters.
In this post
What are Aran jumpers made from?
Characteristics. Traditionally, an Aran jumper is made from undyed cream-coloured báinín (pronounced “bawneen”), a yarn made from sheep’s wool, sometimes “black-sheep” wool. They were originally made with unwashed wool that still contained natural sheep lanolin, making the garment water-repellent.
Are Aran jumpers made from merino wool?
For women or men, an Aran sweater can be made with pure virgin wool or with merino wool. The name “pure virgin wool” means that it is composed exclusively of wool, with a maximum of 0.3% of other fibers. The difference between these two wools is in the choice of the sheep breed. Merino wool is thinner and more supple.
What sheep does Aran wool come from?
Aran Yarn is spun from Galway sheep. Galway sheep are the only native sheep from Ireland. Galway yarn gives great stitch definition in cable designs as well as well as between knit and purl stitches, adding texture to your garment.
Are Aran jumpers itchy?
Are Aran Sweaters Itchy? If you are wondering whether your Aran Sweater will itch, you can rest assured that a real Aran Sweater, made from the highest quality merino wool, will not be itchy against your skin.
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.
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.
Is Aran wool Irish or Scottish?
The Aran Knit is said to have originated from the Aran Islands off the West coast of Ireland hundreds of years ago.
How do you make Aran wool less itchy?
Massage hair conditioner into the fibers of the wool.
While your sweater is still wet, squeeze out a quarter-sized amount of hair conditioner and rub it in between your palms. Gently massage the conditioner into the fibers of the wool, grabbing more if you need to.
Can you Unshrink an Aran jumper?
Fill the kitchen or bathroom sink with tepid water and two tablespoons of fabric softener or gentle wool detergent, such as Woolite. You can also use a capful of baby shampoo or hair conditioner. Submerge the sweater and let it soak for 10 to 20 minutes.
Can you wash an Aran jumper?
Hand wash the sweater in lukewarm water using only a small amount of special hand-wash-only or mild detergent like Woolite, Soak, or Eucalan (which is specially designed for woolens and contains lanolin, a type of natural oil produced by sheep).
How long does it take to knit an Aran jumper?
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.
Which wool is best for sweaters?
One of the most commonly used wool in sweaters is Merino sheep’s wool. Merino wool is known for being hydrophilic, meaning it can absorb up to 30% of its weight in water, making it a great weatherproof choice of sweater. Women’s wool sweaters, including cashmere, can be made from a mix of materials.
Does wool get softer over time?
Wool definitely softens with wearing and washing. And there a few tricks to try, if you have the energy to experiment. All of these things can be tried on a knitted item, or on a skein.
What are Irish sweaters made of?
Aran Sweaters – Quintessentially Irish
Originally, Aran Sweaters were knitted using unscoured wool that retained its natural oils which made the garments water-resistant and meant they remained wearable even when wet.
Where is Aran craft sweaters made?
IRELAND
MADE IN IRELAND: The village of Monasterevin in the county of Kildare, Ireland is the home of Aran Crafts, the largest Irish knitwear manufacturer. TRADITIONAL IRISH KNITTING: This traditional sweater is one of our greatest sellers and can be worn by both men and women.
How many balls of wool do you need for an Aran jumper?
10 balls of Utterly Aran Yarn to make the colourful stripes, 4 balls of Utterly Aran Yarn to make the contrasting stripes, darning needle, rainbow blanket knitting pattern and a how to knit manual.
How many stitches are in Aran jumper?
100,000 stitches
History. The first known example of Aran knitting appeared in the 1930s. The stitches that create the Aran knitting patterns are complex and the knitted goods are time-consuming to create. For example, a typical Aran sweater will have over 100,000 stitches, and may take several months to finish.
What stitches in Aran jumper?
The Cable Stitch
The cable stitch is undoubtedly the signature stitch on nearly all Aran knitwear. The cable stitch represents the Aran islander fisherman’s ropes. The Ardara Cable sweater shares its name with one of Donegal’s most breathtaking beaches on the Atlantic coast.
What should 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.
How do you wash an Aran wool jumper?
Hand wash the sweater in lukewarm water using only a small amount of special hand-wash-only or mild detergent like Woolite, Soak, or Eucalan (which is specially designed for woolens and contains lanolin, a type of natural oil produced by sheep).