What Is An Aran?
Aran sweaters, named after the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland, showcase a unique style. Often called Fisherman sweaters, they stand out due to their complex textured stitch patterns, which combine several designs in a single garment.
The islanders, living self-sufficient lives, created the Aran sweater. They relied on the sea for their livelihood but also raised a few sheep for knitting and mutton. The fishermen’s wives and daughters knitted communally, creating a space for education and storytelling. Their work was demanding, and they took 40 to 50 hours to produce a single sweater.
Initially, islanders knitted Aran sweaters using unscoured wool that retained its natural oils, which made the garments water-resistant and wearable even when wet. Today, however, most people knit Aran cardigans and sweaters with softer Merino yarn. This yarn comes in the natural báinín (bawneen) color and other shades reflective of the Irish countryside.
The Meaning Behind the Stitches
Cable Stitch
These decorative stitches create a braided or twisted effect by crossing stitches over each other in a specific pattern. This design represents the fisherman’s ropes, symbolizing hopes for the day’s catch.
Diamond Stitch
This decorative stitch creates a diamond-shaped pattern on the fabric’s surface by knitting and purling stitches in a specific sequence. This design represents the hope of future wealth.
Honeycomb
This decorative stitch creates a honeycomb-shaped pattern on the fabric’s surface by knitting and purling stitches in a specific sequence. Consequently, it represents hard work and serves as a testament to the busy bees of the island.
Basket weave
This decorative stitch creates a woven, basket-like pattern on the fabric’s surface by knitting and purling stitches in a specific sequence. Consequently, it represents the angular squares of a fisherman’s basket and symbolizes the hope of bountiful baskets of fish to come.
Zigzag
Trellis
Represents the fields of the Island.
Moss
These stitches create a textured, pebbled effect on the fabric’s surface by alternating between knit stitches and purl stitches in a specific sequence. This design represents the carrageen moss that lines the stone walls of the islands. Additionally, they are often knitted as a diamond filler!
Seed
These stitches create a textured, raised effect on the fabric’s surface by alternating between knit stitches and purl stitches in a specific pattern.
Fisherman’s rib
This is a decorative stitch that creates a ribbed effect on the fabric. It is created by alternating between knit and purl stitches in a specific pattern.
Tree of life
This is a decorative stitch that creates a tree-like pattern on the surface of the fabric. It is created by knitting and purling stitches in a specific pattern. This depicts the tendrils of family and clans and past generations.
Blackberry
The Blackberry stitch represents the thickets of blackberry bushes around the islands and the abundance of nature; a reminder of nature’s riches.
Generational Stitch
Most knitting patterns were never written down but passed down from generation to generation using up to 24 different Aran stitches with infinite combinations.
Read more about the origins of the Aran sweater:
https://www.blarney.com/the-story-of-aran-sweater/
