With Every Stitch Comes a Story
Aran is a style of sweater that takes its name from the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland. Often known as a Fisherman sweater, they are distinguished by their use of complex textured stitch patterns, several of which are combined in the creation of a single garment.
The Aran sweater was born from the starkly self-sufficient lives of the islanders who lived off the sea but raised a few sheep for knitting and mutton. Knitting was communal for the wives and daughters of the fishermen and a forum for education and stories. Their work was arduous with a single sweater taking 40 to 50 hours to produce.
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. However, today most Aran Cardigans & Sweaters are knit with a softer yarn called Merino in the natural báinín (bawneen) color and in other colors reflective of the Irish countryside.
The Meaning Behind the Stitches
Cable
These are decorative stitches that create a braided or twisted effect. They are created by crossing stitches over each other in a specific pattern. It represents the fisherman’s ropes and hopes for the day’s catch.
Diamond
This is a decorative stitch that creates a diamond-shaped pattern on the surface of the fabric. It is created by knitting and purling stitches in a specific pattern. This represents the hope of future wealth.
Honeycomb
This is a decorative stitch that creates a honeycomb-shaped pattern on the surface of the fabric. It is created by knitting and purling stitches in a specific pattern. It is said to represent hard work and is seen as a testament to the busy bees of the island.
Basket weave
This is a decorative stitch that creates a woven, basket-like pattern on the surface of the fabric. It is created by knitting and purling stitches in a specific pattern. It represents the angular squares of a fisherman’s basket and the hope of bountiful baskets of fish to come.
Zigzag
This is a decorative stitch that creates a zigzag pattern on the surface of the fabric. It is created by knitting and purling stitches in a specific pattern. A half a diamond. It represents the cliffs of the islands.
Trellis
Represents the fields of the Island.
Moss
These are stitches that create a textured, pebbled effect on the surface of the fabric. They are created by alternating between knit stitches and purl stitches in a specific pattern. It represents the carrageen moss which lines the stone walls of the islands. Often knitted as a diamond filler!
Seed
These are stitches that create a textured, raised effect on the surface of the fabric. They are created 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.
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:
