Introducing Aran

Due to knitting's vast history there are many legends surrounding it. Yet another is the origin of the Aran sweater.

Aran sweaters are identified by their highly decorative stitch pattern. There is a dispute as to when these sweaters were designed and the reason for the intricate pattern.

One theory has it that the sweater was designed during the 1920s. The reason for the intricate stitch pattern was simply pride. You see the sweater was presented to boys upon their partaking of their first Holy Communion. Grandma was thrilled to invest time and effort to celebrate such an important event.

The second theory maintains that the design is much older: dating back to the Middle Ages. The stitches are said to be helpful in identifying drowned bodies. Whether it be the fishing village depicted by the horizontal patterns of the English and east coast Scottish knitters. Or family as depicted by the vertical pattern of the Irish and west coast Scottish knitters. The knitters ensured that the bodies could be claimed.

It is any knitter's guess as to which legend is factual.

Every time we take a stitch we are contributing to the history of our craft.

More information on this topic:
http://www.clanarans.com/ca/catalog/
http://www.galwayl.ie/faq/sweater.htm
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/AEmblem/Sweaters.html
http://www.sweaters.org/history.html


I was heard "aran" described as painting a picture with stitches. The picture, although clearly not aran, is my attempt at painting with stitches.