Aran cardigan is a bulky garment with prominent cable patterns on the chest. This cardigan is often cream in color.
By their use of complex textured stitch patterns, the
Aran jumpers are distinguished, in the creation of a single garment, several of which are combined. By the regional version of English being spoken the word choice of "jumper" or "sweater" is largely determined. "Jumper" is the standard word with "sweater" mainly found in tourist shops in the case of Ireland and Britain. Geansa, a gaelicization of guernsey is the word used in Irish which has been re-Anglicised to gansey in Hiberno-English.
Using unscoured wool, originally the Aran cardigans were knitted that retained its natural oils (lanolin) which made the garments resistant from water and meant even when wet, they remained wearable. Aran cardigans and
Aran jumper were knitted primarily the wives of island fishermen.
Often of religious significance some stitch patterns have a traditional interpretation. A symbol of the hard-working bee, a honeycomb is used. The cable is said to be a wish for safety and good luck when fishing and is an integral part of the fisherman's daily life. A wish of success, wealth and treasure, the diamond is also used as a symbol. A hope for a plentiful catch, the basket stitch represents the fisherman's basket.
Traditionally, made from undyed cream-colored binn (pronounced "bawneen"), an Aran sweater is a yarn made from sheep's wool, sometimes "black-sheep" wool. Made with unwashed wool they originally that still contained natural sheep lanolin, making it to an extent water-repellent. The island women spun their own yarn on spinning wheelsup to the 1970s.
Featuring 46 texture patterns in the Aran cardigan, each of which is about 510 cm (24 in) in width, that in columns from top to bottom, move down the sweater. Usually, extending down the center of the front and back panel the patterns are symmetrical to a center axis. Usually, the patterns used in Aran cardigans also extend down the sleeves as well. To make socks, hats, vests and even skirts the same textured knitting is also used.
About when island residents first started making the jumpers there is debate. Undoubtedly, similar to other areas of the British Isles, residents of the islands produced a local version of a Gansey sweater for several centuries. Much of the same cabling and pattern-work seen in Aran sweaters is present in the traditional Ganseys from neighboring regions, however different construction methods are used in these Ganseys and are knit using finer wool. Wearing them not only gives you style but also warmth.
