Free Aran Knitting Patterns. After the turning row, several plain rows are worked, followed by another turning row. It may also have religious connotations. Handknitting is one of Man's oldest crafts. Irish Moss Stitch: Often knitted as a diamond 'filler', the moss stitch suggests a good harvest. Due to the success of cheap imports from the Far East from the 1970s onward, both the Irish woollen industry and the associated cottage knitting industry in Ireland which supplied hand-knit Aran-style items to the market were all but destroyed, and today only a few mills and handknitters continue the tradition. The cookie settings on this website are set to 'allow all cookies' to give you the very best experience. These fields were worked intensively by local farmers, and this stitch may be said to represent hopes of good luck, success and wealth in farming on the Aran Islands. Enjoy the art of knitting your own unique family garment, in your own home and carry on the tradition of passing on the pattern to the next generation. | Home Page | Disclaimer | Contact |Sitemap|Privacy Policy|, By Claire Santry, Copyright© This Celtic pattern of knitting resembles the designer knitting work of the cables with much elaboration. ], Nevertheless, knitters may find the following meanings entertaining and inspiring. [7] There are many different type of cable stitches. The patterns are knitted into socks, hats, vests, scarves, mittens, afghans, pillow covers,[1] and, most commonly, sweaters.
All transactions are processed in USD. The original sweaters were typically boxy, with saddle sleeves, knit flat and sewn together; however, many modern designs are knit in the round with little or no sewing, and are frequently fitted by clever manipulation of the stitch patterns. Blackberry Stitch: Symbolises the rich bounty of Nature. The three dimensional effect of the twisted stitches also increased the warmth of the clothing by creating air pockets.
Tree of Life Stitch: Also known as the Trinity stitch. Each knitting pattern comes in a word document complete with the meaning of the Aran stitches, stitch glossary and instructions. It is sometimes given a religious significance, symbolising a pilgrims path to salvation. The Tree of Life stitch is frequently used as a motif of rites of passage, and of the importance of family. The technique for cabling, which involves crossing one stitch over another is one of the easier stitches. [8], The diamond stitch supposedly symbolises the small fields on the islands. [11] The honeycomb stitch may be included as a symbol of good luck, signifying plenty.[9].
2008-2020 Irish-Genealogy-Toolkit.com. [5] The meanings of some of these stitches have been embellished in recent times since the knitting became a commercial enterprise.
Browse our beautiful selection of free aran knitting patterns, from hats, bags, beautiful baby aran knitting patterns, free and easy designs for all.Let’s not forget the iconic Aran jumper, perfect for wrapping up on cold blustery days.
© 2020 Aran Sweater Market. Such designs are mainly used for projects like knit sweaters of Aran, scarves and Afghans cable knit. Zig Zag Stitch: Represents the twisting coastal paths that lead to the sea, and (especially with double zig-zag stitch) the ups and downs of married life. The stitch is useful for adding dimension, and might be used as a symbol of protection. [4], The idea that there are meanings associated with the stitches used in Aran knitting derives from Sacred History of Knitting, an entirely fabricated book written by Heinz Edgar Kiewe. Irish Moss Stitch: Often knitted as a diamond 'filler', the moss stitch suggests a good harvest. The main procedures which are applied in cables are quite complex in nature. However, actual historical documentation, including some of the oldest photography shot in Ireland, are at odds with this mythology. [10] This stitch is also known as the Trinity stitch. A plaited stitch additionally evokes the interweaving of family life with daily toil. They lived and died close to Nature, so it is little wonder that nearly all Aran knitting stitches reflect their concerns and hopes for survival. Zig zag stitches, sometimes known as Marriage Lines, can be used to represent the typical highs and low of matrimony and marriage life. This story appears to have been derived from John Millington Synge's play, Riders to the Sea, in which a character is identified by means of stitches dropped in error in a pair of plain socks knitted by his sister. http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/994?msg=welcome_stranger, "Aran Isle Sweaters - how a dropped stitch gave rise to a popular myth. Cable Stitch: Perhaps the most frequent stitch on Irish sweaters, a plain cable depicts the ropes of our fishing ancestors and promises safety and good luck while at sea. Trellis stitch recalls the stone-walled fields of the Northwestern farming communities, in the upland areas in Ireland where rock outcrops naturally or large stones exist in quantity in the soil such as in the Aran Islands. Now you can enjoy the deep satisfaction of knitting your very own Clan Sweater for all the family with our ClanAran knitting patterns. [original research? Although Irish sweaters cannot claim to be ancient, the stitches associated with them may have evolved from more traditional designs. Return to top, You may not want to know: Discover the truth about those. All prices are in USD. [9] Diamond patterns might also represent the fishing nets.[10]. Honeycomb Stitch: This stitch is a reminder of the hardworking bee and promises reward for honest labour.
Sitemap. Now you can enjoy the deep satisfaction of knitting your very own Clan Sweater for all the family with our ClanAran knitting patterns.Each knitting pattern comes in a word document complete with the meaning of the Aran stitches, stitch glossary and instructions.
It depicts carrageen moss, a type of seaweed found on the Irish coast, which is used as a food and as a fertiliser of barren fields.
Aran knitting patterns are very adaptable, and are widely used in many types of knitted items, including hats,[12] scarves, skirts,[12] and even decorative pillows. Honeycomb Stitch: This stitch is a reminder of the hardworking bee and promises reward for honest labour. [2], Contrary to popular mythology, Aran knitting patterns were never used to assist in identifying dead fishermen who washed up onshore after accident at sea. It also represents ancient religious beliefs. In Aran knitting patterns the honeycomb stitch, signifying the bee, is often used to represent both hard work and its rewards. Dedicated to helping YOU discover your Irish Heritage.
Promises long life or immortality and a crop of sturdy children. Diamond Stitch: Represents the shapes of fishing net mesh and is also a traditional symbol of wealth and success.
[citation needed], The row on which the stitches crossed over each other is known as the turning row. For example, a typical Aran sweater will have over 100,000 stitches, and may take several months to finish. Aran knitting patterns are heavily textured knitting patterns which are named after the Aran Islands, which are located off the west coast of Ireland from County Galway and County Clare.The patterns are knitted into socks, hats, vests, scarves, mittens, afghans, pillow covers, and, most commonly, sweaters.
[9] They are may also be used to represent the twisting cliff paths that are on the islands. Below are some of the most popular stitches used in Aran jumpers and cardigan sweaters: Basket Stitch: Represents the fisherman's basket and the hope of abundant catches.
Aran knitting patterns are heavily textured knitting patterns which are named after the Aran Islands, which are located off the west coast of Ireland from County Galway and County Clare. Trellis Stitch: Symbolises the landscape patterns (see right) created by fields fenced in with roughly hewn stones that offer protection from strong island winds. It depicts carrageen moss, a type of seaweed found on the Irish coast, which is used as a food and as a fertiliser of barren fields. [2], The first known example of Aran knitting appeared in the 1930s. Today, the patterns are being used by knitters around the world,[14] and the sweaters have become an Irish export commodity.[15]. [13] The recent revival of interest in handcrafts have led to many modern variations of both stitches and designs. [3], The stitches that create the Aran knitting patterns are complex and the knitted goods are time-consuming to create. ", http://www.canadianliving.com/crafts/knitting/aran_pillow.php, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aran_knitting_patterns&oldid=961545708, All Wikipedia articles written in Irish English, All articles that may contain original research, Articles that may contain original research from June 2020, Articles with unsourced statements from June 2020, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 9 June 2020, at 03:10. [6], The cable stitch, which is the most common type of stitch seen on Aran sweaters, is said to represent a fisherman’s ropes. When only one repetition of the pattern is used, the honeycomb stitch is also known as the Chain Cable. Standard cables have the same number of plain rows between turning rows as there are stitches in the cable. Before long, his fanciful descriptions were being used to market the sweater abroad, particularly within the Irish Diaspora in the United States, and it became an accepted part of the sweater's lore that the knitting patterns were developed in ancient times, that each stitch pattern had an associated, usually Christian meaning, and that each family on the Aran Islands had its own clan Aran.
Kiewe, a self-styled 'textile journalist' who ran a yarn shop in Oxford, purchased one of the first Aran-style sweaters and, noting a chance similarity between the patterns and ancient Irish illuminated manuscripts, began describing the stitchwork in these terms. Please click Accept Cookies to continue to use the site. As a result, a hand-knit Aran sweater can be quite expensive, and may well be worked in wool and yarn blends imported from overseas.