Irish Cable Knit Sweater

You don’t have to have roots in Erin to appreciate the joys of an Irish cable knit sweater. Also known as an Aran knit or a fishermen’s sweater, these are highly individualized garments that are second to none in warmth and enduring rugged style.

Nothing goes with your Irish sweater like a pint of Guinness!

While wool-working of all sorts has a long history throughout Europe, and particularly in sheep-raising countries like Ireland, the Irish cable knit sweater as we know it today was first seen as recently as the early twentieth century, when the wives of fishermen in the Aran Islands began to knit them for their husbands. That said, there are those who insist the knitting goes back far further than that; the variety of stitches used, each having a different meaning or being associated with a different clan, might back the story up (although the clan association aspect might be purely mythical).

The distinctive off-white color is derived from the unprocessed, unbleached wool they used. Wool that is unprocessed still contains natural sheep lanolin, which makes the sweater virtually water-repellent. This is ideal for a man who spends his days on the sea. While any number of stitches can be used, the cable is one of the most frequent because the fisherman himself uses cable and it is meant to represent safety and good luck.

If you are lucky enough to travel to Ireland, you will of course want to buy a genuine Irish cable knit sweater. One thing you should be aware of at the outset is that, depending on where you are in the country, it may not be called a sweater – the more common terms include jumper and pullover or cardigan (if you want a non-traditional button-down version). They will be called sweaters in stores geared specifically for tourists, but if it’s something genuine you want, you should steer clear of these shops. In fact, those in the know say the best place to shop is still the Aran Islands. There you’ll find sweaters that, if not hand-knit, were at least made on a hand loom.

If you’re just going to be in Dublin or Cork, however, you can get a hand-knit or loomed sweater at Blarney Woollen Mills. The name may send shivers down the spine of the true Irish, but the sweaters carried there are reputed to be quality.

Dubliners may think of the Irish islands as places in a time warp, but this is far from the case. Many have mixed the old and new ways, as evidenced by Achill Knitwear, an excellent site for buying sweaters and other knitwear, jewelry, handcrafts, instruments and CDs. The shop is the online presence of a long established store selling such goods. The knitwear is made by hand and while they don’t have a large selection, what they do have is of the finest quality. Most sweaters come in a few colors, but all are very natural and traditional. While shopping, you should buy yourself some socks to match! Achill Knitwear offers free delivery to the States and EU, and has what they call a “no quibble” return policy if you’re not happy. The site also has a currency converter to make shopping even easier.

An accomplished knitter may want to try their hand at making their own Irish sweater – perfect for winter wear. All you need are some gloves for maximum warmth. There are patterns to be found online, but in this instance, your best bet will be to get a book of traditional patterns. This way, you can educate yourself and make an informed decision about what sort of sweater you want to make. Consult Knitting Traditions for more information and advice..

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