Aran Sweaters for the Irish

[thanmuwa]

The whole concept of the Arran sweaters (I think it was originally Arran) was 'developed' by a man wanting something to sell to the tourists.

Nope, Arran is in Scotland, the Aran Islands (where the jumpers come from) are off the Galway coast.
For more information about the postulated origins,
http://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/fas...nal/index.html

The white versions were worn for church, though incoming ministers not knowing the local ways were responsible for getting rid of it in some places as they saw it as not respectful and declared the the men should wear shirt and jacket. Its place as a garment for the groom, and for first communions, lingered on, with grandma's embarrassing their grandsons with gifts of lovingly crafted white jerseys for decades.

Not too many ministers on the Aran Islands :-) (apparently, there is the ruin of one protestant church though) though I agree about being forced to wear embarrassing jumpers as a kid, a very Irish thing!

[Conroy]

Does anyone know where to obtain knitting patterns for these great sweaters?

[Spartan]

Does anyone know where to obtain knitting patterns for these great sweaters?

This is an old question, but the thread did get bumped to the present.

My wife has picked up Aran sweater patterns at a local knitting shop. There will be one in the works for me, not that we really need one down here in Arizona, but we do go north to visit in the winter from time to time (so my wife can get her snow fix.)

[csbdr]

Here's some books at the bottom of the page

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.co.../Sweaters.html

Does anyone know where to obtain knitting patterns for these great sweaters?

[Bugbear]

I have one, Dan, and though it is not really ichy, you might want to wear a regular undershirt under it.

Here's how I got mine. My mother and step father lived in Dublin, Ireland for a few years back in the nineties. That's where my step father got it. He's a little bigger now, but he also... ran it through the washer and dryer last year. Normaly it would have arms that are several inches too long, but fit me otherwise; I have several of his suit jackets. It shrunk to the point where it is a fine lenth for the kilt and the arms are just right. It is gray and cream colored.

[Jack Daw]

I wear a button-down shirt under mine, too.

[beloitpiper]

Mine is rather itchy, so I wear a collared shirt under mine.

[Dan R Porter]

So my sispision was correct. I think I will pass on a aran then. One other question, is a Aran the same as a "Jumper?"

And is it okay to call it a "Crochet Sweater?" haha

[WARPIPER]

Funny thing about the sweaters is that it is more an American thing than an Irish thing. All of my Irish friend (In Ireland) have trouble understanding the wooley thing they say that they are not that common in Ireland. Much like corn beef and cabbage it is a irish-american thing. I do love then though.

[beloitpiper]

Funny thing about the sweaters is that it is more an American thing than an Irish thing. All of my Irish friend (In Ireland) have trouble understanding the wooley thing they say that they are not that common in Ireland. Much like corn beef and cabbage it is a irish-american thing. I do love then though.

Well, they're not worn in Ireland any more. Back in the 20's all the way to the 70's (maybe 80's?) they were worn around Galway.