Autumn's Here - Time To Wrap Up

For obvious reasons, the Irish are experts at dealing with wet, cold weather. In the autumn, as the rain falls and the air grows chilly, nothing feels cosier than putting on a nice, thick Aran knit sweater and enjoying a cup of tea. Merino wool can stand up to pretty horrible weather. Remember, its original wearers spent all day standing out in the rain without a bother. It is actually used in some performance wear clothing for hikers and mountain climbers because it regulates body temperature rather than just keeping you warmer.

Named for the stunning islands off the coast of Galway, the Aran sweater not only keeps you comfortable, it keeps you in touch with your roots. These amazingly detailed sweaters have been knit with love down through the generations, and they remain among the most enduring Irish gifts today. (And they really will endure! Aran knits are built to last, unlike flimsy fashions that survive just one season.)

Which Stitch Is Which?

Traditionally Aran sweaters are cream-colored or fawn, although now can be found in other colors too. But the complicated knit stitches are the hallmark. Many knitters and Aran sweater lovers have their own favorite stitches, and traditional Aran knits feature several different ones. Do you know which stitch is which? Here’s a quick guide to some of the most popular Aran knit stitches you will see on a range of knitted Irish gifts.

Cable stitches are the meat and potatoes of Aran knit sweaters. They are mostly used to frame panels of other stitches, but some are wide and elaborate enough to be a panel themselves, such as the five-rib cable and the figure eight cable, and side by side cables can also form a panel.
The horn cable is a wide pattern that is popular enough in Aran knit sweaters to merit special mention. It can used as side panels or along sleeves, and resembles a row of stacked sets of horns, hence the name.
Honeycomb looks just like honeycomb. You won’t have any trouble spotting this one! It is a popular choice for the centre panel of an Aran knit pullover sweater.
Diamond is another popular and easy to identify stitch often used on either side of a honeycomb centre panel and along sleeves. The inside of a diamond panel can also be filled with another stitch such a cable or moss stitch.
Moss stitch is far more attractive than actual moss! This simple stitch adds texture, looking a bit like alternating bumps.
Tree of Life is a more delicate stitch featuring a single raised row of stitches with branches of single raised stiches forking off in pairs from either side of the main tree trunk.
A number of different woven and braided stitches are also used in Aran knitting, and the sweaters that are so popular as Irish gifts often feature these designs.

Aran knit sweaters and cardigans have always been popular and practical Irish gifts, and when you know the terminology, you can ask about the patterns you like the best.