Irish Sweater History

There is no doubt that the Irish Sweater is a beautifully crafted art form that has purpose and meaning. The sweaters are full of symbolization and history, thus telling a story for each generation that follows. The 100 percent sheep wool that each sweater is stitched from will easily outlive the test of time and therefore can be passed down from mother to daughter or father to son. These sweaters are full of family and island history; they are priceless beyond words, so the stitches will have to tell the story.

History Of The Irish Sweater

The Irish Sweater, also known as the Aran sweater, has been around for centuries. They come specifically from the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland. They are made from 100 peercent sheep wool and each sweater is designed and stitched with a custom pattern special to each clan. Each sweater has about 100,000 stitches and can take up to two months to complete. The sweaters were originally stitched to keep the farmers and the fisherman warm through the harsh weather conditions that plague the Aran Islands. The sweaters are water repellent and because they are all natural wool they breath easily, allowing a good circulation of air flow.

Individual Clan Sweater Designs

O'Sullivan Sweater

Each clan of the Aran Islands had a unique and well kept pattern specific for their own sweaters. The patterns were passed down from mother to daughter, generation to generation. Each pattern designed holds special symbolization and meaning. For example, the O'Sullivan sweater has a blackberry panel stitched in the center which represents the Holy Trinity. On each side of the center panel there is a cable stitch that represents good luck. The chevron stitch is along the sides and arms of the sweater (see picture and Reference). Because the design of the sweaters became very specific to each clan, they could be used to help identify bodies of fisherman who drowned at sea and then later would wash up onto shore. The sweaters are full of much family heritage and pride and the patterns were guarded well.

What The Different Stitchings Mean

There are many stitches that make up these beautifully hand stitched sweaters. Each stitch has a symbol and meaning. Some examples of stitches are:
The cable stitch, which is a symbol of the fisherman's rope and represents a wish for a fruitful day at the sea;
The diamond stitch is a symbol of the small farms throughout the island and it represents wealth;
The zig-zag stitch represents the cliffs of the island;
The trellis represents the stone walls of the island;
The blackberry stitch represents the Holy Trinity, which is a symbol of the island's spiritual beliefs.
To read more about the meanings of the stitches, see References.

When The Sweaters Made Their Away Across Seas

Kennedy Sweater

Irish sweaters became popular in America when John F. Kennedy became President in 1961. He was an Irish Catholic with a strong family line that goes back to Ireland. The Kennedy sweater has a trellis stitched in the center, which represents the stone walled fields of the Aran Island. It is outlined by a cable, which represents good luck. The sides of the sweater are stitched with diamonds outlined in a rope pattern, which represents a wish for wealth.

The Aran Islands Today

There are approximately 1300 people on Aran Island today. They speak mainly Gaelic and have continued with the same way of life as their predecessors, making their living from fishing and farming. The sweaters are still hand stitched by many of the women on the island, although there is a register of each pattern in the Aran Sweater Museum on Aran Island. Sweaters can be specially ordered now by people with Irish descent, but can also be ordered by anyone who wishes to have one.

Resources

• Clan Aran Sweaters