Prepare for autumn with enticing clothing and accessories

Prepare for the cooler autumn months with some additions from the new arrivals at Blarney Woollen Mills. Choose from stylish Blarney Heritage Shawls, Serapes, Scarfs and aran sweaters to keep you protected from those cooler temperatures as we bid farewell the summer period.

New Arrivals: Stylish Range of Fisherman Irish Knitwear

We may be in the midst of summer, enjoying those long bright and balmy evenings, but it is the perfect chance to browse through the Blarney Woollen Mills range of Irish fishermen sweaters and sweaters for women and men. A stylish new range of fishermen knitewear has arrived at Blarney.com which will ensure that you will be looking your best during the autumn and winter months.

The range of new arrivals at Blarney Woollen Mills inlcudes knitwear fusing time honoured craftsmanship with contemporary style. Recent arrivals include cable knit scarf, Herringbone coat for women, seed stitch cardigans, Raglan crewneck sweaters for men and a stylish combination of Fishermen ribbed hat and scarf.

Cable knit scarf

The Cable knit scarf is a warm and very fashionable accessory eminating from the "Fisherman Out of Ireland" range. This scarf fuses time honoured craftsmanship with a contemporary style which is ideal to go with any type of coat or jacket.

 

Fisherman Herringbone Coat

As one of the signature coats from the 'Fisherman Out of Ireland' range, this Fisherman Herringbone coat is an exemplary example of the time-honoured Irish craftsmanship producing a truly stunning and stylish coat for women. Woven with 100% new wool in a traditional Herringbone design and features panels of earthy tones inspired by the rugged landscape of County Donegal.

Fisherman Seed Stitch Cardigan

The Fisherman Seed Stitch Cardigan is a well known favourite of the 'Fisherman Out of Ireland' range which fuses the time honoured craftsmanship perfected in Ireland throughout the centuries with unique contemporary style. This Fisherman cardigan has been expertly knit with a traditional seed stitch throughout in a rich stylish blend of wool and cashmere.

Fisherman Raglan Crewneck Sweater

This Fisherman Raglan crewneck sweater from 'Fisherman Out of Ireland' has a laidback raglan-sleeve design with rib-knit cuffs and hem for a neat, comfortable fit. Inspired by the rugged landscape of Donegal, it has been knit with 100% Donegal fleck New Wool in neutral/grey yarns.

 

Fisherman Ribbed Hat & Scarf

A stylish Irish gift for to keep him warm during the autmun and winter months. This Fisherman ribbed hat and scarf accessory set from the 'Fisherman Out of Ireland' range. The ribbed beanie hat and matching scarf are handcrafted from 100% Merino wool with subtle brand detailing.

Blarney.com also has a range of warm and stylish aran sweaters and Irish sweaters which are sure to appeal to those seeking stylish handcrafted knitwear with a nod to ancient Ireland.

The Aran Sweater: a garment full of history and tradition

The Aran Sweater (or geansaí in Irish) is a type of jumper synonymous with the rugged rural lifestyle of the west of Ireland and takes its name from the Aran Islands off the west coast of Galway Bay. These iconic garments are also commonly referred to as Irish fisherman sweaters. Classical Irish Fisherman sweaters are typically a dense bulky item of clothing comprising cable knit patterns on the chest area and tend to be cream in colour.

The Aran Islands are made up of three islands: the smallest of which is Inisheer, followed by Inishmann and then the largest which is Inishmore. Stones are abundant throughout the islands with the trademark stone fences stretching across the landscape in addition to the numerous ruinous stone forts.

Knitting was communal for the wives and daughters of the fisherman as well as a forum for education and storytelling. Their work was usually arduous with a single Aran sweater taking between 40 and 50 hours to complete.

These iconic Aran sweaters are clearly distinguished by the use of complex interwoven textured stitch patterns. Often a combination of these stitch patterns are used in the production of a single sweater. Every stitch pattern has traditional interpretation and a distinctive story:

• Blackberry - represents the thickets of blackberry bushes which dot the Aran Islands. It is a clear reminder of natures riches.
• Tree of Life - This depicts the tendrils of family, clans and past generations.
• Cable - represents the fisherman's ropes and hopes for the day's catch.
• Diamond - frequently matches with moss stitching. This represents the hope of future wealth and success.
• Moss - represent the carrageen moss which lines the stone walls of the islands. Often knitted as a diamond filler.
• Zig Zag - represents half a diamond and depicts the cliffs of the islands.
• Basket - represents the angular squares of a fisherman's basket and the hope of bountiful baskets of fish to bring back his family.
• Honeycomb - represents the tireless hard work of the islands' inhabitants. A testament to the busy bees of the island.
• Trellis - represents the countless fields which make up the island.

Traditionally, an Aran jumper is made from undyed cream-coloured (otherwise referred to in Irish as báiní), a yarn made from sheep's wool. They were originally made with unwashed wool that still contained natural sheep lanolin, making the garment extent water-resistant. There are few sheep on the Aran Islands today and more critically even fewer knitters. Modern Aran Sweaters are generally machine knit with soft Merino wool though there is a limited production of hand-knits. Aran sweaters for men, women and children of all ages are now available to be purchased and often a great idea for great Irish gifts.

 

Aran sweaters from the 1930's and 1940's are displayed at the National Museum of Ireland. They are rightly regarded as a national treasure and classic example of the hard working ethic that typified rural life in Ireland during the early 20th century and before it.

 

The patterns, designs and embossed decoration on every Irish wool sweater still reflect the loves, lives, losses and defiance of this isolated community at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean.

 

An intorduction to Aran Sweaters for the uninitiated

The Aran Sweater is an item of clothing synonymous with the island of Ireland and in particular the islands off the rugged west coast. Aran sweaters are a traditional style of sweater that take their name from the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland which are often exposed to the harsh weather systems from the Atlantic Ocean. 

Otherwise known as Irish fisherman sweaters, aran sweaters are distinguished by their use of complex textured stitch patterns, several of which are combined in the creation of a single garment. Originally the sweaters were knitted using unscoured wool that retained its natural oils which ensured that the garments remained water-resistant and wearable during wet Irish conditions. However, today most of the Aran sweaters and Aran Cardigans are knit with a softer yarn called Merino in the natural bainin (bawneen) colour and in other colours reflective of the Irish countryside.

• The honeycomb is a symbol of the hard-working bee. 

• The cable is an integral part of the fisherman’s daily life, is said to be a wish for safety and good luck when fishing. 

• The diamond is a wish of success, wealth and treasure. 

• The basket stitch represents the fisherman’s basket, a hope for a plentiful catch.

Every sweater is steeped in Irish history and every stitch has a traditional interpretation, often of religious significance, but mostly of life’s experience and journey. There varies symbols include:

Most knitting patterns were never written down just handed down from generation to generation using up to 24 different aran stitches with infinite combinations. We'll be looking further into the different stitches and their meaning over the coming weeks to give you a real sense of what it means to own authentic Irish Sweaters.