Aran Sweaters

[GlassMan]

Those are good prices and I love the cardigan versions (I'm a sucker for cardigans). Might have to order some of those too!

[Paul Henry]

Growing up in Ireland I always had Aran jumpers of one sort or another, there are no "Clan" associations with the, I suspect clever marketing!
Of course the different patterns and designs have individual names, but there is nothing associated with family names... just for the record!

[LoftGuy]

Hi,

Paul is quite right, the various Irish 'clan' paraphenaelia is indeed a marketing ploy directed primarily at those Americans of Irish descent who have the means to indulge their 'heritage'. IMHO, there exists two Irish cultures: that of those in Ireland and that of the Irish-Americans. That latter culture has been influenced largely by the difficulties of assimilation resulting from the Famine Exodus of the 1800's, that portrayed in the movies a la Bing Crosby, et al, and lastly, the handed down family legends perhaps somewhat embellished over the generations.

Bob

[ByDand]

Thank you for the link. The prices are good and looks like a reputable company. May have to order one for the wife and one for me!

[davedove]

Unfortunately, the cheaper sweaters don't come big enough for me (50" chest).

[Cawdorian]

The prices are very good. Does the XXL size given as 46" run smaller than the US XXL? I was looking for a reasonably priced navy blue Aran or cable knit pullover, but I haven't found it yet.

[starbkjrus]

Hmmmmm. Link is bookmarked and checkbook is in hiding. :rolleyes:

[porrick]

I bought my Aran sweater from this company in January. Ordered on a Monday and delivered in northern Norway the following week. I had a couple of queries, and got excellent service/follow-up.

Would I recommend the company? YES (no affiliations, just a satisfied customer)

[Pleater]

The prices are very good. Does the XXL size given as 46" run smaller than the US XXL? I was looking for a reasonably priced navy blue Aran or cable knit pullover, but I haven't found it yet.

Dark colours don't show up the Aran type stitches in the same way that the natural bainin wool does - and its the very whatsit to knit too.

I have done a few ganseys with worsted spun navy blue but only in the summer and working outside as it is almost impossible to see the stitches under artificial lighting. You might be rather dissapointed with a navy blue Aran.

Come to think of it I had one once - given to me for that very reason - plus a mistake in the twisting which was, of course, entirely unnoticable. That must have been in 1969.

Rumour has it that the Aran stitches were all made up by one man who wanted some jerseys made to sell on - they would naturally sell a lot better if they had a bit if romance about them - but the idea that the patterns were connected to particular families would have delighted him. He probably didn't think of it as Irish 'clans' hadn't been thought of either.

I know that the women's sizes in the UK and the US are different - a size 16 in the US is an 18 in the UK - something one of my aunts who worked in a clothes shop in York said she recited 50 times a day and the tourists still would not buy their correct size, sometimes even after trying on the clothes.

It might be advisable to enquire what the actual size of the garment is, rather than rely on sizing, which can be a matter of opinion.