How do I wash my new Aran sweater?
Your Aran sweater is very sturdy, easy to care for and doesn't need to be washed as often as sweaters made of cotton. Your sweater should be aired regularly and when you do need to wash it, simply hand wash it following the steps below. Your sweater can be dry-cleaned but NEVER put it in the washing machine and ABSOLUTELY NEVER put it in the dryer! (Don't say you haven't been warned!)
Step 1: fill a sink with cold water and a mild detergent designed for wools, such as Zero or Woolite. Ensure there's enough water to flow freely around the sweater. Gently squeeze the sweater to get the soap into the fibres. Then rinse with cold water, several times as needed. Warning: hot water and agitation (like in a washing machine) will bind the wool's fibres together causing felting...and you don't want felting!
Step 2: after washing and rinsing, squeeze out as much water as you can...but don't wring or twist the sweater which stretches the wool's fibres. After squeezing, lay your sweater out flat on a towel and smooth it into shape. Roll the towel and sweater together into a log shape, then squeeze a few more times to remove excess water.
Step 3: unroll the towel and sweater, then lay your sweater flat on a dry towel and smooth it back into shape. Turn your sweater over halfway through drying. Don't hang your sweater to dry - you'll get stretched out lumps at the shoulders. And NEVER put your sweater in the dryer!! Trust us on this one!
How do I store my new Aran sweater?
In between wearings, your Aran sweater can simply be folded and placed flat on a shelf or in a drawer. Never hang your sweater as you'll stretch out the shoulders...unless that's the look you're going for. We suggest you place a small mesh bag of dried lavender or a mix of dried lavender and rosemary near your sweater, particularly if there's a problem with moths in your area.
To store your sweater during warmer months, you can simply leave it in its usual place but make sure to add that bag of dried herbs noted above. You can also put your sweater in a bug-proof bag or container with the bag of dried herbs.
Of course, you can always store your sweater with moth balls. Personally, we don't like moth balls as they have a very strong and unpleasant smell and they are made with some fairly strong, and some would say, dangerous chemicals. Moth balls won't harm your sweater, but they may harm you...and you'll smell funny to boot!
Why do prices for Aran sweaters vary so much?
The prices for Aran sweaters are primarily based on whether the sweater has been knit by hand or on a machine. The average Aran sweater consists of approximately 100,000 stitches, which takes only a few hours on a machine but can take 4-8 weeks to complete by hand. So, a hand-knit sweater will obviously cost more. However, hand-knitting gives your sweater a richer, deeper pattern and ensures better tension in the weave which means your sweater will hold its shape longer and better than anything done on a machine.
Who knits Aine Creations' Aran sweaters?
All our sweaters are hand-knit by Anne Heaney, sole proprietor of Aine Creations. Anne was born and raised in Northern Ireland and learned to knit at a young age and has been knitting up a storm ever since. Anne loves to knit and takes great pride in her work. Sadly, there are few knitters left who can knit the complex Aran patterns and many Aran sweaters sold today, even in Ireland, are actually machine-knit.
I'm allergic to wool - can I get a sweater that's not 100% wool?
Yes, of course! Aran sweaters are traditionally made from 100% sheep's wool for its warmth and the water-resistance provided by the naturally occuring lanolin. However, many are a bit sensitive to wool and find 100% wool itchy. If you're a bit wool-sensitive, check out our sweaters made of wool blend or arcylic yarns - keep in mind that while you'll be less itchy, the sweater won't be quite as toasty as one of our all wool sweaters.
If you want your Aran sweater primarily for warmth, give us a call or visit us at one of our upcoming events - many of our all-wool yarns have a softer finish than some of the traditional yarns you may have experienced, and are not itchy at all.
What do the patterns on my Aran sweater mean?
The patterns on an Aran sweater are said to reflect elements of life on the Aran Islands where the designs originated...here are a few common stitches and what they represent:The CABLE STITCH is the most common stitch and represents the fishermen's ropes and a wish for a plentiful catch.
The HONEYCOMB represents the hard-working bee and is considered lucky.
The MOSS STITCH depicts the seaweed used to fertilize the fields and therefore abundance and growth.
The BLACKBERRY STITCH represents nature.
The DIAMOND STITCH symbolizes both the small fields on the Islands and the mesh of the fishermen's nets.
The BASKET STITCH represents the fishermen's basket - an omen of a good catch.
