The aran (or arran)is a style of jumper/sweater that takes its name from the Aran Islands off the West Coast of Ireland or from the Isle of Arran off the west coast of Scotland.

The sweaters are distinguished by their use of complex textured stitch patterns , several of which are combined in the creation of a single garment. The word choice of "jumper" or "sweater" (or indeed other options such as "pullover" and "jersey") is largely determined by the regional version of english being spoken, in the case of ireland and britain "jumper" is the standard word with "sweater" mainly found in tourist shops. The word used in Irish Gaelic is geansai, a gaelicization of guernsey which has been re-anglicised to gansey in Hiberno-English.

Originally the jumpers were knitted using unscoured wool that retained its natural oils or lanolin which made the garments water-resistant and meant they remained wearable even when wet. It was primarily the wives of Island fishermen who knitted the jumpers.

Some stitch patterns have a traditional interpretation often of religious significance. The honeycomb is a symbol of the hard working bee. The cable, 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.

*taken from wikipedia.org*

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bernat 227 ireland knits for the whole family in good condition   US 4.75 #5513

patons 646 that natural feeling 6 different designs does have a little pen writing on front   US 4.50 #5422

Lady galt 1003 fishermen knits came out in 1968 knits for the entire family!   US 4.99 #5402

Aran patterns b k wools ltd. 20 pages of great family aran patterns in ok condition   US 4.99 #5337

Patons 119 fisherman knits 7 different designs in good condition   US 4.50 #420

Peter pan P745 for children for 20 to 30 inch chest trellis sweater, tunic and cardigan   US 4.75 #5217

Junior arans patons 159 in ok condition does have sticker mark on front   US 4.50 #4812

Debbie Bliss classic knits for kids 30 traditional aran and guernsey designs for 0-6 years very heavy! this is a softcover   US 6.99 #4926

Emu 6735 astrakhan with aran poncho in three sizes 4 to 17 years poncho, hat and mitts   US 2.99 #1867

Beehive 506 in great shape aran knits for the family 8 different designs   US 4.25 #1429

Bernat book of irish knits Very popular book number 145 i believe it came out in the 70's in great condition   #3347 4.99