Aran jumper

[seanachie]

My family is from Galway and I have spent a fair amount of time there. I haven't shopped with them in a few years but I bought a beautiful cardigan at Standun's in Spiddal several years ago. I am still very happy with it.

http://www.standun.com/

[azwildcat96]

I suggest that everyone take a look at Woolovers for their sweater needs. I really love the countryman jumper that I bought from them a few years ago. It is very heavy, very rustic (wooly, as some have described it), and very good looking.

Try looking here: http://www.woolovers.us/mens/jumpers

And, they are much less expensive that LL Bean. Don't forget, the VAT is not applied to orders shipped to the USA.

[Pleater]

Alas the 'tradition' of the white bainin sweaters is all hogwash and moonshine invented by a commercial designer who wanted to develop a product to sell to tourists and export for financial gain.The traditional British fisherman's sweater is made from yarn which is rather thinner than the Aran weight, and spun differently.Stilll it does mean that there is a market for all the rough tough wool with bits in that might otherwise be used as building material, and the sweater patterns are rather striking and very satisfying to make.Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[tulloch]

While we're on the subject, does anyone know where one can find an Aran sweater (jumper) that's made in the more traditional manner? Meaning, it's heavier, with rougher wool that retains the full lanolin of the wool? I've wanted one for years but I never see one that seems to be authentic; they all seem like lightweight commercially-produced versions that replicate the look but not the performance.

I think either of these might be good for what you seek:
http://www.orvis.com/store/product.aspx?pf_id=3H1L
http://www.gaelsong.com/product/106/Apparel_Knitwear

The one from Orvis is, surprisingly, rather affordable.

[Bing]

While we're on the subject, does anyone know where one can find an Aran sweater (jumper) that's made in the more traditional manner? Meaning, it's heavier, with rougher wool that retains the full lanolin of the wool? I've wanted one for years but I never see one that seems to be authentic; they all seem like lightweight commercially-produced versions that replicate the look but not the performance.

Check out Philosopher's Wool Co. My mother made me one from their yarns more than 25 years ago and it's still going strong. I wore it every day through 2 winters at university instead of a coat.

If you know someone that knits you'll end up with an heirloom.

[Dale Seago]

I found a black-sheep one I liked in an Irish imports shop here in San Francisco: handmade, heavy, smelling like a sheep.

That was in '83. It looks/feels/smells the same today, no apparent wear or change after more than a quarter-century.