Aran Sweaters for the Irish

[TheKiltedWonder]

From what I understand it is a pull over sweater. Different land, different nomenclature. In Germany they call it a "Pulli" (as in pull over your head).

Pulli is short for Pullover, which is what many Aran sweaters are, though there are plenty of cardigans as well.

And yes, that's what a jumper is as well.

As for deep fried mars bars and the like, I've seen them offered at Virginia's Scottish Festivals. Of course when you've got a few deep fat fryers of your own, you can fry anything you'd like...such as cadbury eggs...

[O'Callaghan]

From what I understand it is a pull over sweater. Different land, different nomenclature. In Germany they call it a "Pulli" (as in pull over your head).

Although, from what German I studied, I thought the German verb to pull is ziehen? It has been a long time since I was in school, though. Perhaps they got Pulli from the Brit expression woolly pully (woolen pullover).

Needless to say, I think the song Woolly Bully is hilarious. Just change the B to a P and you're singing about a sweater. In fact, I thought they were when I first heard it! I didn't realise it was a B for quite a while.

[orangehaggis]

Itchy is in the skin (?) of the beholder. I prefer wearing woollens. As mentioned in another thread, I'm something of a fibre snob. I shy away from synthetics and synthetic blends. I like the feel of wool, although I always wear button-up shirts under my jumpers as a matter of course.

I seem to remember seeing photographs of Irish folk singers from "days of yore" wearing Aran jumpers. The Clancy Brothers spring to mind. I also remember an elderly woman in Co. Londonderry telling me about a relative of hers that wore such a garment ... apparently this male relation was offered obscene amounts of money by an American tourist that wanted the very jumper off his back! He didn't relent - he kept his jumper and his dignity.

Because I'm rather short, but ample in proportion width-wise, I find that jumpers that fit well across the chest and gut are always too long in the torso for kilted wear.

Mark O - Ohio

[lickstone]

Aran sweater patterns are numerous in my collection of knitting books. You are right there are many patterns and all very beautiful. I've posted a couple of my favorites and have more to post.

For those of us who are Irish or of Irish heritage, this may be of interest. Many Irish clans have their own knitting pattern used in Aran sweaters. If your not familiar with these sweaters, they are phenomenal. I already own one, but when I bought mine, I couldn't find my clan. Now that has changed. So if your interested in finding out if your family has a pattern, go here...

http://www.clanarans.com/ca/catalog/...579735c95dbfbe