Sunday 20 September 2015

More Knitting Tales! A Aran Cardigan Made On The Smallholding.


Here is some more of the wife's knitting to look at.  Apparently it's an Aran cardigan.  These originate from the Aran Isles off Galway.  A lot of patterns were distinctive family patterns.  Not just for decoration.  It was surmised that they were used to identify missing fishermen when their boats had been lost at sea and drowned.  Some folk do not agree with this theory.  I think the Clancy Brothers, Grace Kelly, Steve McQueen and Val Doonican made the Aran jumpers so famous.

Here are the back and front of a cardigan my wife knitted 2 years ago.  Sadly it won't fit number 2 son any more.  I wonder if it will fit the terrier?





Can't think of any knitting jokes.  Apart from the old one about the horse that swallowed a ball of wool.  It turned into a fine jumper.


20 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  2. haha that joke was actually quite good! (i should know, my hubby is the master of cheesy jokes!)
    That cardigan is beautiful! Your wife is incredibly talented :)
    I love the theory on family patterns to identify sailors, much more intriguing

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi MEOD. Will pass on your kind words to my wife. I agree fishermen patterns is much more intriguing. They also knitted socks like you do. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love aran, and that cardi is very pretty. Whenever I knit something I also do an aran design on whatever it is I am knitting. PS. Thought the joke was funny!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Vera. I am you like the cardi. Don't encourage me with my jokes. I get told:

    "It was good the first time I heard it."

    Here's a music themed joke for your delight:

    How do you know when there is a folk singer at your front door?

    He can never find the right key and doesn't know when to come in!

    Throwing it down here in Ireland. Thanks Vera.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Well hello! I'm new here- blog hopping over from Sue in Suffolk! That's a really unusual pattern, one I've never seen before. U.S. It from a pattern or is it just one your wife does from memory? :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Rrs. It's from a pattern book of Aran wool. Thanks.

      Delete
  7. Wonderful, :O), I can only imagine how hard that must have been to knit! Lots of nice detail in it! Great story on how the patterns originated. I take you all call sweaters/cardigans "jumpers"?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Texan. The cardigan took about 3 months to knit on an off. I am told it wasn't difficult. She just followed a pattern and was pleased with the results. I also like the story behind things. I think jumpers are pullovers that go over your head and cardigans are joined up the middle by buttons or zips. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  9. It look great Dave, I'm still trying to find a pattern to knit for the OH. Where did your wife get hers from? I have managed to track down proper Aran wool though.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi Anne. It's a Sirdar knitting pattern. They are on the Internet. There are also quite a few free Aran knitting patterns on the Internet. I am told to tell you that any good wool shop will have knitting patterns. Good luck. Look forward to seeing your knitting on your blog Anne!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Any good wool shop Dave? You must think we still live in the UK, there's one shop in our nearest big town that sells wool but no patterns or needles, Simon had to make me needles last year so I could knit hats for friends Christmas presents. I have tracked down a small cottage industry in Co. Sligo that sells both wool and patterns so next week we will pay a visit, around 130k round trip to buy wool!

      Delete
    2. You sound like me Anne when I want a pork pie and have to travel to Cork or Killarney. We even make them now.

      Great ideas for friends Christmas presents. We usually send calendars with pictures of Ireland.

      Delete
  11. A great yarn Dave ! Pardon the pun :)

    The truth is that the knitting jumpers - oh sorry I mean Aran Sweaters!
    Was only introduced in the 1890's and knitting was encouraged on the islands by the Congested Districts Board. This body had been established to encourage economic growth in rural areas where the population had outgrown the productive capacity of the land. Prior to that the women only knitted socks for the menfolk.
    Once the island women started knitting, there was no stopping them! It was a communal activity, a pastime that brought together the girls and women who shared their skills and, in time, the symbolic stitch designs they developed.

    for more information see
    http://www.irish-genealogy-toolkit.com/aran-sweaters.html#sthash.1GOWPVCw.dpuf

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for that Heron. I think it's nice to add a bit of poetic licence to a topic. I have even read that Guinness is said to have been first brewed in London and Snooker was invented during a monsoon season in India. Thanks!

      Delete
  12. Lovely! Worth listening to the clicking sound, I think! But then I am a TV knitter myself, so am biased! I do love Aran knitting.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thanks Jayne. The only clicking I make is with the tv remote control. Thanks for your comment Jayne.

    ReplyDelete
  14. i visited different hospital but they gave me list of expensive drugs to treat the symptoms and never cured me. A closed friend of mine introduce me to a Herbal Doctor who cured her. I was scared to contact him because of what i experienced from fake doctors. she encouraged me and gave me his whatsapp contact,and i contacted him and i asked him series of questions, i also ask him to show me the results of those he have cured with his herbal drugs,and he gave me all the information i needed that gave me hope. He send a Herbal medicine to me that i took and it seriously worked for me. am now Hepatitis negative. God bless you for being a sincere and great man. Am so excited and am free from herpes virus. you can reach him via email;dralikaherbalhome@gmail.com or whats-app/call on +2348116570358{1}HIV/AIDS{2}DIABETES{3}EPILEPSY{4} BLOOD CANCER{5} HPV{6} ALS{7} HEPATITIS{8}LOVE SPELL{9} SICKLE AND ANAEMIA{10} HERPESor add him on email dralikaherbalhome@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  15. I am carla houston from usa. I was in trouble when doctor told me that I have been diagnosed with herpes I though about my children and my husband, I know my children will face a serious problem when I'm gone, I lost hope and I wept all day, but one day I was surfing the internet I found Dr. Alika   contact number. I called him and he guided me. I asked him for solutions and he started the remedies for my health. Thank God, now everything is fine, I'm cured by Dr. Alika   herbal medicine, I'm very thankful to Dr. Alika and very happy with my hubby and children.if you have any diseases contact dr alika via email on dralikaherbalhome@gmail.com or add him up on  whatsapp +2348116570358.

    ReplyDelete
  16. PERFECT NATURAL HERBS AND VEGANS CURE FOR Herpes 1&2 THAT WORK FAST WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS WITH DR ELINFOH HERBAL MEDICINE, I saw so many testimonies about Dr ELINFOH a great HERBAL DOCTOR that will help you CURE and give you the rightful health to live a joyful life, i didn't believe it at first, but as the pain got worsen and my life was at risk after using lots of ARV drugs from the hospital and no changes so i decided to give a try to Dr Elinfoh I contacted him also and told him i want a cure for Herpes , he gave me advice on what i must do and he deliver it to me in my home address i gave him and i got the medicine which i use according to his instruction, and today i must say I am so grateful to this man Dr Elinfoh for curing me from Herpes and for restoring me back to my normal health and a sound life and i am making this known to every one out there who have been trying all day to be cured from Herpes or any sickness should not waste more time just contact him with his details below, believe me this is the only way to get cured from Hepres , this is the real solution we all have been searching for. Do not waste more time contacting him today for you can also leave a sound and happy life. contact info below. Email: (drelinfohherbalhome@gmail.com) or Whats"App or Call him on: +2348110492072. and you can as well contact him on other issues you are having like*HEPATITIS B*DIABETICS*CANCER*ALS*HERPES*BODY REDUCTION*BREAST ENLARGEMENT*FIBROD*CANCER*PREGNANCY MISCARRIAGE*Relationship issues etc.. ** Neoplasms*Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)*Chronic Respiratory Diseases* Mental and Behavioral Disorders*Alzheimer’s Disease Email: drelinfohherbalhome@gmail.com Via whatsapp +2348110492072

    ReplyDelete

Daffodils In A Old Tractor Tyre In The Polytunnel.

 Repurposing my Ford 3000 tyre for a planter in the polytunnel. I told you I wouldn't post a veggie post today.   Do you think the Tate ...