The Origin of the Aran Sweater / Jumper Myth | Fact vs Fake-lore of "Ancient Celtic Knitting"
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- Опубликовано: 6 сен 2024
- This might be controversial for some people, but the Aran style jumpers do knot have Ancient Celtic roots... I explore the origins of that misinformation in this video, and how this myth came to be as well as the legendary use of the jumpers and "clan patterns" to identify those lost at sea.
The myths came from two different places:
1. Heinz Edgar Kiewe in his book 'The Sacred History of Knitting' (1967) describes how the Book of Kells from 790 CE represents Aran-style knitting
2. John Millington Synge's play 'Riders to the Sea' which features a scene where one of the characters identifies a fisherman's sock when he is suspected to be lost at sea
These two notions seemingly became knotted together to create a myth that is still widely believed: that Aran sweaters are not only traceable back to our Ancient Celtic roots, but the patterns have specific meaning and have been passed down through generations to help identify clan members lost as sea...
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Further Resources:
Books
Aran Knitting by Alice Starmore
Irish Aran: History, Tradition, Fashion by Vawn Corrigan
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Link to my class at the Irish Pagan School, exploring more history and culture heritage of hand-crafting in Ireland: irishpaganscho...
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I wasn't previously familiar with the Kiewe stuff and I'm glad I wasn't because it's obvious nonsense. But I was taken in by the Family Patterns to recognise drowned fishermen, thank you for fixing that. The more of us there are debunking these pieces of nonsense the better honestly.
Neither was I until I went digging. I got David Shaw-Smith's book "Ireland's Traditional Crafts" and while it's a great resource in a lot of ways he really got caught by the symbolism and patterns that Kiewe had promoted... so I went looking for a source on the symbolism and that's where the rabbit hole for this particular rant started 🤣
@@TheCraftyCailleach I know that feeling. It's nearly Always when I'm trustingly and innocently looking for a source on something that I find out it's rubbish
Here for this utterly relatable content
As a Scottish Aran knitter of 40 years I really enjoy this although it did burst my bubble a bit in relation to the myths that the patterns could help identify fishermen lost, but good to hear that there is likely some Scottish input into the Aran patterns Thanks great information
Apologies for bursting the bubble, this is one of my favourite rabbit holes that I have fallen down
I do know a bit about the sins of Graves, but I'd love to hear a proper video on him from ya! 💖🙏🏻
Those antiquarians and their notions! 😂
She knew there were four dropped stitches and didn’t fix them? Not a one? It’s not even my sock and I’ll lose sleep over that. Imagine! Great video. Thank you for the concise rundown. I already knew it but great to share with my knitting friends. 😊
I'm an American who does both knitting and crochet, and I was looking up videos on Irish style knits on this St. Patrick's day. I have never heard about Aran knitting before, but your video is so informative that I feel like you've busted a whole bunch of myths I've believed my entire life! I just recently started knitting sweaters and sweater vests that, now that I'm comfortable with the basic pattern, I feel like I'm comfortable enough to try and add cables and other designs to them. I will definitely be looking into Aran style jumpers. My husband is also American, but he has a lot of Irish blood, so I will try to make him one once I build my confidence up.
I am so glad I found your channel!
Thank you so much for the lovely comment
thanks so much for this video. I'm am American with Irish ancestry with my grandmother growing up in the aran islands. I had the privelege to visit once but it's not always easy to distinguish fact from fiction in the stories, so this is much appreciated!
You're very welcome! Yeah, even for those of us still here it can be difficult. The Aran Islands are a magical place, we went to Inis Méain on our honeymoon trip and it was amazing
In 1983, I interviewed a knitter of Aran sweaters in Galway while researching an article on Irish textiles...sweet lady, she shared the myth with me and spoke a bit about what she had been told about the pattern she was using in her current project. Fascinating to hear the actual history!
Ooh interesting, thank you for sharing 😊
I am indeed today-years-old when I learned the patterns were not specific to clans/families to identify fisherman! Thanks for this piece. My father was a young man when he emigrated and I’ve learned that even he didn’t know his country’s history so well. A lot of what he told me growing up was “colored” by his own experiences and what was popular at the time. Love learning!
Even when presented with information no matter uow factual, our perspective and perception will colour when we see and hear. There's so much that is behind how history is taught and learned! Thank you for the comment, i'm glad you enjoyed it!
I recognize that feeling from when I learned the true history about the origin of “family tartans” on my Scots side of the family. The Celtic peoples of the isles have an horrific history of people making up their history out of whole cloth without, as per the review of Kiewe, “unsullied by any association with hard facts.”
Absolutely down to see some Robert Graves slander 🔥
I mean, is it slander if it's true? 🤣
@@TheCraftyCailleach GOOD POINT 😹
I'm an American, with Irish, English, Scottish, and Welsh roots. While it's disappointing to learn about the fisherman myth, I'm still ordering an Aran scarf! (I can't find a sz 3x sweater, lol) And I'll be proud to own a piece of Irish history! 😁☘️🍀☘️🍀☘️🍀☘️🍀☘️🍀
Sweaters in the Book of Kells? 😹I recall that a nice "Aran" sweater for my dad at Spiddal on my first trip to Ireland came with a tag describing the symbolism of various patterns. Thanks for another great video, Amy!
Thanks Betsy :) There are still a few Irish companies using Kiewe's story, but there are also a few who have outlined the myth on their website blogs
I was always taught that the aran weaves were made up not long ago to feed into the tourism, but don't mind them being around (only because I love wearing them). I would love to see you discuss the history of the Leine and the Galway shawl. Always wondered if there was a connection.
I love the cable knit jumpers too, so cosy!
Oooh I'll look into the Leine and shawl! Thanks for That Michelle :)
It may seem obvious, but this myth is VERY pervasive. I am an avid knitter and I like to use old pattern books (cheaper haha). I have at least three "traditional sweater" books on my bookshelf atm that repeat this myth! One book is going back to the early 80s, according to the front. So I don't feel *too* bad for believing it before haha. Thank you for taking the time to educate on the topic!!!!
Oh it is, so many knitting books and craft books I have read have it in! Thank you for the comment ☺
I've not researched this, but I'd love to learn about Knotwork in general as part of the cultural history, but specifically its use (or not) in magic. Was it used in spell work, charms, curses, etc??? If so, how?
Hi Kay! I could do an entire class or course on Celtic knotwork as an artwork, even without taking about charms and spells. There are some charms that would have used knotwork and, I'll definitely put that on the list for a future video 😊
Im glad I googled this before I ordered a $50 scarf 😂 At the same time… I’m still kind of charmed by the tale. It’s almost like a tribute to the power of folklore to captivate, take root, grow and evolve. regardless of whether it has a solid basis… as long as the story speaks to some part of our human nature in a way that feels authentic, it is likely to resonate. The story of the familial knit patterns definitely speaks to the part of us that wants to feel connected to the past. Many people feel disconnected from their ancestors and probably subconsciously latch onto things that make them aware of themselves as a link in a chain rather than a lone satellite…
This is exactly why I'm considering knitting a sweater in the supposed "pattern" of my mother's family name anyway. Does it mater if it's not authentic history if it makes me feel connected to my ancestors? It's kind of like spelling your family name in a made up alphabet; Even if the cypher was only recently invented, it still has a discrete meaning to you that connects it to that name and only that name.
An Aran sweater is a big commitment though, so I'm still thinking this over before I get started!
If it makes you feel connected then that's what matters, my job as a public historian and folkloric is to educate on the origins of these things 😊
I just discovered that RUclips had me unsubscribed from your channel. I've heard of it happening, I just never thought it'd happen to me 😭 This is a fab dig, well done Amy! LOL But Ancient Celtic Knitwear is so FETCH!!!
Yeah, YT has been a bit glitchy lately! I haven't been getting notifications for some people either, not to worry :)
Thanks Tara! This was a fun rabbit hole, Gods know Irish history can be fecking awful to look into
From my experience, hand knitters are the first to point out that the myth is bunk. It’s a romantic story, not gonna lie, but I’ve had several people ignore me when I try to point out the myth is not true. I still love me the look of a cabled Aran sweater, though! (Personal anecdote, I was once dating an Englishman with a father who had a permanently upturned nose, and this father once tried to, for lack of a better term, mansplain knitting to me as I was sat there knitting a sweater. He argued with me about the history of the Aran sweater, but quickly stopped talking when I politely corrected his incorrect spelling of “Erin” to “Aran”. He even googled it to confirm I was right!)
Great video,i am today yrs old finding out and fascinated,each have their tales as twisty as the roads!
It's so interesting looking at the origins of history and where trends and stories started 😊
I was today years old!!! However, I had a hunch given the rest of the stuff I've learned. Still lovely sweaters! My husband just got be a wrap for Valentine's Day, but we make sure to get it from the islands themselves. Doesn't seem right otherwise. Thanks so much for sharing!
Some of the untrue things are very persistent, even in Ireland! Awh that's really nice, I love the knit stuff 😊
I'm most definitely interested in learning about Graves . Thank you so much 🌙 💓
1. Thank you for taking the time to thoroughly research this knitwear pattern. Humans do value folklore over truth. Irish history basis is folklore and myths. I can understand why this myth of the knitwear pattern when a bit wild in this tall tale. Shame shame on "Q." lol
Thanks Kathy. We do have a rich enough history without using these myths that have some in from people outside the culture because of their misunderstanding of things 😊
I think that over the years the story of the Gansey and the Aran sweaters has become blurred and mixed together. A white sweater as a day to day Fisherman’s garment always seemed bazaar to me. The sweater would be filthy if it was used to work in every day.
In someways, I feel like a fool, having believed this. However, as I have knit my geansaithe /jumpers/sweaters I have used the ideas that I learned to put intentions into the garments that I knit. In someways, I see the myth becoming the reality for good or bad.
I think knitting, or crafting or making anything in general can involve intention setting and imbuing whatever is being made with energy, it's just always good to know what's ancient and what's a more modern piece of folklore :)
Would love hear your input on 'Watch the North Wind Rise', a novel of Graves' I quite enjoyed.
Oooh I'll have to add that to the list!
I am about to start knitting the Aran Sweater. Do you have any recommendations besides the yarn used? I need help with the construction of the sweater.
I actually don;t knit myself, I crochet - so I have no tips for you!
Tapadh leat. I did love those stories. Oh well. But nice to know about the Scottish influence. And Robert Graves is on my Tardis list "young Robbie Graves stabbed at his desk, killer flees in magicians cabinet"
Fadbh ar bith! Nothing wrong with a story, once you know it's a story 😉 and yep, if I could travel back in time and meet him I'd slap him with an Ogham stone
It's highly unlikely for Aran knitting to be older than a millennium anyway since we have little to no evidence to suggest that knitting existed in Europe before the late middle ages , I believe it got to Europe in the same way than anything arabic in that time influenced Europe: through the Crusades
Is it true that the Aran sweaters were originally made from fish line?
I haven't heard that one Sean, where idsnyiu come across that piece of info?
I can't see how that would be practical or comfortable, tbh
I'd love to see a video about Robert Graves.
Also wish i could attend your class 😭
The class is open for enrollment indefinitely! ☺
Haha yes,!
@@TheCraftyCailleach is it going to be accessible online? I'm in Texas lol
@@bramblecat Yep, it's on the irishpaganschool.com 😊
As well as the handcraft traditions and patterns.
Thank you Donna 😊
Excellent video! Very informative!! Personally Have loved Aran knitwear since i was teen but had no idea it was connected to bogus and debunked legend.
Also, IMHO, Robert Graves was a creep and a nut job.
Marketers definitely had me believe the myths you've debunked, though I'm definitely not surprised that they're not the good kind of myth!!
Yeah... They get a lot of people with it. It's certainly not the worst one though all things considered
Knitted catsuit? Coming to a runway near you!
I did know that there are jumpers of a similar style originating from islands off the West coast of Scotland, as I have a friend who is originally from Coll (small island to the North West of the Isle of Mull) and we talked about the similarities (also about Aran Islands and the Isle of Arran. She found this very funny). I was today years old when I found out there is actually a direct link there. Interesting stuff!
I mean, I would wear a knitted catsuit!
I can't knit though 🤣
Oooh that's interesting! Also the Arran /Aran thing gives me a chuckle too 😄