Irish sweaters are rich in symbolism

Basket Stitch: Represents the fisherman's basket and the hope of abundant catches.








Blackberry Stitch: Symbolises the rich bounty of Nature. It may also have religious connotations.







Cable Stitch: Perhaps the most frequent stitch on Irish sweaters, a plain cable depicts the ropes of our fishing ancestors and promises safety and good luck while at sea. A plaited stitch additionally evokes the interweaving of family life with daily toil.






Tree of Life Stitch: Also known as the Trinity stitch. Promises long life or immortality and a crop of sturdy children. It also represents ancient religious beliefs.



Trellis Stitch: Symbolises the landscape patterns created by fields fenced in with roughly hewn stones that offer protection from strong island winds.

Life on the Aran islands, where the garments we now call Irish sweaters originated from, was precarious for our ancestors. An existence was eked out by fishing and collecting seaweed, and the annual harvests were critical to the well-being of the islanders. They lived and died close to Nature, so it is little wonder that nearly all Aran knitting stitches reflect their concerns and hopes for survival.

Irish sweaters – the truth about those 'clan stitches'.

Return to Irish Crafts or Irish Genealogy Toolkit Home page.