An item of timeless beauty, synonymous with pride in an Irish heritage; the demand for the Aran Sweater continues to grow

Winter has arrived in Ireland and snow has fallen. Another punishing winter is likely for the north-central USA. Winter will be colder than normal, especially in February. Other cold periods will occur in mid- and late December and mid- and late January. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) January 12, 2012 - Bloomington, Minnesota - IRISH BLESSINGS, a retail company that strives to provide quality Irish and Irish themed merchandise has a fine selection of Aran Sweaters. Stay warm with a traditional worsted wool sweater which has kept Irish seacoast dwellers warm for generations. Popular legend holds that fishermen wore Aran Sweaters, each of whom had a unique design based on their family or clan. If he drowned and was found weeks later, the Aran Sweaters would help to identify the body. Traditional Aran Crew Sweaters are distinguished by their use of several complex textured stitch patterns. The honeycomb pattern on the front of the Traditional Aran Crew Sweater is a symbol of the hard-working bee. The cable, an integral part of the fisherman's daily life, is said to be a wish for safety and good luck when fishing. The diamond is a wish of success, wealth, and treasure. The Traditional Aran Crew Sweater is a great gift for anyone who lives in a cold climate!

The Aran sweater is a style of jumper that takes its name from the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland. It is sometimes known as a fisherman sweater. A classical fisherman's sweater is a bulky garment with prominent cable patterns on the chest, often cream-colored. The sweaters are distinguished by their use of complex textured stitch patterns, several of which are combined in the creation of a single garment.

Traditionally, an Aran sweater is made from un-scoured wool that still contained natural sheep lanolin, making it to an extent water-repellent. An Aran sweater might feature 4-6 texture patterns each of which is about two to four inches in width that move down the sweater in columns from top to bottom. Usually, the patterns are symmetrical to a center axis extending down the center of the front and back panel. The patterns also usually extend down the sleeves as well. Some stitch patterns have a traditional interpretation, for example the basket stitch represents the fisherman's basket, a hope for a plentiful catch. It was primarily the wives of island fisherman who knitted the sweaters.

Those of you that live in Minnesota can visit the Irish Blessings store at the Mall of America, 101 N. Garden in Bloomington. Irish Blessings has a great website. For those folks who don't live in Minnesota, but still want to talk to a live person, you can call Irish Blessings at (952) 854-4534.

About Irish Blessings: Founded in 1993 and located in the Mall of America at 101 N. Garden, Bloomington, Minnesota, 55425, Irish Blessings offers a select variety of jewelry, clothing, china, music, books, and gifts. At Irish Blessings they love what they sell and truly enjoy what they do. They will strive to bring the same enthusiasm, commitment, and love of Irish merchandise as they do their store to their internet customers. That website is www.irishindeed.com.

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