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There\u2019s much more to that, and you may want to peruse more of this blog to find out more. Anyway, I\u2019ve also discovered that I have Scottish and Irish ancestry mixed in with this Jamaican blood coursing through my veins(and who knows what else). I\u2019ve gone so far as to find the family crest for Malcolm, which has 2 stags on it. Combining this with the Irish ancestry I have, I have always been fascinated by the Irish family sweaters. You may have heard the legend about fishermen being identified by their sweaters\u2013that\u2019s a story for another day. Suffice it to say that I went looking for a \u201cfamily\u201d sweater for Malcolm, and couldn\u2019t find one. So, as is my way, I decided to make my own!
I decided to make this a true Aran sweater and incorporate traditional Celtic stitches along with the elements of the Scottish family crest I found. For this reason, the sweater has a Barrington Braid, front and centre as the main element. It is flanked by two cables, representing the fishermen\u2019s ropes, and symbolizing protection. We can all use the feeling of protection, can\u2019t we? Going outward, you have symmetrical staghorn cables, also flanked by two more cables. Again, added protection is a great thing. After the last cables, you have seed stitch to finish the design, representing abundance and growth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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I chose to use the Barrington Braid again as the only cable element on the sleeves, but made them a saddle shoulder. The Barrington Braid transitions into a 4-strand open cable at the shoulder and continues into the neckline. I also went with stocking stitch on the sleeves to provide contrast to where they meet the seed stitch on the body. This sweater can be made with a mock turtle or crew neck, depending on your preference. Mine is definitely the mock turtle neck. I seems much cozier to me that way. Although I had a classic men\u2019s sweater in mind when I made this, it is indeed unisex, and looks equally as good on a woman as it does on a man (see the photos throughout).
In actuality, I created this sweater roughly 4 years ago. The original one was made with an organic merino wool, and I have to be truthful say that I made it too small for myself. It did fit, but not with the positive ease I had intended. My dear friend Sarka is now the proud owner of that one (she\u2019s the dark haired model in the photos). Unfortunately, the source of the yarn disappeared, and I wasn\u2019t able to pattern and publish the design. It wasn\u2019t until just over a year ago when I met Tom and Cindy for Stunning String Studios, that I found a yarn that I was happy with to replace the organic merino. That yarn is Lush, and it\u2019s a merino\/cashmere\/nylon blend that feels like butter and is fantastic to work with. Tom and Cindy also dye it in 180 colours, so you\u2019ll be certain to find one you like!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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I f you want to make this sweater, you can get the pattern either here on my website, or in my Ravelry store, where it’s just been uploaded! Also, subscribers to this site get a discount on the cost of the pattern, ranging from 5% – 25%, depending on your subscription level. Click on the Subscribe tab in the header for more information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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