cable knit fisherman sweater

Classic chunky cable knit sweater season! I usually layer it with a colorful button down underneath. And my boyfriend jeans. There are a lot of pretty cable knit sweaters out there, and the thicker wool the better in the freezing cold. You can find some good synthetic versions if you're allergic to wool. The thing is with these guys is they do have to be protected by moths. Which is VERY annoying if you find a really nice vintage version such as the one I am wearing because it will eventually just disintegrate if you have or develop a moth problem. Moth balls are smelly, so the best case to rid of moths is dry cleaning. Some times I will wash a wool knit with woolite on a delicate cycle in the wash and spread flat to dry as to not lose shape. Though, like jeans they don't have to be washed consistently.  Or else the fibers wear down.

Cable knitting is a great art, and some pieces go for a fairly high price tag dependent on the craftmanship. It began and is known also as an Aran jumper in Ireland. "Originally the jumpers were knitted using unscoured wool that retained its natural oils (lanolin) which made the garments water-resistant and meant they remained wearable even when wet.[citation needed] It was primarily the wives of island fishermen who knitted the jumpers[citation needed] before local knitters began selling their produce through initiatives.

Some stitch patterns have a traditional interpretation, often of religious significance. The honeycomb 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 basket stitch represents the fisherman's basket, a hope for a plentiful catch."