Wool is an excellent material for clothing and homewares, exuding quality, warmth and durability as well as being a sustainable choice. However, there is a huge variety between different types of wool and the products it is used to make, and learning how to identify good quality woollen items, such as our Irish Wool Sweaters can ensure that you know how to find the best options for yourself and your family.

In this article, we’ll find out what to look for in woollen items so that you can work out whether that sweater you’ve been hankering after will be a good investment in your clothing collection. We’ll take a look at what the label can tell us about our woollen clothes and homewares and how we can spot a bargain that will last a lifetime. If you already have a lot of woollen sweaters, you can check out their provenance and discover more about why they wear the way the do, and if not, we’ll help you to choose some gorgeous new woollen items for your closet.

 

How to Spot Authentic Craftsmanship

Wool is a sustainable fiber that is obtained from sheep when their fleeces are sheared annually. Some wool also comes from goats, such as Cashmere wool, and other animals like alpacas. Wool is washed and spun and then it can be knitted or woven into a whole range of garments and homewares that retain the properties of the natural wool, including warmth, water resistance and softness. The provenance and quality of woollen items can be seen in:

• The type of wool. The label of your garment, blanket or other woollen item can tell you a lot about where it comes from, beginning with what type of wool it is. For instance, you may discover from the label that your favourite sweater is made from 100% Pure New Wool, which usually comes from the first time an animal is sheared and has not been previously used or blended. Alternatively, you may find that your sweater contains a blend of wool fibers including a more delicate, luxurious type of wool such as cashmere or alpaca. These types of wool are softer than sheep wool but the fibers are shorter so they are usually blended with sheep wool to ensure that they are durable enough to wear.

 

• The percentage of wool. Many garments that appear to be made from wool are in fact made from acrylic or a blend of wool and manmade fibers. Acrylic will not have the same properties as authentic wool products and will not retain warmth in the same way. Acrylic sweaters can be washed in a washing machine and are often cheaply made, but they are also susceptible to wearing out very quickly. Some items contain blended fibers such as wool with nylon, which can create a material that is a little more stretchy, for instance, and you should look for items with a higher percentage of wool wherever possible.

 

• The texture. Wool that is good quality should not feel scratchy to wear and the most sought after wools should feel soft against the skin. If your woollen sweater feels itchy or rough, it may have been made from a lower grade wool or may have been processed extensively. Many of our products are made from Merino wool and Cashmere, which are soft and comfortable worn next to the skin. These are slightly less durable than other types of wool, however, so will often be blended with more hardwearing options.

 

• The amount of stretch. If you have a woollen sweater to hand, give the fabric a gentle stretch and see if it springs back to its original shape. Good quality wool should spring back into shape and will last for many, many years without sagging or losing its shape, while wool blends and poor quality wool items will not wear as well. This is a good indication of the quality of the wool in your sweater.

 

• The way it is woven or knitted. A high quality woollen item will be knitted or woven in a consistent style, so that the texture is even throughout the garment and there are no loose threads or rough areas. You should check the seams carefully, as this can be a good indication of the quality of construction. Many of the sweaters and cardigans you find at Weavers of Ireland are hand knitted or woven by artisan craftspeople, and some are carefully made using knitting machines to create a precise and expert finish.

 

• The pilling. Have you noticed small balls of fiber forming on your woollen items? This is a natural process that occurs when wool is worn and washed, and it is simply that these processes cause loose fibers to push out from the surface of the garment and form into little balls or ‘pills’. Pilling will be inevitable with woollen garments to some extent, but if your new sweater is beginning to show pilling already, this may suggest that it is not a high quality woollen item.

 

• The color consistency. When wool is dyed, it should retain a rich, consistent color throughout and you should not be able to find patches of fading or inconsistent color in your garment. However, woollen products that have been dyed poorly will often indicate a lower grade wool and suggest a lower quality item. Woollen items that have been dyed with natural dyes may indicate that artisan producers or sustainable craftsmanship have been involved in the production.

 

• The price point. The old saying ‘you get what you pay for’ rings true in many areas of life, and woollen clothing is one of these. An authentic wool item that has been made by skilled craftspeople and designed to last a lifetime will naturally cost more than a mass produced, throwaway garment that will only last for a handful of wears. This reflects the traditional skills and high quality materials used in genuine woollen garments and your investment in your authentic Aran sweater will be rewarded by its longevity and timeless style.

 

• The way it smells. Grab your woollen sweater and see how it smells! A garment made from pure wool will retain some of the natural smell of the lanolin that occurs in the wool of sheep. This lanolin is what gives the wool its water resistant properties and a high quality woollen garment can take on up to 30% of its weight in water before it feels wet. If your sweater is made from a poor quality wool blend or a synthetic fabric, it is more likely to have a chemical or synthetic smell.

 

• The care label. Did you know that genuine wool items do not require washing often? High quality wool will resist odours and will simply need airing out between wears unless it is very dirty. However, if it does become dirty, you will need to wash it by hand in cool water with a gentle wool detergent and reshape it while it is wet, before drying it flat. This does not need doing often, and will preserve your woollen clothing in great condition. If you find that your wool clothing is machine washable, you may need to do a little more research into whether it is actually made of wool!

 

• The certification. There are several ways to establish the quality of your sweater, and one of these is the marking or certification your garment carries. For instance, at Weavers of Ireland our sweaters are crafted by Aran Sweater Market and every one carries a stamped and signed certificate of authenticity to give you the peace of mind that your sweater is of the highest quality.

You can check these factors to ensure that the wool garments and homewares you are considering will be worth adding to your closet, and we can guarantee that you’ll notice the quality straight away when you wear an Aran sweater or cardigan from our beautiful collection.

 

High Quality Woollens

Our Aran knitwear exudes luxury and quality and you will love the range of styles available in our range. We love these classic options:

The Women's Merino Aran Sweater is a gorgeous sweater that is made in the classic style that originated in the Aran Islands many years ago. The style features honeycomb and cable stitches that are thought to bring luck and protection to the wearer, and the soft Merino wool that is used to make this sweater is comfortable and easy to wear. You’ll feel the difference in the quality of sweaters like this, and this will last a lifetime if it is cared for correctly.

When you’re looking for something special, the Wool Cashmere Aran Trellis Sweater is a stylish choice that will look stunning with boots and jeans or layered over a long skirt or dress for a wedding or garden party. It is made from a blend of 95% wool and 5% Cashmere, and features the classic trellis stitch, which is believed to reflect the unique landscape of the Aran Islands and the fields marked with border stones to protect them from the harsh Atlantic Ocean.

Sometimes, the quality of a wool garment is so obvious that you won’t even need to check the label! The Celtic Knot Ruana Wrap is a gorgeous choice, featuring a combination of the ancient circular knot, said to represent eternity, and the shield knot, which was used for protection against evil in the home and on the battlefield in Celtic times. This beautiful wrap is made from 67% Chenille and 33% Pure New Wool, is available in a variety of stunning colors and can be worn as a wrap, a scarf or even a skirt!

When you are welcoming a new baby to the family or celebrating a child’s birthday, there are many gorgeous gift ideas in our selection. Wool is a good choice for babies because it is hypoallergenic and natural, so it should not irritate the skin. You’ll love our Aran Wool Baby Teddy Bear, made from 100% Merino wool in natural white with white or moss green sweater. This is the perfect size for an infant to fall in love with, and we also have the unique Aran Wool Sheep Teddy and the extra special Aran Wool Teddy Bear with Scarf, which features traditional Aran stitching patterns.

The luxurious feeling of wool just can’t be beaten and a soft blanket or throw makes a wonderful gift for a special occasion or as a treat for yourself at the coldest time of the year. For the ultimate in soft and cosy woollen homewares, we love the Wool and Cashmere Throw in Silver Teal Stripe, which is a gorgeous choice that oozes luxury. It is woven from 95% Merino wool and 5% Cashmere so is the softest wool blend and you’ll love to curl up and relax in it.

Our high quality woollen garments and homewares are beautiful designs that make wonderful gifts and will soon become your favourites. Our friendly team will help you to find the best options for every occasion and show you our full range.

 

Irish Knitwear For All Occasions

At Weavers of Ireland, we have an extensive range of high quality wool sweaters, cardigans, jackets and scarves that are made by a highly skilled team of artisan producers here in Ireland. We aim to preserve the traditional Irish craftsmanship that has been nurtured in Ireland for many years, and we believe that this is important to the preservation of authentic Irish heritage.

We have a great selection of gift items, including a unique range of Celtic jewellery, hand knitted blankets and children’s toys so you can find gifts for all of your loved ones. If you are visiting Ireland, we’d love to see you in one of our stores across Ireland, located in Killarney, Kenmare, Dublin, Galway, Glengarriff and Kinsale. Alternatively, you can find our full online catalogue at Weavers of Ireland.