Fairisle

Knitted in the original Scottish Shetland yarn lined with soft cotton, Eribe offers a modern version of traditional jacquard patterns, called fairisle patterns. Fair Isle is associated with patterned woollen garments, usually accessories such as scarves, gloves and hats.

The fairisle pattern originated from a Northern Scottish Island called Fair Isle, which lies half way between Shetland and Orkney.  For centuries the people of Fair Isle spun, dyed and knitted a wide variety of clothes to trade with passing ships from many countries. Tradition claims that Fair Isle islanders copied their now famous designs from the clothing of Spanish sailors. This true fairisle includes bands of geometric shapes, with two colours to each band.

In 1922, due to an accidental endorsement by the then Prince of Wales, demand for Fair Isle goods grew significantly. A Fair Isle patterned garment was sent to Princess Mary as a wedding gift. The Prince of Wales was later photographed playing golf in the garment, causing Fair Isle knitwear to become accepted as fashionable sportswear.

This increase in demand led to knitters throughout Shetland developing their knitting skiils to include this new Fair Isle technique, and formed the basis of the Shetland knitwear industry in the 20th century. It became fashionable for young girls to knit Fair Isle patterns, and they soon developed their own patterns and styles.

Eribé's fairisle patterns are a combination of traditional and modern, often knitted in fine lambswool and felted to give a soft fleece effect and a matt colouring. Eribé's fairisle is named after a Scottish Island called Iona where St. Columbus founded a now famous Abbey from where he spread the Christian message.

View our Fair Isle Collection

Embroidery

Imagine a hand drawn sketch. The lines are fluid and full of movement to portray a pattern, a picture or a story. These designs are first sketched by hand onto the garment, accessory or soft furnishing and then freehand sewn with a sewing machine by a talented embroiderer. We are able to develop your own ideas or requests.

Lace

Lace Knitting developed around 1840. Evolving quickly, lace knitting became popular in the Victorian era, and lace knitting is still known as finely patterned handknitted openwork, made on two needles using 1 or 2 ply yarn. When this lace knitting trend began to grow, fine shawls were knitted from the finest Shetland wool spun into two ply. This material is so delicate, a shawl with a million stitches can be drawn through a wedding ring.

Lace knitting is not as difficult as people may think! There is no special technique involved in lace knitting, and if you know the basic stitches then anyone who can knit, can knit lace.

Aran

The Isles of Aran can be found just off the West Coast of Galway Bay. Cut of from the mainland by the Atlantic Ocean, the Isles are exposed to the often unpredictable conditions of the Atlantic; these conditions that those working outdoors had to bear. The need for fishermen and other outdoor workers to have warm and protective clothing led to the making of the now-famous Aran sweater.

Original Aran patterns could not be written down, they had be be learned and stored in memory and, like many traditional knitting patterns, were passed down through the generations. It is said that an Aran Islander can tell what family a knitter is from by looking at the knitting patterns in their jumper, and tradition has it that fishermen who drowned at sea could always be identified by looking at the knitting patterns on his jersey when his body was washed ashore.

Much of the inspiration behind the traditional Aran pattens is said to have come from the rich symbolism of the Celts, and many of the stitches used in the patterns represent religious themes, for example, the trinity stitch is thought to signify the Holy Trinity.

Aran knitting is today recognisable all over the world, due to its distinctive patterns and natural cream coloured wool that is unique to the Aran Isles. Aran islanders never made a living from its famous knitting patterns, and the knitting is now reproduced by knitters all over the world, using patterns written down by natives of the Aran Isles.

Intarsia

Intarsia knitting is knitting using a seperate piece of yarn for each of the areas of colour, linking them together as you work across the row. This knitting techniqe is often used to knit colour designs, for example, stripes and motifs. Intarsia knitting is usually done flat, to enable the knitter to pick up the strand at the edge of the knitting on the way back to the purl side.