The Cable Fable

The Cable Knit.

The timeless pattern synonymous with practicality and style in equal parts has been around as long as we can remember.

It was originally known as the Aran knit as, legend has it, it was invented in the Aran Islands off the coast Ireland in the early 1900's. The story goes that Fisherman's wives each developed a signature family cable knit to be worn to sea by their husbands and sons so that if they were to meet their peril, the bodies could be easily identified. A morbid beginning if we are to believe the yarn... but since then it has been immortalised time and again.


Elvis wore an Aran sweater in his video for Jailhouse Rock in 1957 and in 1958 The Aran Knit as is was then known was made popular in the US by a Vogue knitting pattern book. Brands such as Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger have made Cable Knit the icon of preppy style and the pattern has been reinvented year over year.

Fast forward to the current day and the humble cable still features prominently from classical homespun knits to the catwalks of Fashion Weeks the world around.



When we were selecting our original styles for Benmore the very first pattern that we agreed would be a foundation for the brand was cable. The first sample garment we received from Otago Knitwear in our signature blush yarn was our Cable Knit Cardigan and would be the very garment we brought home our baby daughter Rosa in. You will see cable subtly adorning our Booties and Mittens and it is of course the main event in our Cable Knit Hat.

A Classic never dies and we are proud to spotlight such an iconic pattern throughout our range... we may even have something new coming soon so watch this space!

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