Anyone in Ireland can tell you that sheep are just as much a part of the landscape as the rolling hills of green. Our Irish Merino Wool Baby Blanket with Sheep and Shamrock Design honors not two, but three iconic Irish symbols in an adorable print that makes this lovely cabled blanket a perfect gift.
The natural white background features an intricate cabled design that is reminiscent of Aran sweaters, another Irish icon. The Aran sweater originated in the 1890s and its distinctive cabled patterns kept the fisherman on the Aran Islands warm. Many believe the cables on the sweaters represented the ropes the fisherman used and that the designs brought the wearer good luck. The Islanders used wool from local sheep to knit their sweaters, and though the fleecy creatures are adorable, their wool made for itchy, oily sweaters.
Instead of sheep’s wool, our baby blanket is knit from 100% Merino wool that is organic wool and incredibly soft without sacrificing warmth. The merino wool is used to knit this baby blanket as is very gentle to the baby's skin. Green sheep and shamrocks border the cream-colored blanket. Sheep are universal in Ireland, kept for their wool and their meat, and while a shamrock may be a little harder to spot than a bleating lamb, it is no less important in Irish imagery. Not to be confused with a four-leaf clover, the shamrock features three leaves, and it has been Ireland’s unofficial national symbol for generations. Saint Patrick used the plant to teach the pagan Celts the significance of the Holy Trinity, and in the 18th and 19th century, the shamrock became a symbol of Irish resistance to English rule.
In its cabled pattern and wee green shamrocks and lambs, this baby blanket is a lovely tribute to Irish tradition and culture.
