Glossary of terms used on this site

A tradename given to a composite material used as an artificial substitute for suede leather.

Alpaca - al-pak-a - Cloth made from the long silken wool of the Peruvian llama. Its texture is fluffy, almost teddy bear like. Normally used to make coats.

Angora - an-gora - Hair of the Angora rabbit. It is extremely soft and warm. Your mum probably had a jumper made from this in the eighties with cats or something just as tacky or grotesque on the front.

Aran - A style of jumper that takes its name from the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland. It is has prominent cable patterns on the chest and is often cream-coloured. The sweaters are distinguished by their use of complex textured stitch patterns, several of which are combined in the creation of a single garment. It was primarily the wives of island fishermen who knitted the jumpers. 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.

Astrakhan - as-tra-kan - The pelts of very young or fetal lambs. The hair is very tight and curly. Often used in hats and collars on coats. Hamid Karzai, the former President of Afghanistan was always seen wearing a Karakul hat made from astrakhan or ‘Persian lamb’ as it is sometimes called.