ARAN MYTH

The "Aran myth" is true. Not only in the British Isles, but also in the Netherlands

The Dutch fishermen wore sweaters with motifs that were unique to their localities. Fishermen, sweaters played an important role as identification. The colors were significant, so were combination of motifs.
In many cases it was possible to identify a drowned fisherman by the motifs on his sweater. This method of identification was used in most European harbors.

LATVIAN BELIEFS ABOUT MITTENS

1. Mittens and socks should be knitted in summer; then they will be warm, soft and strong.

2. One should not wash new mittens when there is an old moon, they will lose their color and let through the wind.

3. One should not wipe their nose in a mitten. Whoever does that never gets rich.

4. One should not give their hand to someone who is wearing a mitten. They will give away their luck.

MISCELLANEOUS SUPERSTITIONS AND OLD WIVES TALES

• Don't knit a pair of socks for your boyfriend or he'll walk away from you.
  
  
• If you knit one of your own hairs into a garment, it will bind the recipient to you.
  
  
• You should always knit a deliberate mistake into an item of clothing particularly for small infants as a way of disguising their perfection and protecting them from being 'taken'.
  
  
• There are some theatrical superstitions which seem to defy logic, however. Knitting is discouraged both on and off the stage, ostensibly because the needles could cause damage to costumes or be stepped on by actors.
  
  
• Knitters use the term curse of the love sweater to describe a situation in which a knitter gives a hand-knit sweater to a significant other, who quickly breaks up with the knitter. In some instances, the relationship will end before the sweater is even completed. The belief is widely discussed in knitting publications and some knitters claim to have experienced it.