Coast Aran

Coast Aran is Baa Ram Ewe's aran-weight 100% British wool, sold in generous 200-gram skeins with 336 yards (307 meters). Aran yarn is the traditional wool used for cable sweaters in the coastal regions of Britain and Ireland, and it takes its name from the Irish island of Aran.

The yarn is round and springy, so cables rise from the background fabric and textured stitches stay crisp. The colors are named after the shoreline, with Cliff, Rockpool, Seagrass, Barnacle and Oyster among them, which makes it easy to pick a natural, weathered palette.

It suits knitters who want to make classic cabled sweaters and accessories built to last, and anyone who likes the warmth and substance of a proper wool aran.

Best for

• Classic Aran cabled sweaters
• Warm hats and mittens with textured patterns
• Thick cardigans and outdoor layers
• Cabled throws and blankets

Working with it

Use US 7–9 needles for 4–4.75 stitches per inch. The springy wool gives cables lift and definition, and it's forgiving if your tension wanders a little. Large skeins mean fewer joins, which is welcome in a sweater with complex cable panels. Cables pull fabric in, so swatch in your pattern's stitch, not just stockinette, and wash the swatch before measuring. The yarn estimator will help you work out how many skeins you need.

Care

The catalog doesn't give care instructions. For untreated wool, hand wash in cool water with a wool wash, avoid agitation, press out the water in a towel and dry flat.