As mentioned in our Arranmore introductory post, we put together a 9 piece collection that showcases the best of what authentic Donegal yarns have to offer: classic shapes, lovely cables, timeless colorwork, and easy pieces you’ll want to turn to time and time again.
There are three accessories in the collection that use the lovely texture of the Donegal tweed to great effect:
Swilly is a river that runs through County Donegal, Ireland. These reversible cables are reminiscent of water rippling along the banks of the river. Swilly is a large reversible cabled scarf written for two sizes. While the thinner version calls for 3 skeins, it should use very little of the 3rd skein, so you may elect to make a slightly shorter scarf out of just 2 skeins.
YARN: The Fibre Co. Arranmore: River Esque, 3 (4) skeins.
GAUGE: 1 cable repeat (16 sts) = 2.5” (6.25 cm), 23.5 rows = 4” (10 cm), after blocking.
NEEDLES: 1 – US 8 (5 mm) pair straights or 24” (60 cm) circular.
NOTIONS: Tapestry needle, cable needle, stitch marker (opt).
SIZE: 6.25 (11.25)” [15.75 (28.5) cm] width, 60 (60)” [152.5 (152.5) cm] length.
SKILLS: Working cables from charts.
USEFUL TIPS:
For a tutorial on working from charts, visit our Charts Series here.
For a tutorial on working cables without a cable needle, visit our tutorial here.
Lacroagh is named for the great walking hills of Ireland. It is a simple and classic unisex hat worked in the round from the bottom up. It begins with a deep, folded brim and the body is worked in a lofty, texturized broken rib. Decreases at the top shape the crown.
SPECIFICATIONS
YARN: The Fibre Co. Arranmore: Kinnego Bay, 1 skein.
GAUGE: 15 sts + 26 rnds = 4” (10 cm) in Mistake Ribbing patt on larger ndls, after blocking.
NEEDLES:
1 – 16” (40 cm) US 7 (4.5 mm) circular.
1 – 16” (40 cm) US 8 (5 mm) circular.
1 – set US 8 (5 mm) DPNs.
NOTIONS: Tapestry needle, stitch marker.
SIZE: 17” (43 cm) width, unstretched, 13” (33 cm) length with brim unfolded.
SKILLS: Knitting and purling in the round, decreases.
The Rosses is named for the Irish speaking region in County Donegal called Na Rosa in Irish Gaelic. The simple trinity, or blackberry, stitch is an important element of hand knits, It is often used with pride amongst the hand knitters in the region, as machine knits cannot replicate the intricate stitch. A simple cable braid breaks up the trinity stitch, and both have attractive integrated decreases for the crown.
YARN: The Fibre Co. Arranmore: Ruari, 1 skein.
GAUGE: 1 repeat (22 sts) = 4.5” (11.5 cm), 22 rnds = 4” (10 cm) in Trinity and Cable patt on larger ndls, after blocking.
NEEDLES:
1 – 16” (40 cm) US 8 (5 mm) circular.
1 – 16” (40 cm) US 10 (6 mm) circular.
1 – US 10 (6 mm) set DPNs.
NOTIONS: Stitch marker, cable needle.
SIZE: 18” (45.75 cm) circumference, unstretched,
9” (22.75 cm) height.
SKILLS: Working cables, decreasing in pattern.
USEFUL TIPS:
For a tutorial on working cables without a cable needle, visit our tips and tricks here.
You can view the full Arranmore Collection here on Ravelry.