Knitting Yarns and specialist Wool Products from Blacker Designs

These thicker yarns are good for outdoor use and quicker knitting. The latest addition to the range is our Fawn Shetland aran yarn - lovely!

Among 14 yarns are husky Black Welsh Mountain and Hebridean in deep colours or the paler North Ronaldsay, below, which comes in three shades and is soft to handle although the fibre is quite thick.

The Ryeland works well for most aran styles and a sleeker result will come if you use mohair instead. See the options for choosing in the panel on the right.

Our Light Aran weight is versatile and can be used both for a heavier style of double knitting or a lighter style of aran pullovers.

We have patterns coming soon for these yarns, but meanwhile just use our new aran pullover patterns. Knit on the needles you use for normal aran weight and you will simply get a larger size!

The yarns should work for most purchased patterns. You can also use them to knit a scarf, shawl or blanket. No pattern is needed – just pick an interesting stitch and repeat to the required width or length.

Try some slipper socks, or make a big bag on huge needles and put it in the washing machine at 60 degrees. Then tumble dry to felt it

Normally each 50 gram ball of Light Aran or Aran yarn will be around 70 metres (76 yards) long and Chunky will be 55 metres (60 yards) long, but this varies from breed to breed, so to be on the safe side you should work on plus or minus 10%. See our advice sheets and download the one on ball yardages.