Triskelion ~An All British Aran Weight Yarn And Giveaway
Loop has been looking for the ideal aran weight British yarn to add to our stock. Aran is a yarn weight that Britain should be good at producing as we have a tradition of outerwear guernseys and jumpers. We wanted a yarn that had a beautiful colour palette, was hard wearing but also soft to the touch, as many people have become accustomed to softer yarns.
We found the perfect yarn in  Triskelion Elmet Aran weight!  Triskelion, Elmet is a blend of British Bluefaced Leicester and Masham, that is kettle dyed in Wales. Every process, from sheep to shelf is British. We carry our own custom palette of 21 beautiful colours.
Elmet is 75% Bluefaced Leicester (BFL) / 25% Masham. The BFL is a British longwool, with a rich lustre that yields very bright and rich colours. While Masham is a dark brown fibre, that adds warmth to the colour ways. The Masham fibres are “rough blended”, to add an irregular dark heathering against the creamy BFL, which adds a lot of depth to the colours.
The finished blend is glossy and smooth with a little bit of a slick handle, and yet still hard-wearing, crisp and springy. Sweaters made in Elmet won’t pill like Merino!
The yarns come from British sheep, are spun in the UK and Hand-dyed by Caerthan Wrack in rural Wales.
Caerthan (pronounced CAR-than, with a soft th, as in thought) lives in very rural hills in Carmarthenshire with his partner Rick, Gwen (their border collie/site manager), Herbert (farm cat/chief mouser/layabout), and a small herd of alpacas.
They have a tiny, traditional Welsh cottage on a small farm of pasture and woodland, with a big barn attached.
Most of the dyeing is kettle dyeing, with a mix of induction hobs and bain maries. So, a lot of heavy lifting!
Caerthan uses his own blends of single pigment dyes, yielding rich, strong colours with lots of subtle detailing inspired by Anglo-Saxon and Celtic art.
The exclusive Loop palette is a combination of old and new dye recipes. There are older, mature colour ways such as  ‘Sloe’ and some new, fresh faces like ‘Vincent’s Clouds’ and ‘Anvil’.
From Left: Jackson’s Widowbird, Ewyn Y Mor, Anvil
There are also beautiful neutrals and greys which can be used on their own, or to coordinate with the more vibrant colourways.
From Left: Aber Dyfi, Dinas Emrys, Afon Teifi, Llyn Teyid.
Each 100g skein has 160 metres and can be used with most aran weight patterns. Check the yarn put up (grams to metres/yards) If a yarn falls within 130-200m per 100g it will probably be suitable. Make sure to do a gauge swatch and adjust needle size accordingly.
Giveaway of Two Skeins
Would you like to try a skein of Triskelion Elmet Aran for yourself? We are giving away two separate prizes of a skein of Triskelion, in your choice of colour.
To win, either post a comment below, suggesting a pattern you would knit in Elmet, or follow our instagram feed and repost our Friday post about Elmet with the hashtag Looploveselmet.
We will choose two lucky winners to announce on Friday September 15th. Good luck. We hope you love Triskelion Elmet Aran as much as we do!
How exiting with a giveaway. I think I would for once make something for myself – the Dark and Stormy, but it would be hard to choose the colour. I think the colour palette for this yarn is so beautiful, and it has a range of greens which is seldom seen. I love greens, it must be one of them, I think:)
Oh, lordy, that is some beautiful yarn! I would love to knit the Vindaloo shawl by Melissa Schaschwary out of this aran-weight wonder! Thanks.
I love both Masham and Bluefaced Leicester, knitting with this yarn would be such a treat! I really liked reading the story behind Triskelion Yarn as well! Because of the nature of the yarn I think I would want to make the Ronan cardigan by Andrea Mowry. The pattern has been in my queue since it came out, and ever since I have been looking for the perfect fiber to knit it.
Beautiful yarn, I think it would become a comfy, slouchy hat to combat the chill that we all know is coming!
Oh I’d knit a beautiful cabled hat with this yarn!
I would knit a cowl (Dandelion Rosy Sport) in one of the blue palette – maybe Vincent’s Clouds.
Love the Dinas Emrys colour it would make a big slouch wrap around scarf, perfect for winter dog walks up here in the North East. Thank you for the chance to win xx
Beautiful yarn. A hat or small cowl would work with this.
These are so lovely! I’d definitely knit a Tin Can Knits Antler Hat (my absolute favourite hat pattern) probably out of Ewyn Y Mor. Love your shop, and what a generous giveaway!
Tin Can Knits antler hat in Damson for my beloved, or the Epic embroidered wrap by Schmiesing on Ravelry which is a lovely blankety item with embroidery so I could woolly tattoo with unearthed treasures from my stash AND keep warm while I make it beautiful; perhaps in Aber Dyfi.
If I only had one skein, I’d knit a beautiful hat, possibly including cables of some sort, to keep my head warm in the cold winter days. But if I had many, many skeins I’d knit a cable cardigan for my husband – he so deserves one after watching me knit cardigan after cardigan for myself. Love the colours Damson, Modron and Penarddun <3
At last. I’m done with merino and it’s wretched pilling. And it’s British. What’s not to love. Those colours are beautiful. But the Vincent’s Cloud is singing to me. A hat. Soft and slouchy and warm for the autumnal dog walking.
I’m sick of the way Merino grows when wet. I can’t tell you how many jumpers have had to be unravelled after they were soaked and blocking attempted. I only use all these in ravelings now for things that don’t have to fit….like blankets and shawls
Antler Mittens by Tin Can Knits – I love Triskelion yarn
I think I’d go for a hat, maybe chevy by Andrea mowry
I would love to knit the Baa-able hat for my daughter.
I’d like to do an aran version of the Oak Knot Hat, I absolutely love this pattern. The colours are beautiful so hard to choose but Aneirin and Dinas Emrys are favourite. But then I love the neutral Pebble.
This looks scrumptious. There’s a vest pattern by Ysolda hat uses Aran weight, and I’ve been looking for the right yarn for it- perhaps this is it! I love the rich colours.
With one skein, I would make a hat such as Løvsprettlue in Beacon.
I would knit a cowl in Modron to cheer up the dull winter days that are ahead.
I would crochet a throw – something like this https://i.pinimg.com/736x/68/c4/a5/68c4a5cbdf82d15930a7963cfcb38bde–granny-square-afghan-granny-squares.jpg with the main colour being pebble.
A simple beanie for my son.
Slow and Awyr for me. I would do thick Newfoundland mitts for the winter, and a hat to match!
Love all the colours and a real treat would be a crochet blanket in granny squares in all the colours!
I actually just purchased skeins of Aneirin and Damson to make a big squishable monochromatic scarf, but after seeing the beautiful photographs in the blog, I need to get some Jackson’s Widowbird for another scarf. I love the simplicity of the swatch shown, what stitch is that please?
I adore the Triskelion colour palette so much! I would knit some cosy mittens
What a great UK yarn story. I wouldn’t mind doing that Tall Dark and Handsome combo.
I would make a very simple cowl in mistake rib and colour Pwyll. No frills because this beautiful yarn doesn’t need it.
Milk Stout cardigan by Thea Coleman. Fabulous colors for a wonderful cable sweater with great stitch definition. Planning my next year’s Rhinebeck sweater.
I would love to make baaable with Dynas Emrys under the sheep, as if it were grass!
It would be a blanket made in granny squares for a granny to pass on to a grandchild, sharing their love but also the love in which the wool is lovingly made, s(h)eeped in tradition.
I would love to try this yarn Triskelion do some beautiful yarns but I’ve not had the pleasure yet of knitting with them although I’ve given them a good squish before ;)
I’d love to make my very own Acai or Autumn Smile and all the colours are so nice but I most love the Damson colourway! <3 thanks Loop and Triskilion for such a wonderful giveaway! X
It’s got to be the “Thursday Morning” cowl by Alicia Plummer (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/thursday-morning) Gorgeous and just what we’ll all be needing as the temperature drops!
Loop does it again! Gorgeous yarn and gorgeous colors. One day I hope to visit in person. So many possibilities with the yarn. I think I would love to knit Pure by Cabinfour or Bridgton by Alicia Plummer
This looks beautiful, it is really hard to find lovely uk aran yarns – I would love to win the Jacksons Widowbird colour and make a Sonder shawl with it.
Such a beautiful palette of colours, very inspiring and I love aran wool. The words ‘doesn’t pill’ like merino called me to read more as this fact alone means a lot to me especially when knitting garments to last.
I love so many colours and the shades of red/pinks plus the selection of blues are rich without being garish. The pop of colour from Ynyslas appeals too.
I think I would knit a hat with two skeins to give me the feel of the wool before a garment.
I am so pleased to see wool like this arriving at Loop with a wonderful history behind it.
Such gorgeous colours but if i could choose only one it would be Awyr for a pair of fingerless gloves and a beautiful cowl. Perfect for Autumn dog walkie by the see. Thank you for a chance to win such a fabulous prize x
Hi
Loving this yarn, especially as I hail from Wales! I would make a cable beret in something warm and wonderful like shade Aneurin.
Gorgeous and just the thing for carol singing in the open air.
This yarn looks heavenly and I love the story behind the production I would also like to stay in that cottage with such beautiful surroundings it was making me relax just looking at the scenery . I would choose Donna baa able hat to show off this new yarn . In all the years I have been buying yarn from you I have always been delighted with the wool I just wish you were not so far away but on the other hand I would never be out of your shop but I would apply to work for you for nothing loved your Loop books too bye for now good luck to us all
I would love to knit the “The Tall Dark And Handsome ” pattern by Tin Can Knits in Elmet Damson for my gorgeous grandson please.
These are gorgeous and just itching to become a pair of cabled fingerless mitts, like the Antler pattern on Ravelry I’ve had my eye on. They’d be so cozy!
Oh that does look deliciously squishy!
I’m really into knitting for my toddler granddaughter at the moment as her mum loves handknits, so I would probably knit something for her.
A nice warm cowl in modron would brighten up a winter day
Oh, I’d love to knit a Ribs ‘n Cables Beanie with this yarn!
Looks wonderful! I would knit Take Flight fingerless mittens, Sherwood mitts or Leaving Cowl in the Elmet Triskelion :)
I’d make the Frost Diamonds wrap (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/frost-diamonds) in Sloe as I think it would work well with the yarn’s lustre.
I would knit a pair of cozy mitts for our cold Canadian winters on the prairies of Manitoba. I love any of the blue shades, it would go lovely with my grey jacket!
I have been looking for yarn to make Yesternight for my son and think Elmet would be perfect for this. He will look particularly good in some of the blues.
I would love to knit the Daelyn Cardigan with the Elmet – I too live in Canada and winter is coming!
I love the colours here. Perfect to knit something for my husband. He wants a sweater so Daelon would be great.
Absloutely gorgeous looking yarn. I’d love to make a Spiral Cowl by Betty Narducci with Pwyll/Vincent’s Clouds or maybe Argentiere for the Full Moon. Or Winter Whispers in any colour. Or Apple Cider Donut from the Rhinebeck Sweater book. So many options !!!
Vincent’s Clouds – anything quick – cozy socks? – to use with my knitting club at school to show the kids that wool does not have to be itchy scratchy or boring. AS IF!!!!
I would love any of the colours but especially widow bird. Probably I would knit a beautiful scarf for my love, to keep him warm when I am not there. X
I would knit Dark and Stormy, but in a lighter shade of grey!
I’d like to make the Neon Ski Bonnet by Lacey Volt. It’s a pattern I’ve been admiring for a while, and think the strong colours of Triskelion would work really well, and would result in an extra squishy Bonnet!
Looking forward to seeing you at the Glyc tomorrow!
I’d like to knit a poncho or jacket, probably quite plain to show off the wonderful wool colours. My favourite Vincent’s Clouds
Interesting yarn, gorgeous colours, until I feel it it’s hard to know what to make with it. Probably look at a small scarf as they are the most useful to wear.
Id like to knit a poncho or jacket, probably quite a plain pattern to highlight the lovely wool in all its gorgeous colours. Blue is my favourite colour so I would go for Vincent’s Clouds
Lovely yarn, I would knit a slouchy hat in the Pebble colour.
Congratulations Jules, You are one of our two winners! We will be in touch to get your address.
Ooooh wowzer – colourway has to be the jacksons widowbird for the wonderful name as well as the scrummy colour – and the stitch would be garter stitch to really show off the beauty of the yarn – and the pattern would have to be hitchhiker asymmetrical shawl for the Welsh dragon scales!
Gorgeous colours, Vincent’s Clouds is so beautiful. I would knit a jacket!
Gorgeous colours, Vincent’s Clouds is so beautiful. I would knit a jacket!
I would use the Forge colour way to knit a super thick pair of welly socks with a nice cabled cuff.
Congratulations Susan Hobkirk, you are one of the two winners! We will be in touch to get your address.
WoopWoopWoop! I never win anything so thank you SO much!!
I would knit a cozy, slouchy hat to go with a knitted cardigan I have made.
I have been lucky enough to knit with Elmet Aran before; I made a lovely shwal using Caerthan’s Festival Pattern. Now I would love to try to cardigan, I think something very simple that would let these amazing colours speak for themselves–perhaps Elizabeth Smith’s Ramona or Carrie Hoge’s Charlotte? The colour palette is very difficult to choose between but I agree with Kirsten above that good greens can be hard to come by and these are beautiful so either Aber Dyfi or maybe Awyr. Glad that Loop is stocking this great yarn!
This lovely yarn would be perfect for a slouchy hat!!
I want no make that need a red Daelyn, in Modron! (And I need it NOW!)
Wow, it looks beautiful. I would use Aber Dyfi and Ynyslas to knit up Sian Price-White’s Quick ‘n Squishy Cowl (Revelry).
All those colours – what to choose? Red jewels or greens or stormy greys? I’d knit a hat perhaps, or a textured cowl. Something warm and cosy and comforting, for all the weather ahead.
Dinas Emrys or Jackson’s Widowbird – decisions, decisions!!!! I’ll leave it up you. Either colour would look lovely as a cowl.
Another reason to come to see you all again and get even more wool to add to my stash!!
Beautiful yarn and story. You at Loop put so much thought and care into who and what products you bring into your shop, I love that. Colors are beautiful. Neutrals are my go to for most of the seasons so I would knit up Acorn Trail or Lemongrass garments in Jackons Widowbird. Fall is here, winter is coming!
Oaxacan Rose would be lovely in this yarn.
A Ruschia hat by Wooly Wormhead would be top of my list for winter.
Triskelion yarns are a joy to work with. Just pulled an old pattern from my collection, “Braids and Bobbles” by Carolyn or Carol Doe. In Sloe or Aber Dyfi. The former would become a gift. The latter would go with my green early winter coat. Such decisions…….
What a delightful post. Great they work, great story, and that yarn looks gorgeous!
How wonderful! I love British wool and BFL is my favourite – it is so soft and squishy and very warm, too. If I had more than just one skein I would knit a cosy raglan sweater for winter with long cuffs and a chunky cowl. With just one skein I would knit a cabled hat to keep my head warm and ears sheltered from winter winds and rain. (It is extremely windy here in North Wales in winter.) I would really have to think hard about the colour, though – I love yellow Ynyslas, natural Pebble and gorgeous grey Ewyn y mor.
The Baa-able hat looks super and would make a beautiful addition to my hat collection. Perfect for Autumn and Winter walks. All of the wool shades are stunning.
I’d make some cushion covers…..with cables and bobbles.
I would make a cushion cover with intricate cables and bobbles….the problem would be choosing the colour !
Such amazing colours. I would knit cosy slipper socks in Ewan y mor. I can feel my toes tingling at the thought
Such lovely yarn! I would make a hat in the color pwyll.
Oh, how exciting and what an incredible range of rich and vivid colours. I would make myself a slouchy hat with cables and it would have to be in Pwyll as I have just started making a coat for myself in this colours. It gets quite cold in this neck of the woods (southern Germany). All the best
I would love to knit a cowl for myself with this!
What beautiful yarn! I would love to make a cowl in Ynyslas, not sure I could pronounce it though!
I am knitting Hats for Seaman at the moment so any of the beautiful blue shades would be perfect to go with the ocean they are sailing on!
Triskelion yarn is amazing – I have made several pairs of socks with the 4 ply; the stitch definition is perfect, and they wear really well. I would love to win a skein of Vincent’s Clouds to make a cowl, or maybe a hat. Please!
Beautiful yarns :-) I’ve never tried a cowl so this yarn would be perfect to make my first one.
What wonderful looking yarn I love the full moon colour I would make moss stitch fingerless gloves to keep the autumn chill away.
What stunning wool and nice to see small businesses being supported!
I would choose a pattern from the crochet project and spoil myself by making a warm cuddly shawl!
I would love to make Amy Miller’s Betsey shawl; the vibrant Triskelion colours would be perfect!
I think this yarn would be great for a snuggly scarf & maybe an opportunity to knit cables for the first time. I love the Vincent’s Clouds blue.
I love the the beautiful colours and the great Welsh names for them!
I’d knit the Sweetness Cowl by Tin Can Knits in Pebble and Pwyll.
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sweetness-6
Aran and cables are a marriage made in heaven for me, and I just love the modron colour way, xx
I would knit apart of cosy mitts in Vincent Clouds. Such a beautiful warm blue.
Oooh, I think Offshore by Bristol Ivy in Anvil. Good, timely question – I’m making a pilgrimage to Loop at the end of the month and I’ve been trying to think ahead as to what I will choose. 4,910 miles and I know it will be well worth it!
I’ve been wanting to knit another Baa-ble hat. This might be the yarn for it!
I think I would have to knit “Dreaming of Wales.” Not only am I dreaming of being back there, but the pattern was designed for Elmet Aran!
What a shine and what a colours! I would love to knit http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/little-wave Little Wave by Gudrun Johnston in Ewyn y mor.
Gorgeous yarn and the colors! I’d go for Afon Teifi or Llyn Teyid for a hat or a cowl
This would look great and be perfect for a Gingerbread jumper by Truly Myrtle. Picking a colour would be the hardest part!
I would love to knit the
Mount Gilead Cowl
by Whitney Hayward for winter.
The reds are amazing but of course all colours are beautiful.
Well done Loop for supporting British businesses. Wales is so special to me. I have always had wonderful holidays there.
A simple cowl in the Forge colourway to allow the yarn to sing out.
What a fabulous giveaway! I love the greens and would thoroughly enjoy making a cozy hooded cowl in Aber Dyfi or Dinas Emrys and maybe a contrasting grey to bring out the colour. I certainly wouldn’t be cold this winter in that . A good time to try my hand at Brioche as it would show the lush colours so well.
Who could resist a yarn called ‘arentiere of the full moon’ perhaps combined with a warm pinky shade like ‘penarddun’ to knit some fabulous Scandi-style mits for friends and myself!
This would look perfect for a cowl in Modron and Dinas Emry
I would definitely knit Baa-able hat.
Having given a great deal of thought to a suitable one skein project, I would love to knit Woolly Wormhead’s Alveare hat in the lovely Ewyn y mor colourway which I may finish off with an Alpaca pompom from my stash. If I win, I will happily share a photo of the finished item. Fingers crossed x
I’m in love! Every color just glows! I would make a cabled hat in Llyn Teyid to wear while I’m walking my dog or the Daelon sweater in Ewyn Y Mor to wear while I’m watching Hinterland.
I’m thinking that gorgeousness would have to be close to me as a cowl. So lovely. Thanks for the chance to win :0)
I would make Wooly Wormhead’s Meret beret in the Arentiere for the full moon but I am also taken with Vincent’s Clouds colour.
Everything about this wool catches the imagination; its provenance, production and qualities, but the colours are simply magical. I would find it hard to resist Ynyslas, my favourite of all places, but will first make an antler toque in Jackson’s Widowbird, the colour of the full moon sky looking over the Aberdyfi estuary. This yarn will lend itself to serious future projects!
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/della-mitts is a lovely pattern. I love Dinas Emrys!
I am wanting to knit the cardigan “Harvest Moon” by Heidi Kirrmaier for a while, now I have found the yarn for it!!!
oh my goodness – sounds the perfect yarn. I think I would either invest for a cardigan or practice my stranded knitting with fingerless mitts – The Game is on by Professor Fonze with Beacon and either Sloe or Awyr
Lovely
Thanks for this great giveaway! I’m currently knitting with Triskelion’s Mona Sport, and loving it. Their colourways are beyond gorgeous, with lots of choice. I would love to try out their Aran weight yarn, Elmet Aran, and might knit Palette, a cowl designed by Julie Hoover or the Holt hat (I think this is the name), designed by Alicia Plummer. Although, I’d love a warm jumper in this yarn, so the Daelyn pullover is also a possibility.
Such beautiful colors! I would make antler mittens by tin can knits.
Maybe it’s just that I’m really cold today (when did autumn happen?!) but I’ve got a vision of a snuggly cardie in the fluffy brioche stitch…
Oh I would like to knit The Baa-ble Hat that would be perfekt for the long and cold swedish winter.
Who wouldn’t want some of this scrumptiousness!! I think that I would make a cosy shawl for the season that is ‘just around the corner’.
A gorgeous looking yarn… These dreamy colours are making me think of tin can knits designs – an autumnal flax or maybe a pair of maize mittens…
Ewan Y Mor is the one for me and I’d love to make a pair of Tin Can Knits cabled mittens
beautiful…would make a lovely mens sweater- Wikaninnish by Holly Yeoh would work :-)
This would be beautiful as the cabled hat ‘Chevet’ by Carol Feller (sorry, I’m not sure how to link to a ravelry page)
Triskelion yarn is beautiful (I used it for a Quill shawl which I’m very pleased with).
I have the Gryer shawl pattern by Isabell Kraemer in my queue and I think that would be perfect in Elmet Aran.
I would have a good think before making anything with a single skein – just fondle it for a while! If I had lots of skeins of the same colour I would make the Daelyn pullover in Aneirin. If I had lots of skeins of different colours I would make a massive blanket :)
What beautiful yarn!
I vote for the blue of Vincent’s Clouds in a cabled shawl- Celtic Myths. Hits the spot.
Thank you!
Love those reds ! so rich & warm …with 1 skein of Aneirin or Modrun, I’d make the Double Cable Hat by Cindy Tuscany.
The colorway Ewyn Y Mor is so beautiful. If I bought a sweater quantity, I would consider knitting a cabled sweater for myself. My husband is usually too warm to wear sweaters. But with a single skein, I would knit him a cabled hat like Agathis.
I do love the Baa-able hat pattern and have been meaning to knit it since it came out, but I also have my eye on knitting the Soay cardigan with the yarn: http://www.loopknittingshop.com/p/4411/Shetland-Trader—Soay-Cardigan. Thanks for the giveaway!
Gorgeous! I would knit either Catchfly from Pompom issue 17 or Maude from Pompom issue 14 (I <3 Pompom!) My favourite colour is the Dinas Emrys, such a lush green.
I’d love to knit a warm shrug for me. I’m a swimmer and have to keep my shoulders warm!
This yarn is gorgeous. The colors are amazing. I would make a hat -Gentian- in the emerald green colourway.