Traditions Aran Donegal Tweed: Irish wool with a story to tell
Discover Traditions, the flagship yarn range at Folklore Yarns. Spun in Donegal using the traditional woollen method, this 100% pure new wool brings Irish textile heritage to your knitting and crochet. Its distinctive tweed character and rich colour palette invite you to create pieces that feel personal: a comforting jumper, an intricate cabled cardigan or a handmade gift that becomes part of someone’s story.
Genuine Donegal tweed, made in Ireland
Traditions is produced by Donegal Yarns, whose mill sits among the hills of southwest Donegal on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way. Rooted in a textile tradition stretching back to hand spinning, this is Irish-made yarn with a genuine connection to place. Whether you live nearby, have Irish family roots or discovered a love of Ireland on your travels, Traditions offers a way to carry that connection into something made by your own hands.
Aran weight wool for cables, colourwork and everyday layers
Explore the possibilities of Aran weight Donegal tweed, from sculptural cables and textured stitches to striking stranded colourwork. Traditions brings character to simple knitting as well as more adventurous projects, making it a versatile choice for jumpers, sweaters, cardigans, vests, hats, cowls and scarves. Its tweedy texture gives even familiar stitches a distinctive finish, equally at home in traditional knitwear and contemporary designs.
Choose your colour and order off the cone
Discover a palette of more than 30 colours, with shade names including Raphoe, Ardara, Buncrana and Ballybofey - all beautiful places in the Irish countryside. Enjoy choosing a favourite shade or bringing contrasting colours together for your next project. Traditions is sold off the cone in multiples of 50g, with approximately 80 metres per 50g, equivalent to around 87 yards per 1.76oz. For a 150g project, simply select three 50g units. Some shades are labelled “in oil”, so check the individual shade details and finishing requirements before you begin.
Irish yarn for makers near and far
From our Belfast neighbours to makers across Northern Ireland and the rest of Ireland, Traditions celebrates a textile heritage close to home. Whether you’re calling into the shop, choosing yarn for your knitting group or making a gift for family overseas, discover genuine Donegal tweed with a story worth sharing. We extend that same warm welcome to knitters and crocheters in the USA, Canada, Australia and across Europe, whether you have Irish roots, fond memories of a visit or simply a love of characterful wool. Wherever you make, bring a little Irish tradition to your next jumper, cardigan or treasured accessory.
Aran, worsted and 10-ply terminology can vary between patterns, so let your swatch guide the fabric and fit rather than relying on the weight name alone.
Discover designs created for Traditions
See our flagship yarn come to life in designs by AilbĂona McLochlainn. Explore the miniature cables of the Guilloche Pullover, the purl-free cable construction of Braids of Grass or the adaptable Timepiece Cardigan, with cropped and full-length options. The SiĂşla Vest offers a textured everyday layer, while Jadwiga combines Northern European colourwork techniques with motifs inspired by Eastern European embroidery. Choose a digital pattern or explore a kit pairing Traditions yarn with the design for your selected size or style.
Christmas stockings to become part of your family tradition
Create decorations to bring out year after year with our Christmas Stocking and Little Advent Stocking kits, designed by Ann Tucker of Woollen Knots. Worked in two-colour stranded knitting using Traditions Donegal Tweed, these stockings bring together festive colour, satisfying stitches and the warmth of a handmade gift. Each kit includes yarn and a pattern, ready for you to make something that becomes part of Christmas at home or a thoughtful present for someone far away.
Smaller projects with plenty of character
Enjoy a little Donegal tweed without committing to a full garment. Explore the Dublin Cowl, Wee Hoose Cowl and Very Kind Heart accessories, or settle into the Cathedral Wrap and Scarf. For crocheters, discover the Country Pumpkin, Christmas Tomte and Bobble Rainbow kits. From seasonal decorations to wearable gifts, these projects offer different ways to enjoy Traditions and make the most of its colour and texture.
Play with colour through Traditions mini sets
Our Traditions Mini Sets bring together 20g mini skeins in coordinated palettes, including Autumn, Winter, Dark Naturals and Pastel Rainbow. Use them to explore colour combinations, plan contrasting details or choose a gift for a yarn-loving friend. Check each set’s contents when ordering, as the number of mini skeins and colour selection varies between options.
Make Folklore Yarns your home for Donegal tweed
At Folklore Yarns, Traditions is more than a yarn on the shelf: it is our flagship range, supported by a collection of garment designs, accessory kits and creative projects. Find yarn quantities, fibre details, meterage and pattern requirements together to help you plan your make. Explore online or visit us at 53 Bloomfield Avenue in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Choose a colour that speaks to you and turn a thread of Irish heritage into something you will love making, wearing and sharing.
