We’re absolutely entranced by a new arrival from Ireland: Ériu Elements!

Once upon a time, each Irish county had its own woolen mill that drove the community economy and made Irish Wool and knitted items. Today, however, like so many places, sheep farming in Ireland is in crisis: wool prices have collapsed, young farmers are leaving the industry, and native breeds have gone extinct. Ériu (pronounced eh-ROO) is a small business committed to changing that.

Named after Ireland’s patron goddess of fertility, sovereignty, and abundance of the land, Ériu is committed to revitalizing the Irish wool industry. They’re doing this through reclaiming traditional farming and wool production and using modern approaches to ensure sustainability, traceability, animal welfare, and fair pay. We’re thrilled we’re able to work directly with Èriu, so your money goes straight to farmers, producers, and spinners who are revitalizing an industry.

Ériu founders Zoë Daly and Lionel Mackey have deep personal connections to Irish wool industry that you can learn about in their beautiful video. They hand-select each fleece from Emerald Romney and Bluefaced Leicester flocks from their own farm, as well as from their “Farm to Yarn” network of family-run farms throughout Ireland. (You even meet the farmers here on their website!) This year, Ériu will even open its own woolen mill—the first in Ireland to spin solely Irish wool in decades—furthering a small production cycle with huge impacts.

This luxurious DK-weight yarn is 100% Irish Wool—and the only yarn on the market that is 100% Irish Wool. It is spun from Ériu’s signature blend of 75% Bluefaced Leicester for softness, drape, and luster and 15% Romney wool for structure and stitch definition. Ériu Elements offers the ideal balance of softness against the skin with resilience for heirloom-quality garments and accessories. The palette of 16 shades, rooted in the mystical terrain of Ireland, is named for the four elements: Air (Gaoithe), Water (Uisce), Earth (Talamh), and Fire (Tine).

Come see for yourself, and let Ériu Elements enchant you with its Irish charm!

Yarn Details

• DK (3) weight
• 75% Bluefaced Leicester Wool, 25% Romney Wool
• Worsted spun and plied
• 255 yards (233 meters) /100 gram skein
• 22 stitches x 30 rows = 4”
• US#4 – 6 (3.5 – 4mm) needles or E/5 – G/6 (3.5 – 4mm) crochet hooks
• Hand wash, dry flat
• $30, and available in-store only

Our Pattern Picks

Ériu Tree of Life Mittens

Size

One size

Finished Measurements

Circumference: approximately 8”

Length: approximately 10”

Yarn

Approximately 115 yards or 50 grams of Ériu Elements DK Irish Wool (75% Bluefaced Leicester Wool, 25% Romney Wool 255 yards (233 meters) /100 grams)

Needles

• US#4 (3.5 mm) needles

Gauge

20 stitches and 28 rows = 4” in pattern

Wee Aran

Sizes

3 – 6 months, 6 – 12 months, 1 – 2 yrs, 3 – 4 years

Actual Chest Measurements

Approximately 17 ½, 19 ¾, 21 ½, 23 ½” (45, 50, 55, 60 cm)

Yarn

437- 820 yards of DK-weight yarn, like Ériu Elements DK Irish Wool (75% Bluefaced Leicester Wool, 25% Romney Wool 255 yards (233 meters) /100 grams)

Needles

• US#6 (4 mm)
• US#4 (3.5 mm)

Gauge

22 stitches and 28 rows = 4” in stocking stitch

Stonehaven Shawl

Finished Measurements

20” W x 60” L. You can knit your shawl longer or wider if you prefer, however, this will require more fiber than listed in pattern.

Yarn

Approximately 1540 yards of DK/light worsted weight yarn, Like Ériu Elements DK Irish Wool (75% Bluefaced Leicester Wool, 25% Romney Wool 255 yards (233 meters) /100 grams)

Needles and Notions

• US#3 (3.25mm) needles or size needed to obtain gauge
• Cable needle
• Tapestry needle
• Scissors
• Measuring tape
• Crochet hook, if adding tassels

Gauge

24 stitches x 36 rows = 4” (10cm) in double seed stitch

Spleodar

Sizes

1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)

Finished Bust Circumference

36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64” (90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160 cm)

Yarn

Note: The pattern is written for multiple yarn weights. The following amounts are for a DK-weight yarn, like Ériu Elements DK Irish Wool (75% Bluefaced Leicester Wool, 25% Romney Wool 255 yards (233 meters) /100 grams)

Main color:

• Sizes 1-3: approximately 1,020 yards
• Sizes 4-6: approximately 1,275 yards
• Sizes 7-8: approximately 1,530 yards

Contrast color 1: all sizes, approximately 220-325 yards

Contrast color 2: all sizes, approximately 220-325 yards

Needles and Notions

• US#4 (3.5 mm), or size needed to meet gauge
• Stitch markers
• Tapestry needle
• Measuring tape

Gauge

21 stitches x 28 rounds = 4”

Traditional Irish Aran Scarf: Wild Atlantic Way

Finished Measurements

Length: approximately 94” (240 cm)

Width: approximately 4.3” (11cm)

Yarn

437 – 492 yards (400 – 450 m) of DK weight yarn, like Ériu Elements DK Irish Wool (75% Bluefaced Leicester Wool, 25% Romney Wool 255 yards (233 meters) /100 grams)

Needles

• US#6 (4 mm)

Gauge

20 stitches and 24 rows = 4” in stockinette