Geography has given both of these weights their names: worsted spinning takes its name from the Norfolk village of Worstead, where the technique was refined eight centuries ago, while aran recalls the islands off Ireland's west coast and their famous cabled fishermen's jumpers. The yarns still suit that heritage, thick enough to show deep cables and texture, knitting at roughly 16 to 20 stitches per 10cm on needles around five millimetres. Bases range from French carded wool and British breed blends to hand-dyed merino singles and a Japanese worsted, with kits for quick accessory projects.
