Debbie Bliss Blue Faced Leicester Aran

• Yarn Weight: Aran
• Meterage: 82 yds (75 m)
• Ball/Skein Weight: 50 g
• Sugg. Gauge: 18 sts & 24 rows = 4" (10 cm)
• Sugg. Needle Size: US Size 8 / 5 mm
• Fibre Content: 100% British Superwash Wool
• Construction Notes: S-twist; 3 ply; medium-twist
• Country of Origin: England

The Blue Faced Leicester originated in the UK around the turn of the 20th century.  It is classified as a Longwool breed, which means that its fleece has a generous staple length (it has longer fibres).  BFL boasts the finest fleece of the Longwool breeds, which translates into the yarn in two ways: first, the fleece is fairly soft to begin with, which gives it a nice natural hand; second, because the staple length is fairly long, it isn't necessary to spin the fibre as tightly as other breeds with shorter staples (such as merino).  The result is a nice, lofty yarn, with all the softness you could wish from natural wool.  Plus, the extra loft traps more air, which is one of the prized insulating qualities of wool.  This is one cozy yarn.  The aran weight means it knits up quick, and the colours are vibrant.  The 3 ply construction gives beautiful stitch definition for cables or other textured stitches. Plus, it's superwash, so you can throw it in the washer. Your new sweater is smart on so many levels!

A note on colour: Although I do my very best to capture the colours of the yarns accurately, differences in lighting, display settings, and computer screens can affect how you see the colours represented.  A good way to double check that you're getting the colour you expect is to visit the yarn's Ravelry page and check out others' pictures of the colourway you're after.