Donegal Tweed Fair Isle Cardigan

A Fair Isle Yoke cardigan in Irish Donegal Tweed: two textile traditions meeting in a single garment. The base is a deep, dark green, almost military, with the small neps of the Donegal Tweed emerging from the surface, giving it a lively, three-dimensional feel. The yoke is rich and intricate — geometric bands in burgundy, purple, gold, and terracotta red follow one another from the crew neck toward the shoulders, building a precise and rhythmic circular decoration. The body and sleeves are in plain knit, essential for contrast. Ribbed crew neck, cuffs, and hem. Full central button placket with textured four-hole buttons.

Donegal Tweed

Donegal Tweed is a yarn traditionally associated with County Donegal, in northwestern Ireland. It is a wool with a dry, rustic, and substantial hand, far from the soft, smooth feel of finer wools. Its surface retains a natural irregularity that gives the knit an authentic, textured, and lived-in look. One of its most distinctive features is the small flecks of colored fibers distributed throughout the yarn — the neps — which create those tiny dots that surface on the fabric, making every inch of the garment slightly different from the next. It is also a durable and warm wool, particularly suitable for garments intended to be worn for a long time.

Fair Isle Yoke: A Tradition

The yoke is the upper part of the garment that visually connects the neck, shoulders, and torso. In traditional Northern European knitwear, this area became the preferred spot for developing decorative motifs. The Fair Isle tradition takes its name from the small island of the same name in the Shetlands, where a multi-colored knitting technique characterized by small repeating geometric patterns and horizontal bands was developed. In this cardigan, the Fair Isle tradition is reinterpreted through Donegal Tweed: the geometry of the yoke is precise and rhythmic, while the yarn remains intentionally rustic and slightly irregular. The neps emerge from the surface, making the design even richer and more three-dimensional.

Details

• 100% Irish Donegal Tweed wool
• Fair Isle yoke with multicolored geometric patterns
• Low ribbed crew neck
• Full central button placket
• Four-hole buttons, textured look
• Long sleeves with ribbed cuffs
• Ribbed hem
• Color: dark green
• Made in Scotland