Who doesn’t want to wrap themselves in a woolly Neolithic monument? The Dun Aengus shawl lets you do just that! The shawl takes inspiration from the famous Stone Age fort (and World Heritage Site) located on a cliff edge on Inis Mór, the largest of the Aran Islands.

Its shape is recreated by working a rough half-pi shawl, with simple increases working outwards from the grassy centre to finish with some cabled grey stone walls. The shawl is quick and relaxing to knit, with the bonus of being completely reversible. The textured ‘grass’ is worked with simple repeating knits and purls, and when you have had enough of relaxation and fancy a little challenge, it is time to work the cabled walls. To keep the design reversible, the cables are first worked with the knit side facing outwards, and a second time with the purl side facing outwards. A picot cast off finishes the outer stone wall section.

The shawl is worked using two colours of yarn, on one size of circular needle. Notions required are a cable needle, and yarn needle to weave in ends. The shawl is quick and easy to work, with a simple textured centre and an easy-to-memorise cable.

As a knitter from the Aran Islands, it is a joy and pleasure to take inspiration from the Islands, and share it here!