‘Giorraíonn beirt bóthar’ is an old Irish proverb which means ‘Two shorten the road’. The Beirt (pronounced Bert) Aran Beanie features two side-by-side little cables which illustrate this proverb perfectly! The zig-zag stitch pattern, which is commonly seen in Aran knitting, often symbolises two people travelling together along life’s winding paths. As a knitter from the Aran Islands, I love adapting traditional Aran motifs, here creating a seamless beanie with optional matching cowl.

Three sizes are provided, but the pattern is easily adapted to provide more sizes by working more or less of the 8-st repeat.

There is a DK (or light worsted) version of this design also available (the Beirt Beanie), but this Aran weight version has completely different crown shaping.

The cabling pattern is not overly complicated; working a 8 stitch repeat - I would consider this a pattern suitable for improving and intermediate knitters. Written and charted instructions are included.

Notions (or knitting tools) required are:

• cable needle
• stitch marker (to mark the start of each round)
• tapestry (or knitter’s) sewing needle (for weaving in the yarn ends)

The finished hat is seamless, so minimal finishing is required!