Quite a cryptic photo today, but there's a reason for that - it relates to a new design that will be in a magazine next January. Until that time, it's under wraps, but it's one I wanted to write a little bit about because I enjoyed creating it so much.

The design is based on the traditional Aran belt, or crios. This is a colourful woven belt, simply wrapped around the tweed trousers usually worn by the men. The crios is a much older item of Aran Island clothing than the Aran jumper or sweater usually associated with the Islands. It could be quickly woven without the need of a loom, and in fact was often simply anchored on the foot, ,as seen in this photo of my own great-grandmother at work.

The design that I came up with features a woven-look band on a hat and scarf. It was such fun to do, as it features a lovely way of working multiple colours where you only work one colour per row - linen stitch. I really look forward to sharing some more photos with you when the issue of the magazine Knit Now in which it features is released early next year.

I know that this is the second time I have mentioned in a post that I was working on a pattern which used an old motif in a new way, but ironically this was not the pattern I was working on at the time - again!! Once the commission for the magazine came in, I had to put the pattern I am self-publishing on the back burner, but now my attention can turn to it again. I have the pattern written up, and am working it up in various sizes to make sure all the numbers are correct. It should be ready for testing quite soon (I hope), so there is another pattern on its way this year (which features a little cable twist similar to the Simple Cable Beanie). Keep an eye on my Instagram page if you would like to test knit it!