Celtica

I've always been intrigued by Celtic patterns - the wonderful interlacing knots found in the borders of illuminated manuscripts such as the Book of Kells, or on stone crosses. One step on from "taking a line for a walk," they use plaits and braids with soft lines and curves, strictly ordered geometrics with a sense of spontaneity and vibrancy, and they seamlessly integrate strange animals, birds and letterforms into a background of pattern and endless threads.

My Celtica headband design, published this month in Knit Now magazine, was inspired by the pattern above. Look carefully and you will soon be able to unravel its constituent parts - 4 quite separate strands are woven together in a strictly over-and-under sequence. As soon as I had decided to try to recreate this pattern in knitting I knew I would be working with i-cords, but the challenges were firstly to get the separate lengths right in relation to each other, so that the knot was neither too tight, nor too loose and floppy, and then to expand the knitting out from the centre panel into bands to fit around the head. 


So here it is - the Celtica headband (I love this photo!) Knitted in Debbie Bliss Donegal Luxury Tweed Aran, it could of course be knitted in any aran weight yarn, and only takes about 50g.

photo by Tim Bradley for Practical Publishing

Celtic art is laced with symbolism  - for instance, the Celts thought that the intricate knotwork designs would protect against the evil eye! I can't verify that claim, of course ... but do you really want to risk it by not making yourself a Celtica headband? :D


You can find out more information on Ravelry, here:- http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/celtica 


Knit Now magazine issue 9 is out in shops on May 31st, or can be ordered direct from the publisher, here:-
http://www.practicalpublishing.co.uk/knitnow/