Some patterns begin with a swatch. Others with a sketch. This one started with stone.
We don’t always get to know the story behind these designs but in the case of Ceangal, the shape is unmistakable. Hexagonal. Weathered. Set into the land like punctuation from another time. And our theme for our 2025 Celtic Knits Club is stories in stone, well, need we say more?
Designed by Eimear Earley for the Celtic Knits Club 2025, Ceangal takes its name from the Irish for ties or links. It’s a word that holds weight: between land and sea, past and present, Scotland and Ireland and, in this case, between knitter and story.
With bold cables, crisp textures, and quiet references to one of Ireland’s most mythic landscapes, Ceangal is both grounded and imaginative. Built in two textured panels with a wave motif and a striking hexagon cable, it’s a project that holds its shape and invites interpretation.
But the best part?
The story that shaped it. And for that, we’ll hand you over to Eimear herself:
I learned to knit as a child, and dabbled a little with yarn crafts throughout my teen years. I started knitting on a daily basis after my years in art college – I wanted to create things that had a practical use. I began designing knitwear and writing patterns around the time I had my first child, though in between feeds and nappy changes it was a very slow process. The kids have grown older, and I have found more moments, and energy to spend on making things.
Knitting Inspiration from the Giant’s Causeway
I was delighted when I first found out about our theme, of Stories in Stone, for this year’s Celtic Knits Club. And that very quickly turned to feeling overwhelmed.
This is such a potentially wide-ranging theme.
Do I look at geology? That would tell the story of how the landscape was made, and how it used to be.
Do I look at archaeology? Stones last rather well through the ages, and we have no shortage of stone monuments within Ireland, carved stones with patterns telling unknown stories.
Do I look at history? Castles dotted throughout the landscape, and town wall fragments in modern city streets give us a reminder of how the land was shaped by our predecessors.
Do I look at folklore & legends? Giants and eloping lovers, explaining the existence of seemingly out-of-place stones in the landscapes?
After much dithering & procrastinating, I decided to go with my first instinct, and pay homage to the Giant’s Causeway in wool.
How the Ceangal Wrap Reflects Irish Landscape in Knit Design
The Giant’s Causeway, on the north Antrim coast, consists of tens of thousands of hexagonal basalt columns at the lands edge. Depending on which version of events you believe, this stone formation was either due to an ancient volcanic eruption, or was built by the legendary hero Fionn mac Cumhaill, to fight his rival Benandonner, in Scotland. (There are similar basalt formations at Fingal’s cave, on the Scottish island of Staffa.)
This decision was bolstered by our family holiday in Antrim last summer: we visited the causeway and had a little explore of the surrounding landscape. We were lucky to visit on a day without rain; cloudy but with some sun breaking through, which made for incredible sea views, and a comfortable walk around the surrounding area.
The pattern is named ‘Ceangal’ (pronounced roughly ke-ang-al, meaning ties or links) – a reference to the Giant’s Causeway being a physical link between lands, and to the stories that connect us to the landscape around us.
Construction Techniques in the Ceangal Knitting Pattern
The cable motifs used within the pattern are based on the physical attributes of the Giant’s causeway: the hexagonal stone, pummelled by waves.
The pattern begins by working a long narrow strip, with a ‘wave’ cable motif worked over a background of both reverse stockinette stitch and garter stitch. The garter stitch creates a stable fabric that won’t curl – suitable for a wrap, and the reverse stockinette stitch sections give a greater contrasting appearance to help the cable stitches pop. It makes for a wrap that holds its shape beautifully. Ideal if you’re looking for a confident beginner to intermediate cable project that still offers bold texture.
Next, you will pick up and knit stitches along one edge of the strip to knit the hexagon cable section. The hexagon cable is worked over a garter stitch background; this changed the proportions of the hexagon when compared to a reverse stockinette stitch background.
The main techniques used throughout this project are cable stitches, and picking up stitches. I would suggest to pay careful attention to the background stitches for the second half of the wave cable: there are changes in the background stitches that might seem counter-intuitive, but help to keep symmetry with the beginning of the wave section.
Why Blasta Yarn Is Ideal for Cable Knitting Projects
The pattern sample (and club yarn) is Stolen Stitches Blasta, a yarn that’s beautifully suited to bold, textured knitting. It’s an Irish wool with real character: springy, structured, and full of integrity on the needles. This is the kind of yarn that makes every cable stand up and be counted.
Blasta is woollen spun, meaning it’s woolly and light, but still has excellent stitch definition. In a pattern like Ceangal, where the cables are central to the design, you want each twist and turn to pop against the background — and this yarn delivers exactly that. The natural grip of the wool helps the stitches lock into place, creating clean lines that won’t blur or flatten over time.
It also smells fantastic. I know that might sound odd to say in a pattern blog post, but if you’ve worked with Irish wool before, you’ll understand. There’s something earthy and honest in its scent. It’s sheepy without the barnyard and I think the Stone colour sample shade adds to the raw, grounded feel of the project, echoing the stone textures that inspired it.
If you’re looking for a yarn that enhances cable work while staying soft enough for wearability, Blasta is a perfect match.
Want to Knit Ceangal with Us?
If you’d like to make Ceangal with us, it’s available exclusively through the Celtic Knits Club 2025.
The digital version of this club is available here.
This gives you access to all of this year’s patterns, zoom live recordings, project workshops and our dedicated Knithub space.
We’d love to have you with us.
Curious to learn more about the Celtic Knits Club?
You can explore the first pattern reveal or second pattern reveal, peek behind the scenes of the design process, or read more about the exclusive yarns we’ve chosen for this year’s club.
Each post will take you through how the club came together, this year’s theme and we’d love for you to follow along.
MEET OUR FEATURE DESIGNER
Eimear Earley lives in Dublin, Ireland, with two small humans and a supportive spouse. Eimear originally learned to knit as a schoolchild, dabbling with leftovers of yarn and absolutely no concept of gauge or ease during her teenage years. After spending her student years playing with molten glass, she now gets her creative kicks from knitting and spinning wool—much more practical pursuits. Eimear loves to reinterpret old Irish things into modern knitwear, from ancient gold artifacts to less ancient cable knitting.
Stay up to date with all of Eimear’s designs and publications here.