This week, I started posting links to free patterns for Aran sweaters. These are cardigans and pullovers that have intricate cables and textures, similar to a style that developed on the Aran islands ...

Well, "Aran knitwear" covers a multitude of sins, from baggy synthetic jumpers to bland bobble hats, and there's a lot of tourist tat to sort through before you get to the real thing. As with Cheddar ...