Knitting

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Knitting Patterns with Colorwork Shamrocks

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Last year I did a roundup of shamrock knitting patterns that featured that symbol of St. Patrick’s Day on small accessories like hats, ties and cowls. I found some new patterns this year that aren’t on that list so I thought I’d share a few more mostly quick shamrock knitting patterns, mostly for wearables if you need something green to add to your wardrobe. 

I say mostly wearables because I couldn’t resist including this double knit shamrock and argyle pot holder knitting pattern. It’s maybe not a good project if you’re completely new to double knitting, but if you’ve done a project or two and are comfortable with the concept, this would be a fun one. It uses worsted weight cotton yarn and was designed by Jeannette Murphy. You can get a copy on Ravelry.

I found a great pattern for shamrock socks, which I would definitely wear all year long. Jennifer Beaulieu’s Shamrockin’ Socks show the shamrocks worked in different colors, which I love, but you could stick to a single color if you want. The idea is to use scraps and minis to make the shamrocks, which you should know by now is an idea I heartily approve of. But if you happen to have a skein of green yarn you want to use, that’s fine, too. You can find this pattern on Ravelry.

A lot of places it’s still cold in March, so a shamrock hat is a good idea. Soft n Warm Creations on Etsy has a cute two-color shamrock hat sized for babies, toddlers kids and adults. It uses worsted weight yarn in two colors.

If you want a quicker knit, try the super bulky Shamrock Chic Hat from Kozy Kweens Handmade, also on Etsy. Since the yarn and the design are larger this should be a pretty easy one for knitters of all stranded knitting skill levels. (The pattern is charted.)

Or check out the Lucky Charm hat from Rosie Posie Knit Co. This one has smaller motifs so it will take a little more time to knit but the result is super cute. It’s sized for babies, toddlers, bigger kids and adults, and it uses two colors of worsted weight yarn.

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Summer Headband Knitting Patterns

Some knitters have trouble coming up with projects they can both knit and wear when it’s warm outside. Especially if you’re not ready for garments (thought tank tops and summer tops are great first garment projects!) it might seem like there’s nothing to do when it’s hot outside.

One way to remedy this situation is by knitting headbands. Headbands are great any time of year to keep hair out of your face and make you look a little more pulled together without any effort. Wider headbands double as ear warmers when it gets colder, but skinnier ones are great throughout the year.

A couple of great examples are from designer Elly Donner, who has a set of headband knitting patterns on Ravelry you can buy individually or as an ebook. Homebody, shown here, is worked in garter stitch (the ties are crocheted but you could also use I-cord), while Slipstream uses slipped stitches and garter ridges, and Sounds of Spring has little cables. The patterns use DK weight yarn and are a great way to use a little leftover yarn from another project.

I also recently came across the lovely Plush Braided Headband by Yevgeniya Li. A free pattern on Ravelry, this wider design is covered in lush cables for a sleek and fancy look. It uses worsted weight yarn and you can customize the length for a perfect fit.

Celeste Knitwear’s Spikelet is a simple twisted headband with columns of eyelet lace to keep it from being too heavy. It’s worked flat and sewn together to make the twist, and uses DK weight yarn. It has three sizes available.

This skinny lace headband from Lusi Knits is another cute choice. It calls for fine weight cotton yarn, but you could use heavier yarn if you have it on hand to make a wider headband (or use any fine yarn you have available). It uses ties to customize the fit.

And if you want to go super basic but still really cute, try the easy ring headband from Lulu Pattern. The sample is knit pretty wide, but you could make a narrower version if you want, and the little ring turns it from a plain loop into a bow with very little extra work. It calls for worsted weight yarn but you could also use whatever weight you like for this one to change up the look and size.