Shamrock Knitting Patterns for Accessories

The other day I shared a collection of simple shamrock knitting patterns that stand on their own as pins or appliques, but I wanted to show you some projects that use shamrocks as a design element as well.

In general these are a good place to start if you’ve never done colorwork knitting because the patterns are usually symmetrical so it’s easy to get the hang of what you’re doing.

And these projects are all pretty small so you still have time to stitch them to be ready for the wearin’ o’ the green!

Add a dapper touch to your holiday outfit with this great Irish bow tie from Samuele Scomparin. It’s worked in super fine yarn in two colors and has a string with a button at the back to keep it secure. You can buy the written pattern on Ravelry. (The pattern page says there’s a way to get it for free so I assumed there might be a video tutorial but I can’t find it. If you do, let me know!)

How about some shamrock socks? These shortie socks from Sidney Rakotoarivelo on Ravelry have colorwork shamrocks around the leg. They’re worked in two colors of sock yarn and the pattern is available in English and French.

Sandy Mills has designed a cute and easy shamrock headband you can knit. This one is worked in worsted weight yarn and uses three colors (though you could use the same shade of green throughout). It’s sized for an adult and you can get the pattern from New Age Knitting CA on Etsy.

If you’d rather knit a hat, Lizzy Knits Shop on Etsy has you covered. This pretty hat also uses two shades of green, and worsted weight yarn, to make a fun shamrock Fair Isle style design. The big pompom on top is lots of fun, too.

Now that we’ve covered our heads, what about our necks? If you need a little more warmth than a bow tie can provide, check out this pretty St. Patrick’s Day cowl from Karina Sweeney on Ravelry. It combines three- and four-leaf clovers, and there’s a version done in green and white as well as one in rainbow colors for extra holiday fun.

Next Pattern:

When I first started knitting again after a long absence from the craft (which has now been almost 25 years ago!) I really didn’t like garter stitch that much. I found it super boring, somehow even more boring than knitting stockinette stitch in the round, even though it’s exactly the same thing.

Over the years I’ve softened my opinion, and even grown to like garter stitch. There’s nothing wrong with being plain, and actually the texture of garter stitch is more interesting than stockinette.

Also there are fun things you can do with garter stitch to make it more interesting if you want to, such as adding stripes, working on the bias, or doing fun effects to change the look.

That’s the way with the Bernat Twist My Way Garter Knit Blanket. Using combinations of casting on and binding off creates what they call a Swiss cheese effect along two sides of the blanket. This is a lot of fun in the self-striping ombre yarn they chose for the pattern, but it would also be fun in a solid color or making your own stripes.

Despite the dramatic effect, this pattern is rated easy. It’s worked from side to side (if you consider the “cheesy” edges the top and bottom) and has an eight-row repeat that involves binding off and then casting on again to make the holes. They’re kind of like giant buttonholes.

Once you get the hang of it it’s a pretty easy repeat to remember, and it will be smooth knitting as big as you want to make it.

You can download this pattern from the Yarnspirations website for free, or you can buy a kit direct from them that includes the yarn you need (and knitting needles if you need those, too). Bernat Sport Ombre Twist, which is what is used in the pattern, comes in 12 self patterning colors and is a DK weight acrylic yarn.

[Photo: Yarnspirations]

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