Lucky Shamrock Pin

 If you have ever been to an Irish festival, St. Patrick's Day parade or party, you will know just how proud those folks are of being Irish. I'm not Irish but it sure is fun hanging out with those who are. On St. Patricks's Day you will see t-shirts, hats and all sorts of embellishments to show off those who are Irish. So, if you  want something a little more tame. Show your Irish Spirit by wearing a Shamrock Pin! Quick to knit and fun to share. Wear it on your lapel, or pinned to a hat , headband or as a tie pin! This shamrock pin is nice and simple, not to fussy. It's also quick, easy and inexpensive to make. The kind of thing that's perfect to make for a large group.

Shamrock Pin


Wıth green double knitting type yarn and size 4mm needles Cast on 4 stitches.

Row 1. Knit front & back of 1st stitch, knit 3 (5sts)
Row 2. Knit front & back of 1st stitch, purl 4 (6sts)
Row 3. Knit front & back of 1st stitch, knit 5 (7sts)

Row 4. Knit front & back of 1st stitch purl 6  (8sts). Cut yarn leaving a 4’’ tail and leave on a spare needle.

Repeat 2 more times but do not cut yarn on last petal

Row 5. Join all petals by knitting across (24 sts)
Row 6. Purl 2 together across row (12 sts)

Row 7. Knit 2 together across row (6sts)

Row 8. Purl 2 together, three times

Thread yarn through stitches and pull tight and sew into place. Secure all loose ends. Add stem by crocheting 5 or 6 chain stiches. Sew small safety pin or brooch fastening to the back.

Lucky Shamrock Baby Set.

Give your new baby the luck of the Irish! These Bootie Baby Shoes, mittens and shamrock hat are an easy knitting pattern that you can quickly whip up and celebrate  St. Patrick's day!

Size: New born
Hat measures 12 inches (30 cm) in diameter; length 5 inches (13 cm) from rim to crown.

Materials:
Size 4 mm (5 US) needles
Baby Soft DK weight yarn White,  and small amount of emerald green.
Gauge 21.5 sts= 4 inches (10 cm)

Instructions
Hat
Starting at brim, with  green CO 64 sts change to white and work in K1, p1 8 rows.
Then work in St st for 22 rows

Shape Top Of Hat
Still in white 
Row 1 *k2 tog, k7 rep from* to last 2 sts k2tog- 56 st
Rows 2, 4,6 and 8  Purl
Row 3  K 1, *k 4, k2tog; rep from * to last st, k 1 - 47 sts.
Row 5 K 1, *k 3, k2tog; rep from * to last st, k 1 - 38 sts.
Row 7 K 1, *k 2, k2tog; rep from * to last st, k 1 - 29 sts.
Row 9 K 1, *k2tog; rep from * across - 15 sts.
Row 10 *P2tog; rep from * to last st, p 1 - 8 sts.

Cut yarn, leaving a long tail for sewing seam. With large-eyed blunt needle, thread tail through remaining sts on needle. Pull tightly and secure. Sew back seam.


Shamrock
Wıth green Cast on 4 stitches.

Row 1. Knit front & back of 1st stitch, knit 3 (5sts)
Row 2. Knit front & back of 1st stitch, purl 4 (6sts)
Row 3. Knit front & back of 1st stitch, knit 5 (7sts)

Row 4. Knit front & back of 1st stitch purl 6  (8sts). Cut yarn leaving a 4’’ tail and leave on a spare needle.

Repeat 2 more times but do not cut yarn on last petal

Row 5. Join all petals by knitting across (24 sts)
Row 6. Purl 2 together across row (12 sts)

Row 7. Knit 2 together across row (6sts)

Row 8. Purl 2 together, three times

Thread yarn through stitches and pull tight and sew into place. Secure all loose ends. Add stem by crocheting 5 or 6 chain stiches. Sew into place on hat.


Booties

 In Green Cast on 32st
Change to white  and work 10 rows k1, p1 rib

Next row (RS) eyelets k1,*yo,k2 tog to last yo,k1 - 33sts
Next row purl


Divide for Instep
Knit 22sts turn leaving remaining sts unworked
Next purl 11sts turn and leave remaining sts unworked
Work 12 rows in St st across the 11sts for instep, break yarn


With right side facing rejoin yarn to last st on right hand needle pick up 7sts down righ tside of instep,
knit across 11sts of instep and pick up 7sts down left side then knit 11 sts from left hand needle 47 sts in all.
knit 11 rows garter (every row knit).


Shape Heel and Toe


Row 1 (RS)  k2, k2tog, k17, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k17,k2tog, k2
Row 2 knit
Row 3 k2, k2tog, k15, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k15, k2tog,k2
Row 4 knit
Row 5 k2, k2tog, k13, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k13, k2tog, k2
 Cast off loosely
Sew seam and thread green ribbon or cord through eyelets.


Mittens

With green cast on 28 sts change to white and work in K1, p1 for 8 rows

work in St st for 2 rows.,

Eyelet row: k1,*yo,k2tog, k1, rep from* to end
next row purl

Work 10 more rows in St st.


Shaping

Next row: (k2tog, k11) twice, k2tog - 25 sts

Next row: purl

Next row: k2tog, k10, k2tog, k to last 2 ts, k2tog - 22 sts
Next row: purl


Next row: (k2tog, k8) twice, k2tog - 19 sts
Next row: purl
BO. Cut yarn, leaving a long length of yarn for sewing side seam, Thread green ribbon or cord through eyelets.


Many folk ask the question 'Why is the Shamrock the National Flower of Ireland ?' The reason is that St. Patrick used it to explain the Holy Trinity to the pagans.

Shamrock Mug Rug

Here’s a little coaster you can keep your coffee mug on. It's a great opportunity to practice knitting and purling backwards-as well as to use up leftover bits of yarn.They make excellent housewarming and hostess gifts and are easily customized. With St Patrick's Day just around the corner I've decided to knit shamrock mug rugs, these are subtle, not your standard square and the fringe finishes the pattern making it very much like a mini-rug for your mug.

Finished Measurements : Approx. 5½"x5½"

Materials: 1 ball solid cotton yarn
US #3/3.25mm needles*
Tapestry Needle
*I used a smaller needle size to obtain denser fabric and to make the picture stand out more.

Pattern:

With Size 3 needles,
co 29s

row 1: (an all odd numbered rows) k
row 2: k
row 4: k
row 6: k13, p3, k13
row 8: k10, p9, k10
row 10: k8, p13, k8
row 12: k7, p4, k2, p9, k7
row 14: k6, p6, k2, p9, k6
row 16: k5, p8, k2, p9, k5
row 18: k5, p2, k3, p4, k1, p4, k3, p2, k5
row 20: k4, p2, k5, p3, k1, p3, k5, p2, k4
row 22: k4, p2, k6, p2, k1, p2, k6, p2, k4
row 24: k3, p4, k6, p1, k1, p1, k6, p4, k3
row 26: k3, p5, k6, p1, k6, p5, k3
row 28: k3, p4, k15, p4, k3
row 30: k3, p3, k6, p2, k1, p2, k6, p3, k3
row 32: k3, p3, k5, p2, k3, p2, k5, p3, k3
row 34: k3, p4, k3, p2, k5, p2, k3, p4, k3
row 36: k4, p7, k7, p7, k4
row 38: k4, p6, k9, p6, k4
row 40: k5, p5, k9, p5, k5
row 42: k5, p5, k9, p5, k5
row 44: k6, p4, k4, p1, k4, p4, k6
row 46: k7, p4, k2, p3, k2, p4, k7
row 48: k8, p13, k8
row 50: k10, p9, k10
row 52: k13, p3, k13
row 54: k
row 56: k
row 57: Bind Off      
Weave in ends.

To make fringe cut yarn in 3inch strips fold in half and thread the loop through the stitches of the cast on and cast off edge, put the cut ends through the loop and pull tight.
Block and lay flat to dry

How to Knit An Illusion

Have you ever knitted an illusion?

 Illusion knitting, also called shadow knitting, is a technique where you knit a design of two contrasting colours of stripes with simple knit and purl stitches. From the front view, it looks like a simple striped pattern. But, when the project is viewed from the proper angles, a hidden image appears. The effect is created by alternating rows of the two coloured yarns so that the raised stitches from one row block out the flat stitches of another row -just knits and purls, where using stockinette stitch makes a colour fade into the background when viewed from the side, and using garter stitch makes a colour stand out. Illusion knitting uses this change of colour and texture to produce an image that appears or disappears according to the angle of viewing and works better when you knit tightly, so is best to choose a needle one or two sizes smaller than you would normally use with the chosen yarn.

                                     Here you see it!

Here this finished wash cloth looks like a simple striped pattern from the front, but when viewed from an angle, the "hidden" image appears. In this case, the knit pattern consists of alternating stripes, of green and white but when the piece is seen from an angle, a shramrock pattern emerges.

Now you don't!

Here are the Istructions for Shamrock Illusion Wash Cloth.

Use worsted weight yarn

MC – White 2 rows
CC – Green 2 rows

CO 30 stitches (use any CO method you prefer, I used the long tail)

Row 1: Knit Across (30) (All Odd Rows are KNIT)
Row 2: Knit Across (30) (Do not cut colour just change and carry)
Row 3: Knit Across (30) (All Odd Rows are KNIT)
Row 4: Purl Across (30)
Row 6: Knit Across (30)
Row 8: Purl Across (30)
Row 10: K13 P2 K15
Row 12: P13 K2 P15
Row 14: K9 P3 K3 P1 K3 P3 K8
Row 16: P9 K3 P3 K1 P3 K3 P8Row 18: K8 P5 K2 P1 K2 P5 K7
Row 20: P8 K5 P2 K1 P2 K5 P7
Row 22: K8 P6 K1 P1 K1 P6 K7
Row 24: P8 K6 P1 K1 P1 K6 P7Row 26: K9 P7 K1 P5 K8
Row 28: P9 K7 P1 K5 P8Row 30: K8 P6 K1 P1 K1 P6 K7
Row 32: P8 K6 P1 K1 P1 K6 P7Row 34: K8 P5 K1 P3 K1 P5 K7
Row 36: P8 K5 P1 K3 P1 K5 P7Row 38: K9 P3 K1 P5 K1 P3 K8
Row 40: P9 K3 P1 K5 P1 K3 P8Row 42: K12 P7 K11
Row 44: P12 K7 P11
Row 46: K12 P7 K11
Row 48: P12 K7 P11
Row 50: K13 P2 K1 P2 K12
Row 52: P13 K2 P1 K2 P12
Row 54: Knit Across (30)
Row 56: Purl Across (30)Row 58: Knit Across (30)
Row 60: Purl Across (30)
Row 62: Knit Across (30) Bind off.

Here in red and yellow Sunrise Wash Cloth

Directions

Using Colour A and the long tail cast on method, CO 35 stitches.
Note: Colour A is the background colour. (Red)
 Color B is the colour of the sunrise image.  (Yellow)




Row 1 – Colour A: K
Row 2 – Colour A: K

Row 3 – Colour B: K
Row 4 – Colour B: P5, K25, P5
Row 5 – Colour A: K
Row 6 – Colour A: K5, P25, K5

Rows 7 – 10: Repeat rows 3 – 6 one additional time.

Row 11 – Colour B: K
Row 12 – Colour B: P7, K21, P7
Row 13 – Colour A: K
Row 14 – Colour A: K7, P21, K7

Rows 15 – 18: Repeat rows 11 – 14 one additional time.


Row 19 – Colour B: K
Row 20 – Colour B: P5, K2, P2, K17, P2, K2, P5
Row 21 – Colour A: K
Row 22 – Colour A: K5, P2, K2, P17, K2, P2, K5

Row 23 – Colour B: K
Row 24 – Colour B: P3, K2, P6, K13, P6, K2, P3
Row 25 – Colour A: K
Row 26 – Colour A: K3, P2, K6, P13, K6, P2, K3

Row 27 – Colour B: K
Row 28 – Colour B: P1, K2, P6, K2, P13, K2, P6, K2, P1
Row 29 – Colour A: K
Row 30 – Colour A: K9, P2, K13, P2, K9

Row 31 – Colour B: K
Row 32 – Colour B: P7, K2, P17, K2, P7
Row 33 – Colour A: K
Row 34 – Colour A: K7, P2, K17, P2, K7

Row 35 – Colour B: K
Row 36 – Colour B: P5, K2, P7, K2, P3, K2, P7, K2, P5
Row 37 – Colour A: K
Row 38 – Colour A: K5, P2, K7, P2, K3, P2, K7, P2, K5

Row 39 – Colour B: K
Row 40 – Colour B: P3, K2, P8, K2, P5, K2, P8, K2, P3
Row 41 – Colour A: K
Row 42 – Colour A: K3, P2, K8, P2, K5, P2, K8, P2, K3

Row 43 – Colour B: K
Row 44 – Colour B: P1, K2, P9, K2, P7, K2, P9, K2, P1
Row 45 – Colour A: K
Row 46 – Colour A: K12, P2, K7, P2, K12

Row 47 – Colour B: K
Row 48 – Colour B: P11, K2, P9, K2, P11
Row 49 – Colour A: K
Row 50 – Colour A: K11, P2, K9, P2, K11

Row 51 – Colour B: K
Row 52 – Colour B: P10, K2, P11, K2, P10
Row 53 – Colour A: K
Row 54 – Colour A: K

Row 55 – Colour A: BO

Cut yarns. Weave in ends. Block knitted face cloth.

You can add hidden designs, simple or complex, to any garment. Probably the most well known illusion knit is the Alien Illusion Scarf that was featured in the original Stitch ‘n Bitch book and can be found on www. ravelry.com

Illusion knitting is a fun & easy give it a go!