Patrick Shamrock Gnome:

Inspiration comes in many guises. My close friend Angel sent me a photo a while back, saying, “I found this beautiful bowl. Wouldn’t it make a lovely hat?” The Celtic knot and shamrocks on Angel’s bowl got me thinking…and remembering my granny’s bittersweet memories of her years living in County Galway, Ireland, as a bairn.
My great-granda was a gamekeeper at Screebe Lodge in the early 20th century. The family lived so happily there until they all contracted Diphtheria. Granny told of the kindness of their neighbours, leaving food for them at their gate. Granny survived, but remembered all too clearly losing her older sister Ruby and her baby brother Alicky to the illness. Her dad had to bury his wee ones himself. Granny couldn’t remember where they were buried and said her mam never got over leaving her wee ones in Ireland, when they returned home to the Scottish Highlands. She had the name ‘Auchterard’ in her head, which is in Scotland, not Ireland, but my mam wrote that down and kept it. A few years ago, I decided I’d try to find Ruby and Alicky. Armed only with that note and the date of birth of my great-granda, I found them on the internet, buried in Oughterard, Co. Galway. Ruby and wee Alicky died 6 days apart in 1908. Ruby was 7 years old and Alicky was 6 months old. They are buried in a far corner of Oughterard’s Church of Ireland’s graveyard, away from all the main plots, under some trees, with just a few other graves of mainly children, presumably because Diphtheria victims were still seen as being contagious in death. I’m just sorry I didn’t find them in time for Granny to know where they are.

So, thanks be to Angel and her beautiful bowl for the inspiration for this design, which I have used previously in a cosy cowl and hat set. I do hope you enjoy knitting Patrick Shamrock, my celebration of the ‘Little People’ of Ireland, who I like to think keep watchful vigil over Wee Alicky and Ruby.

Patrick Shamrock’s tall, pointed hat features a green brim, a border of gold chains and shamrocks and sports Celtic crosses interlaced with shamrocks. Patrick is knitted in the round so there is no seam and only knit stitches are required. You may use either a set of double-pointed knitting needles or a circular knitting needle, depending on your preference, though you will still need double-pointed needles for the hat decreases and Patrick’s shamrock tassels, which are made and suspended by I-cords from the point of his hat.

Some experience of fair isle or stranded colour work would be useful for this pattern.

Materials:
4 ply / Fingering Shetland wool or equivalent:

Actual amounts used are listed below, but please use this as a rough guide only, given that different brands may differ slightly. The yardage of the yarn used: 246m/270yds per 50g.
Cream: 35g Gold: 25g Green: 20g

You will also need a small amount of contrasting yarn to use as waste yarn.

Knitting Needles:
One set of double-pointed 3.00mm / US 2.5 knitting needles are suggested for knitting Patrick. Alternatively, you may use a circular knitting needle of the same size and of various lengths, if preferred, though you will still need DPNs for Patrick’s shamrock tassels.

A small crochet hook is used for attaching Patrick’s hair and you will need Toy Filling of your choice to stuff Patrick with.

Measurements of completed Patrick Shamrock Gnome:
Patrick stands 18ins high (45cm), is 8ins wide (20cm) and 8ins deep (20cm), though this will depend on how firmly you stuff your finished gnome.

Tension:
Approximately 30 stitches and 36 rows to 10cm over the pattern (unstretched).