As I get used to the daily life of my new position as majordomo, I still can’t help but be starstruck. I’m working for Anne Hanson! My knitting idol! Pinch me.
In my free time I’ve been rummaging through all the knitspot patterns. Yes, as a perk of my job I now own the ENTIRE collection. Pinch me.
As a person interested in roots and beginnings, I can’t help but look at the first published pattens that were blogged about. I kept mentioning to Anne that I loved this pattern or that pattern. I kept wondering if knitters new to knitspot even noticed these fab vintage patterns. So she gave me access to the blog and said, “why don’t you write about it?” Pinch me (okay, I promise that’s the last time I’ll ask you).
Being pregnant I find myself boiling hot or freezing cold. Often my hands are popsicles as I work from home. But, I need my fingers free to type away. Yep, you know what will cure this – fingerless mitts. To the archives I went!
In Jan 2007, Anne published Cloverleaf Lace Mitts
These lacy mitts are knit at a fine gauge and feature a snug, sculpted fit. They are pretty, yet warm and practical for outdoor or indoor use. The lace pattern has a cabled look, but has no cables and is super-easy to work! If desired, the mitt may be worked with the lace panel extending through the cuff.
I love the simple stitch pattern, but they have such a sophisticated look. These would be perfect work mitts! I couldn’t help but fall in love with the name, with St. Patrick’s Day around the corner.
They are knit in a soft fingering weight yarn, which I happen to own a ton. Off to the stash!
I found a lot of fantastic variegated greens, but I really wanted a tonal green to show off the stitch pattern.
I came up with a skein of electric green Tosh Sock.
Doesn’t this Malachite colorway scream St. Patrick’s Day?!
With this being a nice small project, I’m convinced I can wear them on March 17. I’m hoping the luck of the Irish can rub off on my knitting.
Speaking of luck, how about a contest? Reply with an Irish blessing, bit of wisdom, or even a toast in the comments and one lucky winner will get the pattern for free! Post by 12 pm EST on March 15 to be eligible.
If you need some lucky mitts too, and can’t wait to see if you won, the pattern can be purchased in the knitspot pattern shop. Or you can purchase it through the knitspot ravelry shop.
You can read Anne’s original 2007 post here.
129 thoughts on “Vintage Knitspot – Cloverleaf Lace Mitts”
My favorite toast:
May all your joys be shared joys, and all your pains champagne.
sláinte mhaith!
Congratulations and lucky you to have landed this “dream” job… Good first post, I enjoyed it and the reference to st Patrick’s day of course, perfect!
Your voice is your own, but blends beautifully.
Best wishes from a Canadian reader
Lovely to see vintage patterns featured. I envy your dream job!
Favourite toast:
May you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live.
Lovely mitts! I could certainly use a pair of these walking in Oregon, where the weather can never make up its mind.
May the saddest day of your future be no worse than the happiest day of your past.
Congratulations on both your fabulous new job and the baby on the way!
May you have warm words on a cold evening,
a full moon on a dark night,
and a smooth road all the way to your door.
May you be in heaven a half hour before the devil knows you’re dead. (I’m sorry, that’s the only one I can think of.)
Lovely pattern.
May you always have walls for the winds,
a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire,
laughter to cheer you, those you love near you,
and all the yarn and patterns your heart might desire.
May those that love us, love us.
And those that don’t love us,
May God turn their hearts.
And if He doesn’t turn their hearts,
May He turn their ankles
So we will know them by their limping.
Also congrats on your new dream job, and one of my favorites used to be painted on the trim of our old kitchen, by miss majordomo!!.
May good luck be with you wherever you go, and your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow!
May the road rise up to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face
And the rains fall soft upon your fields
And until we meet again
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.
My wisdom as a parent: this to shall pass. More like my mantra! Congrats on such a perfect fitting job!
Congratulations! And a fantastic old pattern. I’ve been reading the archives, and having been coming across these patterns as well. They are fantastic!
“Morning is the time to pity the sober. The way they’re feeling then is the best they’re going to feel all day.”
OK. I’ll pinch you…as long as I’m picked for the pattern! LOL Congrats on the new job and the new baby. May you be pleased with both.
Here’s a great Irish blessing: “If God sends you down a stony path, may He give you strong shoes.”
Reviewing the archives is a great idea! Don’t know if this is truly an Irish blessing, but I like it . . . “May your home always be too small to hold all your friends.”
If you’re enough lucky to be Irish…
You’re lucky enough!
“Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar, and fat.”~~By Alex Levine.~~
what do you call an Irishman up a tree??
..Russell..!!!
awesome first blog & gorgeous yarn for your fingerless mitts 🙂
Well done on your first post!
My favorite Irish toast:
“My friends are the best friends
Loyal, willing and able.
Now let’s get to drinking!
All glasses off the table!”
May you always have “the luck of the Irish”. Congratulations on your blog posting!
This Irish Blessing always makes me smile. I have it on a fridge magnet that I bought when we were in Ireland a couple of years ago.
As you slide down the Banister of Life,
May the splinters never point in the wrong direction!
well, we could say “cheers” or “bottoms up” with a large pint of Guiness I suppose? to celebrate your good fortune with the pattern find in a loosely Irish flavour? Or settle for a large Irish Coffee while I “help” you sort the vintage designs!? cough ..
Happy knitting and don’t forget to share your findings!
Sue x
Beautiful pattern and yarn. that Tosh Sock looks beautiful, I love the subtle colour variations.
I like “Half a loaf of bread is better than no bread at all.”
Perhaps we could modify it for knitters?
Half a skein of yarn is better than no yarn at all.
I remember when those mitts were published; I can’t believe I’ve been following this blog for so long. I love what you do, Anne.
Top o’ the morning! Seriously, after dating an irishman for 8 years eons ago, that’s all I remember.
Congratulations with your new job!
At this moment, I am knitting socks with the same stich pattern. I Dutch this is called ‘koffie boon’ = coffee bean!
Go maire tú! May you live long!
Loved your first post.
Dawn
Great idea for the blog, looking forward to more ‘vintage’ ideas.
And now for the Irish toast:
May the roof above you never fall in,
And those gathered beneath it never fall out
Excellent first post! Your enthusiasm is contagious. And I was just thinking about fingerless mitts…perfect timing.
Best ‘o luck, wee one…
tj
“Top of the mornin’ to you”. Can’t think of any other Irish sayings that haven’t been said. Congratulations on your job! Love the mitts–the green is perfect for that pattern.
Congratulations on your new position! My favorite thing to do on St. Patrick’s Day is to make Irish soda bread, so may you enjoy a slice or two at your house as well. Green beer is always fun, but best not for you this year! Happy St. Pat”s, all!
Well, I don’t have an Irish saying or blessing that hasn’t already been said. The one thing that comes to mind that several of my Irish friends used to say (all from Dublin area, so maybe it is a Dublin thing) when something was shocking or would go wrong: “Jesus, Mary and Joseph!” Always brings a smile to my face when I hear it in my head in their accents (of course)!
Great first post!! Congrats on the new job at Knitspot and best wishes as you journey into motherhood. From an earlier post by Anne, I see that we live in the same neck of the woods so I’m sending many blessings, neighbor:)
My bit of wisdom: use knitting blahs to swatch! A sweaters worth of yarn in your stash? Grab a ball and work it up in a few sizes of needles! When you are ready to start it – you’ll have swatches ready!
I would like to offer a toast to you, majordomo – You are obviously in you dream job, and I would like to wish you all the best – in your new job, with your new baby and in life. Your enthusiasm is contagious, and I look forward to hearing more from you.
These things, I warmly wish for you-
Someone to love, some work to do,
A bit of o’ sun, a bit o’ cheer.
And a guardian angel always near.
Thanks for the reminder of all those lovely ‘vintage’ patterns. Although I have some family that hails from Ireland many, many years ago, I think the closest I can come to a sayin’ by an Irishman before me coffee is, “Magically delicious!” Leprechauns count don’t they?
“May you have love that never ends, lots of money and lots of friends. Health be yours, whatever you do and may God send many blessings to you.”
Congrats on your dream job!!! Cannot wait to see your St. Patrick’s Fingerless Gloves!!!!
Irish saying, “Top of the morning, to you.”
Best of luck with your new job and healthy baby. Cheers.
Well, I am Scottish but use this time to celebrate Celtic everything. Also it is an early start to Spring to celebrate. A win, win on both accounts.
May the “little people” always be there when you need them.
May there always be work for your hands to do,
May your purse always hold a coin or two.
May the sun always shine warm on your windowpane,
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near you,
And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.
love your first post – hope we get to hear more from you, too 🙂 great choice with the Tosh sock for the Cloverleaf Mitts – I love the tight twist of Tosh Sock! mmmm malachite…. 🙂
this is just a part of an irish blessing, but as a cyclist i have always loved it – “may the wind be always at your back”.
also, great job on your post. and i am jealous of your dream job. : )
I don’t know about wisdom, but St. Patrick’s Day was my grandfather’s birthday and his favorite holiday before he passed. Here’s to you, Grandpa.
I only remember the first two lines….
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back….
Love that.
There are good ships
and wood ships
and ships that sail the sea,
but the best ships are friendships
and may they ever be!
Love these mitts. Would love to have the pattern. I have the perfect yarn.
“Erin Go Bragh!” And congratulations on ANY Knitspot fan’s dream job!
May good luck be your friend
In whatever you do
And may trouble be always
A stranger to you.
Thanks for the inspiration!!! And congratulations on the wee one!
Anytime someone mentions Irish blessings, I think of the one that starts with “May the road rise to meet you, may the wind be always at your back,
may the sun shine warm upon your face…”
“Be kind to those that meet you as you rise, you may pass them again as you fall.”
May the enemies of Ireland never eat bread nor drink whiskey,
but be afflicted with itching without the benefit of scratching
May you never forget what is worth remembering,
Or remember what is best forgotten.
Off topic, I know but this post reminded me of something I’ve wanted to ask for awhile: could the pattern pages have links to the original introductory blog posts? Please? There’s more pictures, and bI enjoy the witty words…
And tho keep from being a poor sport: May all the Knitspot babies and gardens grow healthy!
I haven’t looked at the other comments yet but I bet they are all fun ….
here’s something I found:
for a “wedding toast”
“…That your wife may knit for infants and may her needles always click after dark
(It was thought best to knit after dark because the sheep were asleep and wouldn’t be offended!)”
and of course I’d love to win the pattern 🙂
This is my favorite–
May God grant you always…
A sunbeam to warm you,
A moonbeam to charm you,
A sheltering angel, so nothing can harm you.
Love the pattern and what a perfect yarn and color for it.
“May the Lord keep you in His hand and never close His fist too tight.”
Go n-eírí an bóthar leat.
(May the road rise with you.)
I also think of the Irish blessing that starts with “May the road rise to meet you…” It hung on a tapestry in the dining room of my grandmother’s house (we’re the O’Hagan family). But since so many will be giving this Irish blessing, I thought I’d give something else in honor of her. Although she married into the name, she was certainly a blessing.
May your home be a place of safety for your children and grandchildren. May they spend hours sharing stories with each other every time they gather. May you be known as a person of great love and great laughter. May you live to know and love your great-grandchildren. May all of your children be at your bedside when you die.
Family never shrinks. Family grows.
those are beautiful mitts!! love the idea of revisiting ‘vintage’ patterns!
so, here is a lovely Irish saying that i think is perfect for spring:
“God grant you to be happy as the flowers in May.”
pretty mitts! I’ve always liked:
May your blessings outnumber
the shamrocks that grow
and may trouble avoid you
wherever you go
and:
May the roof above you never fall in,
and those gathered beneath it never fall out
May the road rise to meet you. May the wind blow at your back.
May the sun shine warmly on your face. And may God hold you in the palm of his hand.
The other: May our enemies be lame, so that we will know them by their limp.
Not an Irish one, but a wedding blessing: May all your troubles be little ones.
I’d like to toast majordomo on her new position. Best wishes for a fun and exciting career path. Pinch pinch pinch.
Here’s a Maxine Irish blessing….
Pinch me on St Patty’s day and the road is gonna rise up to meet your face!
I thought it apropos with you wanting to be pinched! hehe
May the rain always fall soft upon your fields and the sun pour down like honey where you stand.
“Everyone is wise until he speaks”. The mitts are lovely and I like the idea of posting some of the older designs, since I am a relatively recent reader/fan of Anne and her designs!
my favorite toast:
A toast, to bread, without which there would be no toast.
A wedding toast: May you both live as long as you want, And never want as long as you live.
Here’s an Irish blessing for your little-one-to-be:
A small wave for your form,
A small wave for your voice,
A small wave for your speech,
A small wave for your means,
A small wave for your generosity,
A small wave for your wealth,
A small wave for your life,
A small wave for your health,
Nine waves of grace upon you
Waves are the giver of all
One of my favorite Irish sayings is: A light heart lives longest. However, my boss is a Dublin native, and he has taught me all sorts of Gaelic juicies! lol
Love the pattern, also.
Betsy in very saturated and still raining Seattle ‘burbs
This Guinness St. Patrick’s Day video isn’t exactly a “blessing” but it’s worth a good laugh:
http://youtu.be/y07at1bU89Q
I’ve been sharing it with all my dog-owning friends.
sláinte mhaith is a toast meaning “good health”
Congrats on your new majordomo position and happy knitting as you explore those archives.
Here is a lovely one I found:
May the blessing of light be on you—
light without and light within.
May the blessed sunlight shine on you
and warm your heart
till it glows like a great peat fire.
– quoted from http://www.islandireland.com
Kudos on the majordomo position. Great post and walking down memory lane with Anne and her knitspot post.
Not familiar with irish blessings but though it wouldn’t hurt to add some positive meditative vibe to the comments thread with the following:
“I am like a swaying branch in the wind, moving to the music of Life. I let go all resistance and flow with effortlessness.”
May the wind always be at your back,
And may the road rise up to meet you.
And congrats on the new position!
Yikes…I don’t know any Irish blessings! The mitts will look really great in that beautiful green yarn. Enjoy your new position!
All I can remember is…May the road rise up to meet you. I think the mitts will be beautiful in that green yarn! Dang now I want to make some! 🙂
I think your mitts are going to be lovely, Erica.
Here’s my favorite Irish blessing.
May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life’s passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!
I raise a pint of Guinness – or Murphys – in toast to the pattern, to St Patrick’s Day, and to your new position.
Congratulations on landing your dream job!! Hope your mitts will be done in time for St Patrick’s Day. That green is lovely!
A piece of wisdom I picked up years ago: “Listen deeply, watch closely, speak last.”
May you always have walls for the winds,
a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire,
laughter to cheer you, those you love near you,
and all your heart might desire.
Imagination is the beginning of creation.
You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine and at last,
you create what you will.
George Bernard Shaw
I am imagining that I will create these lovely gloves. Thanks…..
May you have warm words on a cold evening, a full moon on a dark night and the road downhill all the way to your door!
I am thrilled that you joined Knitspot. I know you will do a fantastic job, as you always have done. I wish you much luck with both the pregnancy and your new position, Your friend from Stitches East, Robin (Histoknitter)
I’d raise a pint of Beamish and offer this wish to all knitters:
May you always have work for your hands to do.
May your pockets hold always a coin or two.
May the sun shine bright on your windowpane.
May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near you.
And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.
A wish for the newly married, by the groom’s Irish uncle: “May more than a fence run ’round your garden”…!! The Irish have a way with words that is unmatched anywhere!! I would love to win the pattern and thank you for entering me!
Congrats on your new position! I’d toast you with a glass of Carolan’s Irish Cream. My maiden name is Carolan but unfortunately no relation to the iirsh cream folks….
Erin Go Braugh!
Grace
ahhh, let me grab that Guinness…
Slainte!!
🙂
Wherever you go and Whatever you do May the Luck of the Irish be always with you!
Thanks for the opportunity to win a great pattern 🙂
Congrats on the blessing that will forever change your life for the better!!
May you have the hindsight to know where you’ve been
the foresight to know where you’re going
and the insight to know when you’re going too far.
A Wish for a Friend:
Wishing you a rainbow
For sunlight after showers –
Miles and miles of Irish smiles
For golden happy hours –
Shamrocks at your doorway
For luck and laughter too,
And a host of friends that never ends
Each day your whole life through!
I must live under a rock because I’m not familiar with the tradition of Irish blessings but I’m having a great time reading them all! The mutts are lovely and I love the color you’ve chosen
I don’t know any Irish blessings, but I loved reading the ones everyone posted. So I’ll just say Salud!, L’Chaim (to life), Skol, and wish everyone a Happy Saint Patrick’s Day. The pattern is lovely.
I love when knitspot has visiting bloggers. herehere! I say.
Don’t know any Irish blessings that haven’t already been blessed, but will happily raise a glass of Harp to Anne, David, & the whole knitspot crew – readers and helpers!
I can’t think of any blessings at the end of this long day, but I will tell you of the night my friend and I nearly fell off our top bunks in Connemarra laughing hysterically at the drunk Swede singing ‘it’s a long way to Tipperary’ as he crashed out. I loved Ireland and am hoping to enjoy some Irish company down here in NZ with a newly transplanted and nice knitting lass!
“Be kind. Everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”
― Marjorie Pay Hinckley
Wishing you….
sunshine round your shoulders,
shamrocks at your feet,
a rainbow in your pocket,
and friendship ever sweet…..
(sorry, not the most original but I am a German peasant girl)
The yarn looks lovely and I would enjoy the pattern.
Bottoms up! From my Irish Grandpa 🙂
May your neighbors respect you,
Trouble neglect you,
The angels protect you,
And heaven accept you.
My brother in law is married to an Irish girl. they live in Ireland with 4 children. They have this on their kitchen wall:
May those who love us, love us.
And those that don’t love us,
May God turn their hearts.
And if he doesn’t turn their hearts
May he turn their ankles
So we’ll know them by their limping.
I found a tea towel with this printed on it and brought it home, I love it.
Pick my name and I’ll let you pinch me. 🙂
Have a lovely day!
My Dad always used to say “If you’re lucky enough to be Irish, you’re lucky enough!”
Well, this isn’t exactly an Irish blessing, but it does describe my husband (who just happens to be one hundred percent Irish). “Only an Irishman can tell you to go to Hell and make you look forward to the trip!”
Congrats on your new job and the new baby!
Well, I am not Irish, and I used Google, BUT, as a naval architect I like this one!
There are good ships,
and there are wood ships,
the ships that sail the sea.
But the best ships are friendships,
and may they always be.
A tip of the hat and a bit of a jig to our new lucky majordomo.
“May your coffin be built of hundred-year-old oaks, which I will plant tomorrow.”
Good color choice for your mitts. Consider yourself pinched? 🙂
Consider yourself pinched! Congratulations on the new baby and the new job! Would love to have the pattern. Mitts are one of my favorite projects! Love your yarn choice for this pattern!
May you count your life by smiles, not tears and count your age by friends, not years.”
Author: Unknown
Faith and begora (never did know what that meant-begora that is) to you. Hope I’m the one!!
An Olde Irish Wish
May the raindrops fall lightly on your brow
May the soft winds freshen your spirit
May the sunshine brighten your heart
May the burdens of the day
Rest lightly upon you
And may God enfold you in the mantle of His love.
As much as I like Lillian Gish’s wedding day toast: “May this be the worst day of your entire life.”….I would like to submit this one for consideration:
May your needles always be filled
May your seams always line up
May you never lose a stitch that leads to ripping,
And your count always be correct.
And may your projects always be finished,
So your love may warm all who receive your work.
Congratulations on your new position! That is a wonderful green to start with!
fingerless mitts are getting to be one of my new favorite knits, and a pattern (for free) from Ann…double blessing!
I am so envious of you working for Anne. It must be fun & inspiring to be with her. Love those mittens & you have made an excellent choice of color & pattern – totally Irish!
“May God give you…For every storm a rainbow, for every tear a smile, for every care a promise and a blessing in each trial. For every problem life sends, a faithful friend to share, for every sigh a sweet song and an answer for each prayer.”
To the things that make us warm: hugs, fireplaces, love letters, sunshine, and last but not least, knitting.
May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life’s passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours.
May you be in Heaven an hour before the devil knows you’re dead!
May the blessing of the light be upon you,
Light without and light within.
And may the blessed sunlight shine upon you and warm your heart
till it glows like a great peat fire
and strangers may warm themselves
as well as friends.
I am irish, and we always heard this—–There are only 3 kinds if Irish men who can’t understand women–young men, old men, and men of middle age.
Unfortunately, I don’t know any Irish Blessings, but really enjoyed reading the blessings in the posts. So I say “Ditto!”
What a brilliant idea! I’m new to Anne’s blog in the last few months, so generally get lost when trying to find more vintage-y patterns. These mitts are right up my alley, and I have a gorgeous skein of Lorna’s Laces that would be perfect for showing off that lace. Adding this one to my Ravelry queue!
Cheers,
Lissa
Oops, in honor of St. Patrick I should have closed with Slainte rather than Cheers. 🙂
Knit them now MajorDomo because soon there will be VERY little knitting time for you! (One of the few down sides to that cute new bundle of joy arriving). My 16mo is the joy of my life, but man I really miss being able to knit on dpns without one being pulled out mid stitch by her little hands (sigh)
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind blow at your back,
May the sun shine warmly on your face,
May the rain fall softly on your on your field,
And until we meet again,
Until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Amen.
May the blessings outnumber the Shamrocks that grow and may trouble avoid you where ever you go.
“Lucky Charms!!!! They’re magically delicious!!!”
How nice to see these featured again!
I was a prolific knitter from a child to when my children were young but then stopped knitting for about 10 years, not really expecting to take it up again, i.e. I got rid of all my knitting paraphernalia.
Then, in about 2007, I was looking for a gift for a friend who has always knitted and came up with the Yarn Harlot’s book, noticing there was a blog address: what a revelation, knitting on the internet! From there I quickly discovered Anne, her blog and her patterns and the Cloverleaf Mitts were one of the first projects I made when I re-started – in fact, I made several pairs for my daughters and as gifts, and have been a keen reader and customer for her patterns ever since. Every pattern I have made has been wonderful to make, easy to follow and provided fullest satisfaction; her success is well-earned! Of course these days, I follow all kinds of internet knitting, love the international vibe and the sensational yarns (of which Anne has featured so many luscious ones I mostly can only drool over!) and am a keen Ravel-rist, but Steph and Anne started it for me – thankyou from here in Switzerland!!
I am very happy for you that you get to work with Anne as her “majordomo” – all the very best for your new job and your pregnancy ;))
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