I’m not sure what the weather is like where you live, but in the past few days, winter has set in here in East Texas! It feels as if we completely skipped fall and went right into the freezing bitter cold of wintertime. While I am not a fan of the cold, I do appreciate the opportunity to wear and enjoy as many knits as possible. Eileen Jack has designed a perfect accessory for this season, a stunning slouchy beanie that will not only keep you warm but will knit up super-fast so you can make them for holiday gifts if you are so inclined!

Eileen Jack started Cniotáil Láimhe (Irish for ‘hand knitting’) in 2019 to bring together her study of the Irish language and a re-ignited joy for knitting. Cniotáil Láimhe Designs are modern pieces that pay tribute to tradition, with a focus on building the craft. Eileen was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, and lives in the north of Ireland with her family.

Eileen was kind enough to share with us some details about her design and her creative process.

1. What is your favorite part of your Quickies design and why?

It is hard to pick a favorite part of my Quickies design, but there is something for me about how the hat uses only knit and purl stitches to create so much texture and drape. It means that the pattern is accessible to a range of knitters, from an adventurous beginner to an experienced crafter. I also like how the construction lets the Malabrigo Mecha shine, both in terms of the weight of the yarn and the rich tones in the colorways.

2. What should knitters pay attention to when working this pattern? Do you have any tips or tricks that will make knitting this pattern easier?

I’ve written this pattern in rounds, and round counts reset for each section. I found that I preferred to work the Dowth Motif in one sitting, so I would wait to knit my samples until I had the time to do that. My main tip would be to use stitch markers for the Dowth Motif section to keep track of where you are in the round. Some knitters may also want to use a removable stitch marker or progress keeper to help count the rounds.

3. What do you think knitters will enjoy the most about this project?

I think knitters will enjoy how quickly this hat works up, and also the opportunity to try the German Twisted Cast On if that is new to them (video tutorials are linked in the pattern!). It’s a little detail that I think adds an extra finish.

4. What does your design process look like?

I’m very much a daydreamer, and that’s where my design process begins. When I’m not knitting, you can find me running and, more often than not, dreaming up different ideas for designs. Once I find a thread of something that I think can work, I then begin swatching. Swatching can be about stitch patterns, needle size, yarn choice, or even potential construction ideas. From there, I began to prototype. I usually knit at least one sample and take detailed notes that will form the text of my pattern.

5. Was there any particular inspiration you had when creating this piece?

The name and motif on this piece were inspired by the entrance stone at Dowth burial chamber in County Meath. Dowth is one of the three megalithic passage tombs, along with Knowth and Newgrange, in the Brú na Bóinne heritage site. Unlike Knowth and Newgrange, you cannot go inside Dowth due to an unprofessional excavation in the 1840’s. When I visited Dowth last year, the sun carvings on the entrance stone caught my eye. I didn’t quite know what it would be, but knew that the motif would be the basis of a future design.

6. What is the one thing you wish people knew about you as a designer?

Designing provides me with a creative outlet, and it brings me great joy whenever someone purchases a pattern or knits one of my designs. I also use my design as a way to give back and support a cause close to my heart. I donate at least 10% of all pattern sale profits to charities advancing ALS/Motor Neurone Disease research or helping people living with ALS/MND.

7. What beverage are you most likely to have by your side while designing?

A cup of strong, black tea or coffee! Since I can be quite sensitive to caffeine, it’s more often than not a decaf.

Be sure to follow Eilen in the following places so you don’t miss on new releases:

IG: www.instagram.com/cniotaillaimhe

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/CniotailLaimhe/

Ravelry ID: CniotailLaimhe

Website: https://payhip.com/cldesigns

The Dowth Slouchy Beanie Pattern is available in the following places:

Ravelry: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dowth-slouchy-beanie

Payhip: https://payhip.com/b/b0eBP