Irish Crochet

I've always wanted to do Irish crochet ... but I've never known anyone who knows how to do it - but now there's Ravelry! I've gotten myself involved in an Irish Crochet CAL, so perhaps I'll figure out all those little things I couldn't figure out from Irish Crochet Techniques and Projects.

The first motif is a shamrock, and while the pattern is fairly simply, the technique is a bit confusing. I think I'm crocheting too tightly, and I don't think I'm handling the padding cord the right way - it tends to hang behind the work. I'll try another one after I get some smaller thread tomorrow.

30 bedspread squares

Note to Self: "The highly skilled knitters turn out lovely work, but sometimes, with a true Irish touch of 'nothing really matters', their knitting shows mistakes, always found in the simple patterns, and a careless nonchalance in the crossing of their cables!" Gladys Thompson, Patterns for Guernseys, Jerseys & Arans. Maybe it's genetic? (reposted because I need to remember!)