Sewing Ideas for St. Patrick's Day
Some symbols associated with St. Patrick’s Day celebrations encompass shamrocks or leafy clovers, small whimsical black pots filled with gold coins at the end of a rainbow, and the Celtic knot that codes for eternity and complex unity.
Sewing any of these traditional symbols can usually be accomplished with small amounts of white, green and black felt scraps, lengths of green and rainbow striped ribbons and tiny embellishments.
An easy to duplicate shamrock is to use a heart shape template. Cut three or four heart shapes out of green felt and hand sew or glue onto fabric in an embroidery hoop, or onto fabric mounted into a picture frame. Add a ribbon piece to resemble the delicate shamrock stem. Felt shamrocks make for easy hair clip decorations, or to decorate a banner that hangs from a mantel, draped across a window, or to decorate an office space.
Make a super quick brooch or lapel pin by fashioning a narrow ribbon piece into an open three lobe clover shape and secure in the center with a green button. Add a pin back or a safety pin to the back of the design for attaching.
Use a simple cauldron shape to cut a pot out of black felt. Cut two shapes to stitch together and lightly stuff with poly fill before stitching closed. Hand stitch a loop of rainbow grosgrain ribbon to the top of the cauldron. Add a pin back or a safety pin to be able to attach the whimsical design to a lapel, blouse or sweater.
Make a shamrock wreath to hand on a door or window. Cut several strips of a variety of green fabric prints and solids 2-inches by 6-inches. The more strips the fuller the wreath. Tie each strip onto a wire wreath frame. Alternatively, cut out several felt shamrock shapes (think 3 or 4-heart shapes that connect at their points) of various sizes and glue or pin in layers onto a straw wreath form. Add a large fanciful green bow to complete the look.
Sew a leprechaun's black pot of legendary gold out of black felt and fill with some gold foil covered chocolate coins, candies and perhaps some favorite wrapped cookies. Cut out a rectangle of black felt and stitch the long sides together in a narrow seam right-sides together. Gather one of the now circular ends with a gathering stitch and pull tightly to close. Fasten off. Turn right-side out. Fold under the remaining open top by an inch or two to form a cuff. Fill with cookies and chocolate coins for a happy centerpiece.
The seemingly intricate Celtic knot shape (associated with enduring Irish imagery) can be made from any of a variety of materials that allow for the woven shape to be made into a pendant for a necklace, bracelet, or any number of items. The repeated looping design is representative of infinity and connectedness. Celtic knot work, like St. Patrick, dates to the 5th century. How to tie the Celtic knot and its many variations can be found at various websites.
Happy Patrick’s Day.
Sew happy, sew inspired.
Sewing any of these traditional symbols can usually be accomplished with small amounts of white, green and black felt scraps, lengths of green and rainbow striped ribbons and tiny embellishments.
An easy to duplicate shamrock is to use a heart shape template. Cut three or four heart shapes out of green felt and hand sew or glue onto fabric in an embroidery hoop, or onto fabric mounted into a picture frame. Add a ribbon piece to resemble the delicate shamrock stem. Felt shamrocks make for easy hair clip decorations, or to decorate a banner that hangs from a mantel, draped across a window, or to decorate an office space.
Make a super quick brooch or lapel pin by fashioning a narrow ribbon piece into an open three lobe clover shape and secure in the center with a green button. Add a pin back or a safety pin to the back of the design for attaching.
Use a simple cauldron shape to cut a pot out of black felt. Cut two shapes to stitch together and lightly stuff with poly fill before stitching closed. Hand stitch a loop of rainbow grosgrain ribbon to the top of the cauldron. Add a pin back or a safety pin to be able to attach the whimsical design to a lapel, blouse or sweater.
Make a shamrock wreath to hand on a door or window. Cut several strips of a variety of green fabric prints and solids 2-inches by 6-inches. The more strips the fuller the wreath. Tie each strip onto a wire wreath frame. Alternatively, cut out several felt shamrock shapes (think 3 or 4-heart shapes that connect at their points) of various sizes and glue or pin in layers onto a straw wreath form. Add a large fanciful green bow to complete the look.
Sew a leprechaun's black pot of legendary gold out of black felt and fill with some gold foil covered chocolate coins, candies and perhaps some favorite wrapped cookies. Cut out a rectangle of black felt and stitch the long sides together in a narrow seam right-sides together. Gather one of the now circular ends with a gathering stitch and pull tightly to close. Fasten off. Turn right-side out. Fold under the remaining open top by an inch or two to form a cuff. Fill with cookies and chocolate coins for a happy centerpiece.
The seemingly intricate Celtic knot shape (associated with enduring Irish imagery) can be made from any of a variety of materials that allow for the woven shape to be made into a pendant for a necklace, bracelet, or any number of items. The repeated looping design is representative of infinity and connectedness. Celtic knot work, like St. Patrick, dates to the 5th century. How to tie the Celtic knot and its many variations can be found at various websites.
Happy Patrick’s Day.
Sew happy, sew inspired.
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