The season of leprechauns, gold pots, and shamrocks is coming soon!
Traditionally St. Patrick’s day symbol is a Shamrock – a three leaves clover. But did you know that only one in 10 000 clovers have four leaves? So, finding a four leaves clover is a sign of great luck!
Indeed you can find one in the meadow, but as Douglas MacArthur said, “The best luck of all is the luck you make for yourself.”
So, grab your needle and green threads, and let’s make ourselves a lucky charm!
Tools and Materials You Will Need for This Project:
Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery
- Embroidery pattern. I used a Clover image from the Creative Fabrica library.
- Fabric. I used a 12×12 cm piece of bright green felt fabric. We will cover all the material with stitches, but it will be visible on the back side of the brooch, so choose the fabric color that fits the color of the threads.
- Embroidery floss. I used DMC Embroidery floss: Very dark Parrot green (#904) and Parrot green (#907). You can use different shades of green and change the thread and colors to your liking.
- Embroidery needle.
- Pattern transferring tools. I used a friction pen for pattern transfer. It will go out with the iron heat when the project is finished.
- Embroidery hoop. Any small frame that fits the size of the pattern will work. Mine is 10 cm in diameter.
- Scissors – paper scissors, fabric shears to cut the material, and small embroidery scissors or snips to cut the thread.
- A brooch clip or a safety pin.
Embroidery stitches
For this project, we will use the following:
- Split stitch
- Satin stitch
- Long and short stitch
- Running stitch
- Blanket stitch
If you are unfamiliar with these hand embroidery stitches, these articles on The Artistry will be helpful:
- Six Basic Hand Embroidery Stitches to Learn First
- Six Hand Embroidery Stitches for Lettering
- Six Hand Embroidery Stitches for Filling
Also, you might want to watch a “Hand embroidered clover brooch” video tutorial.
Step-by-Step Tutorial
1 Prepare the pattern
Photo credit: Creative Fabrica
- Download and resize the Clover image from the Creative Fabrica library. I resized mine to 5,5 cm. You can make your brooch smaller or bigger.
- Print the pattern.
- Cut out the shape of the clover – we will need only the shape’s outlines.
2 Transfer the pattern to the fabric
- Place the clover shape on the fabric and draw the outlines on your felt material. Leave the space for two more similar figures – for the backing, but do not outline them yet.
- With a ruler, draw a straight line from the shape’s center to the middle of the leaf shape.
Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery
3 Frame the fabric into a hoop
- Prepare the fabric for embroidery. Place it in the hoop, adjust the tension, and tighten the screw.
Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery
4 Embroider the outlines
- Now we have eight shapes of the leaves (four leaves divided into two pieces) and a stem. Outline each silhouette with a split stitch.
- Use two strands of DMC #904 for one half of the leave and DMC # 907 for another half. Use DMC #904 for the stem.
Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery
5 Embroider the leaves
- Fill the leaves of the clover with a Satin stitch.
- Use two strands of the same color thread as for the outlines.
- Start filling in the center of the leave and move towards the edge of the shape.
Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery
- Return to the center when one side is done and make stitches towards the other edge.
Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery
6 Embroider the stem
- Embroider the stem of the clover with Long and short stitches. Use two strands of DMC #904 embroidery floss.
Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery
7 Cut out the clover shape
- Take the embroidery from the hoop.
- Remove marking lines and iron if needed. I used the friction pen for pattern transfer, so the heat of the iron will remove tracing marks. Remember to iron from the backside.
Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery
- Cut around the embroidered clover shape, leaving an edge of 3 mm around the edge of the embroidery.
Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery
- Place a cut-out shape on the fabric and cut out two more figures of the same size. Now we have three pieces of clover shape – one with the embroidery and two more blanks.
Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery
8 Attach the brooch clip
- Sew a brooch clip on the center of one of the blank shapes.
Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery
- Measure and make tiny cuts for the clip on the second blank piece of the clover shape.
Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery
- Open a clip and pass both elements into the cuts we just made. This will cover the metallic base of the clip.
- Sew around the base of the clip with a running stitch. This will hold together both parts of the backing of the brooch and secure the pin firmly in its place. You can add an additional outline with the running stitch too.
Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery
- TIP. if you do not have a brooch clip – use a simple safety pin. Sew a non-opening part of the pin to the fabric, and you can use it instead of the clip.
Note. The shapes of the clover are mirrored, so pay attention to sewing a clip on the right side of the fabric.
9 Assemble the brooch
- Hold both sides of the brooch, with the back side of the embroidery facing inside and a clip facing outside, and adjust the edge. Both parts should have a smooth equal border. Cut away small pieces of fabric if they do not align. If the material is slippery, use a glue stick in the center of the brooch. This will hold the parts together while you sew them. Avoid the glue on the edge where you need to embroider.
- Embroider with dense blanket stitches around the whole shape. This will create a neat border and hold both sides of the brooch together. Place the stitches close to the edge of the Satin stitches but not over them.
Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery
Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery
Dress up!
Your lucky charm is ready. Wear it for a St. Patrick’Patrick’ day celebration or for luck on any other occasion. This also would make an excellent gift for a friend or family member who needs a bit of good luck or likes green accessories.
Photo credit: Tatjana Iljaseviciute from Practical Embroidery
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