I Love to Create: Knitted & BeJewelled Shamrocks!

With only 6 days left until St. Patrick's Day, this Irish lass (ok, I'm more Spanish than Irish, but that's not really the point now, is it?) has clover on her mind.  For this week's I Love to Create

column I combined my sweet spot for shamrocks with two other things I dig: finding uses for luxurious yarn scraps that I can't bare waste, and combining regular craft supplies with knitted pieces.  These lucky leaves are quick to stitch and fun to bedazzle.  Make a bunch, give 'em out to your friends and listen for the chants of "Erin Go Braugh!"

MATERIALS
Scraps of Green, Sock Yarn

Size US 2 (2.75mm) Needles

Tapestry Needle

Tulip Cordless Heat Setting Tool

Tulip Glam-it Up! Iron-On Crystals

SHAMROCK SIZES

Large = 3 1/2" tall

Small = 2 1/2" tall

How to Knit:
MITERED LEAVES (Make 3..or 4, if you're feeling lucky!)
CO 18 (20) sts.

Larger Size Only
Row 1: K8, ssk, k2tog, k8.

Rows 2,4,6,8: Knit

Both Sizes (for smaller size, treat Row 3 as 1)

Row 3: K7, ssk, k2tog, k7.
Row 5: K6, ssk, k2tog, k6.
Row 7: K5, ssk, k2tog, k5.
Row 9: k4:ssk, k2tog, k4
Row 10: Ssk, BO to last 2 sts (you’ll still have one st on the RH needle as well), ssk, BO remaining sts.

Using a tapestry needle, sew leaves together.

Pick up 3 sts at base of shamrock and knit a 1 1/2"-2" i-cord stem (for an i-cord refresher, see my how-to video).  BO.

Curve stem with your fingers.  Weave in ends.

How to BeJewell:

1. Use a heatproof surface such as a ceramic tile to rest heat tool on between applications and while cooling. Set slightly away from work area to prevent burns.
2. Move button to ON position and hold button down to heat. Press tip on tissue or paper. When ready, a scorched spot will appear.
3. Hold tool straight up and touch top of embellishment. Hard pressure is not needed, heat will melt glue. Too much pressure will cause tip to slip and burn your knitted piece! 
4. Allow tool to heat up again if laid down or finger is removed from button.

Ideas for What to Do with Your Shamrock:

• Hot glue or sew a pin to the back, and wear it as a "Don't Pinch Me" brooch.
• Use a little Tacky Glue to paste it on a card front, for a one-of-a-kind St. Patty's Day greeting.
• Use as an applique by hand tacking or using decorative embroidery to sew your "shams" onto a tote bag, pillow, t-shirt, onsie, and more!
• Make neck garland by knitting a whole slew of shamrocks and attaching them to a long piece of ribbon or crochet chain.  See my Love Rocks garland for inspiration.

No matter what you do with yours though, you won't be saying "Shamrock"-- you'll be screaming, "Sham-wow!"  ;)

From my house to yours, wishing you the luck of the Irish.

xo,

Vickie