Shamrock row edging hand embroidery pattern

Easy · 3 colors · 2 kinds of stitch

Shamrock row edging: preview of the stitched design

A deeply rolling stem of green stem stitch carries a shamrock on a long stalk on every crest, four in all. Each shamrock is three heart-shaped satin stitch leaves that meet in one point, one in a darker green and two in a lighter. The stem winds into a curl at each end. The band is the same on both sides of its middle. Trace it again end to end for a longer hem, towel or tablecloth.

Size and details

Easy. Stem stitch, with some short satin stitches.

3 colors of floss and 2 kinds of stitch:

The stitched size and the widest satin stitch, by hoop
Hoop	Inches	Centimeters	Satin stitch up to
3 in (8 cm)	1.9 × 0.5 in	4.8 × 1.3 cm	1/16 in (1.6 mm)
4 in (10 cm)	2.9 × 0.7 in	7.4 × 1.8 cm	1/8 in (3 mm)
5 in (13 cm)	3.9 × 1 in	9.9 × 2.5 cm	3/16 in (5 mm)
6 in (15 cm)	4.8 × 1.2 in	12.2 × 3 cm	1/4 in (6 mm)
8 in (20 cm)	6.8 × 1.7 in	17.3 × 4.3 cm	5/16 in (8 mm)

The pattern is drawn inside a circle about half an inch (1.3 cm) smaller all around than the hoop.

What you need

DMC 989 Forest GreenStem and stalks
DMC 986 Very Dark Forest GreenDarker green upper leaf of each shamrock
DMC 320 Medium Pistachio GreenLighter green lower leaves of each shamrock

The floss is six-strand cotton; the stitch guide says how many strands to use. You also need a hoop, an embroidery needle (a size 7 to 9 suits two or three strands) and plain cotton or linen fabric. To frame the piece in its hoop, cut a square 3 inches (8 cm) wider than the hoop: a 9 inch (23 cm) square for a 6 inch hoop.

Stitch guide

Stem stitch 2 or 3 strandsStem and stalks
Satin stitch 2 strandsShamrock leaves

Getting it onto your fabric

The PDF holds the pattern twice at actual size: once as drawn, and once mirrored for an iron-on transfer pen. Print it at 100% with scaling off and check the one-inch square (25.4 mm) with a ruler before you trace. How to transfer a pattern explains tracing, carbon paper and the other ways. The files are under Downloads.