St. Patricks Day Crochet Wreath

St. Patricks day is quickly approaching, and although it isn't normally considered a major holiday, it has always been a fun one for children and adults alike.  Who doesn't remember attending school on March 17 and examining one another for signs of green.  When I was in grade school, if you forgot to wear green on that day, you would get your toes stepped on.


This St. Patricks wreath has been quite a challenge for me.  I couldn't find a leprechaun pattern that I liked, so I came up with one myself.  I had in mind a pudgy fellow with a traditional hat.   Red hair was a must, but I didn't want to spend time giving him a full head of hair, so I made him bald on top with a halo of hair around and lamb chop sideburns.  I wanted him to sit inside the circle of the wreath, so I attached his legs accordingly, but he could be made as a standing doll.



He does look kind of dapper, I think!


Next, I struggled with several different rainbow patterns and ended up designing that as well.  I wanted a rainbow that would arc over my leprechaun and I wanted streamers on one end to sort of represent beams of colored light flowing down.

I love the vibrant colors and the streamers give it a bit of a unique
look when it's on the wreath.  Honestly, this rainbow is my forth attempt before getting it the way I envisioned it!



Next, I wanted my wreath to have a pot of gold!  After all, what is St. Patricks Day without one?!  Trifles and Treasures have a wonderful free pattern on their site.  I did change it a bit as far as colors go, and I left off the 'feet' since I wanted my leprechaun to hold the pot of gold in his lap.  I also had to add crochet gold coins of my own design.  

And, of course, we must have a shamrock or two.   Skip to my Lou has an awesome video tutorial on her site that just can't be beat!  I made several smaller ones and then decided I needed one large one.  For the large shamrock I used 4 strands of yarn and an I hook.    For any of you who want to make a bunch of shamrocks for a school class or party, this is the perfect tutorial for you.  Simple and quick!


Remember to attach the loopy side of velcro to your finished components to stick them to your wreath.  Velcro loves to adhere to yarn!  This is what makes your wreath a versatile, interchangeable decoration!




My completed wreath!  

And a variation if you prefer to leave off the leprechaun. 

If you missed the post about how to make the basic wreath, you can find that HERE!

You can find the leprechaun pattern  HERE.
And the rainbow pattern can be found HERE.

Enjoy!
Blessings!
Reny

Fringed Rainbow Applique Pattern

Rainbow Pattern

Material:

worsted weight yarn in 6 colors 
Size G crochet hook.

Crochet terms:
Single crochet-sc 
Chain-ch
Finish off- F/O

For this pattern you will be using several different colors of yarn and making frequent color changes. This pattern is worked in rows and each color change will have a 6 inch beginning and ending tail of yarn to serve as ‘fringe’.

1. Begin by leaving a 6” tail of purple and chain 25. Sc in the 2nd. chain from hook and each remaining chain for 24 sc. Change color by pulling teal through last loop in row 1 and pulling the purple tight around the new color. Chain 1 and turn. (24)
   
2. *Sc in 3, inc* Chain 1, turn.
   
3. Sc in each stitch. Change color just as you did before leaving
   a 6” tail of the teal and a 6” starting tail of the new color.
   Chain 1 and turn. (30)
   
4. *Sc in 4, inc* Chain 1 and turn. (36)
   
5. Sc in each stitch. Attach next color as before. Chain 1 and
   turn. (36)
   
6. *Sc in 5, inc* Chain 1 and turn. (42)
   
7. Sc in each stitch. Attach next color. Chain 1 and turn. (42)
   
8. *Sc in 6, inc* Chain 1 and turn. (48)
   
9. Sc in each stitch. Attach final color. Chain 1 and turn.
   
10. *Sc in 7, inc.* Chain 1 and turn. (54)
    
11. Sc in each stitch. F/O leaving 6” tail. (54)
    

Your rainbow should have 2 strands of each color as fringe along 1 side. You can trim them to whatever length you like.

Leprechaun Pattern

Leprechaun Pattern 

Materials:

Worsted weight yarn

Safety eyes

Stuffing

G crochet hook and C hook

Yarn needle

Crochet terms:

Magic circle-mc

Single crochet- sc

Increase- inc (2 stitches in one stitch.)

Decrease-dec  (stitch 2 stitches together to make one)

Fasten off- F/O

Back loop only- BLO

Notes:  This pattern is worked in the round.  I use a running stitch marker to keep track of rounds.  Instructions between asterisks ** are to be repeated to end of round or number of times specified.  The numbers in ( )  are the number of stitches in the round.

HEAD With flesh or light tan color

1.  Make 6 sc in a mc.

2.  Inc x’s 6  (12)

3. *Sc in 1, inc*  (18)

4. *Sc in 2, inc* (24)

 5.*Sc in 3, inc*  (30)

 6.*Sc in 4, inc*  (36)

7-9.  Sc in each stitch.  (36)  Place safety eyes between rows 9 and 10.  

10.  *Sc in 4, dec*  (30)

11-13  Sc in each stitch.  (30)

14.  *Sc in 3, dec.  (24)

15.  *Sc in 2, dec*  (18)

16.  *Sc in 1, dec*  (12)  Stuff head firmly.

17.  Dec X’s 6.  (6)

18.  Dec till closed.  F/O leaving a long tail for sewing.

With doubled strand of  flesh or tan yarn, stitch on a nose, placing several stitches to give dimension.  With black, embroider eyebrows and mouth.

To make hair, cut strands of orange yarn 2-3 inches long and using latch hook technique, hook hair and lamb chop whiskers to face.  

Stitch hat and hat brim together and stitch hat to head in desired position.

BODY

1.With dark green. Make 6 sc in a mc.

2.Inc X’s 6  (12)

3.*Sc in 1, inc*  (18)

4.*Sc in 2, inc* (24)

5.*Sc in 3, inc*  (30)

6.*Sc in 4, inc*  (36)

7-8  Sc in each stitch.  (36)

9-10  With black yarn for belt, sc in each stitch.

11.  Change yarn to light green.  Sc in each stitch.

12.  *Sc in 4, dec*  (30)

13-15.  Sc in each stitch.  (30)

16.  *Sc in 3, dec*  (24)

17.  *Sc in 2, dec*  (18)

18.  *Sc in 1, dec*  (12)  Stuff body firmly.

19.  Dec X’s 6   (6)

20.  Dec till closed.  

With yellow or gold yarn stitch a buckle on the center of the black belt.

ARMS  Make 2.

1.With flesh or light tan color.  Make 6 sc in a mc.

2.*Inc, sc*  (9)

3-5  Sc in each stitch.

6.  Join light green.  Sc in each stitch.  (9)

7. *Sc in 2, inc*  (12)

8-10.  Sc in each st.

11.  Stuff arm and sc open edge together.  Leave a long tail to sew arm to body.

LEG  Make 2

!.  With black and C hook.  Chain 6, sc in 2nd. ch from hook and next 3 chains,       3sc in last chain, turn and work along other side of chain, sc in 3, inc.

2.  Inc, sc in 3, inc X’s 3, sc in 3, inc X’s 2.

3.  Inc, sc in 4, *inc, sc*  X’s3, sc in 3, *inc, sc* X’s 2.

4-6.  Sc in each stitch.  (24)

7.  Sc in 9, dec X’s 3, sc in 9.  (21)

8.  Dec, sc in 5, dec, sc3tog., dec, sc in 5, dec.  (15)

9.  Change color to dark green.   Sc in each stitch.  (15)

10-12.  Sc in each stitch.  F/O leaving long tail to sew to body.

HAT With dark green.

Brim:

1. Make 6 sc in a mc.

2.Inc in each stitch  (12)

3.Inc in each stitich.  (24)

4.*Sc in 3, inc*  (30)

5.*Sc in 4, inc*  (36)

Body of hat:

1.  Make 6 sc in mc.

2.  Inc X’s 6  (12)

3.  *Sc in 1, inc*  (18)

4.  Sc in each stitch back loop only.

5.  Sc in each stitch.

6.  Dec 1, sc in remaining stitches.

7.  Dec 1, sc in remaining stitches.

8.  Dec 1, sc in remaining stitches.

9.  Dec 2 stitches evenly around.  F/O leaving long tail for sewing.  Stuff hat lightly.  If you wish, a piece of plastic mesh cut in a circle can be placed in the top of the hat to help it hold shape.

Hat band.  With black make a chain long enough to go around base of hat.  Stitch band together around base.  With yellow or gold yarn stitch a buckle on the hat band. 

Attach arms, legs and head to body.

Crochet a Valentine Wreath! Step by Step Instructions

As promised, this post contains the  secret to making an interchangeable holiday wreath!   Just take a look at this sweet Valentine Wreath!  

As mentioned in my previous post,  (you can find it HERE) the base of this wreath is made from a pool noodle cut the desired length and duct taped together.  The next step is to crochet or knit a rectangle that will cover the noodle.  I stitched the cover over the noodle ring, but I suppose the cover could be made with velcro closures if you want an interchangeable cover.

Wreath with stitched on cover.

I had in  mind something with lovebirds and these cute little  LOVEBIRDS are perfect!  Hop on over and visit Free Crochet Patterns to make these adorable little birds.  I confess to having tweaked the pattern a bit by making the wings a bit longer and adding 'feathers' to the tail.  (3 instead of 1)

Lovebirds added.

Velcro patches.

The birds are secured on the wreath by velcro hot-glued to the bottom of each. 

 I used only the loopy part of the velcro as it sticks very well to the crocheted acrylic cover.

 Next I envisioned a banner of hearts across the upper left of the wreath.  The pattern I used for these hearts can be found HERE.  Attic 24 is also where I got the original idea for this wreath several years ago.    I encourage you to explore her site for many great ideas and free patterns. 





I made 6 hearts from the Attic 24 pattern in 3 different colors.  I then stitched the hearts together and glued velcro to the backs of the end hearts.  Cute! Right?  But something more is needed.



I thought a green vine with some blossoms would add a bit more of color, so I made a thick chain from worsted weight yarn and a #5 crochet hook.   It was a little fussy gluing the velcro to the chain.  I had to be sure the chain wasn't twisted, and to glue enough velcro strips so that the vine could be shaped well.  But I think I got it!

Now, for some flowers and leaves!  I decided some tiny hearts would make
cute little blooms.  I found that pattern HERE.  In retrospect, I could have used this pattern for all the hearts, but had already made the banner hearts by this time.

The leaf pattern can be found HERE.  'Repeat Crafter Me' is another of my favorite blogs.  Check out her blog for a lot of great stuff!

Again, glue velcro to the back of each.


It took me awhile to decide on what more was needed.   Something beneath the birds seemed to be in order.  I thought about a larger puffed heart, but that just seemed like taking the heart theme a bit too far, although it is a Valentine Wreath.  My crafty sister suggested flowers, and I liked that idea. 

If you have ever searched Pinterest for crochet flowers,  you know there are a gazillion pins.  But it didn't take me long to find the perfect pin.  I love the way these roses fit perfectly!  You can find the pattern for these HERE.  I  think I will be visiting  'Skip to my Lou' more often!

Happy Valentine's Day

So, the secret is the velcro!  I know it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this out, but just in case it never occurred to you, there it is. 

Next month I will attempt to transform this same basic wreath into a St. Patricks Day wreath.  We will see how that goes.  To make sure you don't miss a single post, sign up for e-mail notifications on the right side-bar!

I hope this blog post will inspire you to get creative, do some stash-busting and make your home reflect the joy of holidays!

Blessings!
Reny