An Irish Blessing and green shamrocks will add to the festivities for a St. Patrick's Day celebration...until we meet again may God hold you in the palm of his hand!
An Irish Blessing and green shamrocks will add to the festivities for a St. Patrick's Day celebration...until we meet again may God hold you in the palm of his hand! The Irish Blessing design is available in two sizes. The smaller size (6.99"x4.78") was used for this project. Some basic sewing skills are needed to make this project. An embroidery software program (Embrilliance Essentials) was used to rotate the shamrock designs on an angle. You could also use a rotating feature on your embroidery machine to turn the design. You will hoop 3 times for this project. This runner uses a modified version of the 10 minute runner pattern.
Read all the directions before beginning the project. Gather supplies and materials. Put a 75/11 embroidery needle on your machine. Check your bobbin area for debris. Check for an adequate amount of thread on the bobbin. If available, print a design template.
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Step 2:
Cut these pieces from Fabric A (light):
One 9"x11" (Irish Blessing verse)
Two 5"x11" (Shamrock Corner)
Two 9.5"x11" (center ends)
Cut these pieces from Fabric B (dark):
Two 2"x11" (border beside Irish Blessing verse)
Two 3"x11" (border next to center end pieces)
One 17"x 42" (back and 1.5" border on front sides)
Step 3:
Hoop one piece of cutaway stabilizer in an 8"x8" or 5"x7" frame for the Irish Blessing design. Float the 9"x11" piece of Fabric A (light). Load the design. Embroider the design. Once finished, remove the hoop from the machine. Trim excess stabilizer leaving about 1/4" margin around the design. Trim jump stitches if needed.
NOTE: This design does have a high stitch count that means a longer stitching time. I slowed my stitching speed down to 600 due to the style of lettering and had a perfect stitch out.
Step 4:
Rotate the Shamrock Corner Design to an angle. Refer to the picture for placement guidance. Imagine the numbers on a clock. The corner tip of the shamrock should be at 9 o'clock for the fabric block to the left of Irish Blessing block. The corner tip should be at 3 o'clock for the fabric block to the right of the Irish Blessing block.
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Step 5:
Hoop one piece of cut away stabilizer in a 5x7 or 6x6 frame for the Shamrock Corner Design. Float one 5"x11" piece of Fabric A (light). Load the design. Embroider the design. Once finished, remove the hoop from the machine. Trim excess stabilizer leaving about 1/4" margin around the design.
The runner needs two stitch outs of the Shamrock Corner Design. One will be pointed to the left, and the other will be pointed to the right. Repeat this step to make another Shamrock Corner Design.
Step 6:
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The next step will start sewing the runner together. Begin with the 9"x11" Irish Blessing block. Pin a 2"x11" strip of Fabric B to each side of the block with right fabric sides facing each other. Sew a 1/4" seam making sure to reinforce stitching at the start and finish.
Step 7:
Press the seams with an iron.
Step 8:
Pin the 5"x11" Shamrock Corner blocks to each side of the center piece fabric. Sew a 1/4" seam making sure to reinforce stitching at the start and finish. Press seams with an iron.
Step 9:
Pin the 3"x11" pieces of Fabric B to the Shamrock Corner blocks. Sew a 1/4" seam making sure to reinforce stitching at the start and finish. Press seams with an iron.
Step 10:
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Pin the 9.5"x11 pieces of Fabric A to each end of the runner. Sew a 1/4" seam making sure to reinforce stitching at the start and finish. Press seams with an iron.
You have completed the center piece of the runner.
Step 11:
Trim edges evenly on Fabric A (center block) if needed.
Step 12:
Pin Fabric A (center block) to Fabric B (17"x42") with right sides together. Stitch long sides together with 1/4" seam. Turn the right sides out. Now you have a tube.
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Step 13:
Lay the tube flat on an ironing board. Press so that Fabric B (dark) is evenly bordered on Fabric A (center/light). Trim short ends evenly.
Step 14:
Fold the tube/runner in half lengthwise so that Fabric B (dark) is on the outside. Sew a 1/4" seam making sure to reinforce stitching at the start and finish.
Step 15:
Press seams with an iron.
Step 16:
Turn the seams inside to form a point and press in place. Topstitch two rows around the outer edges of the runner.
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Step 17:
Congrats! You have completed an Irish Blessing table runner! May the luck of the Irish be with you!
Marisa Littleton is a retired educator with a love for teaching and learning. Interests include machine embroidery, hand embroidery, quilting, cooking, and antiques.
