Large Shamrock Mat

Decorate your table for Saint Patrick’s Day with my easy and fun Large Shamrock Centerpiece Mat. You can use it on its own or as a mat to place under your favorite Saint Patrick’s Day decoration. It could also make a nice appliqué for larger projects. See below if you are interested in my pattern.  

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

The large shamrock centerpiece mat is approximately 19 inches tall (from top of leaf to bottom of stem) and 20 inches wide (across the widest part).

MATERIALS

– Size L/11/8.00mm crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge

– Super Bulky weight (6) yarn in Green (I used Loops & Threads Cozy Wool yarn in Sweetgrass.)

– Tapestry needle for weaving in ends

– Scissors

– Stitch markers (Optional – if needed for counting/marking stitches)

– Measuring tape

ABBREVIATIONS

– ch = chain

– chs = chains

– dc = double crochet

– dc2tog = double crochet 2 together (double crochet decrease)*

– hdc = half double crochet

– sc = single crochet

– slst = slip stitch

– st = stitch

– sts = stitches

* dc2tog (dc decrease): Yarn over, insert your hook under the first stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (you should now have 3 loops on your hook). Then, yarn over and pull through 2 loops on your hook (you should now have 2 loops on your hook). Next, yarn over and insert your hook under the next stitch, yarn over, and pull up a loop (you should now have 4 loops on your hook). With four loops now on your hook, yarn over and pull through 2 loops (you should now have 3 loops on your hook). Finally, yarn over and pull through all 3 loops.

GAUGE

5 dc = 2 inches

3 rows of dc = 2 inches

PATTERN NOTES

• The center of the shamrock is made first in continuous rounds of double crochet stitches. Do not join continuous rounds unless otherwise stated. Simply work the first stitch of each round in the first stitch of the previous round. Attach a stitch marker to mark rounds and move marker as you complete each round.
• The 3 leaves are made separately in rows of double crochet stitches.
• Brackets [ ] indicate portions of the pattern to be repeated.

DIRECTIONS

Center of Shamrock

*Use your 8.00 mm hook and green super bulky weight yarn.

*The center of the shamrock is worked in continuous rounds. Work first stitch of round in first stitch of previous round. Use a stitch marker if needed. 

Round 1: Form a magic ring, ch 2, work 10 dc in ring, pull ring closed. (10 dc)

Round 2: Work 2 dc in each st around. (20 dc)

Round 3: Repeat [dc in next st, 2 dc in next st] around. (30 dc)

Round 4: Repeat [dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st] around. (40 hdc)

Round 5: Repeat [dc in next 3 sts, 2 dc in next st] around. (50 hdc)

*Do not fasten off. You will now begin the stem. Leave yarn on the hook and pick up at Row 1 of the stem below.

Stem

Row 1: Ch 2, turn, dc in next st (last st of Round 5), dc in next 7 sts. (8 dc)

Row 2: Ch 2, turn, 2 dc in next st (last st of Row 1), dc in next 7 sts. (9 dc)

Row 3: Ch 2, turn, dc in each st across. (9 dc)

Row 4: Ch 2, turn, 2 dc in next st (last st of Row 3), dc in next 8 sts. (10 dc)

Row 5: Ch 2, turn, dc in each st across. (10 dc)

Row 6: Ch 2, turn, 2 dc in next st (last st of Row 5), dc in next 9 sts. (11 dc)

Row 7: Ch 2, turn, dc in next 10 sts, 2 dc in last st. (12 dc)

Row 8: Ch 2, turn, 2 dc in next st (last st of Row 7), dc in next 11 sts. (13 dc)

Row 9: Ch 2, turn, dc in next 12 sts, 2 dc in last st. (14 dc)

*At the end of Round 15, fasten off and weave in loose ends.

***You should now have the center and stem of the shamrock complete. Follow the directions below to make the leaves.

Leaf 1

*Use your 8.00 mm hook and green super bulky weight yarn.

*The leaf is made in rows of double crochet stitches.

*With front side of shamrock center facing, attach yarn to the first st of Round 5 of the center of the shamrock (the stitch to the right of the stem).

Row 1: With front side of shamrock center facing, attach yarn to first st of Round 5 of shamrock center, ch 2, 2 dc in same st (first st of Round 5), dc in next 12 sts, 2 dc in next st. (16 dc)

Row 2: Ch 2, turn, 2 dc in first st, dc in next 14 sts, 2 dc in last st. (18 dc)

Row 3: Ch 2, turn, 2 dc in first st, dc in next 16 sts, 2 dc in last st. (20 dc)

Row 4: Ch 2, turn, 2 dc in first st, dc in next 18 sts, 2 dc in last st. (22 dc)

Row 5: Ch 2, turn, 2 dc in first st, dc in next 20 sts, 2 dc in last st. (24 dc)

Row 6: Ch 2, turn, 2 dc in first st, dc in next 22 sts, 2 dc in last st. (26 dc)

Row 7: Ch 2, turn, dc in each st across. (26 dc)

Row 8: Ch 2, turn, dc in next 12 sts, slst in next 2 sts, dc in next 12 sts. (24 dc, 2 slst; 26 total sts)

*Row 9 is not worked the entire way across Row 8 because it forms the top half of the leaf. Do not work any stitches into the 2 slip stitches from Row 8.

Row 9: Ch 2, turn, dc2tog, dc in next 8 sts, dc2tog. (2 dc2tog, 8 dc; 10 total sts)

Row 10: Ch 1, turn, slst in first st, hdc in next st, 2 hdc in next st, 2 dc in next 4 sts, dc2tog, sc in last st, fasten off and weave in loose ends. (1 slst, 3 hdc, 8 dc, 1 dc2tog, 1 sc; 14 total sts)

*You should now have one of the top halves of the leaf complete. Row 9 (Part 2) completes the other half below. Make sure to have the front side of the shamrock facing before attaching your yarn.

Row 9 (Part 2): With front side of shamrock facing, attach yarn to the 12th dc of Row 8 (the stitch next to the 2 slip stitches of Row 8), ch 2, dc2tog, dc in next 8 sts, dc2tog. (2 dc2tog, 8 dc; 10 total sts)

Row 10 (Part 2): Ch 1, turn, sc in first st, dc2tog, 2 dc in next 4 sts, 2 hdc in next st, hdc in next st, slst in last st, fasten off and weave in loose ends. (1 sc, 1 dc2tog, 8 dc, 3 hdc, 1 slst; 14 total sts)

*Once you fasten off and weave in the loose ends, Leaf 1 is complete.

Leaf 2

*Use your 8.00 mm hook and green super bulky weight yarn.

*The leaf is made in rows of double crochet stitches.

*With front side of shamrock center facing, attach yarn to the 15th st of Round 5 of the center of the shamrock (the stitch next to Leaf 1).

After attaching your yarn to the 15th stitch of Round 5 of the center of the shamrock, follow the same pattern as you did for Leaf 1 above.

*Once you fasten off and weave in the loose ends, Leaf 2 is complete.

Leaf 3

*Use your 8.00 mm hook and green super bulky weight yarn.

*The leaf is made in rows of double crochet stitches.

*With front side of shamrock center facing, attach yarn to the 29th st of Round 5 of the center of the shamrock (the stitch next to Leaf 2).

After attaching your yarn to the 29th stitch of Round 5 of the center of the shamrock, follow the same pattern as you did for Leaf 1 above.

*Once you fasten off and weave in the loose ends, Leaf 3 is complete. Your shamrock is now finished and ready to display!