Irish Blessing
by Mary Wilkins
Description: How to make an easy Irish Blessing wall hanging.
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IRISH BLESSING:
St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner. With that in mind I made this little wallhanging to share with you. It makes a wonderful welcome to your home or a very thoughtful housewarming gift for someone else. This project is free with instructions here.
SUPPLIES:
14" square of plain cream colored fabric or muslin
14" square fabric for backing
14" square of batting
4 strips of co-ordinating fabric for binding each 2" wide
Scrap of green fabric for shamrock
Scrap of black or brown fabric for stem
5 brass buttons
1 ribbon rose for middle
Fusible web
Black permanent fine tip marker
STEP 1:
Fold muslin square in half, then in half again. Press with iron marking centre of square. Fold out.
STEP 2:
Cut 3 hearts from green fabric, each one 3 1/2" high and 3 1/2" wide.
Cut 1 stem from brown or black fabric, 4" long and 1/2" wide. Have it slightly curved.
Following manufacturers instructions fuse web to wrong side of hearts and stem. Peel off paper backing and set aside to cool.
Centre your green hearts to centre of square as pictured, overlapping points.
Tuck one end of stem under green fabric.
Fuse shapes to background fabric carefully.
NOTE: If you have one of those Clover mini-irons, this is the perfect time to put it to use. Much handier than a full size iron.
STITCHING:
With a dark brown or black thread, zigzag or satin stitch around outer edge of stem.
Changing to green thread to match fabric, satin stitch or zigzag around outer edges of shamrock shapes.
Attach pink rose to middle of shamrock for a wild Irish rose.
BUTTONS:
Position 5 brass buttons over top of shamrock shape. These buttons represent the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Mark with thread or a pencil where to attach buttons but DO NOT sew them on yet.
LETTERING:
Beneath the shamrock draw 4 faint pencil lines, centering lines on fabric square.
With fine lead pencil write the following verse on lines.
You can change the wording of "our" to "your" if giving to someone.
May Our Troubles be Less
And Our Blessings be More
May Nothing but Happiness
Burst Thru our Door
Once you are happy with the appearance of your writing in lead pencil, go over it with a permanent fine tipped marker. Work on a hard flat surface for best results.
Once your "blessing" has dried, press with a dry, warm iron to set the verse.
ASSEMBLY:
Layer in the following order for assembly.
Backing square (wrong side up)
Batting square in middle
Muslin with fused shamrock on top (right side up)
Pin 3 layers together.
BINDING:
Cut 2 strips 2" wide fabric the length of left and right sides.
Fold in half lengthwise, matching raw edges of strips to edges of square. Your fold will face middle of project.
Machine stitch using straight stitch and 1/4" seam allowances thru all layers.
Cut 2 strips 2" wide and the width of project plus enough to fold under at four corners. Press under ends to fit.
Machine stitch as for sides.
Fold strips to back of quilt and stitch down neatly.
BRASS BUTTONS:
Now sew on buttons thru all layers. Make sure they are spaced evenly over top of shamrock.
HANGING YOUR IRISH BLESSING:
On the back top corners, stitch small plastic rings to hang over tacks or nails.
This free, easy project was designed and written by Mary Wilkins, mother to 3 grown children and 4 perfect grandchildren. She is also owner/editor of http://sew-whats-new.com.
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