About St. Patrick's Day and Our Favorite Irish Craft Projects for Kids and Adults

On St. Patrick's Day, everyone is a little Irish. Whether you come from Ireland, enjoy a pint of Guinness, or just want to celebrate those great figures of Irish culture like James Joyce or Oscar Wilde, St. Patrick's Day is a fun holiday for everyone. For the crafting community, this guide to St. Patrick's Day shares a a short history of the holiday, and our hand-picked favorites for St. Patrick's Day craft projects, including clover jewelry and festive home decor.

Table Of Contents                                                             

About St. Patrick's Day

Our Favorite St. Patrick's Day Craft Project

More Top St. Patrick's Day Crafts

Craft Tips for St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day Crafts for Kids

About St. Patrick’s Day

Celebrated on March 17th, St. Patrick’s Day is the time to wear green, sport clovers and drink a beloved Irish beverage such as Guinness, Beamish, or Bushmills. Perhaps you could also remember Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland who is largely responsible for bringing Christianity to pre-Christian Ireland. St. Patrick used the three-leaf clover to explain the Holy Trinity, hence its association with the holiday.

Surprisingly, St. Patrick’s Day was celebrated as a public holiday in the States before in Ireland, where it was previously celebrated only as a religious holiday. The Charitable Irish Society of Boston organized the first St. Patrick’s Day parade in 1737 and New York’s parade began in 1762. Though St. Patrick’s Day become a public and bank holiday in the Republic of Ireland in 1903, the Irish government began a campaign only in the mid 1990’s for a more secular celebration of Ireland and its culture on St. Patrick’s Day, complete with four-day festival.

For crafters, we can celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with fun crafts celebrating the Irish.

Our Favorite St. Patrick’s Day Craft Project: Fabric Yo-Yo Shamrock

Use heart yo-yos to create a lucky shamrock or three-leaf clover for St. Patrick’s Day.

1. Use our tutorial to create three heart yo-yos in any green fabric. You can also use three different complimentary fabrics. These are a fun way to use up scrap fabric in your stash.
2. Place two yo-yo hearts with the points touching and stitch together at the back about ½-1 inch, depending on the size of your hearts.
3. With the points together, stitch another heart to these on each side of the heart to create the look of a shamrock.
4. Add green ribbon, pipe cleaner, cord or you can even crochet a stem for your shamrock.

Give these as gifts on St. Patrick’s Day or hang from ribbon as ornament to display in the window.

Slainte!

Top Five St. Patrick’s Day Crafts

St. Patrick’s Day Wreath

Lucky Clover Shoes

Four Leaf Clover Charm

Lucky Charm Earrings

St. Patrick’s Day Centerpiece Video Tutorial:

St. Patrick’s Day Craft Tips

• For a bit of Irish authenticity, incorporate “Slainte,” the Irish form of cheers, or for something a bit more difficult “Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig,” to say Happy St. Patrick’s Day (or literally St. Patrick’s Day blessing), into your craft projects. Write “Kiss me I’m Irish” as “Tabhair póg dom, táim Éireannach.” Irish is a tricky but beautiful language and there is a definite revival going on in Ireland to keep people speaking the language.
   
• Some of the best recipes for chocolate cake incorporate a can of Guinness Stout and St. Patrick’s Day is the perfect time to try these out. Enjoy one while crafting with friends.
   
• Remember the leprechaun’s pot of gold for a little fun this St. Patrick’s Day. Hide a “pot of gold” in the house for kids to find. Cover the bottom of a box with black felt, the top with metal circles, and fill with candy or small toys.

More St. Patrick’s Day Crafts for Kids

Make Green Play-dough for St. Patrick’s Day

St. Patrick’s Day Neck Tie

Make a Leprechaun Hat Video Tutorial:

Sources- “Saint Patrick’s Day.” Encarta