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Looking for a quick and easy crochet shamrock pattern? Learn how to crochet your own adorable shamrock or four-leaf clover with this free pattern – even if you’re a beginner!
Table of Contents
Shamrocks are so easy and fun to make! Not only are they perfect for St. Patrick’s Day decorations, but they also make great appliques, garlands, or even tiny lucky charms to give to friends and family.
I love quick little projects like these, because they’re super satisfying and a great way to use up bits of leftover yarn.
Whether you want a traditional three-leaf shamrock or a lucky four-leaf clover, this tutorial has got you covered. I’ll walk you through every step of the pattern, from choosing materials to weaving in the ends.
So, gather your supplies, grab your favorite crochet hook, and let’s get started!
Prefer the PDF version?
Grab the ad-free, printable PDF pattern. Download and print at home, or view on your computer, tablet, or smartphone.
Materials
Here are the supplies you’ll need to crochet this pattern.
- Yarn:Worsted weight is a classic choice, but feel free to experiment with thinner or thicker yarn. Consider tonal or variegated yarns with different shades of green for a more natural look.
- Crochet Hook:A size H (5.0 mm) hook works well for worsted weight. Choose a smaller hook for thinner yarn, and a larger hook for thicker yarn.
- Stitch Markers (optional):Use a stitch marker to mark the beginning of your round, or any other stitches you need to keep track of.
- Scissors
- Yarn Needle:Use a yarn needle to weave in yarn tails.
Review These Basic Stitches
Here are the stitches you’ll need to know to complete this pattern. If any of these stitches are new to you, click on the link for a stitch tutorial.
- Chain Stitch (ch): The foundation of all crochet projects.
- Slip Stitch (sl st): Used to move from one stitch to another without adding height.
- Single Crochet (sc): A simple, short stitch.
- Half Double Crochet (hdc): Slightly taller than a single crochet.
- Double Crochet (dc): Your classic, medium-height stitch.
- Extended Double Crochet (edc): Similar to a double crochet, but with an extra step to create a slightly taller stitch – Yarn over and insert hook, yarn over and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through one loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through 2 loops (2 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through 2 loops (1 loop on hook).
- Triple Crochet (tr): A taller stitch that adds height.
Shamrock Pattern Details
Project Level
Easy
Finished Measurements
3″ wide by 4″ tall (8cm by 10cm)
Yarn Requirements
8 yds (4g) of Category 4 worsted weight, cotton yarn
Suggested Yarn
WeCrochet Dishie in Jalapeno
Suggested Hook
US 7 (4.50 mm) hook
Gauge
5 sts per inch (Meeting gauge is not critical to the success of this pattern.)
Abbreviations
- ch: chain
- dc: double crochet
- edc: extended double crochet
- hdc: half double crochet
- sc: single crochet
- sl st: slip stitch
- st(s): stitch(es)
- tr: treble crochet
Prefer the PDF version?
Grab the ad-free, printable PDF pattern. Download and print at home, or view on your computer, tablet, or smartphone.
Buy the Pattern
Pattern Instructions
Round 1
- Make a Magic Ring, also known as a Magic Loop. (This is a great way to start working in the round without leaving a hole in the center of your work.)
- Make the three leaflets: [Ch 6. Working in the back bumps, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and next 4 chs, sl st in magic ring] 3 times.This creates the three leaves of your shamrock.
- Make the stem: Ch 11. Working in the back bumps, sl st in the 2nd chain from the hook, and in the next 10 chains, sl st into the Magic Ring.
Round 2
- Work up one side of the leaflet: Sc in next st, hdc in next st, dc in next st, edc in next st, [tr, dc, ch2, sl st] in next st.
- Turn to work down the other side of the leaflet: Ch 2, [dc, tr] in next st, edc in next st, dc in next st, hdc in next st, sc in next st, sl st in sl st from previous round.
- Repeat steps 1-2 two more times to create three leaflets in total.
Finishing
- Weaving In Ends:Once you’ve completed your shamrock, use a yarn needle to carefully weave in all loose ends on the back of your work. Trim any excess yarn.
- Blocking (Optional):If your shamrock is curling or looks a bit wonky, you can block it to flatten it out. Lightly dampen your shamrock, then pin it flat on a foam board or blocking mat. Allow it to air dry completely before unpinning.
Variation: Four-Leaf Clover Pattern
A four-leaf clover is a rare mutation of the three-leaf clover. It’s considered a symbol of good luck!
To crochet a four-leaf clover, simply follow the instructions for Round 1 and Round 2, but repeat the leaflet instructions one more time to add a fourth leaf.
Round 1: Make a Magic Ring. [Ch 6. Working in the back bumps, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and next 4 chs, sl st in magic ring] 4 times. Ch 11. Working in the back bumps, sl st in the 2nd chain from the hook, and in the next 10 chains, sl st into the Magic Ring.
Round 2: *Sc in next st, hdc in next st, dc in next st, edc in next st, [tr, dc, ch2, sl st] in next st.Ch 2, [dc, tr] in next st, edc in next st, dc in next st, hdc in next st, sc in next st, sl st in sl st from previous round; Repeat from * three more times to create four leaflets in total.
Troubleshooting
- “My stitches are too tight, and it’s hard to work into them.”If you find your stitches are too tight, try using a slightly larger hook or consciously relaxing your tension as you crochet.
- “My shamrock is curling and won’t lay flat.”Blocking can help. Lightly dampen your shamrock, pin it flat on a foam board or blocking mat, and allow it to air dry.
- “I want to make a smaller or larger shamrock.”To adjust the size of your shamrock, use a thinner or thicker yarn and a corresponding smaller or larger hook.
Tips and Ideas
- Experiment with different shades of green yarn to create a variety of shamrocks.
- Make a bunch of shamrocks and string them together with yarn to create a festive garland perfect for St. Patrick’s Day!
- Attach a safety pin to the back of your shamrock to turn it into a brooch, or add a keychain or magnet.
- Use your shamrocks as appliques on hats, scarves, afghans, or other crochet projects.
Crochet Shamrock Pattern
Yield: 1
Active Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Learn how to crochet a traditional shamrock or four-leaf clover motif.
Materials
- worsted weight cotton yarn
Tools
- US 7 (4.5mm) crochet hook
Instructions
- Round 1:Make a Magic Ring. [Ch 6. Working in the back bumps, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and next 4 chs, sl st in magic ring] 3 times. Ch 11. Working in the back bumps, sl st in the 2nd chain from the hook, and in the next 10 chains, sl st into the Magic Ring.
- Round 2:*Sc in next st, hdc in next st, dc in next st, edc in next st, [tr, dc, ch2, sl st] in next st.Ch 2, [dc, tr] in next st, edc in next st, dc in next st, hdc in next st, sc in next st, sl st in sl st from previous round; Repeat from * two more times to create three leaflets in total.
Notes
Follow this variation to create a four-leaf clover:
- Round 1:Make a Magic Ring. [Ch 6. Working in the back bumps, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and next 4 chs, sl st in magic ring] 4 times. Ch 11. Working in the back bumps, sl st in the 2nd chain from the hook, and in the next 10 chains, sl st into the Magic Ring.
- Round 2:*Sc in next st, hdc in next st, dc in next st, edc in next st, [tr, dc, ch2, sl st] in next st.Ch 2, [dc, tr] in next st, edc in next st, dc in next st, hdc in next st, sc in next st, sl st in sl st from previous round; Repeat from * three more times to create three leaflets in total.
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More Free Crochet Patterns
- Free Crochet Heart Pattern – 3 Sizes
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Sarah Stearns Founder and Editor
Sarah Stearns has helped millions of makers find their next craft project with free patterns and step-by-step tutorials on her blog, sarahmaker.com. Read more.
With over a decade of experience in knitting and crochet, she has been featured in prominent publications like The New York Times, Scientific American, Good Housekeeping, Vox, Apartment Therapy, and Lifehacker.
