Cross Stitched Shamrock Tag Card

St. Patrick’s Day themed A6 side-folded card 

(measures approx. 4.63” wide x 6.25” tall) includes 

offset rounded corner front panel, accent strip, 

with shaped tag attached as principal interest. 

Tag includes slightly offset front overlay with round window, 

back layers with pair of ribbon tie punch holes, 

and cross stitch holes grid to hand stitch the three-leaf 

and stem shamrock. 

Add St. Patrick’s Day welded word cut below window, 

if desired. 

Tag measures approx. 2.57” across x 4.64” tall. 

Plain back shape is included in file to enable 

tag to be created as an independent project. 

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:

A card base   B front accent panel

C stitching holes panel tag base (2)

D window tag front panel

E horizontal cross accent strip

F St. Patrick's Day welded word accent

2. Prepare the stitching panel by making sure all

the "waste" shapes from the stitching holes have

fallen out, or push them out with the end of a bent paper

clip.  Then layer and glue the punch hole stitching panels, 

taking care that outer edges, punch holes and stitching hole 

edges all align as perfectly.

Press the glued-up shapes under a heavy flat weight

until thoroughly dried, several hours or overnight.

3. Obtain tapestry needles (size 24-26) and

two shades of 6-ply embroidery floss

to complete the cross stitching.

4. Cut a 24-30" length of 6-strand floss, then separate

two strands then lay them together. Fold the lengths in half 

and thread the four ends (or alternately the loops) 

through eye of a blunt tip tapestry needle. Pull the ends

part-way down - the loops will remain as the long end

and will be used to "tie on".

5. Take note of the smaller holes out of line from

the other rows where the center stem will be added.

Compare to the stitching chart where the stem stitch

is shown.

6. Prepare to begin stitching by positioning the loops end

of threaded needle below the holes array on tag backside,

 and secure in place with a small piece of cello tape.

7. Insert the needle in the lowest smaller offset hole

for bottom end of stem.

On front, pull thread all the way through.

Next, insert the needle down (from front) through

the upper offset stem hole, then . . .

. . . pull thread all the way through till long stitch is

flush with front of panel.

8. Repeat the same steps to double the stem stitch

for better visibility.

9. Next, identify the bottom cross stitch of the upper

"heart" on the chart. Insert the needle (back to front)

through the upper right hole of that 'X' stitch.

Then complete the right slant stitch, and . . .

. . . the left slant stitch . . .

. . . as shown here.

10. Continue to refer to the stitching chart to complete

the outline of X stitches, working upward around

the top shamrock "heart" petal . . .

. . . then back downward until it is complete.

When the length of floss on the needle gets used

up, pause before it is too short to "tie off".

This is done by working needle to backside at the end

of the final stitch worked, passing the needle under

a few adjacent stitches as they pass across the backside

of the tag, then clipping excess off close to surface.

11. "Tie on" the newly-prepared length of floss

(as described previously in Step 4), beginning by

inserting the needle from back to front in the upper left

hole of selected 'X' stitch - shown here as the bottom

center "point" stitch of left shamrock "heart".

Pull needle and floss through, but leave a generous

loop on the backside.

Insert needle down through the bottom right hole

of same X stitch, push needle through to backside.

Draw floss through, then pass needle through

the remaining loop, and . . .

. . . pull flush to "tighten" the stitch.

This is the normal "tie on" process.

12. Continue to complete the charted X stitches

around the right and then left shamrock "heart" shapes.

Then pass the needle down backside of work

(invisibly from front) to emerge near bottom of stem,

to complete the series of separate X stitches there.

Tie off and tie on as needed.

13. When the design is completed, either tie off

final floss length as described previously. Or,

direct the floss down to imitate the beginning loop,

secure with cello tape. Then . . .

. . . snip through ALL floss to remove excess.

14. Prepare a length of floss of the interior contrast

color, tie on where it makes most sense, then

complete the stitches within each of the "heart"

shapes as defined by previous X stitches.

Tie off and tie on in usual manner as needed.

15. Position and attach the circle window front tag

panel, offset around sides and bottom edges.

16. Prepare the card base by bending back along side

edge perforation.

Position - centered in both directions - front accent

panel and attach to front panel.

17. Prepare welded word phrase by centering

contrast cross strip behind the "Patrick's" portion,

both side to side, and top/bottom,

and attaching in place where the two surfaces touch.

18. Add ribbon bow to the top of tag.

19. Position tag at center of front panel so that

top edge is approx. 1/8" below accent panel top edge,

and attach in place.

20. Position welded word/strip assembly, centered

side to side, and overlapping the bottom of tag

as desired ("St." portion below circle window),

and attach in place.

Here is the completed tag card.