St. Patrick's Day Four Leaf Clover Hair Bow

 

Since we're huge Notre Dame fans, I'm always looking for cute St. Patrick's Day ideas because they can be used all football season long at our house.  And probably the best thing I've come across is this cute four leaf clover hair bow!

It is so easy to make too!  I've made it for all my nieces and several of my friend's daughters too.  (We're all one big, happy Notre Dame family around here ;)

I found it originally here on Pinterest, but the instructions are in a foreign language.  So here is how to make this four leaf clover hair bow in English: 


Four Leaf Clover Hair Bow

Materials:

Cardboard (thin, like from a cereal box)
Pen
Scissors
Green felt
Fabric scissors
Green thread
Sewing needle
Green 3/8" wide ribbed ribbon
Lighter or lit candle
Hot glue gun
Hot glue stick
Hair clip


Four Leaf Clover Instructions:

1.  Draw a single clover leaf on the inside of a cereal box, then cut it out.  This will be your stencil.  Mine is about the size of a quarter.

Obviously, it doesn't have to be perfect ;)

2.  Trace your stencil 4 times on the green felt, and then cut out your clover leaves with fabric scissors.

3.  Prepare your thread and needle, making sure the knot is substantial and there is a significant amount of spare thread at the knotted end.  (You will need this extra thread to tie another knot later.)

4.  Place the first clover leaf facing up.  Near the straight edge at the bottom of the leaf, weave the thread under, then over, then under, and then over again.  See picture below.

5.  Repeat this for each clover leaf, keeping all 4 on the same thread.

6.  Push all the clover leaves together towards the knotted end, like this:

7.  Then, pull the thread as tight as you can and knot multiple times.  Trim the excess thread once secured.

Now, you have your four leaf clover!

If you want, you can stop here and make several four leaf clovers of different sizes to decorate for St. Patrick's Day with, like this...

...or you can continue with the instructions below to turn it into a cute hair bow!



Ribbon Barrette Instructions: 

1.  Cut the ribbon to the exact length you need to cover the hair clip.  (The length I prefer is pictured below.)

2.  Carefully using a lighter or lit candle, run each end of the ribbon very quickly through the flame.  This seals the ends so they won't fray.  But be careful - it will catch on fire if you go too slow!


3.  Holding the hair clip open with one hand, run a thin line of hot glue on the top of the clip.  Quickly, place the ribbon on top, leaving 3/4 inch of ribbon hanging off the pointed end.  Let dry.


4.  Continuing to hold the hair clip open, place a thin line of hot glue under the top lip of the hair clip and fold the 3/4 inch of ribbon under.  Let dry.

5.  Close the hair clip.  Now, run a thin line of hot glue under the hair clip and fold the ribbon under.  Let dry.  It should look like this:

Note: I prefer to leave the bottom of the hair clip uncovered by ribbon because it's easier to slide in my daughter's hair.  The hair covers the bottom of the hair clip anyway, so you can't tell there isn't ribbon there.

6.  Time for the embellishment - the four leaf clover!  Place a small dot of hot glue on the top of the ribbon barrette.  Quickly, place the clover on top.  Let dry.   

Your hair bow is now ready to go!

The perfect accessory for a little girl for St. Patrick's Day :)

And for all of Notre Dame football season too!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  And goooooo Irish!!!!

             

I'm linking up with these awesome parties!