Maple leaves galore

 I made these maple leaves last year and published the pattern on Ravelry and Etsy. It makes quite a large leaf which can be used on garlands or coasters for mugs. 

However when I went to make a few this autumn, I realised how time consuming the pattern is so I made a smaller version which works up faster. It still has the same shape and little fronds/teeth. 

And it looks amazing if you embroider a few lines to stand as the veins in the leaf in a complementary colour. 

Here is the first in several free pattern for the wreath: the beech leaf.

Materials:

Stylecraft Special DK (I used lots of different shades of mid yellow orange, red!)

4.5mm crochet hook

Abbreviations (UK terms)

Mc = magic circle

Dc = double crochet

Sl st = slip stitch 

Htr = half treble

Tr = treble stitch 

DbTr. = double treble stitch (2 yo before starting stitch) 

Picot = ch 1, slip stitch into 2nd stitch from hook

Large picot = ch 2, slip stitch into 2nd stitch from hook, dc into base of ch)

Pattern:

Mc, ch1,  6dc into magic circle. Do not slip stitch to join round as you will be working in a spiral. 

Round 2: *2dc into stitch*, repeat round (12 stitches)

Round 3: *2dc into stitch* repeat round (24 stitches) 

Round 4: working around making the lobes. Each of the 5 lobes has 4 stitches from the circle, leaving the last 4 stitches for the stem to be made. 

 

Lobe 1: sl st in next st, htr tr and picot at the top of the tr in next st, tr and htr in next, sl st in next. 

Lobe 2: sl st and htr in next, tr with a picot on top dbtr with a large picot on top on next st, dbtr with a large picot and tr in next st, htr and sl st in next st. 

Lobe 3: sl st and htr in next st, tr with picot then dbtr with a picot and another dbtr with a large picot in next st, dbtr with a picot then dbtr with picot and then tr in next st, htr and sl st in next.

Lobe 4: repeat lobe 2.

Lobe 5: repeat lobe 1.

Sl st, chain 4 and sl st down the side of the stem. Sl st to base to secure the chain. Sl st in next 2 st. Cut yarn and sew in ends. 

You’re finished! Make as many as you like for wreaths or garlands! Or make with a chunky yarn to make mug coasters!

I find that I like the look of the leaves with the embroidery even more as they covered up the ‘gaps’ between the stitches when doing rounds 1-3. I use a contrasting colour to show the veins in the leaves. 

Let me know if you spot any errors and I’ll correct the pattern accordingly!