How to Knit a Perfectly Shaped 3D Leaf
A little 3D leaf with a raised centre vein, knitted flat on 19 stitches. Make a few for a cushion, a hair clip, a cardigan or a garland.
These 3D leaves are super easy, and they come out with a lovely raised shape and a vein running up the middle. Knit a few in greens and autumn colours and sew them onto a cardigan, a cap, a cushion or a bag, or string them into a garland.
What you'll need
- Any yarn: wool, cotton or acrylic
- Knitting needles to suit your yarn
- A sewing needle to weave in the ends
Cast on
Cast on 19 stitches using a single strand of yarn. For a bigger or smaller leaf, cast on more or fewer. Keep an odd number so there's always one centre stitch.
The body of the leaf (rows 1–12)
- Row 1 (RS):right side
Purl 9, yarn back, slip 1, yarn forward, purl 9.
- Row 2 (WS):wrong side
Knit 9, purl 1, knit 9.
- Row 3 (RS):right side
Knit into the front and back of the first stitch (increase). Knit 7. Knit 3 together: slip 2, then knit them together with the third through the back loops. Knit 7. Pick up the loop before the last stitch and knit it together with the last stitch to increase. You still have 19.
- Row 4 (WS):wrong side
Purl all 19.
- Rows 5–12:
Repeat rows 1–4 twice more.
Taper the leaf (rows 13–28)
Now the leaf narrows. The centre decrease continues, but no more increases at the edges, so you lose 2 stitches every fourth row.
- Row 13:
Purl 9, slip 1, purl 9.
- Row 14:
Knit 9, purl 1, knit 9.
- Row 15:
Knit 8, knit 3 together, knit 8 (17 stitches).
- Row 16:
Purl all.
- Rows 17–20:
Purl 8, slip 1, purl 8. Then knit 8, purl 1, knit 8. Then knit 7, knit 3 together, knit 7 (15). Purl all.
- Rows 21–24:
Purl 7, slip 1, purl 7. Then knit 7, purl 1, knit 7. Then knit 6, knit 3 together, knit 6 (13). Purl all.
- Rows 25–28:
Purl 6, slip 1, purl 6. Then knit 6, purl 1, knit 6. Then knit 5, knit 3 together, knit 5 (11). Purl all.
The tip (rows 29 to the end)
- Row 29:
Purl 4, work 3 together, purl 4 (9 stitches).
- Row 30:
Knit 4, purl 1, knit 4.
- Row 31:
Knit 3, knit 3 together, knit 3 (7).
- Row 32:
Purl all 7.
- Row 33:
Purl 2, work 3 together, purl 2 (5).
- Row 34:
Knit 2, yarn forward, slip 1, yarn back, knit 2.
- Row 35:
Knit 1, knit 3 together, knit 1 (3).
- Last
Slip the stitches back to the left needle, slip 2 together with a twist, and knit them with the third to make 1.
Cut the yarn, pull it through the last stitch, and weave in the ends neatly. Your leaf is done.
- knitted leaf
- 3D leaf
- knitting motif
- leaf pattern
- knitted embellishment
- hand knitting
- handmade
- yarn
