Easiest Leaf Openwork Knitting Stitch Pattern
A lacy leaf pattern you asked for: eyelets outline each leaf, and a twist at the top closes it. Only six rows, and quick to knit once you've done one repeat.
A lot of you requested this pattern. It's a row of openwork leaves, each one outlined with little eyelets. It's easy, quick, and very versatile. Knit a few inches of it as a border and the rest plain, and you get a lovely pair of palazzo pants. It also works for a child's bell-bottoms, a skirt, cushions, purses, or a panel in a cardigan.
Stitch count
Multiples of 12, plus 5 for the edges. My swatch is 41 stitches; I teach it on 29.
What you'll need
- Any wool or yarn. A smooth wool, merino or cotton shows the eyelets clearly
- Knitting needles to suit your yarn
The 6-row pattern
- Row 1 (RS):right side
Slip 1. *Purl 3, knit 4, purl 1, knit 4.* Repeat. With 4 stitches left: purl 3, knit 1.
- Row 2 (WS):wrong side
Slip 1. Work the stitches as they appear: *knit 3, purl 4, knit 1, purl 4.* Repeat, ending with knit 3, purl 1. Every wrong-side row is worked like this.
- Row 3 (RS):right side
Slip 1. *Purl 3. Yarn back, slip-slip-knit (2 into 1 through the back loop), knit 2, yarn over, purl 1, yarn over, knit 2, knit 2 together.* Repeat, ending with purl 3, knit 1.
- Row 4 (WS):wrong side
Slip 1. *Knit 3, purl 4 (purl the yarn over through the back loop), knit 1, purl 4 (again, purl the yarn over through the back loop).* Repeat, ending with knit 3, purl 1.
- Row 5 (RS):right side
Slip 1, purl 2. *Purl the next purl and knit stitch together. Yarn back and twist the next 2 stitches to the right (knit the 2nd stitch, then the 1st, and drop both). Yarn over, knit 1, purl 1, knit 1, yarn over. Twist the next 2 stitches to the left. Purl the next knit and purl stitch together, purl 1.* Repeat. At the end, purl 1, knit 1.
- Row 6 (WS):wrong side
Slip 1. *Knit 3, purl 4, knit 1, purl 4.* Repeat, ending with knit 3, purl 1.
Repeat these 6 rows. Row 7 is row 1 again: purl 3, knit 4, purl 1, knit 4. The single purl stitch in the middle of each leaf runs straight up like the leaf's vein.
After one repeat you'll see the first leaf appear, and the rest build up quickly.
- leaf stitch
- openwork knitting
- lace leaf pattern
- eyelet knitting
- knitting stitch pattern
- hand knitting
- kids knitting
- wool
