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Oak Leaf (F3)

front and back of a knitted oak leaf.

This carefully unsymmetrical oak leaf pattern will leave you with lots of loose ends to sew in. Why not use them to embroider some extra veins across the back of your leaf?

A printable version of this pattern is available.

You will need:

  • green yarn (double knit)
  • covered thin gauge wire (e.g. garden twist tie)
  • 2 x double ended knitting needles (3mm)
  • tapestry needle
  • scissors

Pattern:

(A list of standard abbreviations is available.)

Leaf:

Cast on 3 stitches and continue in the flat.

  1. Row 1: kfb, kfb, k1 (5)
  2. Row 2: p – (5)
  3. Row 3: k1, kfb, kfb, k2 (7)
  4. Row 4: p – (7)
  5. Row 5: k2, kfb, kfb, k3 (9)
  6. Row 6: p – (9)
  7. Row 7: k3, kfb, kfb, k4 (11)
  8. Row 8: p – (11)
  9. Row 9: k4, kfb, kfb, k3, k2togtbl (12)
  10. Row 10: p – (12)
  11. Row 11: k5, kfb, kfb, k5 (14)
  12. Row 12: p – (14)
  13. Row 13: k6, kfb, kfb, k6 (16)
  14. Row 14: p – (16)
  15. Row 15: k7, kfb, kfb, k7 (18)
  16. Row 16: p7, pfb, p10 (19)
  17. Row 17 (First Lobe): k1, k2togtbl, cut yarn. Thread the yarn through the two stitches you have just worked and slip them off the needle. Rejoin the yarn to continue the row, k5, kfb, kfb, k9. (18)
  18. Row 18: p – (18)
  19. Row 19: k6, kfb, kfb, k10 (20)
  20. Row 20: p – (20)
  21. Row 21: k7, kfb, kfb, k9, k2togtbl (21)
  22. Row 22 (Second Lobe): p3, p2tog, turn the knitting and working in the opposite direction k2tog, k2. Turn again, p3. Cut yarn and thread it through these 3 sts, slipping them off the needle. Rejoin the yarn, p – (16)
  23. Row 23: k8, kfb, kfb, k4, k2togtbl (17)
  24. Row 24: p – (17)
  25. Row 25: k9, kfb, kfb, k6 (19)
  26. Row 26: p6, pfb, p12 (20)
  27. Row 27: k10, kfb, kfb, k8 (22)
  28. Row 28: p20, p2tog (21)
  29. Row 29: k10, kfb, kfb, k9 (23)
  30. Row 30: p – (23)
  31. Row 31 (Third Lobe): k4, k2togtbl, turn, p5, turn, k2tog, k1, k2togtbl, turn, p3. Cut yarn and thread through these 3 sts. Rejoin yarn to remaining sts, k5, kfb, kfb, k10 (19)
  32. Row 32: p – (19)
  33. Row 33: k2tog, k4, kfb, kfb, k11 (20)
  34. Row 34: p – (20)
  35. Row 35: k6, kfb, kfb, k12 (22)
  36. Row 36 (Fourth Lobe): p2togtbl, p3, p2tog, turn, k2tog, k3, turn, p4, turn, k2, k2togtbl. Cut yarn & thread through. Rejoin yarn, p – (15)
  37. Row 37: k7, kfb, kfb, k6 (17)
  38. Row 38:p2tog, p15 (16)
  39. Row 39 (Fifth Lobe): k2tog, k1, k2togtbl, turn, p3. Thread yarn through these 3 sts. Rejoin yarn and k3, kfb, kfb, k6 (13)
  40. Row 40: p – (13)
  41. Row 41: k2tog, k2, kfb, kfb, k7 (14)
  42. Row 42: p2tog, p10, p2tog (12)
  43. Row 43: k2tog, k1, kfb, kfb, k2, k2togtbl, k3 (12)
  44. Row 44: p4, turn, k2tog, k2, cut yarn and thread through these 3 sts. Rejoin yarn, p2togtbl, p2, p2tog, p2tog (5)
  45. Row 45: k – (5)

Thread yarn through remaining stitches and pull tight.

Veins/Stalk:

  • Cast on 2 sts
  • i-cord 5 rows.
  • Working as for i-cord, kfb, k1 (3)
  • i-cord 5 rows.
  • Working as for i-cord, kfb, k2 (4)
  • i-cord until the vein is same length as the leaf.
  • Thread yarn through remaining sts.

Making Up:

Bend a piece of wire to half the length of the leaf, doubling the ends over for safety (see diagram below).

wire frame set up

Cover the wire stalk with the knitted vein. Attach the vein along the centre of the leaf. The vein should not reach all the way to the tip of the leaf.

leaf and vein arrangement

Sew in any remaining loose ends.

Notes:

Needle/Yarn Size

As with most ODDknit patterns the yarn and needle sizes in the "you will need" section are just a guide. Feel free to improvise with whatever needles and yarn you have lying around - that's half the fun!