Crochet Fall Leaves: 2 Easy Leaf Patterns for Garlands and Decor
A long single leaf and a three-lobe "maple" leaf — both worked straight from a chain in minutes. Make them in rust, gold and red for garlands, wreaths and table scatter.
Pattern at a glance
US terms- Skill level
- Beginner
- Yarn
- Worsted (#4) yarn in fall colours, about 4 yd per leaf
- Hook
- 4 mm (G-6)
- Time
- 5–10 minutes per leaf
- Finished size
- About 3–4 in (8–10 cm) long
You'll need
- Worsted weight (#4) yarn in rust, gold, red, orange and brown
- 4 mm (G-6) hook
- Tapestry needle
In this post
Leaves are the quickest win in fall crochet. Both of these are worked along a chain: up one side with stitches that get taller towards the middle, three stitches at the tip, and back down the other side. That's it — no rounds, no counting increases.
The first is a classic single leaf. The second joins three small leaves at one stem for a maple-style shape.
The rest of this post is just below — free, as always.
The pattern
Leaf 1: the simple leaf
- Row 1: Ch 12. Starting in the 2nd ch from the hook: sl st, sc, hdc, dc in the next 5 ch, hdc, sc, 3 sc in the last ch.
- Row 1, other side: Working along the other side of the chain: sc, hdc, dc in the next 5 ch, hdc, sc, sl st.
- Stem: Ch 5, sl st in the 2nd ch from the hook and the next 3 ch. Fasten off.
- Vein (optional): With a contrasting colour, surface slip stitch from the stem to the tip along the centre.
Leaf 2: the three-lobe maple-style leaf
Make the small leaf below three times, without fastening off the third.
- Small leaf, Row 1: Ch 8. Starting in the 2nd ch from the hook: sl st, sc, hdc, dc, dc, hdc, 3 sc in the last ch.
- Small leaf, other side: hdc, dc, dc, hdc, sc, sl st. Fasten off the first two leaves with tails.
- Join: Lay the three leaves in a fan, bases touching. With the third leaf's working loop, sl st through the base of each of the other two.
- Stem: Ch 6, sl st back down the chain. Fasten off. Use the tails to stitch the leaf edges together where they overlap.
Shaping tips
- Leaves curl? Pin them flat on a towel, mist with water and let them dry — or steam acrylic lightly without touching it.
- Want variegated leaves? Self-striping yarn in autumn tones gives every leaf a different blend for free.
- Crisper points: work the tip as (sc, ch 2, sc) instead of 3 sc.
What to make with crochet leaves
- Garland: 20 leaves and 10 acorns on 6 feet of twine.
- Wreath: hot-glue leaves overlapping around a 12-inch grapevine wreath.
- Table scatter: a handful down the middle of the Thanksgiving table, with pumpkins.
- Appliqués: sew a leaf to a beanie, a tote or a coffee cup cozy.
Common questions
How do you crochet a simple leaf?
Chain an odd number, then work increasingly tall stitches along the chain (sl st, sc, hdc, dc), three stitches in the last chain, and the same stitches in reverse down the other side.
How do I make a bigger leaf?
Add chains in the middle and work more dc there: ch 16 and 9 dc for a 5-inch leaf. Or use bulky yarn with a 6 mm hook.
Can I crochet a real maple leaf shape?
The three-lobe leaf above is the beginner-friendly version. True five-point maple leaves are worked in rounds with chain points and are better tackled once you're confident with treble crochet.
Rust, gold or red — what's your favourite fall colour? 🍁
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