🌿New and Very Stylish Leaf Patterned Crochet Multi-Purpose Lace Tutorial

 

Leaf-Patterned Multi-Purpose Lace — Detailed Step-by-Step Tutorial

Estimated skill: easy-intermediate (comfortable with chains, single/double/triple crochet and working multiple stitches in one stitch). The pattern below gives: materials, abbreviations, a sample swatch pattern in a repeat, a worked example for a 4-leaf swatch (so you can see placement), finishing and variations.

Materials

• Yarn: Lightweight (sport / DK) or cotton thread for lacy look. Example: 3.5–4.5 mm yarn for small lace, 100% cotton for doilies.

• Hook: Use the hook recommended for your yarn — usually 3.0–4.5 mm for DK/sport. For lacier look, go up one hook size.

• Tapestry needle for weaving ends

• Scissors, stitch marker (optional)

Abbreviations

• ch = chain

• sl st = slip stitch

• sc = single crochet (US)

• hdc = half double crochet (US)

• dc = double crochet (US)

• tr = treble crochet (US) (sometimes called treb)

• sp = space

• st = stitch

• [] = repeat section

• • • = repeat to marker

Basic idea / motif description

Each motif (one leaf) is formed by making a fan/cluster of taller stitches (dc/tr) that meet at a central point, producing a pointed leaf shape with chain arches between leaves to give lace. Rows alternate leaf rows with spacer rows so the motif can be used in strips (shawls, edgings) or joined in rounds.

Gauge & Foundation

This pattern is worked in a multiple of 12 stitches plus 3 extra for the starting chain (so: multiple of 12 + 3). That gives a clean repeat for the leaf clusters below.

Make a test swatch: chain 27 (12 × 2 + 3) and work rows below until you’re happy with size.

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Pattern — basic leaf lace repeat (flat, row repeat)

Foundation row

1. Chain a multiple of 12 + 3. (Example for 4 leaves across: 12 × 4 + 3 = 51 chains)

Row 1 — Base row (establish)

1. Starting in the 4th chain from the hook, dc. (ch 2, skip 2 chains, dc in next 3rd chain) — no, let’s use a consistent set of stitches for the motif:

2. Row 1 (establishing row): ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in same ch as ch 3 (optional, if you prefer), ch 3, skip 3 ch, dc in next ch — work dc separated by ch-3 arches across. This row sets up the arches you’ll work into on Row 2. (If you prefer a neater start, instead do sc across and then begin leaf row.)

Note: The pattern below uses a clearer leaf construction in Row 2. If you already have a base of dc or sc rows you can jump to Row 2.

Row 2 — Leaf row (the main decorative row)

This is the core leaf shaping row — each leaf is worked over a 12-stitch repeat.

1. ch 3 (counts as first dc), turn.

2. *Work into the ch-3 arch from previous row:

   • sc into ch-3 arch, ch 2, skip next arch or stitches as needed (this positions the stem), then in the main placement stitch work the leaf shape:*

   • Leaf shape (worked into the same stitch or space):
     · 1 dc, 1 tr, 1 tr, 1 dc, all worked into the single stitch/space so they fan out (that is: dc, tr, tr, dc = 4 stitches clustered to create a pointed leaf).
     · ch 3 to make the small arch between leaves, then sc in the next space to anchor.

3. Repeat across row: sc + leaf cluster + ch-3 arch + sc + leaf cluster … finishing with a dc in the last ch 3 (or as required to mirror the start).

A more explicit concrete Row-by-Row for a 51-ch foundation (4 leaves):

Assume you begin with a neat Row 1 of dc across or a base row that created ch-3 arches. If you don’t have that, do: chain 51, then sc in 2nd chain from hook across to give a firm base, sl st to join if you prefer circular/edging.

Concrete version (works predictably):

• Foundation: ch 51.

• Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (51 sc). Turn.

• Row 2 (setup): ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in next 2 sc, ch 3, skip 3 sc, dc in next 3 sc — repeat across. (This establishes ch-3 arches every 3 sc.)

• Row 3 (leaf row): ch 3 (counts as dc), turn. In each ch-3 arch from Row 2 work: sc into arch, ch 2, [dc, tr, tr, dc] all worked into the next dc (or central stitch) to form the leaf; ch 3, sc in the next arch. Repeat across. End with dc into top of turning ch.

This gives repeated leaves separated by chain arches. If you prefer the leaf to be taller, replace the cluster with dc, tr, tr, tr, dc (5-stitch fan) or reduce to dc, dc, tr, dc for shorter leaves.

Row 4 — Spacer row

After a leaf row you want a spacer row to stabilize:

• ch 1, turn. sc across, working one sc into the top of each leaf cluster (into the top of the middle stitch of the cluster) and one sc into each ch-3 arch. This flattens and stabilizes the lace so the next row of leaves sits correctly.

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Repeat

• Repeat Rows 2–4 for as long as you like: leaf row (Row 3), spacer sc row (Row 4), then leaf row again (build the staggered/open leaf structure).

• For edging: after final leaf row, add a picot or sc border: sc, ch 3, sl st in same st as a small picot every two repeats for decorative edge.

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Worked example: small 4-leaf strip (step-by-step)

1. Chain 51.

2. Row 1: sc in 2nd chain from hook and across (51 sc). Turn.

3. Row 2 (setup): ch 3 (counts as dc) — dc in next 2 sc; ch 3, skip 3 sc, dc in next 3 sc; repeat across; finish with dc on top of turning ch. Turn.

4. Row 3 (leaf row): ch 3 (counts dc), turn. Working into each ch-3 arch from Row 2: sc in arch, ch 2, locate the central dc from the group of 3 dc you made in Row 2 (this is the positioning stitch)—into that stitch work dc, tr, tr, dc all into the same stitch (creating the leaf fan). ch 3, sc in next arch. Repeat across. End with dc on top of turning ch. Turn.

5. Row 4 (spacer): ch 1, turn; sc across, placing sc into the top of the center stitch of each leaf cluster and into each ch-3 arch. Turn.

6. Repeat Rows 3–4 for desired length.

Finishing & Notes

• Blocking: Gently block to open the lace and shape leaves (pin out points of leaves while damp and allow to dry). Cotton especially benefits from blocking.

• Joining: To make a shawl, work multiple strips and seam along straight edges or continue increasing/decreasing the number of repeats per row to shape.

• Edge options: Use a scallop edge (5 dc in one st, skip 2, sl st, etc.) or small picots for a neat finish.

• Scale: Use a bigger hook and thicker yarn for bold, larger leaves; smaller thread + finer hook for doily-type lace.

• Adaptations:

  • To make a circular motif (doily), you can convert the repeats to rounds by working leaf clusters into chain spaces around a small circle and using spacer rounds of sc between leaf rounds.

  • To make a denser fabric, substitute dc with hdc in the cluster.

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Short troubleshooting tips

• If leaves look flat: increase the number of tall stitches in the fan (add one more tr) or use a larger hook.

• If fabric curls: add more spacer rows of sc to stabilize.

• If leaf placement seems off: mark the central stitch of groups (stitch markers) when you first establish the row of dc groups — ensures each leaf fan is worked into the same centering stitch.

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Quick stitch chart (text)

(Each “|” indicates a repeat boundary; the cluster shown as [dc tr tr dc] = leaf)

• Foundation: ch (multiple 12 + 3)

• Row A (setup): dc groups separated by ch-3 arches

• Row B (leaf): sc in arch — ch2 — [dc tr tr dc] into center of group — ch3 — sc in next arch

• Row C (spacer): sc across into tops of clusters and arches

• Repeat B–C

Video: