An easy leaf-shaped washcloth that makes a great quick gift. A good project for the beginner knitter who’s ready to move beyond the square. Make them in leafy colors, or get zany with rainbow cotton. The finished size depends on what weight of yarn you choose.
Skill Level beginner (basic decreasing and increasing)
Yarn 30 yards cotton or cotton blend yarn, in DK, worsted or aran weight.
Finished Measurements
DK weight: 4½ x 7¼ inches
Worsted weight: 5¼ x 7½ inches
Aran weight: 6 x 8 inches
Tension/gauge 24 (DK), 22 (Worsted), 20 (Aran) sts = 4 inches of garter stitch. Correct gauge is not essential for this project.
Needles 4.0 - 5.0 mm needles, depending on which yarn you use. (Check the yarn label for guidance).
Other Supplies tapestry needle, 2 stitch markers
Pattern
These will be concave as you knit them, but when you wet-block them, they will take on their leaf shape.
Version 1: Garter Stitch Leaf
Cast on 3 sts.
Row 1: K1, pm, k1, pm, k1.
Row 2 (and all even rows): Knit.
Row 3: K1, m1, sm, k1, sm, m1, k1—5 sts.
Row 5: K1, m1, knit to marker, m1, sm, k1, sm, m1, knit to last st, m1, k1—9 sts.
Row 7: Rep row 5—13 sts.
Row 9: Knit to marker, m1, sm, k1, sm, m1, knit to end—15 sts.
Rep rows 8-9 eight times—31 sts.
Next 9 rows: Knit.
Next row: Knit to 2 sts bef marker, k2tog, sm, k1, sm, ssk, knit to end—29 sts.
Rep the last 2 rows until there are 5 sts left on the needle.
Next row: Knit.
Next row: K2tog, remove marker, k1, remove marker, ssk—3 sts.
Next row: Knit.
Next row: K2tog, k1—2 sts.
Bind off.
Version 2: Stocking Stitch Leaf with Stem
Cast on 3 sts.
Rows 1-4: Knit.
Row 5 (RS): K1, pm, k1, pm, k1.
Rows 6 and 8: Knit.
Row 7: Knit to marker, m1, sm, k1, sm, m1, knit to end—5 sts.
Row 9: Rep row 7—7 sts.
Row 10: K3, p1, K3.
Row 11: Rep row 7- 9sts.
Row 12: K3, purl to marker, sm, p1, sm, purl to last 3 sts, k3.
Rep rows 11-12 11 times—31 sts.
Next row (RS): Knit.
Next row: Rep row 12.
Rep these 2 rows 3 times.
Next row: Knit to 2 bef marker, k2tog, sm, k1, sm, ssk, knit to end—29 sts.
Next row: Rep row 12.
Rep these 2 rows until 7 sts rem on needle.
Next row: K1, k2tog, remove marker, k1, remove marker, ssk, k1—5 sts.
Next row: Knit.
Next row: K2tog, k1, ssk—3 sts.
Next row: Knit.
Next row: K2tog, k1—2 sts.
Bind off.
Finishing
Wet the cloth thoroughly. Lay flat, shaping into leaf, let dry. Weave in ends.
Abbreviations
k knit
k2tog knit 2 sts together
M1 make 1 st—pick up and knit running thread between sts
p purl
pm place marker
RS right side
sm slip marker
ssk slip-slip-knit—slip 2 sts knitwise, put left needle through front of slipped sts, knit together through back
WS wrong side
