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Maple Leaf (F4)

large knitted maple leaf.

The fun thing about maple leaves is that they turn really good Autumn colours through the spectrum of red, orange, yellow and green. This large sized leaf would make an excellent seasonal display with some friends in different shades.

A printable version of this pattern is available.

You will need:

  • red yarn (dk weight)
  • 3 x double ended knitting needles (3mm)
  • stitch markers
  • 2 x stitch keepers
  • tapestry needle
  • scissors

Pattern:

(A list of standard abbreviations is available.)

The maple leaf has five lobes. In rows 1 to 18 we are going to knit each lobe as a different section, separated by a stitch marker.

To set up, cast on 10 stitches in red and continue in the flat.

  1. Row 1: kfb x 10 (20)
  2. Row 2: {k1, pfbf, k1, p1} x 5, place a marker between each repeat. (6sts each section, 30sts in total)

For ease of knitting I recommend working this pattern on two or more dps rather that straight needles. There is a marker between each curly {} bracket to help you keep track of the pattern.

  1. Row 3:
    {k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 2} x 5 (8 per section)
  2. Row 4:
    {k1, p1, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 2} x 4 (10 per section)
    {p2tog, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 2} (9)
  3. Row 5:
    {k1, p1, k1, pfbf, k1, p1, k1, p2tog} (10)
    {k1, p1, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 3} x 3 (12 per section)
    {p2tog, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 3} (11)
  4. Row 6:
    {[k1, p1] x 2, k1, pfbf, k1, p1, k1, p2tog} (12)
    {p2tog, k1, p1, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 3} x 3 (13 per section)
    {p2tog, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 3} (11)
  5. Row 7:
    {[k1, p1] x 2, k1, pfbf, k1, p1, k1, p2tog} (12)
    {p2tog, k1, p1, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 2, k1, p2tog} x 3 (13 per section)
    {p2tog, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 3, w&t/} (13, 2 unknitted)

Reserve the unknitted stitches on a stitch keeper or spare needle to reduce stretching. The unknitted stitches are included in the section’s stitch count.

  1. Row 8:
    {[k1, p1] x 2, k1, pfbf, k1, p1, k1, p2tog} (14)
    {[k1, p1] x 2, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 2, k1, p2tog} x 3 (14 per section)
    {k1, p1, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 3, w&t/} (14, 2 unknitted)
  2. Row 9:
    {[k1, p1] x 2, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 3} (16)
    {[k1, p1] x 2, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 4} x 3 (16 per section)
    {k1, p1, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 3, w&t/} (16, 4 unknitted)
  3. Row 10:
    {[k1, p1] x 2, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 3} (18)
    {[k1, p1] x 3, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 4} x 3 (18 per section)
    {p2tog, k1, p1, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 3, w&t/} (17, 4 unknitted)
  4. Row 11:
    {[k1, p1] x 2, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 2, k1, p2tog} (18)
    {[k1, p1] x 3, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 5} x 3 (20 per section)
    {p2tog, k1, p1, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 3, w&t/} (19, 6 unknitted)
  5. Row 12:
    {[k1, p1] x 2, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 2, k1, p2tog} (20)
    {p2tog, [k1, p1] x 3, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 5} x 3 (21 per section)
    {p2tog, k1, p1, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 3, w&t/} (19, 6 unknitted)
  6. Row 13:
    {[k1, p1] x 2, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 2, k1, p2tog} (20)
    {p2tog, [k1, p1] x 3, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 4, k1, p2tog} x 3 (21 per section)
    {p2tog, k1, p1, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 3, w&t/} (21, 8 unknitted)
  7. Row 14:
    {[k1, p1] x 2, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 2, k1, p2tog} (22)
    {[k1, p1] x 4, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 4, k1, p2tog} x 3 (22 per section)
    {p2tog, k1, p1, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 3, w&t/} (21, 8 unknitted)
  8. Row 15:
    {[k1, p1] x 2, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 2, k1, p2tog} (22)
    {[k1, p1] x 4, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 6} x 3 (24 per section)
    {p2tog, k1, p1, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 3, w&t/} (23, 10 unknitted)
  9. Row 16:
    {[k1, p1] x 2, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 2, k1, p2tog} (24)
    {[k1, p1] x 5, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 6} x 3 (26 per section)
    {p2tog, k1, p1, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 3, w&t/} (23, 10 unknitted)
  10. Row 17:
    {[k1, p1] x 2, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 2, k1, p2tog} (24)
    {[k1, p1] x 5, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 7} x 3 (28 per section)
    {p2tog, k1, p1, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 3 w&t/} (25, 12 unknitted)
  11. Row 18:
    {[k1, p1] x 2, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 2, k1, p2tog} (26)
    {p2tog, [k1, p1] x 5, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 7} x 3 (29 per section)
    {[k1, p1] x 2, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 3 w&t/} (26, 12 unknitted)

From this point on each of the lobes is worked separately. For the first lobe (L1), working on the 14 non-reserved sts without cutting the yarn:

  1. L1 Row 19: [k1, p1] x 2, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 2, w&t/ (28, 4 unknitted)
  2. L1 Row 20: k1, p1, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 2, w&t/ (30, 16 unknitted)
  3. L1 Row 21: [k1, p1] x 7

The lobe is finished by casting off all stitches (including the reserved ones) while keeping the knits/purls correct and adding in decorative points along the way. A point is works as below.

POINT: Return the most recently worked stitch from the RH-needle to the LH-needle. Knit that single stitch again. Repeat 3 times total so that a small i-cord like piece has been worked into the edging. For more pronounced points keep repeating for longer.

For the first lobe cast off 8, POINT, cast off 6, POINT, cast off 6, POINT, cast off 9, POINT, thread cut yarn through remaining stitch and pull tight.

Reattach the yarn to the live stitches. The next lobe (L2) is worked as follows.

  1. L2 Row 19: p2tog, [k1, p1] x 5, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 6, k1, p2tog (29)
  2. L2 Row 20: [k1, p1] x 6, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 6, k1, p2tog (30)
  3. L2 Row 21: [k1, p1] x 6, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 8 (32)
  4. L2 Row 22: p2tog, [k1, p1] x 6, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 8 (33)
  5. L2 Row 23: p2tog, [k1, p1] x 6, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 7, k1, p2tog (33)

(For L3, the repeat for the third and central lobe, repeat row 23 four more times.)

  1. L2 Row 24: [k1, p1] x 7, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 7, k1, p2tog (34)
  2. L2 Row 25: [k1, p1] x 7, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 9 (36)
  3. L2 Row 26:
    [k1, p1] x 4, w&t/
    [k1, p1] x 3, k1, w&t/
    p1, [k1, p1] x 2, k1, w&t/
    p1, [k1, p1] x 2, w&t/
    [k1, p1] x 2, w&t/
    k1, p1, k1, w&t/
    p1, [k1, p1] x 6, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 9 (38)
  4. L2 Row 27:
    [k1, p1] x 4, w&t/
    [k1, p1] x 3, k1, w&t/
    p1, [k1, p1] x 2, k1, w&t/
    p1, [k1, p1] x 2, w&t/
    [k1, p1] x 2, w&t/
    k1, p1, k1, w&t/
    p1, [k1, p1] x 6, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 5, w&t/ (40, 10 unknitted)
  5. L2 Row 28: [k1, p1] x 4, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 5, w&t/ (42, 10 unknitted)
  6. L2 Row 29: [k1, p1] x 4, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 3, w&t/ (44, 16 unknitted)
  7. L2 Row 30: [k1, p1] x 2, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 3, w&t/ (46, 16 unknitted)
  8. L2 Row 31: [k1, p1] x 2, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 2, w&t/ (48, 20 unknitted)
  9. L2 Row 32: [k1, p1] x 4, w&t/ (48, 20 unknitted)
  10. L2 Row 33: [k1, p1] x 14

For this lobe cast off 3, POINT, cast off 14, POINT, cast off 7, POINT, cast off 6, POINT, cast off 13, POINT, cast off 5.

Repeat the L2 section for the third (L3) and fourth (L4) lobes.

The final lobe (L5) is worked in a very similar pattern to the first lobe.

  1. L5 Row 19: [k1, p1] x 2, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 2, w&t/ (28, 16 unknitted)
  2. L5 Row 20: k1, p1, k1, pfbf, [k1, p1] x 2, w&t/ (30, 4 unknitted)
  3. L5 Row 21: [k1, p1] x 13

To finish, POINT, cast off 8, POINT, cast off 6, POINT cast off 6, POINT, cast off 10.

Making Up:

At this point the curve of the knitting has bent the ten cast on stitches in half. Sew the sides together with a few stitches so that it looks like a continuation of the central vein. Add a short i-cord stem if you are so inclined.

Loose the lose ends in the fabric of the leaf.

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!