Jolly Holly

After a lot of searching on the internet looking for holly leaf patterns I couldn't find any that were easy enough/neat enough for my liking. So I did what I often do and had a go at designing something myself. It was not easy. I made a LOT of truly duff, awful leaves before I finally tweaked it enough to get it Just Right. I have to say I'm really chuffed with how they've turned out, they seem to me to be quite cute and perfectly pointy in all the right places.

I wanted to make my leaves tight and neat looking, so I used cotton yarn/thread to make them. The leaf on the left is made using Rowan Handknit cotton (a thickish DK weight yarn) worked on a 3mm hook, and the leaf on the right is made using Anchor Soft Embroidery (a lovely non-stranded cotton thread) on a 2.5mm hook. There's not a huge amount of difference in the finished leaf, but I do prefer the smaller one I think.

Before we begin I'd like to say a little something about tension. I've found through making these leaves that it's much easier if I consciously make my stitches a little looser than normal. That way there's less of a fight trying to get the hook in and out of the loops (this is especially true for making Picot Points).

Right, on with the hooky then......here's a little summary of the basic stitches, I'm writing using UK crochet terms ::

sl st [slip stitch] :: insert hook, yarn over, pull the loop back through the stitch, then through the loop on your hook.

dc [double crochet] :: insert hook, yarn over, pull the loop back through the stitch (two loops on hook), yarn over and pull through both loops on hook (note :: this is equivalent to the US sc stitch)

htr [half treble]:: yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull the loop back through the stitch (three loops on hook), yarn over and pull through all three loops on hook (note :: this is equivalent to the US hdc stitch)

tr [treble] :: yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull the loop back through the stitch (three loops on hook), yarn over and pull through two loops on hook (two loops left on hook), yarn over and pull through remaining two loops (note :: this is equivalent to the US dc stitch)

To begin, chain 10. You'll need to start working in the second stitch from the hook, as shown by my needle in the above pic.

You'll be working into the foundation chain by putting the hook under both loops of each chain, as shown above.

FIRST SIDE OF LEAF ::

Work the following :: dc, dc, htr, tr (pic above)

Work 2 tr into the next chain (as above)

Then tr, htr, dc, dc (as above). You should now be at the end of the first side.

Now chain 1 to take you around the end (as above)

You'll be working on the opposite side now, putting the hook under the single loops that remain along the bottom edge of the foundation chain. You should be able to clearly count 9 of them.

SECOND SIDE OF LEAF ::

Work the following, as before :: dc, dc, htr, tr, 2tr, tr, htr, dc, dc. This should take you to the end of the second side.

Make a slip stitch into the beginning of the foundation chain to close the end of the leaf.

Now it's time to work around the leaf shape making the pointy prickles. You'll be working into the stitches of the first side of the leaf, putting the hook under both loops of the stitch (as above).

Work a slip stitch into the 1st stitch.

Into the 2nd stitch work 1 dc, then chain 2 (as above). Now ease the hook a little so that you make that last chain a little looser OK??

Now you need to make a slip stitch to form a Picot Point, so insert hook into second chain from hook and yarn over, pull yarn through stitch, then through the chain on your hook. This can be quite tricky to do at first until you get used to it. I find that if I turn my hook around and kind of ease it through backwards (as in the picture above) it works out ok.

To complete the Picot Point, dc into same stitch (as above). That's your first prickle made!

Now work a sl st into each of the next 2 stitches.

In the next stitch, make your second prickle, as follows :: dc, chain 2, sl st into second chain from hook, dc (pic above)

sl st into each of next 2 stitches, then in the next stitch make another prickle (dc, chain 2, sl st into second chain from hook, dc).

sl st into each of next 2 stitches...you should now be at the end and have three prickle points made, as above.

Remember the chain-1 you made when you turned the end of the leaf shape? Make a picot prickle into this end chain, same as before (dc, chain 2, sl st into second chain from hook, dc).

Work your way down the Second Side, as follows ::

*sl st into each of next 2 stitches, (dc, chain 2, sl st into 2nd chain from hook, dc)* 

repeat between ** twice more until you have made 3 Picot Prickles in total down the second side, then sl st into the last stitch to finish. Do NOT fasten off!

You're going to make a short stem now, so chain 4 (as above)

Slip Stitch into 2nd chain from hook, then work a sl st into each of the next 2 stitches (as above)

Now you're going to complete the leaf by working a surface chain up the middle. Stick your hook into the base of the leaf, somewhere in the middle, as pictured above (this is not an exact procedure!)

Yarn over and pull a loop right through to the front of the leaf, then through the chain on your hook. You're kind of making a slip stitch, but working it through the leaf itself, if that makes sense.

Do this slip stitch thing again by inserting your hook a little further up the middle of the leaf, yarn over and pull a loop through to the front of the leaf, then through the chain on your hook.

Keep going, working these slip stitches evenly up the centre of the leaf. Remember to keep the stitches quite loose so that the leaf stays flat.

You should manage to make a line of 8 or 9 chains, as pictured above.

Now snip the yarn leaving a decent tail end for darning in, and use your hook to pull the yarn end upwards. The yarn end needs to be pulled right through from the back of the leaf to the front.

Thread the tail end onto a darning needle and take the yarn through the leaf from the front to the back (as above). This will secure the last chain stitch you made. Keep the needle threaded, and darn the end in at the back of the leaf to secure.

There!

One Jolly Holly leaf completed!

Now make some more and use them to add  a little bit of decorative greenery to whatever tickles your fancy. Red beads or buttons or weeny felt circles can be used to add berries.....Ahhhhhh Crochet Holly, what's not to love about this teensy little bit of festive hooky???!!

One more thing.....I thought it'd be helpful if I write out the pattern in short for you, so you can copy and paste it and print it out. Here it is....

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Chain 10, start by working in 2nd chain from hook.

FIRST SIDE OF LEAF ::

dc, dc, htr, tr, 2tr, tr, htr, dc, dc.

Chain 1 to turn around the end.

SECOND SIDE OF LEAF ::

dc, dc, htr, tr, 2tr, tr, htr, dc, dc.

sl st into beginning of foundation chain to close the leaf. DO NOT FASTEN OFF. DO NOT TURN THE WORK.

PRICKLES ::

sl st, (dc, chain 2, sl st into 2nd chain from hook, dc), *sl st into each of next 2 stitches, (dc, chain 2, sl st into 2nd chain from hook, dc)* repeat between ** five more times, sl st into last st. DO NOT FASTEN OFF.

STEM ::

chain 4, sl st into 2nd chain from hook, sl st into each of next 2 stitches. Stem made. DO NOT FASTEN OFF.

CHAIN DETAIL ::

Insert hook through leaf at centre base. Yarn over, pull a loop through to the front of leaf, then through st on hook (sl st made through leaf). Continue working these sl st up the central line of the leaf, creating a line of "surface chain stitches" up to the pointy end. Cut yarn leaving a tail end for darning, pull the tail end up through the leaf from the back to the front. Secure the chain by threading onto a needle and taking the yarn back through to the reverse of the leaf. Darn in end to fasten off.

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♥

All my tutorials are created for you to use and enjoy for free.  As I'm sure you can appreciate, they take a lot of time and energy to create. Ooodles of it. So if you would like to support what I do here in the Attic you can make a small donation......

 

xx Thank you so much as always for your support and hooky love, it's very, very much appreciated. Wishing you a season of Happy, Heart-skippy FEsTiVe hooky! xx

♥

Comments

[Vivienne B]

Brilliant tutorial! These leaves turn out actually looking like crisp, pointy leaves of holly. Thank you so much! Please create a paid PDF version on Ravelry/Etsy etc. I would love to support you by purchasing the pattern :)

[Helen G]

Super pattern thankyou, been looking for a nice holly leaf for ages for a Christmas Garland.

[Myse]

Merci infiniment pour ce partage de feuille de houx.
D'après vous, c'est mieux de terminer un picot par une maille coulée comme le 1er ou par une maille serrée comme indiqué pour le 2eme picot ?
Bravo pour le temps passé pour faire cet article.

[Carmen]

Muchas gracias Lucy

[Kay]

Thank you for this amazing pattern,!it makes the most perfect holly leaves, exactly what I need for the sides of Christmas bed socks!

[Carine]

And still after 7 years this leaf has been found and made.
Absolutely perfect!
Thank you and I wish you a wonderful winter time.

Warm greetings from the Vulkaneifel in Germany.
Carine

[suettle]

Thanks for the excellent tutorial! Saved me a lot of time, I sent a small donation to say thank you.

[Anna Szabó]

Thanks, your pattern has given me inspiration with these words: "So I did what I often do and had a go at designing something myself. It was not easy."
I often do it the same way, but in this case - your pattern is perfect - I could spare time. Thanks to you.

[Kate Butler]

Thank you so much for this brilliantly written pattern. Very clear instructions. And I love the result! I was searching for ages for a great looking Holly leaf pattern.
And now I’ve found it.
Can’t thank you enough 🙌

[Joelle AEBI-MANUEL]

the very best holly leaf explanation that I have come across crochet tutorials. I finished a Xmas pudding beanie and was battling with the leaf. This is a life saver. God bless you and a million thank you. Wow a good teacher indeed.

[Kate]

Lucy, you're a life saver. I was having difficulties following another pattern for holly leaves when I decided to heck with it and did a search for Attic 24 holly leaves . . . need I say more. Your tutorials are always the best and I cannot thank you enough. I now have a white candle/jar wrap with holly leaves and red berries all set for the holiday season. ^^

[R Knight]

Best holly leaf pattern on You Tube - thank you!

[Jacqui]

Thank you so much, this pattern is so easy to follow for a beginner like me & pic’s
Really helpful to. I also managed to make it first time ! Thank you it’s brilliant.
Jac

[Vicky Evans]

Such a great and easy pattern, thank you. Just what I wanted this Christmas. Mindful holly bunting.. xxx

[chris bassett]

And I thought new zealand was beautiful. you have some lovely photos on your blog. Thank you for sharing

[sharon palmer]

where is the pattern for the holy berries? thank you!!!

[Amanda]

I made three leaves from a different tutorial and none of them looked how I wanted them to. I found this site and just made the cutest little holly leaf. I plan to make a few more as well as snowflakes and some red mini pom poms for Christmas garland. thank you so much for this!

[Dorothyc Kincaid]

I agree with Jennifer from March 2016. This is the best pattern and turorial I have come across. Easy to follow and perfect results. Thank you.

[Janis]

Lovely leaves, conspicuous colors, direct directions. I want to donate, but I can only use PayPal. I do send encouragement your way. This is all so well presented. Thank you.

[Gloria]

Hi. Thank you very much for the pattern, just what I was looking for :) I made a "drawn" pattern with Stitch Fiddle based on yours. Not sure if I got it correctly but I would like to share it with you, hoping it will help others. How can I send it to you? (Sorry, it's my first time here.)

[HEATHER BELL]

~Thank you for such a lovely succinct pattern with the stitches described. I don't like following pictures so the written pattern was perfect. Will use this site again.

[Ella]

Thank you so much! Sent you a small PayPal payment for the pattern !

[Jennifer Williams]

lovely, just what I was looking for. very clear instruction too. thank you.

[Elena]

Thank you so much for such a lovely pattern with such clear instructions. You’ve made my Christmas crafting a breeze!

[Lesley Cross]

Lucy, I have tried different patterns but I wasn't happy with any of them until I found yours. Absolute perfection! Thank you so much for a pattern which is recognisable as a holly leaf and a pattern which is beautifully illustrated in picture as well as in the written description. Thank you so very much. I love making things from your designs. This is the third pattern of yours I have made and I have been delighted with them ALL. Thank you once again.