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

[Dorothy Via]

Perfect! Just the tight size and shape! Thanks for posting the US terms. Very helpful. I'm putting these on Christmas hats I make to donate for preemies.

[Kath Woodward]

I make lots of Christmas novelties for charity every year including mini Christmas puddings and have never been really successful in making leaves to top them with.Thank you so much for the perfect holly leaf.

[Maria McCabe]

do you have any advice for a quick holly berry?

[Karin Brown]

Thank you, this was just the thing I was looking for. A nice holly leaf.....☺

[Mary]

Thank you so much for taking the time to show us this pattern. I'm using them to decorate a Christmas pudding tea cosy and it's perfect. I struggle to follow crochet patterns in books but you've made it really easy to follow.

[Elaine truby]

Hi Lucy. I hope you don't mind me asking: I wondered if you would be able to make me some of these leaves so my daughter can use them in her greetings cards. How much would your fee be. I look forwards very much to hearing from you. Many thanks.
Elaine (Truby) 😄

[Gwendolina]

This is one of the clearest tutorials I've ever seen. Excellent work Lucy. Thankyou for making my "crochet life" a little easier at this otherwise hectic time of year. Sure my mum will love the holly card I'm making her. Merry Christmas to you and I look forward to having a good study of your other work come the New Year.

[AWinnV]

I'm using these to embellish yet another Christmas stocking! Thank you - these are the easiest and best looking leaves for which I've been able to find instruction!

[t]

its that time again!
thank you for these clear instructions. its my first crochet project in a long time and i forgot how fun it is. it would not have been nearly as fun without a good teacher. great pattern too. thanks again for sharing

[Nell Homan]

Loved the holly leaves. I will put them on soda can cozies with white or red background. Thank you so much for sharing.

[muriel]

Great pattern, very easy to understand and turned out exactly as pictured. Thanks these will look very nice on my tree this year :-)

[Cameo]

It seems every time I need a pattern, I end up in your Attic. Great things!

[Emily]

Thanks for posting these! I only started to crochet two days ago and your instructions are so simple to follow! You're very talented.

[Renae]

Thank you so much! You are wonderful. The relatives will be receiving crocheted Holly decorations this year :D

[Ruth M]

Best ever holly pattern. Thanks for posting it.

[Laura]

They are beautiful

[Dee Parsons]

Wow, you are an amazing creative lady....well done....I love crochet but I am a bit of a pattern girl....but you are very inspiring!!!

Well done...

Dee

[Jenn]

Thanks again for another great pattern! I just made two of them for my hat. They come out really big when you use worsted yarn, LOL!

[Simone]

Two years later this tutorial is still great! Thank you.

[Sharon]

Thanks for sharing this fab pattern. It is a triumph!

[Jenny]

Thank you so much for the small holly leaf pattern ideal for my knitted mince pies for the children's Christmas song at pre school.

[Leda Santos]

Adorei o seu blog.Obrigada por compartilhar o seu mundinho colorido. Me identifiquei muito com ele, também gosto muito de cores alegres, decoração, crochê, artesanato, etc..

[Lillian]

i think you did a great job, very nice

[Diane @ The Checkered Apple]

Terrific turorial! Thanks for helping me out since I'm a beginner at crochet.

[Meg]

This is perfect! Thanks so much for posting it. Merry Christmas!