Laurel Leaf Scarf ~ Free Crochet Pattern & Tutorial

Way back in 2010, I was contacted by a small publishing company and asked to contribute a crochet pattern to an e-booklet, the proceeds of which would benefit the Los Angeles Mission. This was the result:

The Laurel Leaf Scarf

Now, two and a half years later, the e-booklet is no longer available and the publishing contract has expired - so I'm happy to offer the Laurel Leaf Scarf as February's free pattern.

(If you do make this scarf, would you consider also making a small donation to the charity of your choice, to honour the pattern's original intent? It's entirely up to you, of course.)

Enough business. Let's talk crochet!

The Laurel Leaf Scarf is lacy and quick, and very easy to make. It starts as a long central band (complete with handy spaces along its length just begging for a decorative edging), and finishes with a single round of linked chains and triple-crochet-cluster leaves, with picots for extra beauty.

We'll start with a simplified chart, then move on to the crochet shorthand pattern, and finish with a video tutorial and instructions in plain English.

Size: 60" x approx. 4" (may easily be made longer or shorter by changing the length of the core band)

Yarn Requirements:
About 200-225 yards of a Medium (#4) weight yarn
(Pattern will work with any weight yarn, but width will be different depending on yarn used)

Yarn(s) I Used:
Stitch Nation Bamboo Ewe, color Grape
Yarn Bee Princess, color Ballgown

How Did the Yarns Behave?
Both my yarns were on the bulky side of medium, which made for a more substantive scarf. Bamboo Ewe is delightful to work with - silky-soft and drapey - but can flatten out dreadfully if wet-blocked. If using this yarn, spritz lightly to block. Yarn Bee Princess (chosen for a friend with possible wool allergies) is a craft-store yarn with a soft cushiony hand and a subtle shiny filament running through the twist. It stands up well to wet-blocking (as seen in this post).

Hook Size:
(Blogger hangs head in shame and reluctantly admits that she can't remember what hook sizes she used.)
Choose a hook size that is appropriate to your yarn.
Tip: Make a small swatch to determine best hook size(s). You may want to switch to a smaller hook for the border.

All crochet terminology is American.

Special stitches used:

Stretched 3-triple crochet cluster (st3tr-cl) - *Yo twice; insert hook in ch-4 sp, yo, draw up loop; yo, draw through 2 loops on hook (twice). Repeat from * twice more = 3 partial triple crochets (4 loops left on hook). Yo, draw through 2 loops, yo, draw through all 3 loops on hook.

Picot with hdc (always made on top of st3tr-cl): Ch 3. Attach to top of cluster with half-double crochet (RS facing, yo, insert hook from front to back under top 2 strands of  cluster; yo, draw up loop, yo, draw through all loops on hook).  This stitch may feel awkward at first, because you're twisting the hook down, back, and to the right to get under the strands, but you'll soon get used to it.

Laurel Leaf Scarf Charted Pattern

Please note: See pattern below for instructions on linked leaves.

Laurel Leaf Scarf Crochet Shorthand Pattern

Scarf Core:
Ch 7, join with sc in first ch. Ch 4, turn. Dc 2 in sc, sc in ch-7 sp. *Ch 4, turn. Dc 2 in sc, sc in previous ch-4 sp. Repeat from * until you reach desired length.

Alternate band for heavier yarns (optional): Replace ch-4s with ch-5s and use treble crochets instead of double crochets.

Leaf Edging:
First Leaf: Ch 5. Do not turn; you will be working down the side of the scarf. In next ch-4 sp, st3tr-cl,  picot w/hdc (see Special Stitches, above), ch 5, sc in same ch-4 sp. First leaf complete. RS now facing; all leaves will be made with RS facing.

Second and remaining (Linked) Leaves: **Ch 1, sc in next ch-4 sp. Remove hook from yarn loop, put tip of hook from front to back through previous ch-5 leaf sp, and insert hook back into loop. (Or you can slide yarn loop to the base of hook, put base of hook from back to front through the ch-5 leaf space, and slide yarn loop back up to top of hook.) Working with ch-5 in front of hook, ch 2, then bring hook with yarn loop under and just to the right of the ch-5; ch 1, catching ch-5 in stitch; ch 2 (5 chains total). St3tr-cl in same ch-4 sp, picot w/hdc, ch 5, sc in same ch-4 sp. Linked leaf made.**

Repeat from ** to ** until you reach the end of the scarf. Make 2 linked leaves in the beginning ch-7 sp (be sure to ch 1, sc between them), then continue up the other side of scarf, making 1 linked leaf in each ch-4 sp until you reach the other end. Make 2 linked leaves in ch-4 sp at end of scarf, ending with picot of second leaf.

Finishing: Attach the final leaf to the first leaf as follows: Cut yarn, leaving a 10-12” tail. Ch 2. Holding working yarn behind scarf, insert hook from front to back between next ch-5 and next cluster. Sl st around ch-5. End of yarn is now behind work. Pull yarn end through the ch-5 space to front of work. Ch 2; sc between final sc of band and first cluster of border. And you’re done!

Tie off, weave in ends, and block scarf (blocking will tame those curly leaves.) Enjoy.

Laurel Leaf Scarf Video Tutorial with Instructions in Plain English

Be sure to read "Special Stitches" above before starting pattern.

Scarf Core:

Chain 7, join with single crochet in first chain.
Chain 4, turn. Double crochet 2 in single crochet, single crochet in chain-7 space.
*Chain 4, turn. Double crochet 2 in single crochet at base of chain-4, single crochet in previous chain-4 space. Repeat from * until you reach desired length.

Alternate band for heavier yarns (optional): Replace chain-4s with chain-5s and use treble crochets instead of double crochets.

Leaf Edging:
First Leaf: Chain 5. Do not turn; you will be working down the side of the scarf.
In next chain-4 space, make a Stretched 3-treble cluster,
then a picot w/half double crochet (see Special Stitches, above),
chain 5,
single crochet in same chain-4 space.
First leaf made.

This is the right side of the scarf; all leaves will be made with the right side facing you.

Second and remaining (Linked) Leaves:
**Chain 1, single crochet in next chain-4 space.
Remove hook from working loop, put tip of hook from front to back through previous chain-5 leaf space, and insert hook back into loop. (Or you can slide yarn loop to the base of hook, put base of hook from back to front through the chain-5 leaf space, and slide yarn loop back up to top of hook. See video #2 if you find this hopelessly confusing.)
With chain-5 in front of hook, chain 2, then bring hook with yarn loop under and just to the right of the chain-5;
chain 1, catching chain-5 in stitch;
chain 2 (5 chains total).
Make a Stretched 3-treble cluster in same chain-4 space,
picot w/half double crochet,
chain 5,
single crochet in same chain-4 space.**
Linked leaf made.

Repeat from ** to ** until you reach the opposite end of the scarf.
Make 2 linked leaves in the beginning chain-7 space (don't forget to chain 1, single crochet between the 2 leaves), then continue up the other side of scarf, making 1 linked leaf in each chain-4 space until you reach the other end.
Make 2 linked leaves in chain-4 space at other end of scarf, ending with picot on the second (or final) leaf.

Finishing:
Attach the final leaf to the first leaf as follows:
Cut yarn, leaving a 10-12” tail.
Chain 2.
Holding working yarn behind scarf, insert hook from front to back between next chain-5 and next cluster.
Slip stitch around chain-5.
End of yarn is now behind work. Pull yarn end through the chain-5 space to front of work.
Chain 2;
single crochet between original single crochet and original cluster.
And you’re done! :)

Tie off, weave in ends, and block scarf  (blocking will tame those curly leaves.) Enjoy.

You may do whatever you like with the items you make from this pattern, but you may not sell or re-post the pattern.

Thanks for viewing, and happy crocheting!

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