Week 27 of the Ray Of Hope crochet along features the Leaf stitch. This is a 3d stitch that looks like applique, but there is no sewing involved.

The free pattern is below, but if you’d like the ad free printable version, it is available either as part of my Lifetime Pattern Pass, or you can purchase it on its own for £5 from Ravelry

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If you would like to follow my colour scheme, you can find the list of colours in both Scheepjes Softfun and Stylecraft Special DK in this document here

The pattern is written in US terms, but the UK translation is below in brackets along with the abbreviations we will be using

• Single crochet (double crochet) = sc
• Half double crochet (half treble crochet) = hdc
• Double crochet (treble crochet) = dc

The Pattern

You will need a 3.5mm hook for this piece  

With Colour D make a chain of 22  

Row 1. In the 4th chain from your hook make a dc (your turning chain counts as the first dc) dc in each chain across – 20 stitches  

Row 2. Turn, chain 1, make the alternate turning chain2tog. Dc in each stitch across until you have 2 stitches left. Make a dc2tog in last stitch – 18 stitches  

Row 3. Turn, chain 1, make the alternate turning chain in the 1st stitch. Dc in the next 4 stitches.    *Chain 11. In the 2nd chain from your hook make a slip stitch. Slip stitch in each chain, keeping them loose as you will be working into these later. You should have 10 slip stitches.    Slip stitch into the opposite side of the first chain you made.   

In the next chain make a sc, then sc in the next chain, hdc in the next 2 chains, dc in the next 2, hdc in the next 2, then sc in the last 2 chains.  

Slip stitch into the 1st slst on the opposite side. Sc in the next 2 stitches, hdc in the next 2, dc in the next 2, hdc in the next 2, then sc in the last 2 stitches.  

Slst into the top of the dc you made your chain in by working through the top loop and the side of the stitch*.   

Dc in the next 9dc. Repeat between *and* dc in the last 4 stitches – 18 dc / 2 leaves  

Row 4. Turn, chain 1 and make the alternate turning chain in the first stitch. Dc in each stitch across, making sure you make a dc in the stitch you made your leaf from – 18 stitches  

Row 5. Turn, chain 1 and make the alternate turning chain in the first stitch. Dc in each stitch across – 18 stitches  

Row 6. Turn, chain 1, make the alternate turning chain2tog. Dc in each stitch across until you have 2 stitches left. Make a dc2tog in last stitch – 16 stitches  

Rows 7-9. turn, chain 1 and make the alternate turning chain in the first stitch. Dc in each stitch across – 16 stitches  

Row 10. Turn, chain 1, make the alternate turning chain2tog. Dc in each stitch across until you have 2 stitches left. Make a dc2tog in last stitch – 14 stitches  

Row 11. Turn, chain 1, make the alternate turning chain in the 1st stitch. Dc in the next 4 stitches.    *Chain 11. In the 2nd chain from your hook make a slip stitch. Slip stitch in each chain. Slip stitch into the opposite side of the 1st chain. In the next chain make a sc, sc, hdc, hdc, dc, hdc, hdc, sc, sc.    Slip stitch into the 1st slst on the opposite side. Sc in the next stitch, sc, hdc, hdc, dc, hdc, hdc, sc, sc. Slst into the top of the dc you made your chain in*. Dc in the next 5 dc.    Repeat between *and* dc in the last 4 stitches  

Rows 12-13. Turn, chain 1 and make the alternate turning chain in the first stitch. Dc in each stitch across – 14 stitches  

Row 14. Turn, chain 1, make the alternate turning chain2tog. Dc in each stitch across until you have 2 stitches left. Make a dc2tog in last stitch – 12 stitches  

Rows 15 – 17. turn, chain 1 and make the alternate turning chain in the first stitch. Dc in each stitch across – 12 stitches  

Row 18. Turn, chain 1, make the alternate turning chain2tog over the first 2 stitches. Dc in the next 8 stitches. Make a dc2tog over the last 2 stitches – 10 stitches  

Rows 19-21. turn, chain 1 and make the alternate turning chain in the first stitch. Dc in each stitch across – 10 stitches  

Row 22. Turn, chain 1, make the alternate turning chain2tog over the first 2 stitches. Dc in the next 6 stitches. Make a dc2tog over the last 2 stitches – 8 stitches  

Rows 23-25. turn, chain 1 and make the alternate turning chain in the first stitch. Dc in each stitch across – 8 stitches  

Row 26. Turn, chain 1, make the alternate turning chain2tog over the first 2 stitches. Dc in the next 4 stitches. Make a dc2tog over the last 2 stitches – 6 stitches  

Rows 27-29. turn, chain 1 and make the alternate turning chain in the first stitch. Dc in each stitch across – 6 stitches  

Row 30. Turn, chain 1, make the alternate turning chain2tog over the first 2 stitches. Dc in the next 2 stitches. Make a dc2tog over the last 2 stitches – 4 stitches  

Rows 31-33. turn, chain 1 and make the alternate turning chain in the first stitch. Dc in each stitch across – 4 stitches  

Row 34. Turn, chain 1, make the alternate turning chain2tog over the first 2 stitches. Make a dc2tog over the last 2 stitches – 2 stitches  

Rows 35-37. turn, chain 1 and make the alternate turning chain in the first stitch. Dc in the last stitch – 2 stitches

Row 38. Turn, chain 1, make the alternate turning chain2tog over both stitches- 1 stitch

Row 39. Turn, chain 1, make the alternate turning chain. Cut off and weave in your ends.

The Border

Change to a 4mm hook for the border. Join Colour E (your joining colour) into the side of any stitch. Make 2 slst into the side of every dc row. When you get to the tip of the ray, make 2 slst into 1 side, but when you turn only make 1 slst into the other side of the stitch. Continue to make 2 slst into the side of all other stitches. You don’t need to add any extra stitches for the corners. You should have 78 slst down one long side and 77 down the other, and 20 slst across the bottom. Weave in your ends, and join the piece to week 26

To see how to join the pieces together click here

If you have any questions, or just want to join in the chatter, come on over to our super friendly and helpful Facebook group – The Ray Of Hope CAL group