I had a hankering to try a new stitch that was all about texture!
Using the lemon peel stitch [chain an even # of stitches, single crochet in one stitch, double crochet in the next. Always end on a double crochet so when you turn at the end of the row, your single crochets all go into the top of a double crochet]
This little loop with leaves I added to hang in the kitchen is my favorite part. It’s part dishcloth, part pot holder now.
This is made in sugar & cream cotton “Hot Green” which looks a little lime, in my opinion.
Here is the pattern I wrote up and posted on my site… adding here for reference too!
If you are not familiar with the lemon peel stitch, Heart Hook Home has a lovely step by step photo walk through for the visuals. I only use US crochet terms so here goes….
- Chain an odd number of single crochets (sc) – I used 33 for my cloth
- In the second chain from the hook, sc
- In the next chain, double crochet (dc)
- SC in next stitch
- DC in next stitch
- Repeat steps 3 and 4 until the end of the row
- You should end on a DC in every row and start the next with an SC
- Chain one and repeat steps 3 and 4 until end of row
- Keep working rows until the height of the cloth matches the width
- Do not fasten off when you get to the last stitch, chain 1 and turn and sc back across the last row.
- When you reach the end of the row, put 2 extra sc in the last stitch, this will be the first corner
- SC down the side of all the rows until you reach the corner again. 3 SC in the corner
- Repeat step 12 until you are back at the start of the SC row in step 10
- Fasten off
- Pick up yarn again and chain 33 – this will be your leaf loop
- Make a half leaf – sc, hdc, hdc, dc, dc, tc, dc, dc, hdc, sc
- Single crochet into the next 11 stitches
- Insert the 1st leaf half into one of the corners
- Repeat step 16
- Turn and make another half leaf on the back side of the half leaf you just made
- This is the tricky part, you are going to finish the other half leaf by skipping the single crochets inserted into the corner. This will result in a loop around the corner.
- Finish the other half of your 1st half leaf
- Fasten off
- Weave in all the ends!
