Day 31 a Year of Stitches

Today's stitches will be

Openwork Leaf Pattern and Leaf Stitch

Openwork Leaf Pattern

This is a close relative of the openwork diamonds from 2 days ago.  Both are fabulous.  This one reminds me of the leaves of the greenery sometimes included with roses one sometimes gets for Valentine's day, birthdays or Mother's day.

Multiple of 8 + 1

R1: (WS) and all other wrong side rows - P
R2: k1, * yo, k2, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k2, yo, k1.  Rep from *
R4: k1, * k1, yo, k1, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k1, yo, k2. Rep from *
R6: k1, * k2, yo, sl 1, k2tog, psso, yo, k3. Rep from *
R8: k2tog, * k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, sl 1, k2tog, psso; rep from * ending last rep ssk instead of sl 1, k2tog, psso.
R10: k2tog, * k1, yo, k3, yo, k1, sl 1, k2tog, psso; rep from * ending last rep ssk instead of sl 1, k2tog, psso
R12: k2tog, * yo k5, yo, sl 1, k2tog, psso; rep from * ending last rep ssk instead of sl 1, k2tog, psso.

Leaf Block

Leaf (make 4 worsted weight or 8 sport or fingering weight)

Ch 6.
Rd1: Working around the chain, sc in 2nd and 3rd ch, 2 hdc in next 2 ch, 3 dc in last ch, 3 dc in same ch as 3 dc, 2 hdc in next 2 ch sc in last 2 ch.  Join with sl st.
Rd2: ch 4, dc, hdc, sc in first sc, 2 hdc, dc, tr in next sc, dc, 3 hdc, dc in first hdc, hdc, dc, tr, in hdc, dtr, tr, dc, hdc in dc, hdc, sc in dc, ch 4, sl st in each ch, work back to the tip following the reverse of the first side.

Join the tips of the leaves to form a "snowflake" shape. 

Block:  Ch 23
R1: Dc in 4th ch and each remaining ch.  Ch 3, turn.
R2: Dc in 2nd st and each remaining st, dc in top of turning chain.

Rep R2 until you have a square.  Make 1 or as many as needed to finish your project.  Tack the leaves to the block at the outward and inward points plus the tip of the stem.

This is a great scrap square.  Make each leaf either a different shade of green or different autumnal colors.  Join and border with either browns or greens.