realistic crochet patterns

This time of year, when strolling in the forest, you see an abundance of green coloured leaves around you. Some leaves have fallen down already and have changed colour into beautiful yellows and browns on the ground. On the edges of the branches, hidden between the oak leaves, you can see the first signs of Autumn, little acorns are starting to form.

This joyful sight inspired me to make a simple free pattern for oak leaves and acorns. I love oak leaves, their shape is somehow cheerful. The curvy edges that vary in shape, sweetly rounded instead of pointed and often multi coloured by all the little invaders that live from them, make them a special natural beauty.

The leaves you can crochet with this pattern are 9 cm / 3.5 inch long, when made with worsted weight yarn and hook 3.5 / E. You can make a leaf in 15 minutes.

Oak leaves & acorns pattern

You’ll need worsted weight yarn in as much greens and autumn colours as you like and hook 3.5 / E. You’ll also need an embroidery needle to weave in the two yarn ends. The yarn I’ve used for the leaves is Istex Lett Lopi.

Always mark the 1st stitch of a round.

Abbreviations (US terms)

ch = chain, sl st = slip stitch, sc = single crochet, hdc = half double crochet, dc = double crochet, pm = place marker in stitch

Leaf

Crochet around the chain to create an oval shape.

Round 1

1. ch 10, in 2nd ch from hook sc (pm), sc in next 4, hdc in next 3, 3 dc in last, rotate your work and continue in the bottom loops (if you are not sure where to start, count 9 loops back at the bottom, starting counting at the loop opposite to the 1st you’ve marked. You make your first st in the 9th loop) 3 dc in 1st (pm in 1st dc), hdc in next 3, sc in next 5 = 22

If you did it correctly, you have 11 stitches at both sides, counting the marked ones as first.

Now you are going to make the curved sides of the leaf. It’s done in one round all around, but I’ve written it down in steps.

Round 2 (work normal > in both loops of the stitches)

sc in next (the marked one), pm, 2 dc in next, ch 2 in same, sl st in same, sl st in next

sc in next, 3 dc in next, ch 2 in same, sl st in same, sl st in next

sc in next, hdc in next, 2 dc in next, ch 2 in same, sl st in same, sl st in next

sc in next, hdc in same, dc in same

Now you’ve worked till the second marker. The next stitch you’ll do is in the marked stitch. Now you are going to make the curvy edge mirrored for the other side of the leaf:

dc in next, hdc in same, sc in same

sl st in next, sl st in next, ch 2 in same, 2 dc in same, hdc in next, sc in next

sl st in next, sl st in next, ch 2 in same, 3 dc in same, sc in next

sl st in next, sl st in next, ch 2 in same, 2 dc in same, sc in next

The little stem:

sl st in 1st, ch 4, in 2nd ch from hook sl st, sl st in next 2. Now you are back at the first st, do an extra sl st in that one and cut yarn. Weave in the yarn ends to finish your leaf.

Acorns

Bottom part in a lighter colour

1. magic ring of 4

2. (sc in next, 2 sc in next) x 2 = 6

3. (sc in next 2, 2 sc in next) x 2 = 8

4. (sc in next 3, 2 sc in next) x 2 = 10

5-6. sc in each around =10 (stuff acorn)

7. (sc in next 3, s2tog) x 2 = 8

8. s2tog x 4 = 4, sl st, sew hole closed and weave in end.

Top in a darker colour

1. magic ring of 5

2. 2 sc in each around =10

3. (sc in next 4, 2 sc in next) x 2 = 12

4. sc in each around = 12, close with sl st and weave yarn end to the top, so you can make a little loop (as stem), make sure your loop does not close and use the rest of the tail to sew the top to the bottom of the acorn. I needle felted the loop at the top so it forms a tight stem.

Happy crocheting!

A new Popke has come to life. With pleasure and proud, I present Bamse the crochet hamster pattern.

This whimsical little fellow has become my personal favourite. Maybe it is because I made him in memory of the funny little hamster I once had. Bamse has turned out to be such a characteristic looking doll, he could easily be the main character of a cartoon or children’s book. I often imagine him with a little Sherlock hat or a stick or other accessories. This crochet animal I find the perfect blend between realistic and made-up.

When designing Bamse, I had to make quite a few heads to get that cheeky hamster look. And even after I decided I had the right look, I realised the back of the head still needed to be smaller. I love the shape of the body. Bamse his body looks like a bag of potatoes, just like I wanted it too. You know, chubby little hamsters are not known for their slender build.

The legs I designed a little different than usual, as I wanted this crochet hamster to have little hips. And, the tail is not visible in the pictures, but it is there, a little pink tail.

About the pink, I used a different yarn than Lopi for the hands, feet, tail and nose. Lopi does not have a suitable light pink so I choose a different DK weight yarn. Bamse is about 5 inch / 13 cm tall, just a little bit bigger than a real hamster.

Continue reading below the picture to find out how you can get this hamster amigurumi pattern.

Info about the crochet pattern

The pattern for Bamse the hamster you can find in my shop at Ravelry, Etsy or order it here. It contains a clear description of how to crochet and assemble the little hamster with example pictures at the bottom to help you get everything right. In the pattern you can also find what materials you need, the yarn colour numbers, in short, everything you need to know to make your own squeaky little friend.

And heads up, the pattern has a one dollar release discount till the end of March.