Crocodile stitch leaf and heart – free crochet pattern

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This post originally appeared on https://gradinacufluturi.ro/en in Feb 3rd 2017. The current version has been thoroughly updated in Sep 2020.

I started working on this design as I needed two leaves for my wildflower blanket and I needed them to be 3D somehow, to match with the flowers.

After a lot of experimentation, I came up with this crocodile stitch leaf pattern that I decided to share with you because I think you’ll be able to use it in your crochet blanket-making adventures.

This pattern uses the extended Dc stitch, which is explained in the abbreviations section.

Using the Edc (extended double crochet) stitch, it was quite easy to create a heart shape, especially the top part, which can be quite tricky.

The crocodile stitch is a common stitch that has been explained in numerous tutorials and videos online.

Crocodile stitch leaf on a white background made up of a crochet square

Notions

You can use any yarn you like, with the corresponding hook. This will affect the finished size of the heart.

  • Yarn – any size 2 yarn, about 12 wpi, with a 3.5 mm hook, at about 70 m (more than half of a 50 g skein).
  • Hook – 3.5 mm or the size recommended for your yarn;
  • Tapestry needle, scissors.

Size

The finished object measures 25 cm in length and 25 cm in height (measured at the widest and from the tip to the bumps).

Difficulty

Advanced beginner (due to the Edc and crocodile stitch).

Observations

  • Ch3 at the beginning of even rows counts as the first post of the V-stitch;
  • You will work in sets of 2 rows – one row sets up the backbone of the crocodile stitches, the other row consists of the crocodile stitches themselves;
  • Instructions {in curly brackets} are repeated the number of times shown after the brackets.

Abbreviations

  • Ch – chain
  • BCroc – beginning crocodile stitch – Ch3, rotate work clockwise 90 degrees, 6 Edc in first post, Pi, rotate work clockwise 180 degrees, 6 Edc in second post, Sl St in top of next post, if there is one
  • Croc – crocodile stitch – after working the foundation row, rotate work clockwise 90 degrees, 6 Edc around first post, Pi, rotate work clockwise 180 degrees, 6 Edc around second post, Sl St in top of next post, if there is one
  • EDc – extended double crochet – YO, insert hook into stitch and pull up one loop, YO and pull through one loop on hook, repeat [YO and pull through two loops on hook] 2 times
  • HDc – half double crochet
  • Pi – picot – Ch3, Sl St in back bump of first Ch
  • Sl St – slip stitch
  • St – stitch
  • V – V-stitch – make 2EDc in one St
  • YO – yarn-over

Instructions for the crocodile stitch leaf

Ch6, Sl St in first Ch (counts as first V)

R1. BCroc in the first V, turn

R2. Ch3, EDc in same St, Ch3, EDc in middle of V, Ch3, V in top of first EDc of Croc, turn

R3. BCroc in the first V, Croc in next V, turn

R4. Ch3, EDc in same St, Ch3, EDc in middle of V, Ch3, V in EDc post, Ch3, EDc in middle of V, Ch3, V in top of first EDc of Croc, turn

R5. BCroc in the first V, repeat {Croc in next V} 2 times, turn

R6. Ch3, EDc in same St, repeat {Ch3, EDc in middle of V, Ch3, V in EDc post, Ch3, EDc in middle of V} 2 times, Ch3, V in top of first EDc of Croc, turn

R7. BCroc in the first V, repeat {Croc in next V} 3 times, turn

R8. Ch3, EDc in same St, repeat {Ch3, EDc in middle of V, Ch3, V in EDc post, Ch3, EDc in middle of V} 3 times, Ch3, V in top of first EDc of Croc, turn

R9. BCroc in the first V, repeat {Croc in next V} 4 times, turn

R10. Ch3, EDc in same St, repeat {Ch3, EDc in middle of V, Ch3, V in EDc post, Ch3, EDc in middle of V} 4 times, Ch3, V in top of first EDc of Croc, turn

R11. BCroc in the first V, repeat {Croc in next V} 5 times, turn

R12. Ch3, repeat {Ch3, V in middle of V below, Ch3, EDc} 4 times, Ch3, EDc, turn

R13. Beg. crocodile stitch in the first V-st, repeat {Croc in next V} 5 times.

R14-R17. Repeat rows 12-13 two more times.

Do not cut yarn.

crocodile leaf pattern 2
Rows 1 through 14 finished for the crocodile stitch leaf – worked in red yarn to make a heart.

Right heart bump

R1. Ch1, Sc, HDc, Dc in horizontal Ch3, repeat {EDc in middle of V-st, Ch3, V-st in EDc post} 2 times, EDc in middle of V-st, Dc, HDc, Sc in horizontal Ch3, Sl St in Edc post.

R2. Working on the wrong side, Sl St through 4 St. Work 2 Croc on the right side, Sl St in EDc post.

R3. Ch1, Sc, HDc, Dc in horizontal Ch3, EDc in middle of V-st, Ch3, V-st in EDc post, EDc in middle of V-st, Dc, HDc, Sc in horizontal Ch3, Sl St in EDc post.

R2. Working on the wrong side, Sl St through 4 St. Work 1 Croc on the right side, Sl St in EDc post. Fasten off.

If you want to add a leaf stalk, before making the left bump, after attaching the yarn:

Ch 15, Dc in 3rd Ch from hook, Dc in next 4Ch, HDc in next 5 Ch, Sc in next 4 Ch and Sl St where you attached the yarn. Continue with left bump.

Left heart bump

Attach yarn in middle EDc from R17.

R1. Ch1, Sc, Hdc, Dc in horizontal Ch3, repeat {Edc in middle of V-st, Ch3, V-st in EDc post} 2 times, EDc in middle of V-st, Dc, HDc, Sc in horizontal Ch3, Sl St in EDc post.

R2. Working on the wrong side, Sl St through 4 St. Work 2 Croc stitches on the right side, Sl St in EDc post.

R3. Ch1, Sc, HDc, Dc in horizontal Ch3, EDc in middle of V-st, Ch3, V-st in EDc post, EDc in middle of V-st, Dc, HDc, Sc in horizontal Ch3, Sl St in EDc post.

R2. Working on the wrong side, Sl St through 4 St. Work 1 Croc on the right side, Sl St in EDc post. Fasten off.

crocodile leaf pattern 4

Now that the heart is finished, you can use it as an appliqué or an element in a larger piece.

You can sew it on a square to use it as a part of a blanket, like I did with my Neverending Wildflower blanket.

If you want to add it to a square like I did, I wrote the instructions for squaring up a circle with 8 rows of Dc stitches. You will find the full instructions here or if you click on the image below.

Adding the stem

If you want to turn the heart into a leaf, you can add a stem.

Put a Sl St on the hook and attach the yarn to the middle of the top part of the crocodile stitch leaf.

You’ll work in the back bumps of this chain.

Ch 16, Dc in 3rd Ch from hook, 4Dc, 3Hdc, 3Sc, Sl St in the base of the first Ch.

Cut off the yarn and weave in ends.

crocodile leaf pattern 7

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If you want to explore more free patterns, check them out here:

Thank you for being here with me and for taking your time to make something nice for your loved ones. I’m sure they will appreciate the gesture.

Love and hugs,

Andrea

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6 thoughts on “Crocodile stitch leaf and heart – free crochet pattern”

    • Enjoy, Nancy! It was one of my first ever designs and I still use the blanket with these leaves and flowers every day, including right now.

      Reply

  2. What an exceptionally nice crocodile pattern! I love this and want to try the pattern. Thank you for sharing, absolutely awesome that it is free, you rock!

    Reply

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