Free Leaf Bug Pattern
Make your own little walking leaf bug in about 35 minutes with this simple pattern! Click below for a YouTube video showing a brief overview of making this leaf bug:
https://youtube.com/shorts/15bMjGSIYaI
MATERIALS
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Crochet hook size: H/5 mm
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#6 super bulky weight yarn: green (20 yards/ needed)*
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#4 medium weight yarn: light green (6 feet/2 meters needed), dark green (4 feet/1.25 meters needed), and white (2 feet/0.6 meters)
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Yarn needle, scissors
*I used Honey Bunny yarn from Hobbii, in color “Shamrock”
BODY
R1: Ch 2, 6 sc in first ch (6 sts)
R2: (Sc 1, inc) 3 times (9 sts)
R3: (Sc 2, inc) 3 times (12 sts)
R4: (Sc 3, inc) 3 times (15 sts)
R5: (Sc 4, inc) 3 times (18 sts)
R6: (Sc 5, inc) 3 times (21 sts)
R7-10: Sc 21 (21 sts x 4 rounds)
R11: (Sc 5, dec) 3 times (18 sts)
R12: (Sc 4, dec) 3 times (15 sts)
R13: (Sc 3, dec) 3 times (12 sts)
R14: Dec 6 (6 sts)
Fasten off, leaving a yarn tail for sewing. Do not stuff. Weave the yarn tail through the front loops only of the 6 remaining sts from R14. Pull tight to close the hole. Secure with a knot and weave in the end.
VEINS
For the veins, cut a strand of light green yarn that is at least 3 feet/92 cm long. Thread it onto your yarn needle and sew 1 long stitch from the front to the back across the leaf, starting between R1-2 at the back of the leaf bug, and ending between R12-13 at the front. Be sure to leave a beginning tail for securing the strand later.
Next, sew 6 veins slanting away from the first long stitch, grabbing the first long stitch each time. To make the stitches slanted, insert your needle 2 rounds over to make each stitch. The veins should be 2 or 3 rounds apart across the leaf. Then sew 1 tiny vein slanting away from each of the 6 longer veins you just sewed. Then weave the yarn back through the inside of the leaf to the beginning tail and secure the beginning and ending tails in a knot. Weave in the ends.
Now, cut a strand of dark green yarn that is at least 2 feet/60 cm long and a strand of white yarn that is at least 1.5 feet/45 cm long. Sew 1 eye between R11-12, then 1 st down from the eye sew a tiny smile that is 2 sts wide, and then sew the eye on the other side. Secure the beginning and ending tails with a knot.
See this video for a detailed explanation of how to embroider eyes:
LEGS
For the legs, attach the #6 super bulky weight yarn to your hook. Insert the hook 1 stitch down and 1 stitch back from the eye. Sl st to join. Then:
R1: Ch 3, turn, and starting in the 2nd ch from your hook, sl st 2, sl st to join to the body, ch 3, turn, sl st 2, and sl st to join to the body (6 sts or 1 pair of legs)
Fasten off. Secure each end with a knot to the body and weave them inside the body.
Repeat on the other side of the body for the 2nd pair of legs.
And you're finished! Enjoy your walking leaf! :)
