Step-by-step centerpiece

DIFFICULTY LEVEL: Basic

MATERIALS:

To make the leaves we will use Super Cotton in the colors: 460, 461, 470 and 471.

This cotton is crocheted with a size 3 crochet hook, but this time we are going to use double yarn, so we recommend using a size 5 or 6. This way, some leaves will be a single color and others a mix of two shades, creating a new one. Specifically, for this project we have mixed 460 with 461 and 470 with 471. Feel free to make your own combinations and get new results in all your projects!

For single-color leaves, you don't need to buy two skeins or cut the yarn, because we have this trick for you: just use the beginning strand of the skein and the end strand (both are inside the skein, so you just have to look for them carefully).

This placemat is made with 8 leaves, but you can crochet as many as you want and give the project the final shape you like best or that fits your needs; the possibilities are endless.

The project is basic level; you just need to know the stitches used, which are:
– Chain stitch.
– Slip stitch.
– Single crochet.
– Double crochet.
– Decrease of 3 double crochets (3 double crochets together).
– Increase of 3 double crochets (3 double crochets in the same stitch).
– Front or back post double crochet.

FINAL RESULT:

TIPS:

Some tips before starting:
– Use a stitch marker every time you crochet the three chains at the beginning of each round to avoid mistakes and skipping that stitch in the next round.
– When joining the leaves, use the color of one of them, but when passing the yarn through the other leaf that has a different color, do it from underneath and making sure the yarn is not visible so that the joins are clean and beautiful.

STEP BY STEP:

BASE:

1.- Chain 19 stitches.
2.- Single crochet in the second chain stitch from the hook and continue with 7 more so that you have 8 in total.
3.- Chain another 10 stitches.
Now we have the base of the leaf, which consists of: 10 chain stitches to the left, the stem of the leaf formed by the 8 single crochets, and another 10 stitches to the right.

1st ROUND:

1.- Start by increasing in the last chain stitch with 3 double crochets. To do this, chain three (which replaces the first double crochet), and make 2 more double crochets in the last chain of the base so that you have 3 double crochets in total.
2.- Continue with 6 double crochets along the base chain.
3.- In the last 3 chains, make a decrease of 3 double crochets (3 double crochets together).
4.- Make 1 front post double crochet, which will be the center of the leaf.
5.- Continue with a decrease of 3 double crochets.
6.- Crochet 6 double crochets along the base chain.
7.- In the last chain, make an increase of 3 double crochets.

2nd ROUND:

Turn your work and start increasing following the same structure as in the first round:
1.- Make an increase of 3 double crochets (remember that the first one is replaced by three chains).
2.- Continue with 6 double crochets and finish with a decrease of 3 double crochets to reach the center.
3.- This time make 1 back post double crochet.
4.- Continue with a decrease of 3 double crochets.
5.- Crochet another 6 double crochets and finish the round with an increase of 3 double crochets.

3rd ROUND:

1.- Turn your work and this time we will make an increase of only 2 double crochets (note that the first one is replaced by three chains).
2.- Continue with 6 double crochets and finish with a decrease of 3 double crochets to reach the center.
3.- Crochet 1 front post double crochet.
4.- Continue with a decrease of 3 double crochets.
5.- Crochet another 6 double crochets and finish the round with an increase of 2 double crochets.

4th ROUND:

1.- Turn your work and make an increase of 2 double crochets (always replace the first one with three chains).
2.- Continue with 5 double crochets and finish with a decrease of 3 double crochets.
3.- Crochet 1 back post double crochet.
4.- Continue with a decrease of 3 double crochets.
5.- Crochet another 5 double crochets and finish with an increase of 2 double crochets.

5th ROUND:

1.- Turn your work and make an increase of 2 double crochets (replace the first one with three chains).
2.- Continue with 4 double crochets and then a decrease of 3 double crochets.
3.- Crochet 1 front post double crochet.
4.- Continue with a decrease of 3 double crochets.
5.- Crochet 4 double crochets and finish with an increase of 2 double crochets.

6th ROUND:

1.- Turn your work and make an increase of 2 double crochets (replace the first one with three chains).
2.- Continue with 3 double crochets and then a decrease of 3 double crochets.
3.- Crochet 1 back post double crochet.
4.- Continue with a decrease of 3 double crochets.
5.- Crochet 3 double crochets and finish with an increase of 2 double crochets.

7th ROUND:

1.- Turn your work and make an increase of 2 double crochets (replace the first one with three chains).
2.- Continue with 2 double crochets and make a decrease of 3 double crochets.
3.- Crochet 1 front post double crochet.
4.- Continue with a decrease of 3 double crochets.
5.- Crochet 2 double crochets and finish with an increase of 2 double crochets.

8th ROUND:

1.- Turn your work and chain 3, which counts as the first double crochet.
2.- Continue with 1 double crochet and then a decrease of 3 double crochets.
3.- Crochet 1 back post double crochet.
4.- Continue with a decrease of 3 double crochets.
5.- Finish with 2 double crochets.

9th ROUND:

1.- Turn your work and make a decrease of 3 double crochets.
2.- Crochet 1 front post double crochet.
3.- Continue with a decrease of 3 double crochets.