Maple Leaf Knitting Chart

Use this 17×17 chart to knit a stylized maple leaf panel—great for a cushion, mitten palm, sweater yoke insert or an intarsia motif. Chart key, reading notes, yarn & needle recommendations, gauge and detailed instructions are below.

Chart (17 sts × 17 rows)

........X........
.......XXX.......
......XXXXX......
.....XXXXXXX.....
....XXXXXXXXX....
...XXXXXX.XXXX...
..XXXXX...XXXXX..
.XXXXX.....XXXXX.
XXXXX.......XXXXX
.XXXXX.....XXXXX.
..XXXXX...XXXXX..
...XXXXXX.XXXX...
....XXXXXXXXX....
.....XXXXXXX.....
......XXXXX......
.......XXX.......
........X........

Key: 'X' = leaf colour (MC or CC depending on your choice), '.' = background colour. Read instructions below for intarsia vs stranded approaches.

How to read the chart

• Chart is 17 stitches wide; read from the bottom row (row 1) upward.
• Right-side rows (odd-numbered rows when worked flat) are read right to left. Wrong-side rows (even-numbered rows when worked flat) are read left to right.
• If working in the round: read every row right-to-left; mirror the chart vertically if you prefer the leaf to face a different direction.

Suggested placement

Center the 17-stitch chart in your panel. Example: for a 41-st wider panel, work 12 sts background, 17-st chart, 12 sts background.

Yarn (suggested)

• Weight: Worsted / Aran (medium) yarn.
• Sample suggestion: 1 skein 200 yd (183 m) worsted weight; you only need small amounts for a single motif: about 50 yd (46 m) leaf colour (MC) and 25 yd (23 m) background (CC) for a single panel—adjust for multiple repeats.

Needles

Choose needle size that gives the gauge below. Recommended sizes (pick based on fabric preference):

• US 6 — 4.0 mm — UK old size 8
• US 7 — 4.5 mm — UK old size 7
• US 8 — 5.0 mm — UK old size 6

Gauge

Sample gauge: 18 sts × 24 rows = 4 in / 10 cm in stockinette on US 7 (4.5 mm). Swatch with your chosen yarn and needles, then adjust needle size to match.

Abbreviations

• K = knit
• P = purl
• K2tog = knit 2 together (right-leaning decrease)
• YO = yarn over
• MC = main colour (or leaf colour)
• CC = contrast/background colour

Colourwork options

Intarsia: Best for a single isolated leaf block (use small bobbins or waste yarn bobbins for each colour island). Twist yarns at colour joins to avoid holes. Stranded (Fair Isle) technique: Carry the unused colour loosely across the WS of the work (catch floats every 3-4 sts) to avoid long floats. Duplicate stitch: Knit the whole panel in background and add the leaf afterward with duplicate stitch for minimal yarn management.

Working the chart (example: flat knitting)

1. Cast on the number of stitches for your panel (e.g., 41 stitches to center the 17-st chart with 12-st background each side).
2. Work background in stockinette until you reach the row where the chart begins (or begin chart immediately if placing at row 1).
3. Start reading the chart from the bottom row. On RS rows read chart right-to-left; on WS rows read left-to-right.
4. When a stitch calls for 'X', work that stitch in the leaf colour; when it calls for '.', work it in the background colour.
5. After completing the 17 chart rows, continue background or repeat chart vertically as required by your design.

Finishing

• Weave in ends securely. For intarsia, tuck short ends into your work using a yarn needle or knit them into the next rows on the WS.
• Block gently to settle stitches and flatten floats if stranded. For worsted yarn use a steam or wet block according to yarn label.

Notes & tips

• Tension: keep floats loose on WS if stranded to avoid puckering the chart.
• For a crisp leaf edge, use intarsia so colour changes are exactly at stitch boundaries.
• If you want a mirrored leaf, read each row from the opposite side or swap left/right placement.

If you want this chart scaled larger (more detail) or converted to a 2-colour stranded mitten palm or in-the-round sweater yoke layout, I can generate a tailored chart and row-by-row instructions.

Website: https://purljam.verde.uk • Support: team@verde.uk • Social: #purljam

Created by purlJam with the help of magic AI dust. Shop Verde for patterns and yarn.

Disclaimer: Enjoy the fun! Accuracy of patterns cannot be guaranteed. Remember to use and share content responsibly when engaging with this AI-powered app.