Knitting Pattern
KUDZU LEAF
STEM (I-cord)
Using double pointed needles cast on 3 stitches. Knit your first row of stitches, but then instead of turning your work, slide the stitches to the other end of the needle they’re on. (This is why you use double points.) Knit into the right-most stitch on your left hand needle, pulling the working yarn across the back of your stitches to begin the next row. This is the action that creates the tubular I-cord. Keep repeating this process until your cord is 4-8 inches in length.
LEAF
Row 1 (WS): Purl
Row 2 (RS): K1, M1, K1, M1, K1 (5 sts)
Row 3: Purl
Row 4: K1, M1, K1, M1, K1, M1, K1, M1, K1 (9 sts)
Row 5: Purl
Row 6: K1, M1, K1, M1, K1, M1, K1, M1, K1, M1, K1, M1, K1, M1, K1, M1, K1 (17 sts)
Row 7: Purl
Row 8: K1, M1, K1, M1, K13, M1, K1, M1, K1 (21 sts)
Row 9: Purl
Row 10: K1, M1, K1, M1, K17, M1, K1, M1, K1 (25 sts)
Row 11: Purl
Rows 12-15: Knit (RS), Purl (WS)
Row 16: SSK, Knit to last 2 stitches, K2T
Row 17: Purl
Row 18: BO6, K to end (19 sts)
Row 19: BO6, P to end (13 sts)
Row 20: Knit
Row 21: Purl
Row 22: SSK, K to last 2 stitches, K2T (11 sts)
Row 23: Purl
Repeat rows 22 and 23 twice until 7 stitches remain
Row 28: SSK, S2KP2, K2T (3 sts)
Row 29: Purl
Row 30: S2KP2, cut yarn and pull last stitch through, weave in end on WS.
Abbreviations
CO = Cast on
K = Knit
P = Purl
M1 = Make 1 increase. Loft bar between stitches from front to back with the left needle and then knit through the back of it with the right needle.
BO = Bind off in pattern.
SSK = Slip two stitches to the right needle knitwise, one at a time. Insert left needle through front of both stitches from left to right and knit together.
K2T = Insert needle through next two stitches as if to knit and knit together.
S2KP2 = Slip 2 stitches together to the right needle as if to knit, knit the next stitch, then pass the slipped stitches over the knit stitch.
Knitting Pattern
SIMPLE KUDZU LEAF
Co 30 stitches
Knit each row (garter stitch) until you have made a square.
Bind off and weave in ends.
Pinch the center of the square and attach to an I-cord "vine" by sewing through with yarn so that the corners hang down to create the "leaf."
Crochet Pattern
VINE
Chain stitch desired length of vine – 10" to 12". This will be your main vine.
Turn, skipping the first chain, and single crochet into every chain stitch of the main vine
To create growths off the main vine randomly use one of two techniques:
At the desired spot, chain stitch 5 or 6 stitches off the main vine, then turn and reattach to the main vine with a single crochet into the same stitch from which it originated. This will create a small loop that has the appearance of a knob on the main vine.
To make a longer branch off of the main vine, as above, make a chain of 6 to 10 stitches, turn and single crochet into each of these stitches and reattach to the main vine with a single crochet through the stitch from which it originated.