Crocheted Eucalyptus Garland Lei Free Pattern

Crocheted Eucalyptus Garland Lei – Free Pattern

Introduction

This eucalyptus garland lei is a gentle, minimalist project that looks far more intricate than it really is. It's written for beginners who are comfortable with a few basic stitches and want a quick, satisfying make that comes together in an afternoon. The muted sage green leaves and soft light gray cord give it a calm, botanical feel that works beautifully as a delicate accessory draped over the shoulders or as simple home decor across a mantel, shelf, or table. Each leaf is a small flat oval with a slightly pointed tip and rounded base, and because they're joined along a single central cord, the whole piece stays light, airy, and easy to wear.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Worsted weight (4) cotton yarn. Approximately 100 yards of sage green (Color A) for the leaves and 20 yards of light gray (Color B) for the cord.
• Hook: 5 mm (H-8) crochet hook.
• Notions: Tapestry needle for sewing and weaving in ends, scissors, and a few sewing pins to hold leaves in place during assembly.
• Finished size: Approximately 36 inches long including the cord, with each leaf about 2 inches long.

Abbreviations

• ch – chain: yarn over and pull through the loop on your hook.
• sc – single crochet: insert hook, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through both loops.
• hdc – half double crochet: yarn over, insert hook, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through all three loops.
• dc – double crochet: yarn over, insert hook, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through two loops, yarn over and pull through the last two loops.
• sl st – slip stitch: insert hook, yarn over, pull through both the stitch and the loop on your hook.
• st(s) – stitch(es).

Gauge

4 single crochet = 1 inch, and 4 rows = 1 inch in single crochet. To check your gauge, work a small swatch of single crochet and measure a 1-inch section; if your stitches are larger, try a smaller hook, and if smaller, try a larger hook.

Tips Before You Start

• Keep your tension even but relaxed — the leaves should lie flat, so avoid pulling the stitches too tight around the foundation chain.
• Work all 20 leaves before you begin assembly so you can lay them out and check the spacing along the cord first.
• Leave the 6-inch tails on both the cord and each leaf; you'll use the leaf tails to sew them onto the cord, so don't trim them early.
• Cotton yarn blocks beautifully — a light steam or spritz at the end helps the leaves hold their smooth oval shape.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Cord (Color B)

Row 1: Ch 120, leaving a 6-inch tail at the start. Fasten off, leaving a 6-inch tail at the end (120 ch).

Leaves (Color A) – Make 20

Row 1: Ch 7. Sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next ch, dc in each of next 2 ch, hdc in next ch, sc in last ch. Do not turn (6 sts).

Row 2: Working along the opposite side of the foundation chain: sc in first ch, hdc in next ch, dc in each of next 2 ch, hdc in next ch, sc in last ch. Join with sl st to first sc of Row 1. Fasten off, leaving a 6-inch tail for sewing (12 sts around the oval).

Repeat Rows 1–2 to make 20 leaves total.

Assembly and Finishing

Fold the cord in half to mark the center. Starting 2 inches in from each end, pin the leaves evenly along the cord, spacing them about 1.5 inches apart and centering each leaf on the cord so it lies flat. Using the 6-inch tail on each leaf, sew the center of the leaf securely to the cord, working a few small stitches through the middle of the leaf and around the chain. Repeat for all 20 leaves, checking the spacing as you go. Weave in all ends neatly on the wrong side, then block lightly by spritzing or steaming and laying flat to dry so the leaves hold their shape.

Pro Tips and Variations

• For a fuller garland, add a few extra leaves or reduce the spacing to about 1 inch for a denser, more layered look.
• Swap the sage green for olive, dusty blue, or a soft cream to match a different season or outfit.
• Make a shorter version by chaining fewer stitches (for example, ch 80 for a roughly 24-inch lei) and adjusting the number of leaves to keep the same spacing.