Free Little Leaf rug hooking pattern today

A few days ago I posted about how to make use of small scraps of linen backing fabric, and showed you this design on my frame. Here is my finished Little Leaf design.

As a thank you to my blog readers,
you may download and print the pattern by clicking here.

As I color planned this little piece, I wanted to create a flip image with the center line separating it. One side of the design would have a dark background and lighter value leaf, and the other side would be a light background with a darker leaf. I used my favorite color triad: orange, green, and purple.

Here you can see how I blended many colors that are close in value in each area I hooked. This creates more movement and interest.

I pressed the finished piece, trimmed the backing to 1″ and turned it under, flush to the hooking. Then I lightly sprayed the back with fabric adhesive. I use Dritz or 505 brand fabric adhesives. Make sure that you protect your other surfaces before you spray. Then I pressed the back of my piece onto a piece of felted wool that was larger than my hooked piece by at least 1″ all around. The adhesive works wonderfully as a temporary basting, holding it in place as you sew.

With the right side up, I then cut the backing wool so that it peeked out a bit further beyond the edge of my hooking– about 1/4″ beyond the finished edge. I used pinking shears on mine but you can use regular scissors.

For the stem handle I cut a 1″ X  5″ rectangle from the same wool. I rolled it up to make a long stem, and sewed it together along the length of it. When I finished, I sewed the raw ends together, and then securely sewed the handle/stem in place at the base of my leaf  between the last row of hooking and the wool backing.

Then I sewed the edges of the wool backing all around the hooking, sewing the 1/4″ overhang of wool to hug up against the last row of hooking hiding any backing underneath it. I used a primitive looking slash stitch.

I have used my piece as a hot pad. But I also can see this as a jewelry holder on a bureau, or hung as an art piece on the wall.

Have fun creating your Little Leaf ~ Karen

This design is protected under copyright law, and I have stipulated that this free pattern is for personal, non-commercial use only. I also ask that you give me credit as the designer whenever you post a photo of it. Thank you for your readership and for supporting my work.