Crochet Olive Branch – PDF Pattern with Free Video Tutorial

There is something quietly beautiful about the olive branch. For thousands of years it has carried meaning — peace, hope, new beginnings, and the steady endurance of something rooted and green. In crochet form, it becomes something you can hold in your hands, weave into a wreath, tuck into a bouquet, or stitch onto a garland that decorates a mantle for every season of the year. If you have been looking for a simple, elegant botanical project that delivers stunning results without demanding advanced skills, this is the one.

This post walks you through everything you need to know to crochet your own olive branch, from the materials you will need to a step-by-step written pattern, plus guidance on how to get the most from the free video tutorial included below. Whether you are a beginner who has just learned the basic stitches or an experienced crocheter looking for a satisfying quick project, this pattern is designed to work beautifully for you.

Why Crochet an Olive Branch?

Before we dive into the hook and yarn, let us talk about why this particular botanical shape has become such a popular project in the crochet community.

First, olive branches are versatile in a way that few other botanical designs are. Unlike flowers that feel inherently seasonal, the olive branch reads as timeless. It works as a Mediterranean-inspired home decoration, a natural element in a boho-style wreath, a sprig tucked into a handmade card, or a delicate accessory pinned to a linen jacket. The muted grey-green of olive leaves carries a neutral elegance that suits almost any color palette.

Second, this project is genuinely achievable for most skill levels. The individual leaves are small and worked in a simple oval shape, the branch itself is just a crocheted chain wrapped with slip stitches to give it body and structure, and the tiny olives — if you choose to add them — are basic magic ring spheres. Nothing here requires complex stitch counts or confusing color changes. You can finish a single branch in about an hour or two, making it perfect for an evening project or a slow weekend morning with a cup of coffee beside you.

Third, crochet botanicals have a creative longevity that other trends simply do not. They do not go out of style. The skills you develop making this olive branch will carry over into other leaf and stem patterns, into wreath-making, into fiber art installations, and into the kind of hand-crafted gifts that people genuinely treasure.

Materials You Will Need

One of the best things about this pattern is how minimal the supply list is. You likely already have most of what you need in your stash.

Yarn: A light worsted weight (category 3 or 4) yarn in a soft sage green or grey-green works best for the leaves. For a more muted, realistic look, choose a yarn with a slight heather or tweed texture rather than a flat solid color. Some makers also love using a cotton-linen blend for the leaves because it gives the finished piece a slightly stiff, botanical feel that holds its shape well without any stiffening spray.

For the branch itself, you will want a brown or warm taupe yarn — something earthy that reads as bark. A thinner weight, like a DK or sport weight, works well here, but matching weights is not critical since the branch has its own shaping technique.

For the olives, if you choose to include them, a deep green, dusty purple, or muted black yarn works beautifully. Even a small amount will do — these are tiny accents, and a leftover scrap from another project is often just the right amount.

Hook: A 3.5mm or 4mm hook is ideal for light worsted yarn. If you are working with a thinner cotton-blend, drop down to a 3mm or even 2.75mm to get a tight, firm fabric that holds the leaf shape cleanly.

Notions: You will need a yarn needle for weaving in ends, scissors, and if you want the finished branch to hold a specific shape or bend, a length of floral wire or craft wire tucked inside the branch before you finish it. This is optional but makes a significant difference if you plan to arrange the branch in a vase or curve it around a wreath form.

Stitch markers are helpful for keeping track of rounds when making the small olives, but a small piece of contrasting yarn threaded through works just as well.

Optional finishing: A light mist of starch or fabric stiffener will give your leaves a crisp, polished look if you prefer a more structured botanical rather than a softer, draped result.

Stitch Abbreviations

This pattern is written in US crochet terminology.

ch — chain
sl st — slip stitch
sc — single crochet
hdc — half double crochet
dc — double crochet
hdc2tog — half double crochet two together (decrease)
MR — magic ring
sp — space
st — stitch
rep — repeat
pm — place marker

The Pattern

Part One: The Branch

The branch is the foundation of the whole piece, and it is simpler to make than it looks. Cut a length of floral wire approximately 30 to 35 centimetres long if you want a poseable branch, or simply work without wire for a softer, flatter result.

Begin with your brown yarn.

Ch 35 (or your desired length — this gives you a branch of roughly 25 to 28 centimetres once worked). Do not turn.

Working back along the foundation chain: sl st in the 2nd ch from hook and in every ch across. Fasten off and leave a long tail for attaching smaller stems.

For the smaller side stems: Ch 10, sl st back along the chain in the same way. Make two or three of these, each slightly different in length. Attach each one to the main branch by threading the yarn tail through a point on the main branch and securing it firmly with the yarn needle. If you are using floral wire, bend a small side branch from the wire before you begin, so the structure mirrors what you are crocheting.

Part Two: The Leaves

This is the heart of the pattern. Each leaf is worked from a central chain with stitches on both sides, creating a classic oval leaf shape. Once you make a few, you will find a rhythm and they come together quickly.

To make one leaf (make 8 to 12 per branch, or more as desired):

With your green yarn, ch 8.

Row 1 (first side of leaf):

Starting in the 2nd ch from hook: sc in the 2nd ch, hdc in the next ch, dc in the next 2 ch, hdc in the next ch, sc in the next ch. In the last ch (the tip of the leaf), work 3 sc. Do not turn — you will now work back along the other side of the foundation chain.

Row 1 continued (second side of leaf):

Working into the remaining loops of the foundation chain: sc in the next st, hdc in the next st, dc in the next 2 sts, hdc in the next st, sc in the last st.

Sl st to join at the base of the leaf. Ch 4 (this forms the short stem that will attach to the branch). Sl st back down the ch-4 to form the stem.

Fasten off and leave a tail for attaching.

Shaping the leaf: With your fingers, gently pinch the leaf lengthwise along the center to encourage a slight fold or midrib. This is optional, but it adds a realistic dimension that makes each leaf feel more lifelike.

Attach each leaf to the branch or side stems using the yarn tail and your needle. Position them in pairs along the side stems, facing in opposite directions, to mimic the way real olive leaves grow.

Part Three: The Olives (Optional)

Olives add so much character to the finished branch and they are surprisingly quick to make. Each one takes only a few minutes.

To make one olive (make 4 to 8 per branch):

With your olive, dark green, or dusty purple yarn: MR.

Round 1: Ch 1, work 6 sc into the MR. Pull the ring closed. Do not join — work in a continuous spiral. Pm in the first st to track rounds.

Round 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12 sts)

Round 3: Sc in each st around. (12 sts)

Round 4: Hdc2tog around until the opening is small. (6 sts)

Before closing completely, stuff the olive lightly with a small pinch of fiberfill or a yarn scrap to give it a plump, rounded shape.

Round 5: Sc2tog around until only 2 or 3 sts remain. Fasten off and use the tail to sew the opening closed.

Thread the starting yarn tail through the top of the olive and use it to attach the olive to the branch, letting it dangle slightly as a natural olive would.

Free Video Tutorial

If any part of the written pattern feels unclear, the free video tutorial is there to help. In the video, I walk through each section slowly — the branch, the leaves with their foundation chain technique, and the small olives — so you can watch the hook movements in real time and match your work to what you see on screen.

The video is especially helpful for the leaf construction, since working along both sides of a foundation chain is a technique that is much easier to follow visually than to read in text. I also show how to attach the leaves to the branch and how to shape and arrange them for the most natural-looking finished piece.

You will find the video tutorial linked directly below this post. It is completely free, with no sign-up required.

Tips for a Beautiful Finished Branch

A few small details make a big difference with this kind of botanical project.

Vary your leaf size. Real olive leaves are not all identical. Try making some leaves on a ch 6 foundation and others on ch 10 for a slightly more organic, natural range of sizes across the same branch.

Use two shades of green. If you have a sage green and a slightly darker or more muted grey-green in your stash, alternate between them as you make your leaves. The subtle variation adds depth that photographs beautifully.

Block your leaves. Wet blocking or steam blocking the finished leaves before you attach them helps them lie flat and hold a clean shape. Simply pin them into shape on a foam mat or towel, mist with water or hold a steam iron a few centimetres above them, and let them dry completely before assembly.

Consider the arrangement before attaching. Lay everything out on a flat surface — the branch, the side stems, all your leaves and olives — before you commit to stitching anything down. Play with spacing and density. More leaves clustered at the ends of branches looks lush and abundant; fewer, more evenly spaced leaves looks elegant and spare. Neither is wrong.

Wire gives you freedom. If you plan to use your branch as part of a wreath or arrange it in a vase alongside other dried or faux botanicals, the floral wire inside makes a huge difference. You can bend the branch into any shape you like, and it will hold.

Ways to Use Your Crochet Olive Branch

Once you have finished your branch, the possibilities are genuinely lovely. Here are some of the ways makers in the crochet community have been using this design.

A single olive branch laid across a holiday tablescape has a refined simplicity that works for celebrations all year round, not just winter. Paired with some faux eucalyptus or a few dried elements, it becomes part of a centerpiece that looks considered and effortful without being fussy.

Multiple branches wired together and bent into a circle form a modern, minimalist wreath that suits front doors, gallery walls, or over a bed as a piece of fiber art. Add a ribbon or a few dried flowers tucked between the branches and you have something that could easily be sold at a craft market.

A small olive branch pinned or stitched to a wide-brim hat adds a botanical accent that feels both artisanal and current. The same idea works on a linen tote bag, a crochet bag, or even as a brooch with a pin back attached.

Gifting one as part of a handmade set — perhaps a branch tied with a ribbon and tucked into a greeting card or a small gift box alongside a candle or a handmade soap — elevates the whole gesture. There is something deeply meaningful about giving something made by hand, and the symbolism of the olive branch as a token of peace and goodwill makes it a particularly thoughtful one.

Some makers work several branches and use them to decorate a crocheted or fabric wreath form for an ongoing project that grows over time, adding new seasonal elements as the year moves through its rhythms.

Skill Level and Project Time

This pattern is rated as beginner-friendly with one small caveat: the foundation chain leaf technique (working into both sides of a chain) is new to some beginners, but it is genuinely one of the most useful skills in crochet and worth learning early. Once it clicks, you will use it for all kinds of leaf, petal, and oval shapes.

A complete olive branch with eight to ten leaves and four or five olives typically takes between two and three hours for a relaxed, unhurried crocheter. If you work quickly or make smaller leaves, you can finish in under two hours. Making several at once — which many people do, since the rhythm becomes meditative — is a lovely way to spend an afternoon.

Saving and Sharing This Pattern

This pattern is available as a downloadable PDF that you can save to your device, print out, or keep in your digital pattern library for future reference. The PDF includes all the written instructions, a materials list, a stitch key, and a few notes on assembly. You will find the download link below.

If you make this pattern, I would love to see what you create. Share your finished branches in the comments below or tag your photos on Instagram and Pinterest so other makers can find them. Your work is part of what makes the crochet community such a genuinely warm and inspiring place to spend time.

And if you have any questions about the pattern — a stitch that is not landing quite right, a substitution question, or anything about the video tutorial — leave a comment and I will answer as soon as I can.

Happy crocheting. May your olive branches bring a little peace and beauty into your home, and into the homes of everyone lucky enough to receive them as a gift.