Crochet Autumn Leaves in Burgundy, Mustard & Olive: A Complete Guide to Capturing Fall’s Most Beautiful Colors

There is something quietly magical about the moment summer loosens its grip and the world begins to turn. The air carries a different weight, mornings smell of damp earth and woodsmoke, and everywhere you look, the trees are putting on their finest show. For those of us who crochet, autumn is more than a season — it is an invitation. An invitation to pick up our hooks and translate all that warmth and wildness into something we can hold in our hands.

This guide is dedicated to crocheting autumn leaves in the three shades that define the season better than any others: deep, wine-dark burgundy, golden mustard, and the earthy, muted tones of olive green. Whether you are a beginner looking for your first leaf pattern or an experienced crocheter searching for ways to incorporate seasonal motifs into garlands, wreaths, home décor, and wearable accessories, this post has everything you need to bring the colors of fall to life one stitch at a time.

Why Autumn Leaves Make Such Beautiful Crochet Projects

Crochet leaves are endlessly versatile. They are small enough to be finished in a single sitting, satisfying enough to keep you coming back for just one more, and flexible enough to work their way into almost any larger project you can imagine. A single crochet leaf can dress up a hat, accent a bag, or drift across a mantelpiece arrangement. A whole pile of them, strung together with a length of twine, becomes a garland that transforms a room.

What makes the autumn leaf especially compelling as a crochet subject is the incredible range of shapes that actually exist in nature. Oak leaves have their deep, rounded lobes. Maple leaves spread their palms wide. Elm leaves are simple ovals with serrated edges. Each translates differently into crochet, and each gives you a slightly different challenge and satisfaction. When you layer those varied shapes in burgundy, mustard, and olive, the result is a bowl, a garland, or a tabletop arrangement that captures everything you love about the season.

There is also something deeply meditative about making leaves. The patterns tend to involve a central spine from which you build outward, mirroring the way a real leaf grows from its stem. Working that central rib, then filling in the sides, creates a rhythm that is easy to fall into and hard to leave. It is the kind of crochet that clears your head.

Choosing the Right Yarn and Hook for Autumn Leaves

Before we get into patterns and techniques, let us talk about materials, because the colors and textures you choose will make or break the autumnal effect you are going for.

Yarn weight and fiber: For decorative leaves — think garlands, wreaths, and bowl fillers — a DK or light worsted weight yarn in 100% cotton or a cotton-acrylic blend works beautifully. Cotton gives the leaves crispness and helps them hold their shape without blocking. If you want leaves that feel a little softer and more rustic, a wool or wool-blend yarn adds texture and warmth, and has the bonus of felting slightly if you use warm water when blocking them into shape.

For leaves that will be attached to wearable items like hats, scarves, or bags, a slightly softer yarn — perhaps a bamboo blend or a superwash merino — will drape better and feel kinder against the skin.

Hook size: Match your hook to your yarn weight and aim to crochet slightly tightly so the leaves hold their form. For DK yarn, a 3.5mm or 4mm hook is ideal. For worsted, try a 4.5mm or 5mm. If your leaves are coming out too loose and floppy, go down a hook size.

Colors — going deeper into the palette:

Burgundy is the anchor of an autumnal palette. Look for shades that lean toward deep red-wine rather than purple or pink. Words like “merlot,” “claret,” “cranberry,” and “garnet” in yarn colorway names are good guides. The best burgundy for autumn leaves has some depth and darkness to it, suggesting the way a leaf turns deep red as it loses chlorophyll.

Mustard is perhaps the trickiest autumn shade to get right. True mustard sits somewhere between golden yellow and warm amber — it should never look neon or lemon-yellow, and it should not tip too far into orange. Look for colorway names like “harvest gold,” “saffron,” “golden rod,” “amber,” or “wheat.” The ideal mustard for this project is slightly muted, as if it has been mixed with a touch of brown.

Olive is the grounding shade in this trio. It bridges the warm tones of burgundy and mustard and adds a naturalistic, earthy quality that keeps the whole arrangement from looking too bright. Look for colorways described as “moss,” “fern,” “sage,” “khaki,” or “army green.” True olive has a yellow-green base with brown mixed in — it should look like something you might find on a forest floor.

When you hold all three colors together in a skein or in your hands, the palette should feel cohesive and a little moody — warm but grounded, celebratory but autumnal.

Basic Crochet Autumn Leaf Pattern (Beginner-Friendly)

This simple leaf works up quickly and produces a classic oval leaf shape with a defined center rib. It is written for DK weight yarn with a 4mm hook.

Abbreviations: ch = chain, sl st = slip stitch, sc = single crochet, hdc = half double crochet, dc = double crochet, tr = treble crochet, sk = skip, sp = space.

Pattern:

Make a foundation chain of 12.

Starting in the second chain from the hook, work as follows along one side of the chain: sc in next st, hdc in next st, dc in next 2 sts, tr in next 2 sts, dc in next 2 sts, hdc in next st, sc in next st, and then in the final chain work 3 sc to turn the corner and begin working back down the other side of the foundation chain.

Working back along the other side, mirror the stitches: sc in next st, hdc in next st, dc in next 2 sts, tr in next 2 sts, dc in next 2 sts, hdc in next st, sc in next st.

Join with a slip stitch to the first sc to close the leaf. Do not fasten off — instead, chain 10 and slip stitch back down the chain to form the stem. Fasten off and weave in ends.

This basic pattern creates a smooth, simple leaf that is perfect for beginners and for any project where you want the color to do the talking rather than intricate texture.

Intermediate Pattern: The Lobed Autumn Leaf

This pattern creates a more complex leaf with three to five lobes, reminiscent of an oak or maple leaf. It takes a little longer but produces a far more naturalistic result. Use the same yarn weight and hook as above.

Pattern:

Chain 15. Slip stitch back along the chain to the 5th chain from the hook — this creates the first lobe. Chain 7, then slip stitch back to the junction point. Chain 9, slip stitch back to the junction. Chain 7, slip stitch back once more. Chain 5 for the final small lobe, slip stitch back to the junction.

Now work along the main stem chain, working sc stitches evenly along each side and working 3 sc into each lobe tip to give them a rounded point. Join and fasten off as before, adding a stem chain.

This pattern rewards experimentation. Try making the lobes slightly longer or shorter, or adding a sixth lobe for a more dramatic silhouette. Each variation gives you a different leaf type, and in the autumn palette of burgundy, mustard, and olive, each one looks genuinely seasonal.

How to Add Veining and Texture to Your Crochet Leaves

One of the small touches that elevates a crochet leaf from simple to stunning is adding surface texture to suggest veining. There are a few approaches worth trying.

The first is embroidery. Once your leaf is finished and blocked, use a tapestry needle and a contrasting or toning color of yarn to stitch a central vein from tip to stem and a series of smaller veins branching off from either side. In a burgundy leaf, stitching with a deep rust or dark brown adds beautiful definition. In a mustard leaf, try veining with an amber or caramel tone. Olive leaves look especially lovely with veining in a warm ochre or bronze.

The second approach is to work the veining directly into the crochet as you go. Work your leaf as described above, but at the end of each row along the central spine, work your turning chains along the surface rather than at the edge, creating a slightly raised ridge. This takes practice to get neat but creates a beautifully textured result.

The third option is surface slip stitching. After completing your leaf, use a slip stitch worked through the surface of the fabric (rather than through established stitches) to draw a central vein. This is easier than it sounds and adds excellent definition with minimal effort.

Project Ideas: What to Make with Your Autumn Leaves

Once you start making crochet autumn leaves in burgundy, mustard, and olive, the challenge becomes deciding where to stop — because the applications are genuinely endless.

Autumn garlands: String leaves along a length of jute twine or a fine chain stitch rope in alternating colors. Garlands look stunning hung across a mantelpiece, strung between the bannisters of a staircase, or draped across a windowsill. For a garland of approximately one meter, you will need around twenty to thirty leaves depending on their size. Vary the colors so that no two of the same shade appear side by side, and intersperse the larger lobed leaves with smaller simple leaves for a natural, organic look.

Autumn wreath: Purchase a plain wooden or wire wreath form from a craft shop and attach your leaves using a hot glue gun or by tying them with small lengths of twine. A wreath of sixty to eighty leaves in burgundy, mustard, and olive, with a few additional textured elements — dried seed heads, cinnamon sticks, a hessian bow — becomes a front door decoration that genuinely rivals any florist’s creation.

Table centrepiece bowl: Fill a shallow wooden or ceramic bowl with a collection of loose crochet leaves in your three autumn colors. Add a few small crocheted acorns or pinecones if the mood takes you. This is one of the simplest and most effective pieces of seasonal home décor you can create, and it takes almost no yarn or time.

Hat and scarf embellishment: Sew a cluster of two or three leaves to the side of a plain crocheted or knitted hat. Choose a burgundy hat and attach mustard and olive leaves, or make a neutral hat and let the leaves provide all the color. Leaves also work beautifully as closures on shawl pins or as brooches when backed with a safety pin.

Gift wrapping and cards: Crochet leaves make exquisite gift toppers. Tie one to the ribbon of a wrapped present, or stitch one to the front of a handmade card. In the autumn season especially, a burgundy leaf tied to a gift with a strand of gold twine is genuinely beautiful.

Bookmarks: A simple leaf with an extra-long stem chain makes an excellent bookmark. Work the leaf in mustard, leave a stem of around fifteen centimeters, and add a small tassel to the end of the stem in olive or burgundy.

Tips for Blocking Your Crochet Leaves

Blocking is the process of wetting your finished crochet and pinning it into shape while it dries, and it makes a significant difference to the appearance of your leaves.

For cotton yarn, dampen the leaf with a spray bottle or by briefly submerging it in cool water, then pin it to a foam blocking mat or a folded towel. Pull the lobes gently outward to define the leaf’s shape, ensure the central spine is straight, and leave it to dry completely before unpinning. The difference between a blocked and unblocked leaf is remarkable — blocking gives a crisp, professional finish that makes the leaf look like it came from a professional craftsperson rather than a hobbyist.

For wool yarn, be more careful with the water temperature and handle the wet yarn gently to avoid felting. Use cool water and press rather than rub the yarn when removing excess moisture.

If you are making large quantities of leaves for a garland or wreath, try blocking them in batches. Pin ten or fifteen leaves to the same blocking mat, maximizing your drying surface and getting through the project efficiently.

Caring for Your Finished Autumn Crochet Pieces

Decorative pieces like garlands and wreaths do not need washing, but leaves that have been attached to wearable items should be cared for according to the fiber content of the yarn used. Cotton items can generally be machine washed on a gentle cycle, while wool items benefit from hand washing in cool water with a gentle detergent.

Store seasonal decorations in a breathable cloth bag or tissue paper to protect them from dust between years. Avoid storing them in plastic, which can trap moisture and cause the colors to fade or the yarn to smell musty over time. If any leaves have lost their shape after storage, a quick blocking session will restore them.

Building a Seasonal Crochet Practice Around Autumn

One of the most rewarding things about seasonal crochet is the way it connects your making practice to the natural world. Working in burgundy, mustard, and olive through September and October is not just aesthetically satisfying — it aligns your creative work with what is happening outside your window, and that alignment has a quietly grounding effect.

Consider making a small collection of autumn pieces each year — a garland, a wreath topper, a bowl of leaves — and building on it over time. Start with simple leaves in your first year, add lobed leaves in the second, and perhaps venture into crocheted acorns, pinecones, or mushrooms in later years. Over time you will accumulate a rich, handmade collection of seasonal décor that reflects your growing skill and your genuine love for the season.

The three colors of this palette — burgundy, mustard, and olive — are a beautiful foundation, but do not feel limited to them. Once you have mastered the basics, try introducing a burnt orange, a deep chocolate brown, or a warm cream to expand the palette. Real autumn leaves are never just three colors, and your crochet forest can be as richly varied as the trees outside.

Final Thoughts

Crochet autumn leaves in burgundy, mustard, and olive are one of those projects that deliver an outsized reward for a relatively modest investment of time and materials. A single skein in each of the three colors will give you enough yarn to fill a bowl, hang a garland, and still have leaves left over for gifts and embellishments. The patterns are accessible to beginners but offer enough variation to keep experienced crocheters engaged, and the finished results are genuinely beautiful — seasonal, handmade, and full of the warmth and earthiness that make autumn so beloved.

So pick up your hook. Choose the deepest burgundy you can find, the most golden mustard, the most grounded olive. Cast on your first chain, work your first leaf, and see how quickly the rhythm takes over. The season is short, the evenings are long, and there is nothing quite like making something with your hands while the leaves fall outside.

Happy crocheting.