Free PDF Pattern: Step by Step Crochet Ginkgo Leaf

There is something quietly magical about the ginkgo leaf. Its distinctive fan shape, split down the middle into two graceful lobes, has made it one of the most recognizable symbols in both nature and art for thousands of years. The ginkgo tree itself is often called a living fossil, a species so ancient that it predates the dinosaurs, and its leaves have appeared in everything from Japanese woodblock prints to Art Nouveau jewelry. When you hold a real ginkgo leaf in your hand, you understand immediately why artists have always been drawn to it. The shape is simple but deeply satisfying, the kind of form that feels both designed and entirely natural at the same time.

Now imagine capturing that same feeling in yarn.

A crocheted ginkgo leaf is one of those small projects that punches far above its weight. It works up quickly, uses only a small amount of yarn, and produces something genuinely beautiful that you can use in dozens of ways. Sew them onto a hat or a scarf. Cluster them into an autumn wreath. Use them as gift toppers, bookmarks, appliqués on a tote bag, or simply display a handful in a bowl as a fiber art arrangement. Once you learn the basic shape, you will find yourself making them over and over again, varying the colors from the deep green of summer to the vivid gold that ginkgo trees are famous for each fall.

This free pattern is written for crochet beginners and intermediate makers alike. Every step is explained in detail, with notes on tension, yarn choices, and shaping so that even if you have never worked a leaf pattern before, you will finish this project feeling confident and proud. A printable PDF is available at the end of this post so you can take the pattern with you anywhere, whether you prefer working from a printed sheet at your craft table or saving it to your phone for crocheting on the go.

Let’s get started.

Materials You Will Need

Before diving into the pattern itself, gather your supplies. One of the great pleasures of this project is how little you need.

Yarn: Any weight of yarn will work for this pattern, and the finished size of your leaf will change depending on what you choose. For a leaf that closely resembles the actual size of a ginkgo leaf, worsted weight yarn is ideal. This gives you something substantial enough to hold its shape while still being soft and flexible. For a smaller, more delicate leaf suited to jewelry or detailed appliqué work, try fingering or sport weight yarn with an appropriately sized hook. For an oversized decorative leaf, bulky yarn creates wonderful texture and works up in just a few minutes.

In terms of color, the classic choice is golden yellow, the color that makes ginkgo trees so spectacular in late October and early November. But consider dusty sage green for a summer version, a warm amber for early autumn, a creamy ivory for a botanical-style decoration, or even deep burgundy or rust if you want something a little unexpected. The pattern looks equally beautiful in all of these.

Hook: For worsted weight yarn, a 5mm (H/8) hook is a good starting point. Adjust up or down depending on your personal tension and the yarn you choose. If your finished leaf feels stiff and dense, try going up half a size. If it feels loose and floppy, go down half a size.

Additional supplies: Scissors, a yarn needle for weaving in ends, and stitch markers if you find them helpful when working in the round. Optional but recommended: a small amount of liquid starch or fabric stiffener if you want your finished leaves to hold a crisp, sculptural shape.

Understanding the Ginkgo Leaf Shape

Before picking up your hook, it helps to spend a moment thinking about what makes a ginkgo leaf look the way it does. The leaf fans outward from a single long stem, widening toward the top where it divides into two rounded lobes separated by a central notch. The outer edge of each lobe is gently scalloped rather than perfectly smooth, and fine veins radiate outward from the stem like lines in a paper fan.

In crochet terms, we achieve this shape by building a foundation chain that forms the stem, then working outward in a fan shape using increases, and finishing with a series of small scallops around the outer edge to suggest that gentle waviness. The central notch is created by working toward the center on both sides and leaving the middle slightly recessed. It sounds complicated written out, but once you hold the hook and follow the steps below, the logic of each row will make perfect sense.

Abbreviations and Stitch Key

This pattern uses standard US crochet terminology.

ch – chain
sl st – slip stitch
sc – single crochet
hdc – half double crochet
dc – double crochet
tr – treble crochet
inc – increase (two stitches worked into the same stitch)
sk – skip
sp – space
RS – right side
WS – wrong side
pm – place marker
BLO – back loop only

The Pattern: Step by Step Crochet Ginkgo Leaf

Step 1 — The Stem

Begin by making the foundation chain that will become the stem of your leaf. Chain 12. This chain forms the stem length. If you want a longer stem, simply add more chains in multiples of one; the rest of the pattern will not be affected.

Turn your work so the foundation chain is horizontal in front of you. You are going to work back along the chain, starting from the second chain from the hook.

Work one slip stitch into the second chain from the hook, then one slip stitch into each chain across until you reach the last chain. Do not work into the last chain yet — that is where your leaf body will begin. You should have 11 slip stitches along the stem. The slip stitches keep the stem thin and cord-like, which mimics the actual slender petiole of a ginkgo leaf beautifully.

Step 2 — Beginning the Leaf Base

You are now at the base of the leaf, working from the final stitch of your foundation chain. This is where the leaf begins to fan outward.

Row 1 (base row): Working into the last chain of your original foundation chain, work 1 sc, 1 hdc, 3 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc, then chain 1 and turn. (7 stitches)

This row establishes the slight width at the very bottom of the leaf where it meets the stem. The taller stitches in the middle create a gentle dome that will continue to widen as you progress upward.

Step 3 — Building the Fan Shape

The next several rows are about widening the leaf progressively so that it fans out toward the top. You will increase on both the left and the right edge of every right-side row.

Row 2 (WS): Chain 1, turn. Sc in first stitch. Hdc in next stitch. Dc in each stitch across to last two stitches. Hdc in next stitch. Sc in last stitch. (7 stitches — no increase yet, this row is about establishing structure)

Row 3 (RS): Chain 2, turn. Work 2 dc in first stitch (increase made). Dc in each stitch to last stitch. Work 2 dc in last stitch (increase made). (9 stitches)

Row 4 (WS): Chain 1, turn. Sc in first stitch. Hdc in next. Dc in each stitch to last 2. Hdc in next stitch. Sc in last stitch. (9 stitches)

Row 5 (RS): Chain 2, turn. Work 2 dc in first stitch. Dc in each stitch to last stitch. Work 2 dc in last stitch. (11 stitches)

Row 6 (WS): Repeat Row 4. (11 stitches)

Row 7 (RS): Chain 3, turn. Work 1 tr in first stitch. Then 2 dc in next stitch. Dc in each stitch to last 2 stitches. Work 2 dc in next stitch. Work 1 tr and 1 dc in last stitch. (15 stitches)

Row 8 (WS): Chain 1, turn. Sc in first stitch. Hdc in next 2 stitches. Dc in each stitch to last 3 stitches. Hdc in next 2. Sc in last stitch. (15 stitches)

Row 9 (RS): Chain 3, turn. 2 tr in first stitch. 2 dc in next. Dc in each to last 2. 2 dc in next. 2 tr in last stitch. (19 stitches)

At this point, your piece should have taken on a clear fan shape that is noticeably wider at the top than the bottom. Hold it up and compare it to a ginkgo leaf image if you have one handy — you should already see the resemblance forming.

Step 4 — Creating the Central Notch

This is the most distinctive step in the entire pattern, and the one that transforms a generic fan shape into something immediately recognizable as a ginkgo leaf. You are going to work each lobe separately, leaving the center slightly recessed.

With RS facing, count to the center of your 19 stitches. That is stitch 10. You will be leaving stitches 9, 10, and 11 unworked for now — this three-stitch gap forms the notch.

Left lobe (stitches 1–8):

Row 10L (RS): Chain 2, turn. Dc in first 6 stitches. Dc2tog over next 2 stitches (decrease). Turn. (7 stitches)

Row 11L (WS): Chain 1, turn. Sc in first stitch. Hdc in next 2. Dc in next 2. Hdc in next. Sc in last stitch. (7 stitches)

Row 12L (RS): Chain 2. Dc in first 5. Dc2tog. Turn. (6 stitches)

You have now shaped the left lobe so it curves gently down toward the notch. Fasten off and leave a tail for weaving in.

Right lobe (stitches 12–19):

Rejoin yarn at stitch 12 with RS facing.

Row 10R (RS): Dc2tog over stitches 12 and 13. Dc in remaining 6 stitches. Turn. (7 stitches)

Row 11R (WS): Chain 1, turn. Sc in first stitch. Hdc in next. Dc in next 2. Hdc in next 2. Sc in last stitch. (7 stitches)

Row 12R (RS): Dc2tog over first 2 stitches. Dc in remaining 5. Turn. (6 stitches)

Fasten off, leaving a tail.

Step 5 — The Outer Edge and Scalloped Border

This step brings the whole leaf together and adds the characteristic wavy outer edge that gives a ginkgo leaf its organic, slightly ruffled appearance.

Rejoin your yarn at the base of the leaf, right where the stem meets the leaf body. You are going to work a single round of border stitches all the way around the entire leaf, including both lobes and across the notch.

Work sc evenly along the right side of the leaf, spacing your stitches to keep the edge flat and smooth without pulling or ruffling. When you reach the outer edge of the right lobe, work a scallop: sc, hdc, 3 dc, hdc, sc all into a small cluster of stitches, then continue with sc across the top of the right lobe.

At the notch, work 3 sc tightly together to draw the center in and define the separation between the two lobes.

Continue sc across the top of the left lobe, then work the scallop on the outer edge of the left lobe as you did on the right: sc, hdc, 3 dc, hdc, sc.

Work sc back down the left side of the leaf to the base, then slip stitch to join. Fasten off.

Weave in all ends carefully using your yarn needle.

Step 6 — Finishing and Optional Stiffening

Once all ends are woven in, give your leaf a gentle blocking. For natural fibers like cotton or wool, wet blocking works beautifully — simply wet the leaf, pin it to a foam mat in the desired shape, and allow it to dry completely. Use pins to emphasize the fan shape and keep the lobes symmetrical.

For acrylic yarns, you can use the steam blocking method by holding a steam iron a centimeter or two above the surface without touching it, then gently coaxing the leaf into shape with your fingers while it is still warm.

If you want a really crisp, sculptural leaf — the kind that stands up on its own or holds a dramatic pose on a wreath — apply a small amount of liquid starch or a craft fabric stiffener diluted slightly with water. Pin the leaf into shape and let it dry overnight. The result is a leaf that could almost pass for a pressed botanical specimen.

Tips for Making Multiple Leaves

Once you have made one ginkgo leaf, you will want to make more. Here are a few thoughts on working efficiently and creatively when you are making a batch.

Vary your hook size intentionally within the same project. If you are making a wreath or a garland, leaves of slightly different sizes look far more natural and lush than uniform ones. Try making some in worsted weight and others in DK or sport weight, even using the same color, and the variation in scale will give your finished arrangement a sense of depth and realism.

Do not be afraid of color variation within a single leaf. Ginkgo leaves in autumn are famously uneven in their color — some still half green, some a bright clear yellow, some edged in a deeper gold or even slightly tinged with orange. Using two strands held together, or changing colors partway through the leaf, or even just using a yarn with subtle tonal variation, can create this kind of natural complexity beautifully.

For a whimsical modern version, consider working the leaf in unexpected colors entirely — deep teal, dusty lavender, a warm blush pink. These make wonderful appliqués for children’s clothing and accessories.

Ways to Use Your Crochet Ginkgo Leaves

The short answer is: wherever you need a touch of handmade beauty.

Sew a cluster of golden ginkgo leaves onto a knitted or crocheted hat for an autumn accessory that looks like it came from a high-end boutique. Stitch a few onto the corners of a linen scarf or shawl. Hot-glue a collection of stiffened leaves to a grapevine wreath form, mixing them with other crocheted leaves or dried botanical elements for a front door decoration.

Use a single leaf as a bookmark, sewing a short length of ribbon to the stem for a gift that is both personal and practical. Create a mobile by hanging multiple leaves of varying sizes and colors from a driftwood branch with clear thread. Scatter a bowlful of them on a tablescape as part of a fall centerpiece.

They also work beautifully as gift embellishments. Tie one to a ribbon around a wrapped present, or attach it to a gift tag. The recipient almost inevitably keeps the leaf long after the wrapping is gone.

Download the Free PDF Pattern

A printable PDF version of this complete ginkgo leaf pattern is available for free download. The PDF includes all rows written out in full, an at-a-glance materials list, a stitch abbreviation guide, and a blocking and finishing reference. It is formatted to print cleanly on a single sheet of paper and is also easy to read on a phone or tablet screen.

Whether this is your first crochet leaf or your hundredth, the ginkgo is one of those patterns worth returning to every autumn. There is a meditative quality to making something so simple and so lovely, stitch by stitch, until a handful of yarn becomes something that looks as if it fell from the most beautiful tree in the park.

Happy crocheting — and may your hook always find the right rhythm.