Crocheted Leaves - for the Naked Branch -

My good deed for the day - I clothed a poor little naked branch (scroll down to see and read about it) and I feel very good about it.
I was feeling rather gloomy today because of the cold snowy day (that's right - snow on May 5th) but helping out a naked branch did my heart good.

I hope you will enjoy this charity project and love will spread to many lonely naked branches and twigs around the world.

My finished leaves measure about 1 1/2" long and 1" wide

Materials:
E hook
Worsted weight yarn - I used Cascade 220 wool in 7 pretty colors.
Scissors
Yarn needle

Leaf:
Ch 5,
Rnd 1 - sc in 2nd chain from hk, hdc in next, dc in next, work (2hdc in last, ch 2, sc in second ch from hk, 2hdc) in last ch. Working now on the opposite side of foundation ch. dc in next, hdc in next, sc in last.

Fasten off with sl st in the first sc of rnd. Leave a tail long enough to play with (a 6" tail is comfortable)

Insert hook into your slip st

 Grap the tail and pull up a loop

Insert hook into next visible hole you find up the center of your leaf

Pull up a loop and pull through the one loops on hook - (you are slip stitching up the leaf)

Work the slip stitches all the way up the center of your leaf - 

To fasten off - let go of your "working tail" and grab (with your hook) the other end (located in the back of your leaf), pull it up and pull it all the through the loop on your hook.
Weave in ends - Voila!

 We are ready to go out and find a needy branch - you'll know when you find the right one.

Yes, that's right....the victim. The victim of below freezing temperatures, wind, rain, and whatever else caused this lovely branch to break away from "home tree".
We can't dress them all - no - we can't give all little, barren branches new life but that is no excuse.

There is a small hidden message along with this project.
I want to look around at all my plenty (excess) and think of others (the needy) more often. Love is so important and the more love I have and show the happier I will be.
So, this little branch is going to get hung on the wall somewhere so that whenever I see it, I will be reminded to love.