(Bleeding awful photos again ain’t they? Sorry! Said in my South East London accent of course)

Size (approx)

Width at widest point 11cm

Height from top of curve to point 9.5cm

Materials

A pair of 4mm needles

Rico Cotton Aran any colours

Darning Needle

Toy stuffing

A 4.5mm crochet hook or ribbon

Abbreviations

St(s): Stitch(es)

K: Knit

P: Purl

Alt: Alternate

Tog: Together

S1: Slip 1 stitch

PSSO: Pass slipped stitch over

M1: Make 1 – From the front, lift loop between stitches with left needle, knit into back of the loop.

K2tog: Knit the next 2 sts together

K3tog: Knit the next 3 sts together

P2tog: Purl 2 sts together

p2togtbl: Purl 2 sts together through back loops

SSK: Slip, slip, knit slipped stitches tog.

Heart – Make 2 pieces

Ornament is knitted in stocking stitch – knit 1 row, purl one row

Using 4mm needles and shade A cast on 3sts.

Work 2 rows in stocking stitch

3^rd row: – Using shade B, k1, m1, k1, m1, k1

4^th row: – purl

5^th row: – Switch to shade A, k1, m1, k3, m1, k1

6^th row: – Purl

Continue working 2 row stripe sequence, increasing by 1 stitch at each end on the next and every alt row until there are 21 sts.  Work 3 more rows ending with a purl row.

Decreases

Continue working in 2 row stripe sequence except for the last 3 rows, work these and the cast off in the same shade.

1^st row: – k1, ssk, k7, turn. (9sts)

Working on these stitches only slip the remaining 11 sts onto a small stitch holder

2^nd, 4^th and 6^th row: purl

3^rd row: k1, ssk, k6. (8sts)

5^th row: k1, ssk, k2, k2tog, k1. (6sts)

7^th row: k1, ssk, k2tog, k1. (4sts)

8^th row: P1, p2togtbl. (3sts)

9^th row: S1, k2tog, psso, cast off remaining stitch.

Rejoin yarn to remaining sts

1^st row: k2tog, k until there are 7 sts on right hand needle, k2tog, k1. (9sts)

2^nd, 4^th and 6^th row: purl

3^rd row: k6, k2tog, k1. (8sts)

5^th row: k1, ssk, k2, k2tog, k1. (6sts)

7^th row: k1, ssk, k2tog, k1. (4sts)

8^th row: p1, p2tog, p1. (3sts)

9^th row: k3tog, cast off last stitch.

You need to make a braid to hang the ornament.  I crochet 18 chains on a 4.5mm crochet hook, but you could knit a braid, plait some wool or use a piece of ribbon.

Place the hearts right sides together and sew up using a backstitch, remember to sew over your braid in order to hang your ornament.  Sew 90% of the way round, sew in and trim ends except the one you’re using to sew up.

Turn heart right sides out, stuff, if you insert the filling a little at a time you will achieve a more even fill.

Sew up remaining opening.

They look great on a plain tinsel wreath like this.  Those of you that know me will know I prefer odd numbers so there is one missing!!!!!  The wreath was from a euro shop and cost €7 I think.

I love using Rico Creative Cotton Aran for these decorations as it comes in such a wide range of colours and it’s easy on the pocket;however, I’ve also made a good few of these little hearts in sock wool with 2.5mm needles.  Once made I omitted the hanging braid, opting instead to put them in a little felted bowl as a gift.  They work equally well for Christmas, Valentines or for when you just want to let someone know you appreciate them.  They’re quick and easy to knit and can be decorated with buttons and sequins to jazz them up a bit if you like.