Frankie's Knitted Stuff
These padded hearts are knitted in stocking stitch and framed in garter stitch. If knitted with double knitting weight yarn on 3.25mm / US size 3 needles they will be about 8 cm / 3" tall; using 4 ply yarn and 2.25mm / US size 1 needles will give a heart about 6 cm / 214" tall. Use any yarn and needles that will give you a fairly firm knitted fabric so that the stuffing doesn't show through.
Knitting the Hearts
Cast on 1 stitch and knit into the front and back of it (2 sts). Next row: Kf&b, K to end. Repeat this row until you have 7 sts on your needle. Next row: K3, P1, K3. Two different increases are used from now on, the normal kf&b on purl rows and kb&f on knit rows. In this variation you knit into the back first and then the front of the stitch. Using these two increases ensures that the garter stitch frame is the same width on both sides of the heart. Row 1: K1, kb&f, K to end. Row 2: K1, kf&b, P to last 3 sts, K3. Repeat these two rows until you have 21 sts on your needles, ending with a Row 2. Now you will keep the edges straight for the next six rows: Row 1: Knit. Row 2: K3, P15, K3. Row 3: Knit. Row 4: K3, P7, K1, P7, K3. Row 5: Knit. Row 6: K3, P6, K3, P6, K3. The top of the heart is worked in two sections, one for each side. First Side Row 1: K11, turn, leaving the remaining stitches. Row 2: K2, P5, K2, K2tog (10 sts). Row 3: K to last 2 sts, K2tog (9 sts). Row 4: K3, P2, K2, K2tog (8 sts). Row 5: K to last 2 sts, K2tog (7 sts). Repeat Row 5 until you are down to 3 sts. Cast off knitwise, slipping the first stitch knitwise.
Second Side
Rejoin the yarn to the remaining 10 sts. Row 1: K to last 2 sts, K2tog (9 sts). Row 2: K3, P4, K2. Row 3: K to last 2 sts, K2tog (8 sts). Row 4: K3, P2, K3. Row 5: K to last 2 sts, K2tog (7 sts). Repeat Row 5 until you have 3 sts on your needle. Cast off knitwise, slipping the first stitch knitwise.
Your knitted heart will not lay flat and the top will be decidedly pointy but don't worry, all this can be sorted out. First use the cast off ends to round out the top of the heart by threading them down the edges. Then join the centre of the heart (between the two tops) for a few rows. As you can see in the second picture, this will give you a much nicer heart shape, albeit still a bit bumpy. That's because this heart really wants to be stuffed but to do that you need to knit another piece to match.
Sewing the Heart Together
This is done in two stages. A good arm's length of yarn will do both without needing to finish off between stages. With the wrong sides facing sew the two hearts together round the inside edge of the garter stitch frame, using small running stitches. Leave a gap for stuffing, stuff the heart and then finish the seam. Now work round the outside edge of the heart, oversewing the two pieces together.
The finished heart, all puffed up and proud within its frame.
Decorating the Hearts
Lovely as the hearts are unadorned, I couldn't resist the temptation to add a little something ...
... and then I made a string of hearts. What will you do with yours?
Abbreviations
st / sts stitch / stitches Kknit Ppurl kf&b knit into the front and back of the stitch kb&f knit into the back and front of the stitch K2tog knit two stitches together Frankie Brown, 2012. My patterns are for personal use only and should not be used to knit items for sale. Please do not use them for teaching purposes without my permission.
