Hearts for Juliana
Hugh Griffiths April 5, 2010 This is a pattern for a simple stuffed heart. The shaping is straightforward and minimal, so the pattern is a good starting point for variation. It's also easy to re-scale. This pattern includes instructions for a number of sizes of plain hearts, and a couple of variations on the basic design. These hearts as part of a project to remember a dear friend and fellow-knitter, Juliana Frychel (aka. Knittiana), who passed away recently following a long wait for a heart transplant, and to help raise awareness of organ donation. Organ donation is a deeply personal and sensitive issue, so I wouldn't want to tell you that you should do it, but I do very much believe that you should think about it and make a firm decision one way or the other - don't just let it pass you by. Arrangements for organ donation vary from place to place, but if you're in the UK and would like to know more, www.uktransplant.co.uk is the place to go. I'd also recommend visiting www.legacyofife.org.uk, a charity dedicated to telling the stories of people involved in the organ donation process.
Materials
I used Patons DK yarn and two $3.25\mathrm{mm}$ circular needles. DPNs would work just as well, since the pattern is knit in the round. It could also be easily adapted to be knit on straight needles. Also required is some stuffng -I used polyester toy stuffing.
Sizing
I'll give patterns for Small [Medium, Large] sizes. We start by knitting the body of the heart, beginning at the point and working upwards. The increases are placed along the edges, so there's a big wide space for any colour-work you might like to add.
By “draw stitches together", I will mean that the yarn should be broken, leaving a few inches tail,then threaded through the remaining stitches (starting from the opposite end of the row) and pulled tightly. The end is then tied off and the remaining end woven in.
Notes
Cast on 4, leaving a few inches of tail for sewing up later. Divide between the two circular needles (4) and join in the round $\star\mathrm{Kfb}{\star}4$ times (8) Knit next round (8) $\star\mathrm{K}1$ , M1, K2, M1, $\mathrm{Kl}\star2$ times (12) Knit next round (12) $\star\mathrm{K}1$ , M1, K4, M1, $\mathrm{Kl}\star2$ times (16)
The first lobe
Hold the last 14 [18, 20] stitches on the frst needle and the first 14 [18, 20] on the second needle, then continue with the remaining 28 [36, 40] stitches. We knit a few rows of stocking stitch before beginning to decrease. Since the decreases are slightly different for the different sizes, I'll deal with them individually here:
Small size
Knit 4 rounds (28) $\star\mathrm{K2tog}$ ， $\mathrm{K}5\!\star4$ times(24)Knit next round (24) $\star\mathrm{K2tog}$ ， $\mathrm{K}1\!\star\!8$ times(16)Knit next round (16) $\star\mathrm{K2tog}{\star}\,8$ times (8) Draw stitches together.
Medium size
Knit 4 rounds (36) $\star\mathrm{K2tog}$ ， $\mathrm{K}7\!\star4$ times (32)Knit next round (32) $\star\mathrm{K2tog}$ ， $\mathrm{K}2\!\star\!8$ times(24)Knit next round (24) $\star\mathrm{K2tog}$ ， $\mathrm{K}1\!\star\!8$ times (16)Knit next round (16) $\star\mathrm{K2tog}{\star}8$ times (8) Draw stitches together.
Large size
Knit 4 rounds (40) $\star\mathrm{K2tog}$ ， $\mathrm{K}8\!\star4$ times (36)Knit next round (36) $\star\mathrm{K2tog}$ ， $\mathrm{K}7\!\star4$ times(32)Knit next round (32) $\star\mathrm{K2tog}$ ， $\mathrm{K}2\!\star\!8$ times(24)Knit next round (24) $\star\mathrm{K2tog}$ ， $\mathrm{K}1\!\star\!8$ times(16)Knit next round (16) $\star\mathrm{K2tog}{\star}8$ times (8) Draw stitches together.
The second lobe
We now knit the second lobe. This is mostly the same as the first, but in the first round we need to make sure the two lobes are connected, and since there will be no seams, we must make sure we stuff the heart as we go.
Pick up the held stitches, and start at the outside edge. Again, leave a long enough tail to weave this end in later. K13 [17, 19], slip the final stitch from the frst needle. Pick up 1 from the edge of the first lobe, slip (28 [36, 40]) the last stitch back, and K2tog with these stitches. On the second needle, pick up another 1 from the edge of the first lobe, and K2tog with this and the frst stitch on this needle. K13 [17, 19] Continue as for the frst lobe (starting from the second row) stuffing the heart as you go.
Making up
All that remains is to sew up the ends. You need to: · Sew in the end at the start of the point · Sew in the ends at the top of each lobe · Weave in the tail where we joined the yarn for the second lobe. ● Finally, where the two lobes meet there should be two small gaps. With a short length of yarn sew these closed, tie off and weave in the ends. Your heart is now complete! Give it a hug for luck.
Hugh is a mathematician by day, and will, at the slightest opportunity, tell people at length how knitting relates to differential geometry He has not read The Teltale Heart", but did enjoy “Heart of Darkness".
Variations
This heart pattern is intended to be a starting point for playing with, so Ill give patterns for a couple of variations - the 'swirl' pattern, and a concave heart. I hope these willget you thinking of your own modifications!
Swirl
The ‘swirl' eect is achieved by placing all the increases along one edge. This has the effect of giving a slight twist to the heart. It can also add interesting complexities to colour-work. The pattern here is for the small size.
Cast on 4, leaving a few inches of tail for sewing up later. Divide between the two circular needles, and (4) join in the round $\star\mathrm{Kfb}{\star}4$ times (8) Knit next round (8) $\star\mathrm{K}1$ ,M1, $\mathrm{K3}\!\star\!2$ times (10) $\star\mathrm{K}1$ , M1, $\mathrm{K}4\!\star2$ times (12) $\star\mathrm{K}1$ , M1, $\mathrm{K26}{\star2}$ times (56) Knit 3 more rounds (56) This completes the main body, now proceed with the lobes as for the Small heart.
Concave heart
The concave heart has a slightly pointier tip than the others, which is made by increases increasing less steeply for the first few rows. This gives the finished heart a rather more curvy feel to it. Again, Ill give the pattern for the small size, the others are similar. Cast on 4, leaving a few inches of tail for sewing up later. Divide between the two circular needles, and (4) join in the round $\star\mathrm{Kfb}{\star}4$ times (8) Knit next round (8) $\star\mathrm{K}1$ , M1, K2, M1, $\mathrm{Kl}\star2$ times (12) Knit 3 rounds (12) $\star\mathrm{K}1$ , M1, K4, M1, $\mathrm{Kl}\star2$ times (16) This completes the main body, proceed with the lobes as for the Small heart.
Hugh is a mathematician by day, and will, at the slightest opportunity, tll people at length how knitting relates to differential geometry. He has not read “The Teltale Heart",but did enjoy \*Heart of Darkness".
