Comprehensive Guide to Knitting Adorable Christmas Hearts with Detailed Instructions and Decoration Ideas

How To Knit Christmas Love

Materials: Double Knit or 4ply wool (no more than 10g per heart). Needle Size 3.25mm if DK or Size 2.5mm if using 4ply wool. A small amount of wadding. Optional beads, buttons or sequins and ribbon for decoration and hanging.

Terminology:

Kfb means increase by knitting in front and back of stitch Pfb means increase by purling in front and back of stitch K2tog means knit two stitches together P2tog means purl two stitches together K3tog means knit three stitches togetherp P3tog means purl three stitches together

Small Heart

Method: (Knit Two) Cast on 2 stitches Row 1 K2 Row 2 P2 Row 3 Kfb, Kfb (4 stitches) Row 4 P4 Row 5 Kfb, K2, Kfb (6 stitches) Row 6 P6 Row 7 Kfb, K4, Kfb (8 stitches) Row 8 P8 Row 9 Kfb, K6, Kfb (10 stitches) Row 10 P10 Row 11 Kfb, K8, Kfb (12 stitches) Row 12 P12 Row 13 Kfb, K10, Kfb (14 stitches) Row 14 P14

On first 7 stitches

Row 15 K5, K2tog (6 stitches) Row 16 P2tog, P2, P2tog (4 stitches) Row 17 K2tog, K2tog (2 stitches) Row 18 P2tog (1 stitches) Fasten Off Last stitch On other 7 stitches Row 15 K2tog, K5 (6 stitches) Row 16 P2tog, P2, P2tog (4 stitches) Row 17 K2tog, K2tog (2 stitches) Row 18 P2tog (1 stitches) Fasten Off Last stitch

Medium Heart

Method: (Knit Two) Cast on 2 stitches Row 1 K2 Row 2 P2 Row 3 Kfb, Kfb (4 stitches) Row 4 P4 Row 5 Kfb, K2, Kfb (6 stitches) Row 6 P6 Row 7 Kfb, K4, Kfb (8 stitches) Row 8 P8 Row 9 Kfb, K6, Kfb (10 stitches) Row 10 P10 Row 11 Kfb, K8, Kfb (12 stitches) Row 12 P12 Row 13 Kfb, K10, Kfb (14 stitches) Row 14 P14 Row 15 Kfb, K12, Kfb (16 stitches) Row 16 P16 Row 17 Kfb, K14, Kfb (18 stitches) Row 18 P18 Row 19 Kfb, K16, Kfb (20 stitches) Row 20 P20 On first 10 stitches Row 21 K8, K2tog (9 stitches) Row 22 P2tog, P5, P2tog (7 stitches) Row 23 K2tog, K3, K2tog (5 stitches) Row 24 P2tog, P1, P2tog (3 stitches) Row 25 K3tog Fasten Off Last stitch On other 10 stitches Row 21 K2tog K8 (9 stitches) Row 22 P2tog, P5, P2tog (7 stitches) Row 23 K2tog, K3, K2tog (5 stitches) Row 24 P2tog, P1, P2tog (3 stitches) Row 25 K3tog Fasten Off Last stitch

Large Heart

Method: (Knit Two) Cast on 2 stitches Row 1 K2 Row 2 P2 Row 3 Kfb, Kfb (4 stitches) Row 4 P4 Row 5 Kfb, K2, Kfb (6 stitches) Row 6 P6 Row 7 Kfb, K4, Kfb (8 stitches) Row 8 P8 Kfb, K6, Kfb (10 stitches) Row 10 P10 Row 11 Kfb, K8, Kfb (12 stitches) Row 12 P12 Row 13 Kfb, K10, Kfb (14 stitches) Row 14 P14 Row 15 Kfb, K12, Kfb (16 stitches) Row 16 P16 Row 17 Kfb, K14, Kfb (18 stitches) Row 18 P18 Row 19 Kfb, K16, Kfb (20 stitches) P20 Row 21 Kfb, K18, Kfb (22 stitches) Row 22 Cut 6 strands of each color of yarn, as long as desired. Take 3 of each and fold in half. Row 23 Kfb, K20, Kfb (24 stitches) Row 24 even. On first 12 stitches Row 25 K10, K2tog (11 stitches) Row 26 P2tog, P7, P2tog (9 stitches) Row 27 K2tog, K5, K2tog (7 stitches) Row 28 P2tog, P3, P2tog (5 stitches) Row 29 K2tog, K1, K2tog (3 stitches) Row 30 Pull through the end of the earflap and secure. Divide so that you have 4 strands in Fasten Off Last stitch On other 12 stitches Row 25 K2tog, K10 (11 stitches) Row 26 P2tog, P7, P2tog (9 stitches) Row 27 K2tog, K5, K2tog (7 stitches) Row 28 P2tog, P3, P2tog (5 stitches) Row 29 K2tog, K1, K2tog (3 stitches) Row 30 each section. Braid and do the same on the other side. Tie ends and cut to make Fasten Off Last stitch

Decoration Options

Embroidery

I decided to embroider on some of my hearts. As you will see, some I just covered with spotty French knots. I also backstitched a simple snowflake design. If you do this remember to give your snowflakes six points. Have fun experimenting with your embroidery. Remember it doesn't have to be perfect, as it is handmade, and so even with a few imperfections it will be charming. If you need some tips on embroidery stitches with wool on wool have a look at my Embroidery Corner in the right sidebar on my blog http://ginxcraft.blogspot.co.uk/. In Some of my embroidery I have also incorporated some beads, and I also thought buttons or sequins would look nice.

Fair Isle

I had a go at making some of my hearts Fair Isle. Below are charts for two of my designs. I have also included some blank grids at the end of this pattern, so you could have a go at designing you own Fair Isle hearts. I only used two colours, but you could go wild and use more. Have fun!

Small Heart

Medium Heart

Large Heart

Making Up

Once you have done any decorating, with wrong sides facing sew the two sides of your heart together using a whip stitch around the edge. In the first few I used the same colour wool that I had knitted with for sewing up, but later realized that using the embroidery or Fair Isle colour wool also looked nice. If you use a contrast colour wool for sewing up try to make you stitches small and even. Stuff you Christmas Heart with a small amount of wadding. Make a loop to hang your decoration with a chain of wool, or a ribbon. Make the loop about 30cm long. This will seem long, but makes it much easier when hanging up your decoration.

Small Heart

Medium Heart

Large Heart