How to Knit a Heart, Free Knitting Pattern

To help you make something special for a sweetheart, I am sharing a free pattern to knit a heart.

Knit in garter stitch this knitting project is suitable for beginner knitters and all the more advanced knitters to show their love too.

And you don't need to wait for a special occassion.  Love is not limited to Valentine's Day or to share in the bedroom. 

We should be love.

free pattern to knit a heart

Instructions in US terms to knit flat with straight needles.

knitting techniques used:

• Casting on stitches
• How to knit stitch
• Knit in the front and back of a stitch (increase)
• SSK - slip, slip, knit (decrease)
• or K2tog - Knit 2 together
• Casting off stitches

size / dimensions (approximate):

3.7" wide (9.5cm) x 3.15" long (approximate 8cm)

skill level:

Beginner with some experience / Intermediate

Don't think because you are a beginner you can not attempt something more advanced.  It is just a matter of trying and stick to the basics.

ABBREVIATIONS:

k        - knit

kfb    - knit in front and back of the same stitch (increase)

k2tog - knit 2 sts together

*ssk     - slip, slip, knit (see note below)

st       - stitch

sts     - stitches

*ssk:

• Slip one st (knitwise) from the left needle to the right needle, without knitting the st;
• Slip the next st as well (to the right needle);
• Use your left needle and insert it through the front loops of both  slipped stitches (from left to right);
• Knit both stitches.

When to use the ssk:

Use ssk to have a left slant in your knitting project.

k2tog:

This is the most used decrease knitting technique - simply insert your right needle through the second and first st on the left needle, and knit as usual.

This method causes your stitches to slant to the right.

knitting pattern instructions

Although i use the ssk in this pattern, you can safely use k2tog, as this heart is knit in garter stitch.

If you use stocking stitch, the ssk-method creates a prettier finish.

knit heart stitch PATTERN:

Knit 2 hearts.

Cast on 2 sts.

Knit as follows:-

Row 1       -  kfb x 2 (4sts)

2nd Row  -  knit

3rd Row   -  kfb, k2, kfb (6sts)

4th Row   -  knit

5th Row   -  kfb, k4, kfb (8sts)

6th Row   -  knit 

7th Row   -  kfb, k6, kfb (10sts)

8th Row   -  knit 

9th Row   -  kfb, k8, kfb (12sts)

10th Row  -  knit 

11th Row   -  kfb, k10, kfb (14sts)

12th Row   -  knit 

13th Row   -  kfb, k12, kfb (16sts)

14th Row   -  knit 

15th Row    -  kfb, k14, kfb (18sts)

16th Row    -  knit 

17th Row     -  kfb, k16, kfb (20sts)

18th Row    -  knit 

19th Row    -  knit

20th Row    -  knit 

Shaping the heart (the right hump):

21st Row     -  k10, turn

22nd Row   -  ssk, k8 (9sts)

23rd Row   -  ssk, k5, ssk (7sts)

24th Row   -  ssk, k3, ssk (5sts)

25th Row   -  ssk, k1, ssk (3sts)

Cast off the remaining 3 sts leaving a long tail to use when sewing the pieces together.

Weave in the rest of the ends.

Shaping the heart (the left hump):

Join the yarn where you left off the remaining 10 sts.

21st Row     -  k10, turn

22nd Row   -  k8, ssk (9sts)

23rd Row   -  ssk, k5, ssk (7sts)

24th Row   -  ssk, k3, ssk (5sts)

25th Row   -  ssk, k1, ssk (3sts)

Cast off the remaining 3 sts and finish the same way as the first heart.

making up the heart:

Take your two heart shapes with right sides facing, and pin it together. Use the long tail of yarn and stitch the hearts together, leaving a small opening.

Turn your heart right side out and fill with toy filling. 

Close up the opening.

Ideas for creative uses of your knitted heart (s):

• Add ribbon to the middle of the heart, to hang it somewhere;
• or join some yarn with your crochet hook and crochet a length of chains to form a loop;
• Knit a couple of hearts and string on a piece of yarn, ribbon or rope to use as a bunting;
• Attach a keyholder to the heart and embellish with tassles, beads or pom-poms;
• Add some wings to make an angle heart;
• You can always knit (or crochet) legs and arms, and stick on eyes with a big smile
• Make an arrow and stick it through your heart;
• Attach a chain to the top of the 'humps' and use as a necklace;
• Use thicker yarn and needles to knit a pillow.

I hope you enjoyed this post and remember to pin or save the post (and that you'll use this pattern to knit up some loveliness).

Thank you for popping in and do visit again.

Happy knitting!