Great gift for a friend for Valentine's Day!

Courtesy of Jose Crochet

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 Free Crochet Pattern: HEART

Materials needed:

• 100% mercerized cotton, suited for hook 3-4 mm
• a crochet hook at least one size smaller than advised on the label of your skein (I used a 2mm hook)
• tapestry needle
• stuffing
• accessories to decorate like: keyring, ribbon, buttons, beads, bells, felt etc.

Stitches:
ch  - chain                                     

SS – slip stitch                        

SC – single crochet                      

HDC – half double crochet      

DC – double crochet                  

TC – treble crochet   

(chart: with thanks to Teresa Richardson)

Note: I like to crochet quite tight for this project. You don't want gaps or the stuffing to show on the outside.

Start with chain 8.

Turn, and SC in second chain from hook and in the next 6 chains.

* Chain 1, turn, 1 SC in each sc * ;  repeat between * …... * 5 more times.

(You have now a total of 7 rows of 7 SC and completed a small square)

Note: In the original pattern of Karin, it  says to do 8 rows of 7 SC.

Turn, crochet 7 TC in the center (4^th stitch) along the side. SS in the opposite corner. You've made the first arch.

Tilt your work and crochet another 7 TC in the center along the next side.

SS in the chain 1 (8^th chain) of the starting chain. You've made the second arch.

Chain 3 (this will count as your first DC), work 6 DC evenly along the side.

In the corner (where your tail is): do 1 DC – 1 TC – 1 DC.

Tilt your work again and make 7 DC evenly along the side.

Work 2 DC in each of the next 6 TC. In the 7^th you do 1 HDC and 1 SC.

In the first TC of the next of 7-TC-set you do 1 SC and 1 HDC.

Work 2 DC in each of the next 6 TC.

Cut the yarn, leaving an approx. 3 inch tail and pull the yarn through.

Put your crochet-hook in the first DC made in this last round (passed the chain3), grab the tail from the back and pull it through to the front.

Put your hook upwards in the front loop of the last DC made, grab the tail and pull it through downwards.

Put your hook from the backside to the front of the same last DC. Grab the tail and pull it through to the back of your work.

You sew the tail in along the back of the last DC's made. 

Don't do this too tight. You've just created a sort of mock-stitch that you will need when you crochet the 2 parts together. It replaces the top of the chain 3.

You can notice that this way it's hardly visible where your work ended. 

   

Crochet another heart.

Knock yourself out decorating the both parts.

Now you've come to the point were you can crochet the both parts together.

Put the wrong sides together and start at the bottom point.

Attach the yarn and do a chain 1. Work a SC in the same bottom stitch.

Work 1 SC in every next stitch.

When you've crocheted the last sc on the right arch, you could do a chain 30 and continue to crochet sc's in the left arch. This way you have made your own loop on which you can attach the keyring.

When you have approx. 6-7 stitches left, you can stuff your heart, but don't put too much in it.

Do the remaining SC's and work 2 SC in the same stitch were you've started.

Note: I use the tails to attach a bead or bell before sewing in. (see photo at top of post)

Attach a ribbon and keyring (or crochet your own ribbon).

Enjoy!