Knitted Hearts (for when life gets back to normal!)

This is the latest project for Malahide Parish Knitting Group – we need lots of knitted hearts to bring a smile to people’s faces when the Coronavirus has passed (April 2020)

Knitted Heart

Material  – Double Knitting (Use two strands on wool together) – any colour.

Needles – 4mm               Toy Stuffing.

Instructions:  NB : Use two strands of wool together – it makes the hearts a little bigger and gives a nice thick finish so that the stuffing cannot be seen through the stitches.

FRONT AND BACK (Alike)    –  Using 4mm needles cast on 2 stitches.

Row 1. Knit into front and back of each stitch. (4sts)

Rows 2 – 4. Knit all rows.

Row 5.  K1, m1 (as in pick up the loop before the next stitch and knit into the back of it), K2, m1, K1.     (6sts)

Row 6 – 8.  Knit all rows.

Row 9. K1, m1, Knit to last stitch, m1, K1,     (8 sts)

Row 10 – 12.  Knit all rows.

Repeat Rows 9 – 12  three times more.   (14 sts)                    

Knit 4 rows.

Knit 7 stitches, turn knitting and continue on these seven sts only.

Next Row. Knit 7 sts

Next Row. Knit 2tog, Knit 3, then Slip 1. Knit 1, pass the slip st over the knit st)   (5 sts)

Next Row. Knit 2tog, Knit 1, then Slip 1. Knit 1, pass the slip st over the knit st)     (3 sts)

Next Row. Sl 1, Knit 2tog,  pass the slip st over the knit st   (1 st).  Fasten Off.

Rejoin yarn to centre of work.

Knit 2 rows.

Next Row. Knit 2tog, Knit 3, then Slip 1. Knit 1, pass the slip st over the knit st)   (5 sts)

Next Row. Knit 2tog, Knit 1, then Slip 1. Knit 1, pass the slip st over the knit st)     (3 sts)

Next Row. Sl 1, Knit 2tog,  pass the slip st over the knit st   (1 st).  Fasten Off.

To Make Up: Place two pieces with Right Side together and oversew around edges, leaving a gap at one side.  Turn Heart right way out, stuff lightly and stitch gap closed.  Sew a loop of yarn through the top of heart so that it can be hung up or looped over something.

(Pattern from Knitted Stashbusters by Fiona Goble, CICO books)