Hello! I thought it would be nice to share a colourful bit of crochet with you today, something bright and cheerful and a just a teensy bit unnecessary. I mean, I'm fairly sure there is no real pressing need for you to drop everything and make a decorative little hangy thing, but then again, it might be just the ticket for these dull, grey January days. I am all for a pretty little bit of creativity that brings happiness and colour to a small corner of the room, this sort of crochet is good for the soul.
I designed this project for Simply Crochet magazine last year as a celebration for Valentines Day, and I've had it hanging in my studio ever since. It's a very simple little project but a joyful one - the idea for it came to me in a flash one morning and I hooked it up in a whizz of excitement - the simplicity of it pleased me very much!
I used yarns that I already had sat on my shelves for this project, but this is a fabulous stash buster as you only need the smallest scraps of left overs. You can mix any colours that tickle your fancy (I've gone for five candy-brights, with two shades of green for the leaves). Any sort of yarn will do, it doesn't have to be cotton. Thickness wise, I think slightly finer yarns work best for small decorative projects. I've used Drops Muskat (a mercerised cotton) with a 3mm hook. If you're using something like Stylecraft Special DK, try dropping to a 3.5mm hook to make the flowers nice and neat.
You will need 18 x 10mm buttons and some sewing thread for stitching the buttons to the flowers.
As you can see from the above picture, you'll also need 4 x 12" pipe cleaners to form the heart shaped base (this is a true DIY project), so raid your kids craft drawer, or find them online {Amazon}. The colour of the pipe cleaners doesn't really matter - I used green and brown ones as a kind of a nod to twiggy things, but they should be pretty much invisible by the time you've smothered them in flowers.
And lastly, you will need sticky glue - I used a hot glue gun for speed and ease, but strong white glue would work (PVA) or you could always stitch the flowers around the pipe cleaner shape if that suits you better.
You will need to make 18 flowers in total, and 12 leaves.
I'm writing in UK crochet terms.
FLOWERS (make 18)
:: Round 1 :: Chain 2, 6 dc in 2nd chain from hook, slip stitch to first dc [6 stitches].
:: Round 2 :: in each stitch, work the following :: (slip stitch, chain 2, 1 tr, chain 2, slip stitch), making 6 petals in total. Fasten off and darn in ends.
LEAVES (make 12)
:: First side :: Chain 6, 1 dc in 2nd chain from hook, 1 htr in next chain, 2 htr in next chain, 1 htr in next chain, 1 dc in next chain.
Chain 2, slip stitch in 2nd chain from hook (picot point made)
:: Second side :: Work on the opposite side of the foundation chain in remaining loops to mirror the first side as follows :: (1 dc in next stitch, 1 htr in next stitch, 2 htr in next stitch, 1 htr in next stitch, 1 dc in next stitch). Slip stitch into loop at end of foundation chain. Fasten off, leaving a 20cm tail end to use for stitching the leaves to the flowers.
Making the heart shape out of pipe cleaners is reasonably straight forward, I didn't take any photos of this in progress but I'll talk you through it as best as I can.
Take 2 pipe cleaners and lay them side by side. Twist one pipe cleaner around the other to form a double-stranded length. Repeat this with the other two pipe cleaners so that you have two double-stranded lengths.
Put your two lengths together and twist tightly together at the bottom to form the bottom point of your heart, Now bend both lengths outwards and shape the pipe cleaners into a symmetrical heart shape. Twist the top ends together tightly to form the inner point of the heart. You might need to perform a little bit of light bending to make your heart shape sit flat. It does eventually work out even if it seems very wobbly at the start, just keep going, gently bending it until you're happy with the shape.
Now make up the flowers and leaves - first job is to stitch a little button in the centre of each flower using sewing thread.
Now take your flowers and place them around your heart shape until you are happy with the colour arrangement. There should be a flower sitting neatly at each point of the heart, with eight flowers spaced evenly around each side.
You need to stitch your leaves in place now, using the tail end of green yarn that you left at the end of each leaf. First, stitch two leaves to the underside of the two flowers sitting at the heart points. Then stitch the remaining 8 leaves on the underside of every alternate flower around, making sure the leaves point outwards.
Before you glue the flowers in place, attach a loop of yarn to the top of your heart for hanging.
Using the image above as a guide, stick your flowers to your pipe cleaner heart using a hot glue gun or strong fabric/craft glue. Start by attaching flowers at the two points of the heart (with double leaves pointing downwards), then work your way evenly from the bottom upwards, alternating non-leaf flowers with leaf-flowers (leaves pointing outwards).
And that's it - simples! Now all you need to do is find somewhere to hang your floral heart so that it can deliver maximum pleasure and joy.
Awww, I do think it looks rather sweet, not just for Valentines Day but for all year round. A little celebration of Hooky Love!
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Those of you who have a Yarndale Calendar will be enjoying this colourful heart image for the twenty eight days of February this year, a bright spot in a grey month.
I hope you enjoy this project - go and dig into your scraps and you'll be hooking up some sweet little flowers and leaves in no time. Have fun!
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Absolutely love this
Posted by: jennifer price | February 19, 2021 at 04:51 PM
Love it. Saint wait to start.Thank you so much.🙋
Posted by: Dorothy Milton | February 24, 2020 at 03:11 PM
I have used your pattern several times now and continue to love the happy heart. My 4th/5th grade Sunday school class is currently earning flowers and leaves by memorizing scripture each week. Our beautiful class wreath will soon be ready to organize and hang. Thanks for posting pattern! You are spreading MUCH joy!
Posted by: Lynn | March 23, 2019 at 11:13 AM
Thank you so much for this beautiful pattern. Hope to see more of your patterns. God Bless.
Posted by: Reinette | March 11, 2018 at 01:52 PM
Fantastic! Thanks so much for sharing.
Posted by: Deborah | July 30, 2016 at 11:53 PM
this is just gorgeous!! and Drops Muskat happens to be my favourite yarn :) thanks for sharing ♥
Posted by: Marlou McAlees | July 11, 2016 at 01:23 PM
I have just been back on your site. Your so inspiring and I loved all the photos of your home and the scenery I feel as if I am there with you even though I have never been out of New Zealand in my life we are coming into our winter now and I will definitly be coping some of your ideas for colouring up my house. Thankyou for sharing your adventures with me.
Posted by: Barbara Pratt | May 22, 2016 at 01:44 AM
I have made 3 of these for my granddaughters. What a lovely project and much easier than it looks.
Thank you for sharing this.
Posted by: Angela | May 18, 2016 at 07:06 AM
This is so cute! I'm wondering what it looks like from the back? Should you put this against a wall so the back is not seen?
Thank you for this adorable pattern!
Posted by: Holly Frank | February 11, 2016 at 05:37 PM
Just wondering..i this in U.S. terms or U.K. terms for the double and treble crochet stitches? thanks
Posted by: Gaile B | February 10, 2016 at 12:57 AM
I love this and am very new to crochet. Do you do a video tutorial on this please?
Many thanks
Liz Williams
Posted by: Liz Williams | February 07, 2016 at 10:54 AM
This is gorgeous, i don't crochet, but I have to have a go. I will let you know how I get on. Thank you for sharing.
Best wishes,
Sue
Xx
Posted by: Sue Yates | February 06, 2016 at 05:46 PM
SUPER DARLING, HOPE i CAN DO IT. THANKS EVER SO MUCH
Posted by: Betty Nielson | February 02, 2016 at 02:47 AM
This is the most beautiful and the cutest heart project i have ever seen,thank you for sharing with us.
Posted by: Silva | January 26, 2016 at 11:30 PM
I tried to subscribe but just a bunch of garble came up?
Posted by: Babs | January 17, 2016 at 02:48 AM
this is the cutesst thing I've ever seen. Thank you for sharing it
Posted by: Robin | January 14, 2016 at 05:37 AM
Hoe Nice and colourfull thuis is and I love to make the heart. Thank you!
Posted by: Maria Tukker-Dibbets | January 13, 2016 at 11:14 PM
Hi Lucy, thanks so much for sharing this lovely crochet 'treasure'. I can't wait to give this crochet project a try. The heart shape looks too... beautiful, with the flowers and the leaves, this definitely adds color and warmth to any room. You are truly gifted. Take Care, regards, God bless, Megan
Posted by: Megan | September 11, 2015 at 08:56 PM
Beautiful!!!
Posted by: Célia Andrade | August 20, 2015 at 08:43 PM
So pretty. I'm 83 years young. So much i want to do and so little time :) Thank you so much for the pattern.
Posted by: Ruth Miracle | June 29, 2015 at 05:31 PM
Really sweet and just adorable! Can't wait to make one for my home! Thanks for the pattern!
Posted by: Dawn | May 10, 2015 at 04:39 AM
So inspiring. I must make one each for family members who live away.
Posted by: Joanne Grant | April 19, 2015 at 06:38 PM
QUE BELLEZAS QUE HACÉS!! FELICITACIONES Y MUCHAS GRACIAS POR COMPRTIRLO!!! FELICES PASCUAS 2015. ABRAZOS
Posted by: Raquel | April 04, 2015 at 11:08 PM
Thank you for posting the free wreath pattern! It is fabulous:) I have included it on my blog Karla's Making It (linking to your pattern, of course)! You can view it here http://www.karlasmakingit.com/free-crochet-patterns/free-crochet-wreath-patterns/
Posted by: Karla | April 01, 2015 at 08:44 PM
Muy bello todo gracias por compartir Felicidades por esas manos maravillosas
Posted by: María de la luz Loria Acevedo | March 19, 2015 at 04:41 AM