Easy Crochet Valentine's Day Heart - February 2013

After row 2:

After row 5:

After row 13:

One side complete:

Connecting new strand of red:

Heart center complete:

Working the border:

An original design by Tara Cousins

Finished size: Heart measures approx. 5” x 6” when worked with size J hook and worsted weight yarn

Materials:

• Items pictured made with Red Heart worsted weight yarn in Burgundy and Red Heart Holiday yarn in white with silver sparkle. For simplicity, pattern uses colors red and white.
  
• Size k crochet hook
• Any size hook and yarn can be used to create a variety of sizes and levels of softness.. 
• Yarn needle (for weaving in loose ends).
  

Pattern Abbreviations:
ch - Chain
sl - Slip stitch
tc - Turning chain
sc - Single crochet
sc inc - Single crochet increase
sc dec - Single crochet decrease

  Pattern Notes:

• Inside parentheses () you will see the total number of stitches for the given round or row.
• Heart can be washed in a normal setting in a washing machine, and air-dried.
  

Special Techniques:

• Increase (inc): To increase means to work 2 stitches in 1 stitch. So, sc inc means work 2 sc into 1 stitch.
• Decrease (dec): To decrease in single crochet, or make 2 stitches become 1, follow these steps: Insert hook into stitch, pull up yarn. Insert hook into next stitch and pull up yarn. Now there are 3 loops on hook. Pull yarn through all three. For the heart design, decreases are worked on the first and last stitches in the rows, never in the middle. When the directions say sc dec, decrease by working 1 sc over two st.
  

Heart Pattern: 

With red, ch 3.
Note: at end of each row, ch 1, turn.
Row 1: 2 sc across (2sc)
Row 2: 2 sc across (2sc)
Row 3: sc inc, sc inc. (4sc)
Row 4: sc across (4sc)
Row 5: sc inc, 2 sc, sc inc (6 sc)
Row 6: sc inc, 4 sc, sc inc (8 sc)
Row 7: sc across (8 sc)
Row 8: sc inc, 6 sc, sc inc (10 sc)
Row 9: sc inc, 8 sc, sc inc (12 sc)
Row 10: sc across (12 sc)
Row 11: sc across (12 sc)
Row 12: 4 sc, sc dec (5 sc)
Row 13: sc across (5 sc).
Row 14: 3 sc, sc dec (4 sc)
Row 15: 2 sc, sc dec (3st). Tie off.

New row 12 on other side of heart: connect red to 6th stitch on row 11, according to photo.
Row 12:  sc dec, 4 sc (5 sc)
Row 13: sc across (5 sc)
Row 14: sc dec, 3 sc (4 sc)
Row 15: sc dec, 2 sc (3st). Tie off.

Weave in loose ends.

Attach white to any spot on edge of heart. Sc around so that heart lays flat. Work 2 sc in each corner bend and a sc decrease in center of heart. sl to first sc in round, tie off, weave in loose ends.

Enjoy your new Valentine’s heart!

www.cutekidscrochet.com    Copyright ©2013 Tara Cousins