How to Crochet a Lovely Heart
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The Spruce / Mollie Johanson
Whether you want to crochet something for Valentine's Day or you simply want to show your love of crochet, these easy hearts are quick and fun to make. The size of the heart can vary based on the yarn and hook you use. Want tiny hearts? Work with sock yarn and a D hook. Want big hearts? Try bulky yarn and an M hook. The DK and worsted weight hearts here were crocheted with an I hook, which resulted in 2 1/2- to 3-inch wide hearts. You can use these in so many ways, so grab some pretty yarn and start crocheting a bit of love!
What You'll Need
Equipment / Tools
- Crochet hook in the size that matches the yarn
- Yarn or tapestry needle
Materials
- 4 yard yarn
Instructions
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Start the Crochet Heart With a Ring
Start by making the base ring that the crochet gets built on. Make a slip knot and then chain stitch 4 and join with slip stitch to form a ring. Turn your work so the slip knot is at the back of your work.
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Round 1: Work Single Crochet Stitches
Chain stitch 1 for a turning chain and then single crochet into the center of the ring 10 times. Join with slip stitch into the slip stitch from when you formed the ring. Typically you would join to the turning chain, but by changing the placement of the join, it helps shape the heart indent. You should have 11 stitches around the circle.
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Round 2: Work Double Crochet and Half Double Crochet Stitches
Skip the turning chain and make your first double crochet into the first single crochet from round one.
- Double crochet chain stitch 1 two times.
- Half double crochet chain stitch 1 two times. [dc, ch 1] 2 times. [hdc, ch 1] 2 times.
- Double crochet chain stitch 1.
- Half double chain stitch 1 two times.
- Double crochet chain stitch 1 two times.
- Slip stitch in the last two stitches.
You should have 19 stitches around the circle, which will now look more like a heart.
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Round 3: Work Single Crochet Stitches
Chain stitch 1 for a turning chain. Single crochet chain stitch 1 eight times. Work the single crochets into the stitches instead of the gaps from the chain stitches on round two. Single crochet 2 into the chain before the double crochet chain stitch 1. Single crochet chain stitch 1 nine times. Slip stitch in the last stitch.
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Finish the Crochet Heart
Cut the yarn, leaving about 6 inches. Secure the last stitch and weave in the ends with a yarn or tapestry needle. As you secure the yarn at the heart indent, weave the needle toward the indent, which helps complete the heart shape.
Ways to Use Crochet Hearts
Once you make one crocheted heart, you'll probably want to make many more. Here are a few ideas for what to do with the hearts:
- Make a heart garland by attaching the hearts together on a string of chain stitch. As you make the chain, pass your hook through the back of a heart to connect it, then add more chain and more hearts.
- Craft heart pins for friends and family. Simply stitch a pin back to the back of the heart. You may want to add a felt backing first.
- Create crocheted heart cookies for make-believe play. Make one heart with tan yarn on a larger hook (or add an extra round of single crochet) to make it a little bigger. Then, make a second heart for the frosting. Stitch them together with colorful yarn "sprinkles."
- Stack a bunch of bigger crochet hearts together and tie the pile with a ribbon. You've now got the perfect gift of coasters or washcloths.
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