When I was thinking up design ideas for my Valentine’s Day inspired collection of knitting patterns “Follow Your Heart”, I thought it would be really fun to make a little heart puff to make a knitted heart necklace! I started looking at what was already out there, and came across this cute little heart pattern on Martha Stewart’s site for a catnip toy. I modified the pattern so that the heart would be knit in the round as one piece on double-pointed needles so you wouldn’t have to sew the 2 sides together at the end as instructed in the pattern on Martha Stewart’s site. Whether you use her pattern or the modified one below, the result will be the same, a cute little stuffed heart! I made one with size 2 needles and sport weight yarn for the necklace, and a larger one using an aran weight wool and size 4 needles for a toy for my cat to play with, both turned out super cute and fun!
Here is how I modified the pattern to be worked in the round below, and the materials that I used for the heart necklace:
Materials:
US 2 (2.75mm) double-pointed needles (set of 5)
Lion Brand Microspun in Fuchsia
Tapestry needle
Stuffing
28″ chain for necklace
Small metal clasp
Abbreviations:
BO: bind off
CO: cast on
k: knit
k2tog: knit 2 stitches together
kfb: knit into front and back of stitch
p: purl
rnd: round
st(s): stitch(es)
Directions:
CO 4 sts.
Kfb every st – 8 sts.
Divide 8 sts over 3 needles (4 sts on needle 1, 2 sts on needles 2 and 3). Join to work in rnd, taking care not to twist sts.
Knit 1 rnd.
Next Rnd: Kfb, k to last st on needle 1, kfb, kfb, k to last st on needle 3, kfb – 12 sts.
Next Rnd: Knit
Rep last 2 rnds until there are 28 sts.
Next Rnd : K2tog, k5, join with needle 3, with extra needle k5 (from needle 3), k2tog – 12 live sts, 14 sts held for other side of heart on dpns.
Next Rnd: [K2tog, k2, k2tog] x 2 – 8 sts.
BO in Kitchener St to join front and back of heart.
Join yarn at center of heart to work 14 held sts.
Next Rnd: K5, k2tog, k2tog k5 – 12 sts.
Next Rnd: Join 2 sides and [K2tog, k2, k2tog] x 2 – 8 sts.
BO in Kitchener St to join front and back of heart.
Finishing:
Trim tails to approximately 2 inches. Excluding tails at top center of heart, pull tails to inside or heart closing up any holes as you pull them in.
Stuff heart.
Use center tails to sew up center sides of heart, then double knot ends and pull to center.
String a chain with a small metal clasp, and clasp knitted heart at top center of heart.
Woo-lah! You just made yourself some awesome knitted jewelry! Enjoy! For more fun Valentine’s Day inspired patterns, check out my brand new collection “Follow Your Heart”! ♥
P.S. If you make this necklace, please post pics of your project on Ravelry here!
