Yours HEARTily knitted
I wrote this article to tell all my lovely followers on both Instagram and Facebook a HEARTy thank you for their loyalty, their kind and motivating words and their support throughout the last few months, and to say a HEARTy ¨Hi¨ to everyone who isn’t really familiar with my wooly work yet.
I hope you’re having loads of fun with this short but in my opinion, wonderful little step-by-step tutorial.
Since this is the first knitting instruction EVER to be written by me in English i beg you not to be too harsh on me when it comes to my knit-lish - but don't be afraid to pounce on me if I happened to have made horrible mistakes in describing the steps making them incomprehensible!😅
And feel free to contact me in case of questions or side effects – such as sudden attacks of binge knitting, although I might not be the best person to tell you how to stop in that case ...
What you’ll need:
yarn and knitting needles size 8 EU/ 11 US (This is the yarn I used.)
scissors
approx. 1 hour quality time for yourself and your knitting utensils
Let's get started!
STEP 1:
Your knitted heart will be purled in every right side row and knit in every wrong side row so in the end you’ll see plain stitches only when looking at it’s front side.
For a start cast on 9 stitches and purl the first row.
STEP 2:
Start picking up 1 stitch at the beginning and at the end of every wrong side row (this means 2 new stitches per row) until you’ve got a total of 15 stitche on your needle.
This will take 3 wrong side and 2 right side rows in total.
Knit 4 more rows according to the sample, cut the cord at about 15cm/6inches after 10 rows in total and Boom – you just finished the first part of your knitted heart!
STEP 3:
Cast on another 9 stitches using the free needle and repeat steps 1 & 2.
But please don’t cut the thread this time because you’re going to need it for …
STEP 4:
Now it’s time to connect both parts.
This happens by simply knitting all 30 stitches on your needles one by one for 7 rows.
Please make sure to start the 7 rows with a right side row (means purl stitches) to correspond in pattern.
STEP 5:
For this step you should have a row with plain stitches ahead of yours.
Knit/Purl together two stitches at the beginning of the next two rows.
Then knit two rows according to the sample without decreasing any stitches.
Repeat this step one more time.
Now there should be 26 stitches left on your needle for ...
STEP 6:
Keep knitting/purling together 2 stitches at the beginning of every row (both right &wrong side rows) for the next 8 rows.
At the end of this step there you should still have 18 stitches left to work with.
STEP 7:
Get ready for the final sprint because you’re about to knit the tip of your woolen heart!
For this knit/purl 2 stitches together twice at the beginning of every row (means -2 stitches per row).
It will take 16 rows until there’s only one stitch left – cut the woolen cord, pull it through the last stitch and voilá: the prototype of your woolen heart is completed.
At this point you have all the right to lean back, contet with you work, or if you want to add a little stability and a more high quality look to your wooly work you might just wanna complete …
STEP 8:
Take some more of the yarn you used before (either in the same or, like i did, a contrasting color), a crocheting hook size 10 EU/ N (15) US and single crochet your way all around this wonderful heart in front of you for one row.
Isn’t it a real pity how fast this project is done?
But what more than just looking good does this marvelous piece of knitted love have to offer?
First the obvious possibilities: it’s a wonderful coaster for tea/coffe parties, for romantic or mother’s day breakfasts or for your favourite flower vase.
But did you already consider using it as a picture wall for you favourite (polaroid) snapshots, as a suspension gear for your earrings, bracelets and necklaces or as a cute little cushion if you knit two of them and stuffed it with wool eftovers?! And what would i give to see someone with the right physical requirements wearing it by the lake or sea as a cute little top with strings made of chain stitches – a joy being refused to myself by my ¨two prominent girls¨ in the front and the increased body mass index all around 😄
What other great ideas are coming to your genious minds?
Share them and your finished pieces or hearts in progress with me – you can find me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest, although i’m really not done with taking to the last one myself ...
Hopefully you guys had a blast with this pattern and are full of the thrill of anticipation what’s going to jump out of my mind onto my needles the next time – let me tell you this much: there already is a severe brainstorm going on up there! 😉