Whether or not you celebrate Valentine's Day, there's something infinitely enduring about a heart.
So when my insta pal sweet_sharna announced she was running her #leavealittleheart campaign again this year, I decided I wanted in.
The premise is simple: make a little heart (knit, crochet, sew, origami etc.) and leave it for someone to find on February 14th. You could tie it to a park bench or hang it on a branch - the only advice I would give as a responsible yarn-bomber is that you don't want to be accused of littering, so why not attach a 'please take me' note your heart, so there's no confusion.
There's a story behind my heart pattern, too - or rather the yarn I used. You see, being one of the Stylecraft Blogstars, I've tried most of their yarns, except the Classique Cotton DK. It was when I travelled to Breidagen (the Dutch knitting festival) with the Stylecraft Team that I took part in Emma Varnham's workshop to make Billy Bear using, you've guessed it, Classique DK.
Well it quite literally blew me away! Now, I use a lot and I mean A LOT of cotton yarns in my design work - it's particularly brilliant for toys and motifs and has such a lovely finish, but it does have the tendency to be a bit splitty. But not this stuff - it's got just enough of a twist to keep the yarn from coming apart as you crochet with it, which is a revelation!! This means speedier work for me as I don't have to keep faffing around with my stitches. And being Stylecraft, it's affordable, good quality and in a great range of colours. And as it's my new favourite, I'm using it for everything at the moment.
Now, there are approximately eleventy-billion free heart patterns out there, so here's another to add to them. You could leave yours for someone to find, or make a garland, or use as an appliqué. I've bought some little linen bags which I might add mine too - they'd make the perfect gift.
Obviously, I've used Stylecraft Classique Cotton DK ('cos I'm obsessed), but you could use whatever you fancy.
JUST A HEART PATTERN
I used:
3.5 mm hook
Stylecraft Classique Cotton DK in Dove, Peppermint, Poppy, Hot Pink, Fuchsia
UK terms:
Rnd 1: 3ch, in the 3rd ch from your hook make the following: 2tr, 1dc, 3tr, 2htr, 1tr, 2htr. Join to 3rd ch with sl st. (12 sts)
Rnd 2: 3ch, 1tr in same st, 2tr in next st, (2tr, 1htr) in next st, 1 spike dc into centre hole, (1htr, 2tr) in next st, (2tr in next st) four times, (1tr, 1dtr, 1tr) in next st, 2tr in next st twice. Join to 3rd ch with sl st. (26 sts)
Fasten off and weave in ends.
US terms:
Rnd 1: 3ch, in the 3rd ch from your hook make the following: 2dc, 1sc, 3dc, 2hdc, 1dc, 2hdc. Join to 3rd ch with sl st. (12 sts)
Rnd 2: 3ch, 1dc in same st, 2dc in next st, (2dc 1hdc) in next st, 1 spike sc into centre hole, (1hdc, 2dc) in next st, (2dc in next st) four times, (1dc, 1tr, 1dc) in next st, 2dc in next st twice. Join to 3rd ch with sl st. (26 sts)
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Enjoy making your little hearts and have fun spreading the love.
Sarah xx