Flat Heart Knitting Pattern

This heart knitting pattern was available a long time ago on my About.com Knitting website, then when the name changed to the Spruce it was still available for a while, but it isn’t any more. A reader requested the pattern so I’m happy to share it again with more step-by-step instructions.

The pattern is intended to be knit twice, then sewn and stuffed to make a little decoration. I used these for years as holiday gifts for my daughter’s teachers, gifts to speakers at events, and an all-around stash busting project.

You could also stitch a single one to use as an applique, or how about making them patch pockets on a little kid’s dress or pants?

Add this pattern to your Ravelry queue.

Materials for the Knit Heart

My original notes say the heart takes about 25 yards of bulky weight (classification 5) yarn. I used Lion Brand Jiffy for the original heart, in a shade of red they don’t make anymore (this was a long time ago!). Hue & Me would be another great option (it doesn’t have a bold red, either, but the muted colors are pretty) .

For the knit heart shown in this tutorial I used Mary Maxim Marvelous Chunky, which was left over from the learn to knit scarf pattern.

If you don’t have any bulky yarn handy, try holding two strands of worsted weight together. Or just use worsted weight yarn and a smaller needle and you’ll make a smaller heart. Whatever you like!

If you’re using bulky yarn you’ll need a pair of size 10.5 US/6.5 mm knitting needles (the ones shown are from Laurel Hill, similar to these from Knitter’s Pride).

You’ll want a little pair of scissors for trimming yarn ends, a yarn needle for sewing your hearts together, and whatever you want to fill your heart with.

Gauge

Gauge isn’t critical for this heart knitting pattern. The one I just knit has a gauge of 12 stitches and 22 rows per 4 inches/10 cm in garter stitch, but as long at the knitting is dense enough that your stuffing won’t show through or fall out you’re totally fine.

Size

Additionally the size of your knit heart may vary depending on the yarn weight and needles you use and your particular gauge. Mine shown here is about 6 inches wide and 6 inches tall (that’s about 15 cm for our metric system friends) at the widest and tallest points.

Heart Knitting Pattern

Cast on 3 stitches. I like to leave a bit of a tail so I can use it for sewing later. It doesn’t matter what cast on you use but I used long tail.

Knit one row.

Knit in the front and back of the first stitch, knit the second stitch, knit in the front and back of the last stitch. 5 stitches total.

Knit the next row.

Repeat these two rows, increasing in the first and last stitch every other row, until you have 17 stitches.

Knit 10 rows.

Knit 7, knit two together. Join a second piece of yarn to work the second part of the heart and knit 8.

Slip slip knit, knit 4, knit 2 together. Repeat on the other stitches.

Knit one row on both sides.

Slip slip knit, knit 2, knit 2 together. Repeat on the other stitches.

Knit one row on both sides.

Slip slip knit, knit 2 together. Repeat on the other stitches.

Knit one row on both sides.

Bind off both parts of the heart.

Make a second heart in the same manner.

Using yarn tails or an additional piece of yarn, sew the bottom parts of the hearts together.

When the top is all that is open, stuff it lightly with stuffing, yarn ends, etc. I used some leftover fabric bits from some cloth napkins I recently made.

Sew the rest of the hearts together and sew any remaining yarn ends into the inside of the heart.

Add this pattern to your Ravelry queue.

A Note on the Top Shaping

You’ll notice in this heart knitting pattern that the tops of the heart are worked at the same time with two different balls or strands of yarn. Because there are so few rows and stitches involved, you can just pull out a couple of yards of yarn and cut it, then join the other end to the other side of the heart.

Since my yarn is multicolored, on one of the hearts I cut the yarn so that I could try to line up the color change. It didn’t quite work out but it’s pretty close. If you have multicolored yarn you can try to match the color changes or not as you like. (My two hearts don’t match at all.)

I hope you enjoy this simple heart knitting pattern. If you want to try one in the round, check out my easy Valentine heart knitting pattern.