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Here's how you do it  . . . . 

 

I chose a DK weight yarn and tried making the hearts with a number of different stitch fabrics - garter stitch, moss stitch, an altered rib stitch, etc.  I thought the garter stitch shrunk the shape of the heart a bit too much for my taste.  Show me if you make it with a different stitch!  I think stiffer yarn (close to 100% cotton worked the best).

 

Here is the basic heart pattern and chart in the altered rib:

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Heart in Altered Rib Stitch

Cast on 1 st.

Row 1: K1 (1st.)

Row 2: Make three sts. into 1st., K1, P1, K1 (3 sts.)

Row 3: K row; m1 at each end of row by working in same st. twice [wsst] (K1 in front, K1 through back of loop) (5 sts.)

Row 4: K1, P1 to end; m1 at each end of row by wsst keeping to pattern (7 sts.)

Row 5: K row, m1 at each end of row by wsst (9 sts.)

Row 6: K1, P1 to end; m1 at each end of row by wsst keeping to pattern (11 sts.)

Row 7: K row, m1 at each end of row by wsst (13 sts.)

Row 8: P1, K1 to end (13 sts.)

Row 9: K row; m1 at each end of row by wsst (15sts.)

Row 10: K1, P1 to end(15 sts.)

Row 11: K row; m1 at each end of row by wsst (17sts.)

Row 12, 14, 16, 18: P1, K1 to end.

Row 13, 15, 17: K row

 

Right side of heart:

Row 19: K2tog, K6 sts., turn (7 sts.)

Work on these 7 stitches only;

Row 20: P2tog, K1, P1 to end (6 sts.)

Row 21: k2tog, k2, k2tog (4 sts.)

Bind off in pattern.

 

Rejoin yarn to left side of heart:

Row 19: sl1, K1 pass slipped st. over, K5, K2tog (7 sts.)

Row 20: [K1, P1] 2 times, K1,  P2tog,  (6 sts.)

Row 21: k2tog, k2, k2tog (4 sts.)

Bind off in pattern.

Weave in loose ends.

 

This pattern and chart can easily be adapted to moss stitch, garter stitch, etc. [640x436]Now, how to decorate?? I played with yarn directly on the heart, but my favorite ones were embroidered separately.  I just took a basic white muslin and wrote or drew on it myself - and embroidered with a simple back stitch or satin stitch.

 

Choose embroidery floss in a beautiful color, or twine, and bingo!  Attach with some french knots or sew it on - add what you will - and voila!  Please send me links to some examples that you make! I'd love to see.

 

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