H anging Hearts

Just how gorgeous are these little hanging hearts? You can fill them with lavender to make a scented wardrobe hanger or drawer freshener, crochet in baby colours as a lovely newborn gift, or simply make lots and lots for friends. These are very easy to crochet and a great way to use up any lovely leftover yarn you have.

You will need:

1 x 50g ball of Soft Merino Aran (100% merino superwash)

3.5mm crochet hook

Toy filling

Lavender (optional)

Ribbon for hanging

Tapestry needle

Makes several hearts, each approx 10cm/4in diameter

For each side of your heart (make two):

Start with a foundation chain of two (ch2).

Work two double crochet stitches into the first stitch (2dc) then a regular double crochet stitch (2dc) into the next. You now have three stitches.

Remember with double crochet you have to do a turning chain of 1 at the beginning of each new row. This will be shown as Ch1.

Ch1. Work two double crochet stitches into the first stitch (2dc) then a regular double crochet stitch (2dc) into the next two stitches. You now have 4 stitches. Then:

Ch1. 2dc into the first stitch, then 1dc into the next 3 stitches = 5 stitches.

Ch1. 2dc into the first stitch, then 1dc into the next 4 stitches = 6 stitches.

Ch. Continue to double crochet every row, increasing by doing a 2dc into the first stitch of every row until you have 20 stitches.

Now to create one side of the rounded part of the heart:

Ch1, then work a double crochet stitch into 10 of the stitches only.

*Double crochet stitches 1 and 2 together (2dctog - see below), double crochet each of the next 6 stitches, then 2dctog stitches 9 and 10.

For the next four rows, double crochet together the first two and the last two stitches of each row, and work a regular double crochet to the stitches in between. This will continue to reduce the stitches by two at a time and create the top curve of the heart. Once you have two stitches left, fasten off.*

Now to create the second round part of the heart:

Re-attach your yarn in the 11th stitch of the 20 stitches row (right next to the first round part) work a double crochet into each of the 10 stitches. Then continue as above, from * to *.  Leave a tail of yarn for sewing up the heart.

Once you have crocheted both sides of your heart, stitch together, inside out to hide the stitches. Begin near the bottom of one of the straight sides, this allows you to leave a small opening – turn the heart right sides out, lightly stuff with toy filling and some scented lavender if you wish. Stitch closed and add pretty ribbon for hanging.