bee mine, valentine!

 

woolly sweet-hearts pattern

I love all things heart-related, especially chocolate! But right now I'm fasting from chocolate so I have to satisfy my 'sweet' tooth other ways this Valentine's day. And one of them is through knitting, of course.

 

The Woolly Sweet-Hearts pattern is not new but I never tire of it. They are so quick and easy to knit and felt up, and a sweet experience to embellish. 

I like using wool batt to stuff my hearts because once stuffed, I throw them back into the wash for a swish or two to felt them further. The wool batt shrinks with the heart creating a firm, sturdy shape that lasts years and years. The wet heart can be molded like clay. And if further detailing is needed, once dry, the little heart can be needle felted further to perfection. That is a rarity, but it is always an option.

woolly candy corn pattern

This year I wanted to combine the hearts with my Woolly Candy Corn pattern for my table display and decided to share it with you. I love the Woolly Candy Corn pattern for its flexibility of color choices, always able to coordinate with the various seasons and holidays throughout the year. I have woolly candy in every color and size, so I can pull them out and add them to any display!

Make small ones using wool sport weight yarns and size 7 dps, or large ones, using wool worsted weight yarns and size 10.5 dp needles. So simple, embellished or not! But a little embroidery and buttons will go a long way. That special gift for all those dieters in your life. Treat them this Valentine's day with the gift that keeps on giving, year after year. Happy Hearts Days!

Happy knitting!

a crochet-edge heart

woolly sweet-hearts pattern*

Happy Valentine's Day!

Here in Minnesota a little sweetness is most needed amidst all this snow and polar temps this February 2019. Hope your day is a sweet wherever you are!

In honor of Hearts Day, what better way to celebrate but with a third and final heart embellishing tutorial: how to create a crochet edge on a heart knit and felted from my Woolly Sweet-Hearts pattern.

Materials needed for this design are fingering weight yarn in matching or coordinating color to the heart, a size C crochet hook, and a chenille needle.

The heart in the above photo is a large traditional-style design. It was first knit with worsted weight yarn and then felted.

blanket stitched heart

The shell edge is done all around the center of the heart, dividing it in half (cream heart photo). Using the fingering weight yarn, (the same yarn you will crochet with), embroider the 'blanket stitch' all around the heart. If you do the stitch in a contrasting color like I did with this cream heart, it can be left like this (no crochet edge) as a fun design in and of itself. It creates like a cord look around the heart.

Once the blanket stitch is stitched, start at the top of the heart, left-side, and move counter-clockwise. Begin crocheting a simple shell edge as follows: *dc, dc, sc, dc, dc all in one blanket stitch, sl st into the following blanket stitch, then in the next blanket stitch begin again*; repeat * to * until the end.

Stay loose and not tight. If too tight the shell edge will curl up. If this happens once completed, wet with water the crochet edge. Tug the edge slightly to even it out and allow it to air dry like this.

So whether you add a crocheted shell edge to your heart or not, here are two new embellishing designs to play and practice with.

Don't hesitate to ask if you have further questions. I am here to help.

Happy knitting!

*NOTE: The pins in the top photo are from Just Another Button Company, Will you BEE mine, Valentine? just pins set.