Two Knit Hearts

   There is something magical about knitting a shape, and pulling the finished product out of the felting process. If you want a felted heart, of course you can always make your felt and then cut out the heart shape ~ but there is no imitating the beautifully rounded edges of a hand made applique that hasn't seen scissors.

   These patterns are in honor of Mommamindy, who encouraged me to start a blog and who asked for a knitted heart a year ago. It took me a while to come up with one that would really turn out without being pieced (a perfectly legitimate operation that I am simply too lazy to perform.)

   I include two patterns. Each has its advantage. They are essentially the same, one worked from the top and the other from the bottom. The one worked from the top down is made similar to many leaves. The directions are easier to follow, and it seems to provide a more consistent result.

   The one worked from the bottom up is a little trickier and a little harder to explain, but you might prefer its shape.

size 11 needles
Lambs Pride Worsted ~ or other wool, if felting
gauge: 6 1/2 stitches = 2 inches in stockinette (need not be exact)

Heart 1, Knit from the top down:

CO 7
Row 1: K3, YO, K1, YO, K3.
Row 2: P3, P1K1 in the same stitch (It will be your YO from the last row), YO, P1, YO, P1 K1 in same stitch, P3. (13 stitches.)
Row 3: K5, K1 P1 in same stitch, YO, K1, YO, K1 P1 in same stitch, K5.
Row 4: P7, P1 K1 in same stitch, YO, P1, YO, P1, K1 in same stitch, P7. (21 stitches.)
Row 5: K2 tog, Knit to within 2 stitches of end, K2 tog.
Rows 6, 8, 10,12: Purl.
Rows 7, 9,11,13 : Repeat row 5.(11 stitches.)
Row 14: P2 tog, Purl to within 2 stitches of end, P2 tog. (9 stitches.)
Row 15, 17, 19: Repeat row 5. (3 stitches)
Rows 16, 18, 20: Purl
Row 21: Sl1, K2tog, PSSO

Pull yarn through remaining stitch and tie off.

If you aren't going to felt this, you will need to steam it to get it to hold its shape.

Heart 2, Knit from the point up:

CO 1
Row 1: Knit, Purl, Knit in the same stitch
Row 2, 4, 6, 8: Purl
Row 3, 5, 7, 9: Increase 1 in first stitch. Knit across. Increase 1 in last stitch. (11 stitches after row 9)
Row 10: Increase 1 in first stitch. Purl across. Increase 1 in last stitch. (13 stitches.)
Row 11, 13, 15, 17: Repeat row 3. (21 stitches after row 17)
Row12, 14, 16, 18,: Purl
Row 19: K10 Pull previous 9 stitches over the 10th, (One stitch left on your right hand needle.) Knit center stitch. Pass the previous stitch (the only one left on your needle) over the center stitch. Knit 1 very loosely. Knit 9 more. Put these 10 stitches back on the left hand needle. Pass 9 of  them over the first loosely knit stitch (towards the center of your heart.) Put your center stitch on the left hand needle. Pass only other remaining stitch over the center stitch. Tie off the end.

If you aren't going to felt this you will need to steam it to get the right shape.

This heart is part of a for-sale pattern for a Kindle Cover that I offer on Etsy.