Knitting for Charity: Have a heart (and a free pattern)

Heart shaped items are a weakness of mine, and we’re headed toward Valentine’s Day, so hearts are everywhere. These little felted hearts from the book Gifted by Mags Kandis are so perfect for gift giving, and if you’re knitting for children, they make a perfect decoration for a little girl’s nursery. Aren’t they darling?

Felted Heart Milagros from Gifted, by Mags Kandis

Here’s the free knitting pattern!

Felted Heart Milagros

These little charity knitting hearts bring me such joy that I can’t stop myself from making and sharing them! Knitted in one piece with a bit of short-rowing for shape, there is just one quick seam and a little stuffing before you shout, “Everyone in the pool!” Well, the “pool” may be the washing machine or a basin, but I do promise it will be fun. These hearts can be used for anything you can imagine-pins, bookmarks, place markers, welcome garlands, good-luck charms, etc.

Finished Size: About 2 inches (5 cm) high and 2 inches (5 sm) wide
Yarn: Sportweight (#2 Fine). Shown here: Brown Sheep Nature Spun Sportweight (100% wool, 184 yd/[168 m] 50 g). Each heart uses less than 10 yards (9.1 m).
Needles: Size U.S. 6, straight or circular
Notions: Tapestry needle, small amount of polyester or bamboo fiberfill
Gauge: About 21 stitches and 30 rows = 40 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch, before felting. Exact gauge is not crucial for this project.

HEART
Loosely cast on 12 sts. Work short-rows as follows:

Short-row 1: (RS) K8, wrap next st, turn.
Short-rows 2, 4, and 6: Purl to last st, p1f&b-1 st increased.
Short-row 3: (RS) K7, wrap next st, turn-13 stitches.
Short-row 5: (RS) K6, wrap next st, turn-14 stitches.
Short-row 7: (RS) K5, wrap next st, turn-15 stitches.
Short-rows 8 and 10: Purl.
Short-row 9: K4, wrap next st, turn.
Short-row 11: K3, wrap next st, turn.
Short-rows 12, 14, and 16: Purl to last 2 sts, p2tog.
Short-row 13: K5, working wraps together with wrapped sts when you come to them, wrap next st, turn-14 sts rem.
Short-row 15: K6, working wraps together with wrapped sts when you come to them, wrap next st, turn-13 sts rem.
Short-row 17: Knit to end, working wraps together with wrapped sts when you come to them-12 sts.
Short-row 18: Purl.

Repeat short-rows 1-18 three more times—piece measures about 9½ (24 cm) from, cast-on at widest point. Loosely bind off all stitches.

Finishing
With yarn threaded on a tapestry needle, sew the CO and BO edges together. Stitch top of heart closed, leaving 1 inch (2.5 cm) open for stuffing. Stuff with fiberfill until lightly firm but not bursting. Stitch closed. Felt and enjoy!

—From Gifted, by Mags Kandis

I hope you’ll make some of these little cuties and give them to someone close to your heart. And if you’re looking for more patterns for Valentine’s day, check out our InspiRED patterns in the Knitting Daily Shop! We’re teaming up with Jimmy Beans Wool for their Stitch Red initiative, sticking it to heart disease. With each red pattern sold on Interweave.com, we’ll donate 5% of the profits to The Heart Truth®, a National Awareness Campaign for Women About Heart Disease.

Cheers,