Motifs: Granny Square Heart

As of now I've counted at least a half-dozen different ways to crochet beautiful heart patterns. And I’m sure that there are at least a half dozen more out there I still haven't seen yet, ha ha! But this heart pattern is so sweet and even a touch romantic, that I think I’m going to make it part of my next Valentine’s Day project!

The real beauty of it is that it comes from the base of a traditional granny square, with only a few fancy flourishes!

Materials:

• size E/4 crochet hook

• 1 skein red, 1 skein white crochet lace (Aunt Lydia’s 3)

• snips

• Ribbon (opt.)

NOTE: to make larger hearts from medium weight yarn, use 1 skein red/ 1 skein white Red Heart Brand, and a size I/9 hook.

Instructions:

1. ch 5 & sl st together to form ring;
   then ch 3 & DC 2 into the center ring sp;

2. <ch 3, then DC 3 into the center ring sp;>
   Repeat twice to form the base of the heart (a traditional granny square);

3. to finish rnd, ch 3 then sl st into the 3rd st of starting ch;

4. for the next rnd, ch 3 then dc 2 into the starting ch sp
   (This will cause your DC sts to cross over the starting ch);

5. ch 3 then *DC 3 into the next ch sp;
   ch 1 and DC 3 again into the same ch sp (for a total of 6 DC in the same sp);*

6. ch 1 then, <DC 3, ch 1, DC 3> to form the corner of the heart;

7. repeat (*) in next ch sp;
   then ch 3 and DC 2 into the starting ch sp;
   ch 1 and sl st into the 3rd st of starting ch to finish rnd;

8. to form the humps of the heart: DC 12 into the next ch sp;

9. sc into the next ch sp (made with 1 SC), then SC 7 across edge;

10. to turn the corner: <SC 1, ch 2, SC 1> in same ch sp; then SC 7 again (placing the last st in the next ch sp);

11. DC 12 into the next ch sp, then skip next 3 DC & sl st into the last ch sp;
    clip yarn to finish heart, OR ch 20 and sl st into the same st to create a hanger

12. (OPT.) to create a lacy edge around the heart:
    SL st white crochet thread into the ch sp of bottom corner;

    ch 1 then SC into the next st;
    SC strait around the edge of the heart - SL st 1 into the joining ch sp at the top - then continue SC strait;
    SC 1 into ch sp of bottom corner, then sl st into the 1st sc;

    next <ch 3 then sl st into the next sc; sl st 2;>
    repeat across rnd to create lace-edge;
    at the top corner, skip previous SL st and sl st 2 before continuing ch 3 pattern;

    SL st into the starting ch so to finish, then clip and secure yarn.