In this post, you will see a knitted heart pattern.
Recently (in 2020) knit and crochet hearts have been wanted from makers around the globe.
This is an appeal from hospital workers, which started in the UK by Nurse Laura Kirby-Deacon.
Knitted Heart Appeal
The idea is that they will give matching hearts to the relatives of people in intensive care, as they are not allowed, visitors.
One heart will be kept with their loved one if they sadly pass away.
Another matching heart will be sent to their relative in a card so they can still share something physical with their loved one after they have passed.
The hearts will also go to those who are unable to have visitors in the hospital.
This is a way to help the nurses at the hospital help patients and families stay connected.
The Guidelines For Making + Sending The Hearts
There are guidelines to be followed when making and sending these hearts to hospitals which include:
- Make sure the yarn is clean.
- Once the hearts are made please seal them in whatever way you can i.e. zip lock bags = freezer bags with seal = bin liner sealed with tape.
- 72hrs is the time for these to stand to be safe. So please don’t consider passing these to anyone before this time is up.
- Please date the hearts when they have been sealed so we know when the 72 hours have elapsed.
- Please only go to the Post Office as part of your daily exercise allowance or on an essential shopping trip. Please observe social distancing rules at all times.
- If you fall into the high-risk category PLEASE ASK SOMEBODY ELSE TO POST THEM FOR YOU.
- Please DO NOT try to hand-deliver them to the hospital, this is not an essential journey.
- Stay safe everyone and if you’re worried about doing this then please don’t your support is still appreciated.
Knitted Hearts For NHS
There are many local hospitals that you can send your hearts to when finished.
One hospital in the UK who are accepting hearts is – Brighter Futures, Brunel Treatment Centre, Great Western Hospital, Marlborough Road, Swindon, SN3 6BB.
Another hospital in the North East – the UK who are accepting hearts is – Ward 1 ITU, South Tyneside District Hospital, Harton Lane, South Shields, NE34 0PL.
You will be able to find out if your local hospital is accepting the hearts, by checking their website or doing a quick google search.
If you would prefer to crochet a heart please see this pattern here – Crochet Heart Pattern.
Resources and tutorials you may find helpful in following this pattern:
This pattern is great for any advanced beginner knitters.
- You should be comfortable casting on and casting off, as well as knitting in garter stitch.
- You should be comfortable working the purl stitch.
- You should be comfortable working K2tog.
- You should be comfortable increasing using KFB – knitting into the front and back of a stitch.
- Knitting cast-on methods.
- You should also be comfortable reading knitting patterns.
- And understanding knitting abbreviations and terms.
Video Tutorial
There is a video tutorial showing you how to knit one of these small hearts over on my YouTube channel here.
Knitted Heart Pattern
Make a knitted heart to support families who can't be with each other during this difficult time.
Materials
- Leftovers from your yarn stash - less than 10g per heart of any DK yarn.
- I used leftover cotton - Rico Creative Cotton.
- Fiberfill/stuffing
Tools
- 4mm (US 6) knitting needles
- Darning Needle
- Scissors
- Stitch holder
Instructions
Make 2 pieces for one heart.
- Cast on 2 sts
- Rows 1-2 – st, st, start with a knit row.
- Row 3 – knit, KFB at beg and end of row.
- Row 4 – purl.
- Row 5 – knit, KFB at beg and end of row.
- Row 6 – purl.
- Row 7 – knit, KFB at beg and end of row.
- Row 8 – purl.
- Row 9 – knit, KFB at beg and end of row.
- Row 10 – purl.
- Row 11 – knit, KFB at beg and end of row.
- Row 12 – 14 – continue in st, st.
- Row 15 – knit, KFB at beg and end of row.
- Row 16 – 18 – cont in st, st.
- Row 19 – repeat row 15
- Row 20 – Purl first 8 sts, turn and continue working on these 8 sts. Transfer other 8 sts to a stitch holder.
- Row 21 – *K2tog, k4, k2tog.
- Row 22 – purl.
- Row 23 – K2tog, k2, k2tog.
- Row 24 – purl.
- Row 25 – k2tog, k2tog.
- Row 26 – p2tog.
- Break yarn leaving a long end. Thread through the last stitch on the needle*.
- Transfer the 8 sts from the stitch holder onto the needle and repeat from * to *.
Making Up
Lay the two pieces with the right sides facing out (the wrong sides toughing on the inside).
Sew the side edge of the heart going up over the top of the heart back down to the other side.
Leave a gap and stuff firmly.
Stitch up the gap and weave in any loose ends.
Abbreviations
k - Knit
k2tog - Knit the next two stitches together
KFB - Knit into the front and back of the stitch (increase)
p - Purl
rep - Repeat
st(s) - Stitches
st st - Stocking stitch
p2tog - Purl the next two stitches together
Notes
Finished Size - The finished heart when stuffed is around 6.5cm high x 6.5cm wide.
Knit Flat - The heart is worked flat (knitting back and forth) on straight needles.
Gauge - Don't worry too much about gauge for this pattern. The gauge of the heart I made is 6 sts/ 4 rows in 1 inch.
Cast on - You can cast on using the thumb method or long-tail cast on for this project.
The seams - use the mattress stitch to sew up the seams of the heart.
Yarn choice - Any DK yarn/ Lightweight 03 yarn will be ok to use for this project. Stash busting your leftovers is great as you need less than 10g per heart.
