Send a Hug Heart

Send a Hug Heart by Andrew Lucas

Project Overview

Send a Hug Heart is a beginner-friendly knitted decoration designed by Andrew Lucas, measuring 15 centimeters tall. This charming ornament is an ideal project for those new to knitting, combining simple techniques with a meaningful gift-giving concept. The finished piece creates a soft, huggable heart shape perfect for decorative display or as a thoughtful present.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a three-dimensional knitted heart decoration. The project requires making two identical heart pieces that are subsequently stuffed and assembled to form a complete, dimensional ornament. The finished heart stands 15 centimeters in height, making it a compact yet impactful decorative item.

Knitting Techniques Used

The Send a Hug Heart employs fundamental knitting techniques suitable for beginners. The construction begins with a single cast-on stitch, which is immediately increased into multiple stitches using the knit-into-front-back-front method. This creates an expanding triangular base that forms the bottom point of the heart shape. Increases are strategically placed using the make-one technique (m1), which involves knitting into the back of the loop between two stitches to add new stitches without creating visible holes. Decreases are worked using slip-stitch-psso (pass slip stitch over) and k2tog (knit two together) methods to shape the top of the heart and create the characteristic dipped center between the two lobes.

Stitches Used

• Stocking stitch (st st): Alternating rows of knit and purl stitches create the smooth, flat fabric that forms the main body of the heart
• Garter stitch (gs): Knitting every row, used selectively in the pattern for textural variation
• Knit stitch (k): The fundamental stitch used throughout the pattern
• Purl stitch (p): Worked in alternating rows to create stocking stitch fabric
• Make-one increase (m1): Creates new stitches by knitting into the back loop between existing stitches, adding definition to the heart's expanding width
• Knit-two-together decrease (k2tog): Decreases stitches on the right side of the fabric to shape the heart's upper curves
• Slip-slip-knit decrease (sl1, k1, psso): A left-leaning decrease used for precise shaping of the heart's top lobes

Materials Required

The Send a Hug Heart pattern calls for minimal materials, making it an economical project. Crafters will need 3.25-millimeter knitting needles, which are standard mid-sized needles appropriate for the yarn weight specified. A small ball of double knitting wool in red provides the primary material; double knitting yarn is a medium-weight yarn that works well for small decorative projects and stuffed items. Additional materials include polyester fiberfill or similar stuffing material to create the three-dimensional form of the finished heart ornament.

Construction Method

The pattern uses a methodical approach to shape the heart. Beginning with a single cast-on stitch, the crafter increases stitches gradually across multiple rows until reaching 37 stitches, creating the widest point of the heart. The pattern then transitions into stocking stitch for several rows before beginning the top shaping process. The top shaping involves turning the work and working each lobe of the heart separately, with decreases worked at strategic intervals to form the characteristic heart shape with its two rounded upper lobes and central dip. The abbreviation B & T (break off wool leaving a long end, thread through remaining stitches, and pull to gather tightly) indicates the finishing method for closing each piece.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is classified as beginner level, making it accessible to knitters who are new to the craft. While it introduces several fundamental techniques including increases, decreases, and shaping, each step is straightforward and builds upon basic knitting knowledge. The relatively small finished size and simple stitch combinations make this an encouraging first or early project for developing knitting skills.