tw The Hearts

Front and back alike (larger sized heart instructions given in square brackets)
Using 2.5 mm needles, cast on 2 sts
ROW1: Knit through the back of the loop on both stitchs
ROW2:  Inc on both stitches (4 sts)
ROW3: K
ROW4: K1, inc into next two sts, K1  (6 sts)
ROW5: K to end
ROW6: K1, inc1, K to last two stitches, inc 1, K1  (8 sts)

Repeat rows 5 & 6 until 22 sts [30 sts] have been achieved finishing on row 5

Knit 8 rows [10 rows] without further shaping.

Shape top of hearth

ROW1: Sl 1, K2tog, K to last three sts, K2tog, slip 1

Bring yarn forward to knit after each first stitch has been slipped.

Repeat twice more  – 16 sts [24 sts]

Knit one row incorporating both slipped sts

Repeat ROW 1 another three times -10 sts [18 sts]

Knit one row incorporating both slipped stitches

Repeat row once more for smaller heart (8 sts) [or 3 more times for larger heart (12 sts)]

Knit one row incorporating both slipped stitches

Knit 3 [5], k2tog, k3 [5]

Cast off.

Before covering the polystyrene heart shapes, let’s make the flowers!

Seven Petal Flower

Make 7

Using 2.5 mm needles cast on 3 stitches
ROW1: K into the back of loop on all stitches
ROW2: K1, yo, K1, yo, K1 (5 sts)
ROW3-8: K
ROW9: Sl 1, K1, psso, K1, K2tog
ROW10: Sl 1, K1, psso, K1
ROW11: K2Tog

Cast off.

When you have all seven petals completed sew in threads, except for one on the cast on edge of one petal. laying the petals in a circle, thread the yarn through each of the eyelets you created at the base of each petal. Pull the yarn through to form the flower. Sew a small bead to beautify the flower centre,

Rosette Flower
Cast on 50 sts
ROW1: K into the back of the loop on every stitch
ROW2: K1, (yo, K2tog) to last stitch, yo, k1
ROW3-12: K
ROW13: inc in every st (100 sts)
ROW14: inc in every st (200 sts)

Cast off.  Thread a tail of yarn through the eyelets at the base of the rosette and secure; sew on a little bead at the centre of the flower.

Five Petals Double Flower

Make 5 small petals as follows:

Cast on 3 sts
ROW1: K into the back of the loop on every stitch
ROW2: K1, yo, K1, yo, K1
ROW3-7: K
ROW8: Sl 1, K1, psso, K1, K2tog
ROW9: sl1, K1, psso, K1
ROW10: K2tog

Make 5 larger petals as follows:

Cast on 6 sts
ROW1: K into the back of the loop on every stitch.
ROW2: K1, yo, K2tog, yo, K2tog, K1
ROW3-12: K
ROW13: K2tog, K3, K2tog
ROW14: K2tog twice, K1
ROW15: K2tog

Cast off.  Thread a tail of yarn through the eyelets of the petals to form the flower shape. Place the small flower shape on top of the larger flower shape and join together. Sew on a bead to form the flower centre.

To make up
To make up these romantic hearts, sew your chosen flowers to the centre of each heart before covering the polystyrene hearts. Dab some super glue to the screw part of the brassed hook and screw it into the polystyrene heart. Hold for a few seconds. Using plain pins, place your first knitted heart on to the polystyrene form, pushing the pins in just enough to hold the knitted work in place. Do the same for the second knitted heart. Sew the two knitted heart shapes together using a mattress stitch, then remove the pins.

Attach a ribbon to the hook and hang your lovely finished hearts somewhere special.