Beginner Heart Motif Panel

A simple flat square featuring a centred fair-isle heart chart. Ideal first chart project for standard-gauge machine knitters. Finished panel measures approximately 20 × 20 cm (8 × 8 in) and may be used as a washcloth, coaster, or cushion insert.

Materials

• Worsted-weight yarn (approx. 10–12 wpi): 40 g / 80 m main colour (MC), 15 g / 30 m contrast colour (CC)
• Standard-gauge (4.5 mm) knitting machine (Brother, Silver Reed/Knitmaster, or equivalent); punchcard or electronic
• Cast-on comb, weights, ravel cord, waste yarn
• Transfer tool, latch tool
• Tapestry needle, scissors
• Optional: row counter (built-in or separate), claw weights

Tension / Gauge

• Tension dial: T7 (both colours)
• Gauge: 20 sts and 28 rows = 10 cm (4 in) measured over stocking stitch after steaming
• Always knit a tension swatch and adjust dial if necessary before starting.

Size

One size: 20 cm wide × 20 cm tall (8 × 8 in) after blocking.

Abbreviations & Machine Terms

• MC = main colour
• CC = contrast colour
• COR / COL = carriage on right / left
• RC = row counter
• NWP = non-working position
• WP = working position
• Fair isle (FI) = end-needle selection or manual two-colour knitting
• T7 = tension dial 7
• sts = stitches
• ndls = needles

Pattern Notes

• Worked flat on main bed only; ribber not required.
• Heart chart is 17 sts wide × 19 rows high. Side borders = 12 sts each side; bottom/top plain borders = 8 rows each.
• Beginner method: hand-select CC needles every row (or use electronic patterning / mylar / design controller). Punchcard users may hand-select or convert chart to 24-st card with plain side needles.
• Catch floats longer than 5 sts by hand every 3–4 stitches on the reverse.
• Carriage settings: both part buttons OUT for plain knitting; both part buttons IN (or FI buttons) for fair-isle rows. Always knit with MC in feeder 1, CC in feeder 2.
• Reset RC to 000 at the start of each major section as indicated.
• Weights: hang cast-on comb + 2–3 claw weights; move weights up every 20 rows.

Heart Stitch Chart (17 sts × 19 rows)

Read chart from bottom to top, right to left on right-side rows (COR→COL) and left to right on wrong-side rows (COL→COR).
X = CC | . = MC

Row 19: . . . . . X X X X X . . . . . . .
Row 18: . . . . X X X X X X X . . . . . .
Row 17: . . . X X X X X X X X X . . . . .
Row 16: . . X X X X X X X X X X X . . . .
Row 15: . X X X X X X X X X X X X X . . .
Row 14: X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X . .
Row 13: X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X .
Row 12: X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Row 11: X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Row 10: X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Row  9: X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X .
Row  8: . X X X X X X X X X X X X X X . .
Row  7: . . X X X X X X X X X X X X . . .
Row  6: . . . X X X X X X X X X X . . . .
Row  5: . . . . X X X X X X X X . . . . .
Row  4: . . . . . X X X X X X . . . . . .
Row  3: . . . . X X X . . X X X . . . . .
Row  2: . . . X X X . . . . X X X . . . .
Row  1: . . . X X . . . . . . X X . . . .

(Needle 1 of chart sits on machine needle 13; needle 17 of chart sits on machine needle 29.)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Machine Setup

• Main bed only. All needles in NWP.
• Bring 41 needles to WP (needles 21 left of centre “0” to 20 right, or simply select any 41 consecutive needles).
• Carriage COR. Set tension dial T7. Both part (slip) levers OUT. MC in feeder 1.
• Cast on with waste yarn using closed-edge cast-on or ravel-cord method. Knit 6–8 rows waste. Hang cast-on comb and weights. Knit 1 row ravel cord. RC = 000.

Bottom Border (MC only)

• E-wrap cast on over the 41 needles with MC (or knit the first MC row as the cast-on edge if preferred).
• COR. RC = 000.
• Knit 8 rows stocking stitch.
  RC = 008. COL.
• Carriage remains COL for chart start.

Heart Chart (Fair Isle)

• Thread CC into feeder 2. Set carriage for fair isle (both part buttons IN, or select FI setting). End-needle selection ON if available.
• RC = 000.
• Work the 19-row chart exactly as shown, selecting the 17 CC needles (machine needles 13–29) according to each chart row. Side needles 1–12 and 30–41 remain MC.
  • Odd chart rows (1,3,5…): COR → COL
  • Even chart rows (2,4,6…): COL → COR
• After each pair of rows, check floats on the reverse and catch any float longer than 5 sts by wrapping the MC strand around the CC needle.
• When chart is complete: RC = 019. COL.
  (Total fabric rows from cast-on: 8 + 19 = 27.)

Top Border (MC only)

• Remove CC from feeder. Return carriage to plain knitting (both part buttons OUT).
• RC = 000.
• Knit 21 rows stocking stitch with MC.
  RC = 021. COR.
  (Total rows = 8 bottom + 19 chart + 21 top = 48 rows of MC fabric + 8 waste = final length ≈ 20 cm at gauge.)

Bind-Off

• COR. Tension slightly tighter (T6) for bind-off.
• Latch-tool bind-off: begin at carriage side, lift first stitch onto latch tool, *knit next stitch through it, repeat from * across. Fasten last stitch.
• Alternative: transfer all stitches to a hand-knitting needle and bind off by hand for a stretchier edge.

Finishing

• Remove waste yarn and ravel cord.
• Weave in all ends with tapestry needle, securing FI floats on the reverse.
• Steam-block gently on wrong side to measurements 20 × 20 cm; do not press heavily or the heart will flatten.
• Optional: single-crochet or latch-tool edging around all four sides for a polished washcloth finish.
• For a cushion: knit a second plain 41-st × 56-row panel, seam three sides, insert pad, close.

Tips for Success

• Practise the 17-st heart selection on a small scrap first.
• Keep weights balanced; add extra claw weights at the edges during fair isle to prevent dropped stitches.
• If using an electronic machine, input the 17-st motif centred on 41 needles and let the machine select.
• Gauge is critical—re-check after the first 10 rows of the border and adjust tension dial if the fabric feels too tight or loose.

Enjoy your first machine-knit heart chart!