Sweet Heart Motif

A quick, beginner-friendly crochet heart motif worked in one round from a magic ring. Perfect for appliqué, garlands, cards, keychains, or embellishing hats and blankets. Finished size is approximately 3 inches (7.5 cm) wide by 2.75 inches (7 cm) tall using worsted weight yarn.

Materials

• Yarn: Worsted weight (category 4) acrylic or cotton, approx 10–15 yards (9–14 m) main color (MC)
• Optional Contrast Color (CC): 5 yards (5 m) for border
• Hook: US G/6 (4.0 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge
• Notions: Yarn needle, scissors, stitch marker (optional), blocking pins

Gauge

14 sc and 16 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in single crochet. Exact gauge is not critical for a motif, but matching it will produce the stated finished size. If your heart is too large/small, adjust hook size.

Finished Size

One size: approx 3" (7.5 cm) wide × 2.75" (7 cm) tall after light blocking.

Abbreviations (US Terms)

• ch: chain
• sl st: slip stitch
• sc: single crochet
• hdc: half double crochet
• dc: double crochet
• tr: treble crochet
• MR: magic ring (magic circle)
• st(s): stitch(es)
• sp(s): space(s)
• rep: repeat
• FO: fasten off

Pattern Notes

• Heart is worked in one continuous round into a magic ring; do not turn.
• The beginning and ending ch-2 create the top indent of the heart.
• Stitch count at end of round includes all dc/hdc/tr but excludes the two ch-2 sps unless noted.
• Magic ring tutorial tip: Wrap yarn around two fingers, insert hook under first loop, yarn over and pull up a loop, ch 1 to secure, then work stitches over both strands and the tail. Pull tail tight at end.
• Turning chains do not count as stitches unless stated.
• For a two-color version, work the main heart in MC and the optional border in CC (simple color change, no stranding required).
• Stitch counts appear in parentheses at the end of the round.

Charts

Chart A: Heart Motif Stitch Layout (worked into MR)

Read the chart from the center outward. Symbols show stitch type in order around the ring (starting after first ch-2). This is a circular motif chart, not row-by-row Fair Isle; colors are optional.

        ch2
     tr tr tr
   dc dc dc dc
      tr
   dc dc dc dc
     tr tr tr
        ch2
       (MR)

Key:

• ch2 = chain-2 space (top lobes)
• tr = treble crochet
• dc = double crochet
• (center) = magic ring
• □ = MC (main heart body)
• ■ = CC (optional border only)

Color Key:

• □ = MC (Main Color – heart)
• ■ = CC (Contrast Color – border)

Chart Notes: Work stitches in the order listed in the written instructions (clockwise or counterclockwise consistently). RS faces you. No WS rows. For colorwork version, change to CC only when starting the border round; carry no floats (motif is too small for stranded Fair Isle).

Instructions

Heart (MC) Make a magic ring. Round 1: Ch 2, work 3 tr, 4 dc, 1 tr, 4 dc, 3 tr into the ring, ch 2, sl st into the ring to join. (15 sts + 2 ch-2 sps) Pull the magic ring tail firmly to close the center hole completely. The two ch-2 spaces form the top curves of the heart; the single tr at the bottom forms the point.

Optional Border (CC or MC) Join CC (or continue with MC) with sl st in either ch-2 sp. Round 2: Ch 1, work 2 sc in same ch-2 sp, sc in each of next 3 tr, sc in each of next 4 dc, (sc, ch 1, sc) in the bottom tr (point), sc in each of next 4 dc, sc in each of next 3 tr, 2 sc in remaining ch-2 sp, sl st to first sc to join. (20 sc + 1 ch-1 sp) FO.

Finishing

• Weave in all ends securely on the wrong side using yarn needle. For the magic ring tail, weave it in a circle around the center to lock it.
• Block lightly: Mist with water, pin into a symmetrical heart shape on a blocking mat, and allow to dry fully. This opens the stitches and defines the lobes and point.
• To use as appliqué: Sew in place with matching yarn or hot glue for non-washable items.
• Make a garland: Crochet a long chain and sl st or sc the tops of hearts to it at even intervals.
• Tip for beginners: If the center hole won’t close, you accidentally worked into only one strand of the ring—redo ensuring stitches go over both the ring and the tail.

Your sweet heart motif is complete! Make a whole pile in different colors for Valentine’s, ornaments, or scrapbusting.