VALENTINE HEART BUDDY

Valentine’s is almost here and I couldn’t help but make a heart plush! I wanted a type of cuddle buddy for my youngest (she is the one most interested in stuffies). Honestly, when I say that the only difficult part of making this was having her taking it away for her to hold hehe. She loves hearts and she is expressive with her love for us and we love that. So when she saw this heart, she was in love! I wanted to add arms and legs but she said she didn’t want to but I think it would make a cute heart buddy that way too!

Materials:

• E – 3.50 mm crochet hook
• Medium Worsted weight (#4) yarn
  – I used Hobby Lobby Yarn in the color Pink for the heart – Black for the eyes and mouth – Purple for the bow
• Yarn needle
• Scissors
• Stitch markers (highly recommend this extra piece of yarn works great)
• Poly-fil

Abbreviations:

Stitches:

CH – chain

ST – stitch (stitch space)

Sl St – slip stitch

SC – single crochet

DC – double crochet

SC INC. – single crochet increase (2 sc in the same st)

INV SC – invisible single crochet ( decrease using FLO)

FLO – front loop only

Other:
F.O: fasten off
MC – magic circle / magic ring

I have YouTube tutorials for beginners if you need guidance for some of the stitches named above. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuWQd_rk8KzRLcIOzCbiffmm8-TcKo5sP

Notes:

• You will be working in rounds so keep a stitch marker close to use when working in the round.
• I will have photos available here to help you through what I think may use a visual.
• Make sure you use a tight enough tension to help close any “holes” a loose tension may cause.
• You will be joining both pieces of the top of the heart together.
• Measures approximately 7 inches tall and 7 inches wide at the widest part.

PATTERN – with Pink yarn 

You will be making two pieces the FIRST piece you make, CH 1 after you make the last st, leave a long tail and fasten off. DO NOT fasten off the SECOND piece.

Start here – Make 2

8 SC in MC

Round 1 – SC INC. in each st (16)

Round 2 – *SC in 1 st, SC INC in the next. Repeat from * to the end. (24)

Round 3 – *SC in 2 sts, SC INC in the next. Repeat from * to the end (32)

Round 4 – *SC in 3 sts, SC INC in the next. Repeat from * to the end (40)

Round 5 – 10 – SC in every st to the end (40) [a total of 6 rounds]

[For the FIRST piece. CH 1 after you make the last st, leave a long tail and fasten off.]

Continue to make the SECOND piece then continue along when finished with the second piece. Remember do not fasten off.

JOINING

Both of the pieces have a total of 40 sts each. After SC around both, you will have a total of 80 sts.

The first round:

I like to place the stitch marker(a piece of yarn) laid where the first st will become.

You can absolutely join the FIRST piece in any space but I like to join on the last stitch made to keep better track of where my stitches are.

Between rounds 13 and 14 use the long piece of yarn you fastened off the first piece and weave in through the middle of the two to close that gap. Fasten off and cut the excess yarn.

Round 11 – 18 – SC in every st to the end – (80)

STARTING TO DECREASE

Round 19 – *SC in 8 sts, INV DEC. Repeat 8 times from * (72)

Round 20 – SC in every st to the end. (72)

Round 21 -*SC in 7 sts, INV DEC. Repeat 7 times from * ending with an SC in the last st (64)

Round 22 – SC in every st to the end. (64)

Round 23 -*SC in 6 sts, INV DEC. Repeat 6 times from * (56)

Round 24 – SC in every st to the end. (56)

From here on out make sure you are stuffing the heart with enough poly-fil. This will help shape the heart. 

Round 25 – *SC in 5 sts, INV DEC. Repeat 8 times from * (48)

Round 26 – SC in every st to the end. (48)

Round 27 – *SC in 4 sts, INV DEC. Repeat 8 times from * (40)

 

Round 28 – SC in every st to the end. (40)

Round 29 – *SC in 3 sts, INV DEC. Repeat 8 times from * (32)

Round 30 – SC in every st to the end. (32)

Round 31 – *SC in 2 sts, INV DEC. Repeat 8 times from * (24)

Round 32 – SC in every st to the end. (24)

Round 33 – SC in every st to the end. (24)

Round 34 – SC in every st to the end. (24)

Round 35 – *SC in 1 sts, INV DEC. Repeat 8 times from * (16)

Round 36 – SC in every st to the end. (16)

Round 37 – INV DEC the entire round. 8 times. (8)

Round 38 – INV DEC 4 more times. (4)

Slip stitch and leave a tail for finishing off.

Thread the needle through the tail you just left. Weave it through the 4 front loops of the stitches left, pull to gather them up, and make a slip knot. Insert the needle through the center (point) of the bottom and out the front or side of the heart, tug gently, and cut yarn. And you are finished making your heart buddy!

HOW TO CROCHET THE BOW FOR THE HEART

CH 30

Join in the first chain made to create a circle.  CH 3.

Row 1 – Double Crochet in every chain space. Join in the first DC, CH 3.

Row 2 – Double crochet in every st. Join. CH 3.

Row 3 – Double Crochet in every st. Sl st, and fasten off leaving a long tail to wrap around the center of the bow 20 x.

Make sure to pull tightly in the first several wraps to cinch the center better.

Fasten off and sew on the heart. I sewed only the back portion of the bow onto the heart to keep it from flopping.

FACE

For the face, I used a needle and black yarn and weaved the eyes, eyelashes, and mouth.