Crocheting Hearts: Rug or Pot Holder

This guide provides instructions for crocheting heart shapes, suitable for making pot holders or decorative rugs.

Method 1: Symmetrical Heart

This method yields a regular, symmetrical heart shape and works best with evenly thick yarn, such as pot holder yarn.

1. Starting the Base: Crochet 6 single crochet stitches into a chain ring. Continue crocheting in a spiral, working the 7th single crochet into the first stitch.
2. Increasing Stitches: Increase by 6 single crochet stitches in each round. After 3 rounds (totaling 24 stitches), begin shaping the heart.
3. Creating the Point: Crochet a single crochet, then a chain stitch. Turn the work 90 degrees and work the next single crochet into the side of the previous single crochet. Repeat this process in subsequent rounds to form the point.
4. Forming the Curves: After the point, crochet 6 single crochet stitches without increases. Then, crochet a half double crochet. In the next 3 single crochet stitches, crochet 2 double crochet stitches each, followed by 1 half double crochet, 1 single crochet, and 1 slip stitch. This completes one side of the heart’s curve. Mirror this process for the opposite side: 1 single crochet, 1 half double crochet, 2 double crochet stitches in each of the next 3 single crochet stitches, 1 half double crochet, then single crochet stitches without increases until reaching the point.
5. Shaping Technique: The heart shape is achieved by distributing 3 stitch increases across the curves in each round. Between these curves, work slip stitches (up to 3) over half double crochets and single crochets.
6. Finishing: Once the heart reaches the desired size, a border of single crochet stitches can be added using a different colored yarn. Increase stitches by 3 at each curve of the heart. This can be done using a two-colored spiral technique by alternating between the two loops of the stitches.

Method 2: Irregular Heart (Rug)

This method is ideal for those who prefer a less symmetrical, more organic heart shape, resembling a human heart. This is particularly suitable for creating rugs.

1. Yarn Preparation: The yarn for this rug is made from repurposed fabric. Old, worn-out bedsheets can be torn into strips spirally. This method allows for the utilization of the well-preserved edges while discarding the worn-out center sections.
2. Component Crocheting: For each side of the heart, crochet a separate circle. For the point of the heart, crochet a triangle.
3. Assembly and Edging: Sew the three components (two circles and one triangle) together. Then, crochet around the assembled pieces in rounds. When crocheting with repurposed fabric, consider working only into the top loop of the stitches from the previous round. This technique results in a neater stitch pattern and a flatter rug.
4. Point Creation: Similar to Method 1, after the last single crochet before the point, crochet a chain stitch. Turn the work 90 degrees and work the next single crochet into the side of the previous single crochet. Continue this method in subsequent rounds to maintain the point.