Use this Heart Garland for Valentine’s Day decorating. Instructions are included for felting the hearts by hand. If you prefer, the hearts can be felted in a washing machine.This is an easy project even if you've never tried felting before. The heart motifs are crocheted using 100% wool yarn. Then a hot water soak and a little rubbing causes the pieces to turn into a felt-like fabric. See the complete directions at the end of the crochet pattern below.
Stitch the felted hearts together with red bead spacers for a small garland. Then you're ready to decorate a stuffed dog, your real dog, or trim a basket or door wreath.
Materials
Patons Classic Wool Merino Yarn 1 skein – Bright Red
(or any medium weight 100% wool)
Crochet Hook size G
6 Red beads- approx. 8mm
Red sewing thread
Sewing needle
2 medium size bowls
Few drops dish detergent
Rubber gloves
Heart Motif
Make 6 with red wool yarn
Row 1: Ch 2 (1st hdc),
2 hdc in second ch from hook. ( 3 hdc)
Row 2: Ch 2 (1st hdc) Turn,
Hdc in same stitch,
Hdc in next hdc,
2 hdc in last hdc. ( 5 hdc)
Row 3: Ch 2 (1st hdc) Turn,
Hdc in same stitch,
Hdc in next 3 hdc,
2 hdc in last hdc. ( 7 hdc)
Row 4: Ch 2 (1st hdc) Turn,
Hdc in same stitch,
Hdc in next 5 hdc,
2 hdc in last hdc. ( 9 hdc)
Row 5: Ch 1, Turn,
Skip first 2 hdc,
5 dc in next hdc,
skip next hdc,
slip stitch in hdc,
skip next hdc,
5 dc in next hdc,
skip next hdc,
slip stitich in last hdc. (2 Five-dc clusters)
Fasten off.
Felting
Felting the heart motifs will make them smaller and fuzzier. The individual stitches will begin to disappear and the heart will look like felt.
Work in or near a sink so you have easy access to hot and cold water. Fill one bowl with very cold water. Fill the other bowl with very hot water. For quickest felting make the water as hot as comfortable to work in with your rubber gloves on. Add a few drops of detergent to the hot water bowl.
*Place the crocheted heart in the hot water for about 3 minutes. Agitate the piece in the water with a spoon. Take it out and rub it and roll it between both hands. Squeeze out the water and place the piece in the cold water, swishing it around for a few minutes.
Repeat from the * several times. Change the water as needed to maintain the hot and cold temps. Check your results as you go. Eventually the piece will look fuzzy, the individual stitches will blur and the piece will shrink.
Rinse in fresh cold water and squeeze out as much water as possible. Don’t twist or wring it. Pull the heart into shape with your fingers and set aside until completely dry.
Repeat with the other 5 hearts.
Finishing
With needle attach red sewing thread to the side of a heart. * Thread on a bead, attach thread to the side of the next heart. Go through the width of the heart, hiding the thread on the inside. Repeat from * until all heart and beads are attached. Join thread to opposite side of 1st heart to form a ring. Secure and fasten off.
This pattern cannot be offered for sale or posted online in any form. You may sell items made by you to raise funds for Greyhound Adoption or dog rescue.
Copyright 2008 L. Conlon
Happy Crocheting!
