Knit a fluffy fluttering heart: free knitting pattern

If you prefer, you can knit this heart without the wings and the eyes.

You will need

● 10g DK acrylic yarn in red
● 5g DK acrylic yarn in white/cream
● 4mm knitting needles
● Beads, safety eyes or black yarn (for eyes)
● Stuffing
● Stitch holder, spare needle or length of yarn
● Tapestry needle for sewing up

Size

15cm (6in) from wingtip to wingtip

Skills you’ll need

Knitting. Increasing and decreasing. Basic sewing.

Abbreviations

Inc1 = increase one stitch by (knit through front and back of loop)
K = knit
K2tog = knit two together (knit two stitches at once)
P = purl
P2tog = purl two together (purl two stitches at once)
Sts = stitches
St st = stocking stitch (knit one row across, purl one row across) 

Pattern

The fluttering heart is made by knitting two main heart pieces which are sewn together and stuffed. The wings are knitted separately and sewn onto each side.

Heart body (make two)

Cast on 3 sts with red yarn

Row 1 K across
Row 2 and all even rows until Row 24. P across
Row 3 Inc1, k, inc1 (5 sts)
Row 5 K, inc1, k, inc1, k (7 sts)
Row 7 K, inc1, k3, inc1, k (9 sts)
Row 9 K, inc1, k5, inc1, k (11 sts)
Row 11 K, inc1, k7, inc1, k (13 sts)
Row 13 K, inc1, k9, inc1, k (15 sts)
Row 15 K, inc1, k11, inc1, k (17 sts)
Row 17 K, inc1, k13, inc1, k (19 sts)
Row 19 K, inc1, k15, inc1, k (21 sts)
Row 21 K, inc1, k17, inc1, k (23 sts)
Row 23 K, inc1, k19, inc1, k (25 sts)
Rows 25 to 28 Knit in st st starting with a knit row

You now knit both sides of the top separately one after the other.

Left side

Row 29 K12, cast off 1 st, k12 (24 sts)
Row 30 P12, place the remaining 12 sts on a stitch holder or spare needle, turn your knitting so you begin knitting the next row
Row 31 K12
Row 32 P12
Row 33 K, k2tog, k6, k2tog, k (10 sts)
Row 34 P10
Row 35 K, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k (8 sts)
Row 36 P8
Row 37 K, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k (6 sts)
Row 38 P, p2tog, p (4 sts)

Cut yarn with tail the length of your arm and thread it through the remaining stitches to finish the row.

Darn tail into a few stitches to hold it in place then leave for sewing up.

Right side 

Transfer the remaining 12 sts back onto your needle.

Using the yarn you have left on the ball repeat Rows 30 to 38 with the remaining 12 stitches on the other side.

To make sure you are doing it right, make sure your knit and purl rows are the same side as the left side.

Right wing

Cast on 10 sts with white/cream yarn

Row 1 P, k2, p, k2, p, k2, p
Row 2 K, p2, k, p2, k, p2, k
Rows 3 to 6 Repeat rows 1 and 2

You will now knit each wingtip separately one after another.

Wingtip 1 

Row 7 P, k2, p. Place remaining 6 sts on a stitcher holder or spare needle leaving 4 sts on your working needles.
Row 8 K, p2, k
Row 9 P2tog twice (2 sts)
Row 10 K2

Cut yarn leaving 10cm tail. Thread yarn through stitches and darn in tail.

Wingtip 2

Transfer the next three stitches back onto your knitting needle.

Row 1 P, k, k
Row 2 P, p, k
Row 3 P, k, k

Cut yarn leaving 10cm tail. Thread yarn through stitches and darn in tail.

Wingtip 3

Transfer the last three stitches back onto your knitting needle.

Row 1 K, k, p
Row 2 P, p, k

Cut yarn leaving 10cm tail. Thread yarn through stitches and darn in tail.

Left wing 

Cast on 10 sts with white/cream yarn

Rows 1 to 6 As for Right wing

You will now knit each wingtip separately one after another.

Wingtip 1

Row 7 P, k2. Place remaining 7 sts on a stitcher holder or spare needle leaving 3 sts on your working needles.
Row 8 K, p2

Cut yarn leaving 10cm tail. Thread yarn through stitches and darn in tail.

Wingtip 2 

Transfer the next three stitches back onto your knitting needle.

Row 1 P, k, k
Row 2 P, p, k
Row 3 P, k, k

Cut yarn leaving 10cm tail. Thread yarn through stitches and darn in tail.

Wingtip 3

Transfer the last four stitches back onto your knitting needle.

Row 1 K, p, p, k
Row 2 P, k, k, p
Row 3 P2tog twice
Row 4 K2

Cut yarn leaving 10cm tail. Thread yarn through stitches and darn in tail.

Finishing

With the purl sides facing inwards sew the two sides of the heart together leaving a 5cm gap.

Turn the heart inside out so the smoother knit sides are now facing outwards.

Stuff the heart evenly and sew up the last part.

Sew on the wings with the biggest wingtips at the top on each side and the ‘stripy’ pattern facing the front.

Add the eyes.

Hug your handmade heart to welcome it to the world. 

Pattern tips

To give your heart neater edges you can slip the first stitch of each row rather than knit it.

If your heart attempts to fly away let it go. No knit wants to be caged.

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