Hello and welcome to Patchwork House . . . . .
my little corner of the world in England, where you will find me addicted to colour and playing with yarn!


24 April 2018

The Sweetheart Blanket


This beautiful stitch
 creates the fabulous effect of tiny hearts in rows
 and it has become a firm favourite of mine, as it is so easy!


I first came across this on the blog of my friend Angie at
where there is a fantastic free chart.
You can read this 
it is clearly drawn and explained in a key
 and I think it is very simple to follow.


The blanket is worked from the same side each time
 and when you look at your work upside down
 it looks like rows of tiny hearts!


I have used
Stylecraft Bambino and a 4mm hook.
This yarn has a very special look and feel.
I used 2 x 100g balls of 6 colours for my large blanket,
 which measured 120cm square and there was enough leftover
 to make a baby blanket 55cm square.

My shades are
white, vintage blue, sage, soft pink, heather and clotted cream.
You can buy it here at


It is acrylic yarn manufactured with a different process,
 giving a pearly finish and satin like quality.
The blanket is oh so soft and squishy with a wonderful drape.


Sadly it seems many people are unable to read charts
and since I have been using this stitch,
 both Angie and I have been weighed down with pleas for help with it!
 So it is with Angie's permission
 that I am writing this tutorial to help out.



Tutorial in (UK crochet terms)

Make a chain the desired width of your blanket.

To begin make a half treble in the 3rd chain from the hook.

You now have 2 half trebles on your hook, the first one is made of 2 chain.

Pull the yarn through both, which creates a treble 2 together.

Chain 2.

In the same space make another 2 half trebles (3 loops on hook)

miss 2 chain and make 2 more half trebles in the next chain. 

You now have 4 half trebles on your hook and the first one so 5 stitches.

Pull the yarn through all 5, leaving 1 stitch,
 so you have done a treble 4 together.
This makes a double V stitch
 which when viewed upside down resembles a heart.

Chain 2.

In the same space make 2 more half trebles.

Miss 2 chain and make another 2 half trebles
 in the next chain space. (5 loops on hook).

Pull the yarn through to treble 4 together then chain 2.
Repeat to the end of your chain.

At the end of your row,
 end with 2 chain and 2 half treble together.

I suggest you remeasure at this point to see where you want to stop,
 as the first row is often longer than your original chain was!
Don't worry about the spare chain left over. 
They can easily be unpicked with a needle and the tail sewn in later.

Cut yarn with a good tail,
 about 4 inches/10cm should be left,
 to sew in securely later with a darning needle.

My original chain was 50cm

yet when the first row was worked it measured 55cm.
I was happy with this for a baby blanket.
Don't worry about row 1 curling up,
 it will straighten out when the blanket gets more rows added.

Each new colour is worked from the same side or the front as we may call it.
Attach new colour and make a dc and 1 chain to replace first half treble

then make a half treble

pull yarn through to make treble 2 together

chain 2.

In same space make 2 half trebles

in next space make another 2 half trebles (5 loops on hook now)

pull yarn through to treble 4 together.

Chain 2 and repeat along the row.

Now 2 colours have been used
 we can start to look for the hearts,

Turn your work upside down to see them!

The ends at the start and finish of each row,
 need to be securely woven in to the same coloured stripe,
 using a darning needle.

My blankets have been edged with 1 round of dc,
 then with a narrow edging which is very simple.

Start with 3 chain, dc in same stitch.
Miss a stitch slip stitch in next.
Repeat.


It is my pleasure to share this tutorial with you,
 in the hope that you too can enjoy using this lovely heart stitch.
Behind the scenes this has taken weeks of work,
 to crochet, photograph, edit and write,
 time when I am not able to crochet.

If you have been inspired by my work and enjoyed my tutorial,
 please consider making a donation,
 to support the making of further free tutorials.
You will find the DONATE button on the sidebar of my blog.

Remember to share the photos of your work in my
I'd love to see your successes!

Happy Hooking!
Heather
x x x










18 comments:

Sandra said...

I love the V-Stitch, especially when they're joined together like in this version. Your finished blanket is beautiful and I love the soft colours you have chosen too. Beautifully made and finished!
I do read charts, but also find it helpful to have a step by step tutorial as you have given here. Many thanks!

Lazy Days & Sundays said...

The colours of your blanket are lovely Heather and thank you for sharing your knowledge in your tutorial.

Mitzi

Jayne Federici said...

I love this stitch as an alternative to the granny stripe. I personally find charts much easier to follow. Some patterns give me a headache and a chart can replace hundreds of words.

Lenore said...

Gorgeous, thank you for sharing. X

Unknown said...

OMGosh!! How gorgeous! I really didn't need another project but this is definitely going on my list. Lol!! (I'm still currently trying to finish a turquoise blanket as well as trying to knit 3 baby blankets, all before August. Lol I had a bunch of baby yarn that I was unsure of what to make and I think this might be the pattern!!

AND Bless you for writing it out!! I started reading the blog and got a little sad that it was in a chart, as I cannot read charts yet (perhaps one day). I thought I might still give it a go but as I read on, I saw that you had taken time to write it out and I got super excited!! So THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! I love ALL of your tutorials and I'm having so much fun making the Turquoise Blanket. You have a wonderful eye for color as well. I truly appreciate your blog!!

-Ronan

Anonymous said...

Thank you for this informative, clearly written post.The blanket is beautiful.
I have never tried the V-stitch, but you have given me the courage to go ahead and try to make one for my nephew and his wife,expecting their first child in September. So glad I will have a back-up - YOU!

anja said...

I think it looks lovely! Beautiful colours and nice stitch.

instagram viewer said...

This is so beautiful!! I love it so much! Thank you for sharing the tutorial! Can't wait to try!

Unknown said...

Thank you for your time and effort in making this tutorial for us. Especially those of us who can't read charts. I hope to one day learn how. Thank you again. The blanket is absolutely beautiful.

Trudie said...

How fabulous! Thank you for taking the time to produce this for us.

Jackie B said...

Love this. The colours are gorgeous. Thank you for the tutorial

Unknown said...

Beautiful

Anonymous said...

Thank you Heather for the tutorial it is much appreciated. I will use this stitch for the back of my angel pillows I am making for my aunts 80th birthday. I also love to make baby items so a blankie will be in the works during the winter. Thanks, Crafty Kathy

Connie O said...

I have just compleated the sweetheart blanket for my niece who has survived two open heart surgeries to save her life. This was the perfect pattern to express all my prayers and positive thoughts that were crocheted in each row of hearts.

Thank you for inspiring me to make this perfect blanket of love for my niece that shares your name (Heather).

Anonymous said...

I just finished the sweetheart blanket. I sent away to the UK for the yarn because I wanted the same colours as shown. Very easy crochet pattern. Thank you Heather for sharing your blanket

Unknown said...

Thank you so much for taking your time to show us crocheters who are learning and not understanding how to read patterns as yet.

Lauragray1116 said...

This is a lovely blanket, gonna get the same colours in yarn on mon when all our shops open up again, thank u so much for this tutorial it will help massively to hav it in front of me

Lauragray1116 said...

Thank u for this tutorial it is a lovely blanket it really is beautiful

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