How to Knit a Small NHS Heart – Free Pattern

During Covid, our members knitted these NHS hearts in pairs for local care homes and Forth Valley Royal hospital.  One heart of each pair was placed with a deceased patient while the other was given to the patient’s family.  We hoped these would give the families a little comfort to know that they had a small connection with their relatives, especially if they hadn’t been able to visit them.  They were hard times.

Here is a free pattern to enable you to knit your own NHS hearts.

Size approximately 6 to 7 cm 

Skill level – intermediate 

 

Abbreviations

k – knit

p – purl

k2tog – knit 2 stitches together to decrease

st[s) stitch[es)

RS – right side

WS – Wrong side

m1 – make an extra stitch by picking up the yarn that stretches across between the needles, on your left needle.  Then knit into the back of the stitch.  You will find a demonstration of the stitch here.

https://yarnsub.com/articles/techniques/m1-increase/

k2togL – insert the right hand [RH) needle into the 1st stitch on the left hand [LH) needle as if you are going to knit it.  Then put your RH needle through the back of the 2nd stitch on the LH needle.  Take the yarn around the RH needle then bring the new stitch back out the same way you went in between the two stitches.  Push the 1st stitch off the LH needle then pull on the loop of the 2nd stitch to remove excess yarn from the 1st stitch.  Let the 2nd stitch drop off the LH needle, pull firmly on the yarn to tighten it then carry on knitting.  A demonstration of this method can be seen here.

https://yarnsub.com/articles/techniques/k2togl/

 

Materials

Double knit yarn in desired colour

Knitting needles 3.5 or 4mm 

Polyester stuffing

Darning needle 

Stitch holder or large safety pin

 

Pattern 

Numbers in square brackets […] indicate the number of stitches at the end of the row.

The pattern starts at the bottom of the heart.

Cast on 6 sts

Row 1: p [6 sts, WS)

Row 2: (k1, m1) x 2, k2, (m1, k1) x 2 [10]

Row 3: p [10]

Row 4: k2, (m1, k1) x 2, k3, (m1, k1) x 2, k1 [14]

Row 5: p [14]

Row 6: k3, (m1, k1) x 2, k5, (m1, k1) x 2, k2 [18]

Row 7: p [18]

Row 8: k4, (m1, k1) x 2, k7, (m1, k1) x 2, k3 [22]

Row 9: p [22]

Row 10: k5, (m1, k1) x 2, k9, (m1, k1) x 2, k4 [26]

Row 11: p [26]

Row 12: k6, (m1, k1) x 2, k11, (m1, k1) x 2, k5 [30]

Row 13: p [30]

Row 14: k7, (m1, k1) x 2, k13, (m1, k1) x 2, k6 [34]

Row 15: p [34]

Row 16: k [34]

Row 17: p17, place the last 17 sts on a stitch holder or safety pin to hold them to work later [17]

For rows 18 to 22 work the 17 sts on your knitting needle for the first top piece.

Row 18: k [17 sts, RS)

Row 19: p [17 sts, WS)

Row 20: k1, k2tog, k3, k2togL, k1, k2tog, k3, k2togL, k1 [13]

Row 21: p [13]

Row 22: k1, k2tog, k1, k2togL, k1, k2tog, k1, k2togL, k1 [9]

Cut the yarn leaving a 30cm tail. Thread the tail onto a darning needle and sew through the remaining sts on the knitting needle. Pull the sts off the knitting needle on to the yarn, gather together tightly and secure the yarn.

Now place the remaining 17 sts on your LH needle with the WS facing you ready to purl. (Picture 1)

Row 1: p [17]

Rows 2 to 6: follow the heart pattern rows 18 to 22 [9]

Finish off in the same way as the first side.  (Picture 2)

Sew the side edges of the heart top together [from the cast off sts down to the centre). Then sew the side edges together for the seam that runs down the centre back of the heart, adding stuffing as you sew. Finish by gathering the cast on sts together at the bottom of the heart.