Crochet a sweet Christmas heart

If you're after a quick festive project then make yourself this crochet Christmas heart by Nina & Nienke.

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Nina & Nienke

Published: March 19, 2024 at 9:54 am

This crochet Christmas heart is our version of a traditional gingerbread heart biscuit. It's bringing to mind evenings spent wandering around a German market, wrapped up warm and sipping on something mulled, while we breathe in the sweet smells of the many food stalls.

Bring a little bit of German festive magic into your home while you crochet this sweet motif – we’ve turned it into a brooch and a wreath decoration, but you can use it whatever way you wish. You could even add it to the front of DIY Christmas cards or your Christmas jumper!

The lovely Nina & Nienke have the crochet Christmas heart pattern waiting for you below. All you need to bring is the wool, Christmas music, and mince pies. Over to you Nina & Nienke…

For more festive tutorials check out our Christmas crafts section, which includes Christmas quilt patterns, Christmas knitting patterns and lots of free Christmas decoration crochet patterns for you to choose from.

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Make a crochet Christmas heart

Materials

  • Phildar Phil Coton 4, 100% cotton, 50g/85m per ball, one ball each in Brown (Ebene 0047) and White (Blanc 0010), or similar cotton DK yarn
  • Phildar Phil Coton 3, 100% cotton, 50g/121m per ball, one ball each in Rose (Petunia 0068), Light Blue (Faience 0039), Green (Golf 0044), Yellow (Citron 63) and Red (Griotte 64), or similar cotton 4 ply yarn
  • 3mm (UK 10, US D/3) crochet hook
  • Sharp embroidery needle
  • Wool felt approx. 7cm (2 ¾") square, one piece for each heart
  • Matching embroidery thread
  • Brooch fastener
  • Chalk pen
  • Scissors

Tension

While tension isn’t too important, try to crochet very tightly. A smaller hook will give a firm look without ‘droopy’ edges. On a firm crocheted piece your embroidery will look much better.

If you're new to crochet head to our crochet guide for beginners for free tutorials and step-by-step guides.

Abbreviations (UK)

st(s) stitch(es)
ch chain
ss slip stitch
dc double crochet
dc2tog double crochet 2 together: (insert hook in next st, yrh and draw loop through) twice, yrh and draw through all 3 loops on hook

Embroidery stitches

Stem stitch
French knot
Lazy daisy stitch
Satin stitch
Blanket stitch

Find a how-to guide for these stitches in our embroidery for beginners blog post.

Finished size

Approx. 6cm (2½") tall and 6.5cm (2¾") wide

Crochet Christmas heart pattern

You will need:

  • Yarn
  • Crochet hook
  • Embroidery needle
  • Felt
  • Cotton thread
  • Scissors
  • Chalk pen

Step 1

Crochet Christmas heart step 1

Foundation using brown yarn, ch2

Row 1 2dc in the 2nd ch from hook, turn [2 sts]

Row 2 ch1 (does not count as st), 2dc in each st, turn [4 sts]

Crochet Christmas heart step 2

Row 3 ch1 (does not count as st), (1dc in next st, 2dc in next st) twice, turn [6 sts]

Row 4 ch1 (does not count as st), 2dc in 1st st, 1dc in each of next 4sts, 2dc in last st, turn [8 sts]

Row 5 ch1 (does not count as st), 1dc in each st along, turn

Row 6 ch1 (does not count as st), 2dc in 1st dc, 1dc in each of next 6sts, 2dc in last st, turn [10 sts]

Row 7 ch1 (does not count as st), 1dc in each st along, turn

Row 8 ch1 (does not count as st), 2dc in 1st dc, 1dc in each of next 8sts, 2dc in last st, turn [12 sts]

Crochet Christmas heart step 3

Rows 9 and 10 ch1 (does not count as st), 1dc in each st along, turn

Row 11 ch1 (does not count as st), 1dc in each of next 6 sts, turn (leaving remaining sts unworked)

Work on these 6 sts only, continue as follows:

Row 12 ch1 (does not count as st), dc2tog, 1dc in each of next 2 sts, dc2tog, turn [4 sts]

Crochet Christmas heart step 4

Row 13 ch1 (does not count as st), dc2tog twice [2 sts]

Fasten off, leaving a long tail (10cm (4")) for sewing.

Rejoin the yarn to the centre of the heart with a ss.

Repeat Rows 12 and 13.

Weave in all loose ends after you’ve finished making the white crocheted border.

White crocheted border

Step 1

Crochet Christmas heart step 5

Join the white yarn at the bottom of the heart, and work a round of (1dc, ch1) all around the edge. Do not crochet too tightly and ensure that both sides have the same number of stitches.

Crochet Christmas heart step 6

Make an extra ch at the end of the round and join the border by sewing the last chain together with the first chain.

Adding the embroidery to your crochet Christmas heart

Step 1

The embroidery is done freehand but, if you want, you can draw the main lines of the motif using a chalk pen. We’ve created two designs, which you can copy from the photos below.

Crochet Christmas heart step 7

Start by embroidering the flower at the centre of the heart. Don’t make a knot, but leave a tail hanging. Stick your needle in the crocheted stitches rather than between the free spaces.

Weave in the loose ends every time you finish a motif. If you wait until after you’ve done all the embroidery, you risk a tangle of knotty threads on the wrong side.

Crochet Christmas heart step 8

When you come to the motif at the bottom, start by making the single knot. Continue stitching the green leaves in lazy daisy stitch. Look at the finished photos to see how to place your stitches, and use our stitch library for guidance.

Making up

Step 1

Crochet Christmas heart step 9

Press the heart on the wrong side, then place it on a piece of felt and draw the contour using a chalk pen. Cut the shape inside the lines – the felt heart needs to be a bit smaller than your crocheted one.

Using two strands of matching embroidery thread, sew the felt heart into place using a fine blanket stitch or stab stitch.

If you want, you can attach a brooch fastener to the back of the heart using embroidery thread, or add a yarn loop to turn it into a hanging decoration.

And you’re done! One very adorable crochet Christmas heart that’s got all the festive gingerbread vibes.

If you had a go at making Nina & Nienke’s crochet Christmas heart tag us in a pic on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Show you care with a crochet Christmas heart

These little hearts are so versatile – add them to cards, wreaths and jumpers, or simply give one as a gift to someone you love!

They're a great introduction to easy embroidery too, so why not learn a new skill today with our pattern?

Crochet for Christmas with Gathered

We've got loads of festive crochet fun for you in our round-up of over 100 Christmas crochet patterns.

free Christmas crochet patterns

Nina & Nienke

Crochet Designers

This duo love to crochet, knit and embroider their way to a happy home. Their designs combine lively colours with old, cherished patterns and craft techniques. They have written the book Vrolijk handwerk which is full of colourful crochet projects. You can see their crochet creations over on Instagram @bonthuishouden
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