Grannie Heart Tutorial

Following my post and pattern for the Grannie Heart Bunting, I thought the hearts would make an excellent starting subject for my first tutorial.

So, here we go.  My Grannie Heart Tutorial...

★★☆ - Improver

A few notes before we begin:

Yarn:  I used Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino and a 3.5mm (E) hook, but you can use whatever yarn you like, just use the recommended hook size for your yarn.

Terms: I've used British crochet terms throughout, so I must apologise in advance to anyone who is used to using the American terms.

To clarify, the British terms that I have used are below in black and the American terms are given in green in brackets:

British (American)
Slip Stitch (Slip Stitch)
Chain (Chain)
Double (Single)
Treble (Double)
Double Treble (Treble)

WRITTEN PATTERN - If you'd like the written directions only, please visit the Cherry Heart Boutique and download the Granny Heart Bunting pattern, which contains the heart instructions.

☆ French instructions for the tutorial are now available - with many kind thanks to Katty at Sur Le Blog de Mes Loisirs for providing the translation.

Each step is numbered and corresponds to the picture numbers and you should (fingers crossed) be able to make the pictures even larger by clicking on them.

Foundation ring:

1.  Make a slip knot

2.  Chain 6

3.  Insert the hook into the first chain you made, an join the chain with a slip stitch

4.  Which will make a loop like this

Round 1:

5.  Chain 5 (this will count as 1 treble and 2 chains).  Then make 3 trebles into your foundation loop and then chain 2, we will need to repeat this twice more, so go ahead and do another 3 trebles and 2 chains, then another 3 trebles and 2 chains

6.  To finish off this round, you need to do a further 2 trebles into the foundation loop and then join to the beginning of the round, by making a slip stitch into the 3rd chain of the chain of 5 that you made at the start of this round.

7. You should have something that looks like this.  You have 4 'clusters' made up of the 3 trebles and 4 'corner spaces' where we chained 2.

Round 2:

8.  Make a slip stitch into the chain space in the corner and then chain 3

9.  Make 2 trebles, chain 2, make a further 3 trebles, all into the corner space (this has made the first corner of round 2.

10.  To make the rest of the corners first *chain 1, then into the corner space make 3 trebles, chain 2 and 3 more trebles.  We'll need another two corners, so repeat the instructions from where I made the * mark two more times.  Once you've done this, chain 1 and join to the beginning of the round, using a slip stitch into the 3rd chain of the original 3 chain.

This time we have made a 'corner space' in each corner with our 2 chains and also a 'chain space' where we chained 1 between clusters of trebles.

Round 3:

11.  Chain 4 (this will count as a treble and 1 chain) and make your corners as we did before, 3 trebles, 2 chain, 3 more trebles all into the corner space of the round below

12.  Chain 1, then make 3 trebles into the chain space of the round below, then chain 1.  We need to repeat these last two steps around the square to finish the round, so *make another corner: (3 trebles, chain 2, make 3 trebles all into the corner space), then chain 1 and make 3 trebles into the chain space and then chain 1.  You now need to repeat all the instructions from the * again to get around to the last side.  To complete the round, make one last corner, then into the chain space you started in, make 2tr's and then make a slip stitch into the 3rd chain of the beginning chain of 4.

Row 4:

So the first thing to notice is that we are not going to be working in rounds for a little while.  So, we'll be turning our work over soon!

13. We need to be a little further along the square to start this row, so the first thing we need to do is slip stitch into the chain space and then make two more slip stitches into the next two trebles.  This should leave you in the middle of the last cluster (as in the pic)!

14.  Now make 1 chain and turn the work over.  See we've got the bumpy back (wrong) side of the work in the pic now?

15.  Now we are going to make the first of the 'bump shapes' that are going to form our heart.  So, we need to make 2 double trebles into the middle treble, of the middle cluster of the row below, check the picture to see where I mean.  Then chain 1.

16.  You should have something that looks like this.

17.  We need to repeat this so, *make another 2 double trebles and 1 chain and then repeat from the * twice more, so you have 4 sets of the double trebles all together.  You then need to join this to the row below by making a slip stitch into the middle treble of the last cluster of the row below (see the pic).

18.  Now we need to slip stitch round to the next position.  Make a slip stitch into the next treble and then you'll need to make two more slip stitches, one into each of the corner chain.

19.  These can be a little awkward to get your hook into, I use the pointing end first and it normally goes in after a wiggle!  (Pic shows me hooking into one of the corner chains).

20.  One final slip stitch into the first treble after the corner and then we are ready to make another heart shaped bump on this side of the square.

21.  Go back to step 15 and follow the instructions for step 15, 16 and 17 through again, to make the second bump.  The picture shows the last slip stitch to attach the second bump to the row below.

22.  We need to get into position for the next row now, so slip stitch into the last treble of the cluster and then slip stitch once more into the corner space.

23. So this is what we have so far, it's starting to look a little bit heart shaped.

24.  Now we need to turn the work back over, so the square is the right side up.

Row 5:

25.  Make 2 trebles into the first chain space of the heart bump, then chain 1.

26.  Now make 3 trebles into the second chain space on the heart bump, then chain 1.  Then repeat this step two more times.  Finally, make 2 trebles into the last chain space.

27.  To finish, make a slip stitch into the corner space.

28.  Repeat step 25 around the second heart bump.

29.  Repeat steps 26 and 27 to finish the second bump.

30.  When you're done, it should look like this.  A heart shape!

Picot Edging:

We're almost there now, but to finish the thing of nicely, we're going to give it a picot edging.

31.  Chain 1 and then to begin the picot, make a double crochet into the chain space, then chain 3.

32.  To finish the picot, make another double crochet into the same chain space.

33.  We now need to make 1 double into each of the trebles of the row below, you need to push that picot over a bit to fit into the first one.

34.  Now you'll have made 1 picot and 3 doubles and you are ready to do the next picot into the next chain space.  Repeat this around the heart, making a picot in each chain space and a double crochet in each treble.

35.  There are a couple of parts where this is tricky.  The first you'll come to is where the heart bump joins the square.  I make a picot in the chain space before the join as usual.

36.  Now you have to make a double into each treble, but as there is only two trebles at this point, your first double will need to be in the turning chain, look closely at the picture to see where to put you hook. (Don't fret too much over this part though, just shove it in as best you can!)

37.  Having done that, it can sometimes close the 2nd treble up a little, so give it a wiggle to push your hook through, like in this pic and then your back on track to continue with your last double and your next picot. 

38.  The next tricky part is the center of the top of the heart.  The point where the two points join.  We're not going to do a picot into this space beccause it'd look strange.

39. Instead, just make a slip stitch into the the slip stitch below and continue make double crochet's into the trebles, until you reach the next chain space.

40.  One you've made it back round to the beginning we just need to finish off by joining to the original picot.  Here I've made my last picot and have made a double into two of the trebles below.  Just one more to go.

41.  Again, you may need a bit of force to fit that last double into that last treble,  the picture shows where it should be going.

42.  Finally, end the round by making a slip stitch into the first double crochet of your first picot, like this.

Break off the yarn, weaving in the ends..... and, ta da da da!!  You should have one of these...

Isn't it wonderful?  Aren't you pleased with yourself?  I know I am!

So, now you've made one and it'll only ever be easier from here on in, why not make some more of them.....

Until you have so many of them that you can mess around arranging them

into daft patterns

or maybe

into some lovely bunting!

I hope you enjoy yourselves with this tutorial and making these hearts and I really hope that it's clear, easy to understand and I haven't made some dreadful mistake somewhere!  Let me know if you think I have or if you have any other comments or suggestions, as this is my first, I'm sure I have a lot to learn.

Why not come and share your creations with us in Cherry Heart's Cozy Corner, my Ravelry group.  It's a great place to go if you've got any questions too!

S x