Many years ago, when I was at a particular low point in my life, I found a letter that had been left in the local Co-operative store, nestled between the chocolate coated peanuts and mint humbugs, both particular favourites of mine. Being so low and searching for a sweet treat to comfort me, one might consider it to be serendipitous that it was me who was in the sweet aisle on that day, at that time and found the letter.
*Image by Дарья Яковлева from pixabay
To whomever finds this.
The envelope was addressed ‘To whomever finds this’.
It was me, who found it, so I took it home along with a 3 pack of Bounty bars and a bar of Galaxy milk chocolate (I was feeling particularly low, please don’t judge me!).
When I arrived, home I opened the sealed envelope to see what was inside.
It was what could best be described as, a letter of affirmation, (albeit it wasn’t written by me to me) telling me…
‘I was worthy’.
Particularly apt, I thought, as I have always struggled with low self esteem.
To me the gesture, behind the letter, has always felt a bit like the idea of ‘Pay it Forward’ fame.
For those of you who haven’t seen the film the general idea is to repay someone’s kindness by being kind to someone else. The actual ‘rules’ are a little more involved, but not wanting to spoil the film for those who haven’t seen it, I will leave my interpretation and explanation as this very simplified version.
Anyway the letter wasn’t personally meant for me but I am certain the writer wanted the finder to be uplifted by the sentiment expressed, and in this case it hit its mark.
Just a small thing.
With these two things in mind, the letter and the movie, I made some small knitted hearts using this free knitting pattern.
Whilst travelling in the Green Dog Dolls, camper van, mobile studio, I began to leave them in public places, hopefully for someone to find and enjoy or pass onto someone else to enjoy.
It was just a small thing, but something I think I will continue to do as I travel around the UK and Europe.
I hope these small, colourful, knitted hearts find their way to someone who needs a little boost, just like I did when I found that letter, many years ago.
This pattern uses less than 10g of double knitting yarn.
It’s a great stash busting, quick knit for all those leftover oddments of yarn.
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Heart knitting pattern is also available as a PDF download on Ravelry and Patreon*.
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Heart ~ Free Knitting Pattern
© GREEN DOG DOLLS 2024
UK English version
Level – Easy
You will need:
Needles: 3.25mm knitting needles, knitters sewing needle (Tapestry needle)
Yarn: Double Knit, small amount less than 10g. I used James C Brett Top value DK.
Gauge: Not important for this pattern.
Small amount of polyester stuffing and a few pins.
Abbreviations: Increase (Increase 1 stitch by knitting into front and back of stitch),
sts (Stitches)
Heart: Make two
Using 3.25mm knitting needles and Double Knitting yarn cast on 4 stitches
Row 1. Right side. Increase in first stitch knit wise, knit 2, Increase in last stitch knit wise (6sts)
Row 2. Purl
Row 3. Increase, knit 4, increase (8sts)
Row 4. Purl
Row 5. Increase, knit 6, increase (10sts)
Row 6. Purl
Row 7. Increase, knit 8, increase (12sts)
Row 8. Purl
Row 9. Knit 6, turn your work so wrong Side is facing, work only on these 6 stitches. (Slip remaining 6 stitches on a stitch holder or large safety pin)
Row 10. Purl 2 together, Purl 2, Purl 2 together
Row 11. Knit 2 together, knit 2 together, pass first stitch over last stitch and off needle, bind off.
Row 12. Rejoin yarn to remaining 6 stitches on stitch holder/safety pin, right Side facing, knit 6
Row 13.Purl 2 together, Purl 2, Purl 2 together (4sts)
Row 14. Knit 2 together, knit 2 together, pass first stitch over last stitch and off needle, bind off.
Making up:
Place Right Sides together and pin. Stitch front and back together around edge starting at the heart point. For a small piece like this I use matching yarn and whip stitch. Stop stitching about 2cm from the start, to leave an opening for turning right side out and stuffing. Leave the yarn long enough to stitch up the opening after stuffing. Trim other yarn ends leaving 1cm tails (these are tucked inside the heart when stuffing). Carefully turn right side out and using a small amount of polyester toy stuffing and something like a chop stick push small amounts of stuffing into the heart. (Careful not to overfill or you will see the stuffing through the stitches.) Once you are happy with the size and shape of your heart, stitch the opening with ladder stitch using matching yarn. Secure the end with a couple of stitches and lose the end inside the heart. By pushing the needle still threaded into the heart close to the last sewn stitch and bring it out a couple of cm away and cut the yarn. This 2cm tail of yarn will be lost inside the heart. See – DOLL-MAKING-PRO-TIPS
© GREEN DOG DOLLS 2024
‘Heart’ design, pattern, text and images remain the property of Green Dog Dolls and may be withdrawn at anytime without notice.
Where would you leave your heart? Drop your suggestions in the comments.
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Thank you & Happy Knitting x