Flower Pot Friends - Part Two... The Heart

I have used these hearts for years to make little things for dolls to hug, to make ornaments or things to hang from garlands and just to have as table scatter. They're so fun and easy to make that you'll get addicted and start looking at all of your yarn scraps for possibilities. :D Putting them on sticks with leaves and planting them just seemed my next logical move! And I'm not alone! Tons of people have made these incredibly cute and fun gifts and have patterns for them, this just happens to be mine.

This pattern is written in American crochet terminology.

This pattern is an intermediate beginner pattern. If you know how to make the following stitches and use the following techniques and can follow a pattern you can make this project.

• Magic Ring/Magic Circle or 2 CH beginning, Working in the Round, Single Crochet, Half Double Crochet, Double Crochet, Back Loop Only Single Crochet, Front Loop Only Half Double Crochet, Single Crochet Increase, Single Crochet Decrease, Slip Stitch, Join a new color of yarn while working, and Sew in your ends.

NOTES: 

• If you plan to make the daisy in a pot you will need to create the pot first and then the daisy as well, pattern is here.
• If you plan to make the pair in a pot you will need to create the pot first and then the daisy, pattern is here, and then either make 2 daisies or create the heart as well, pattern found here.

SUPPLIES
DK weight yarn color(s) of choice. I used Paintbox Simply DK in Red and in a whole rainbow of colors
4mm crochet hook
Polyfil stuffing or other chosen stuffing
Darning or Yarn Needle
Scissors
A stitch marker or contrasting piece of yarn to use as one
Crochet Small or Large Leaf from Part One... The Daisy on this blog

Optional Supplies
Cake Pop or Lollipop sticks if you're going to use them
Green Paint if you're going to paint the sticks
Craft paper or felt if you aren't going to crochet the leaves
Crochet Pot made from Part Three... The Pot pattern on this blog (will include additional supplies)
Crochet Daisy made from Part One... The Daisy pattern on this blog (will include additional supplies)
A key ring with attachable ring if you're going to make a key ring

AN IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT STITCH MARKERS FROM THE DESIGNER:
I cannot insist that you use a stitch marker. There seems to be a number of crochet artists who find them offensive for some reason utterly unknown to me. What I can tell you is that it is MUCH EASIER if you use one, even if you only use a piece of contrasting yarn to mark the start of a Round where you've changed the stitch count or changed your pattern in some way. Trust me, you'll do less tearing out (known as frogging) if you use one.

ABBREVIATIONS
CH = Chain
MR = Magic Ring or Magic Circle
SC = Single Crochet
HDC = Half Double Crochet, created by yarning over as though you will create a Double Crochet and then pulling through all three loops on your hook at once. Taller than a SC and shorter than a DC.
DC = Double Crochet
INC = Increase, work 2 of the same stitch in the same space
DEC = Decrease, work 2 stitches together to combine them
BLO = Back Loop Only, when looking down on a crochet stitch you can see a V shape, working in the back side of this is considered working the Back Loop Only. It is used to cause the work to "fold" on this line of stitches and will be utilized on the bottom of the plant pot and the top rim where the "dirt" begins
FLO = Front Loop Only, when looking down on a crochet stitch you can see a V shape, working in the front side of this is considered working the Front Loop Only. It is used to cause the slight ridge of the last Round of stitches on the plant pot.
SL ST = Slip Stitch, done by pulling your yarn over through the whole stitch to end your work or to end a Round
F/O = Finish Off... this can be done by simply snipping your yarn and pulling the tail through all the stitches. I usually add a CH and then snip and pull my yarn through. Both are accurate ways to do this.
Round = A counted row of stitches that leads directly to the next row without finishing
(#) = Number of stitches in that Round

THE HEART
Lobe One
Round 1: 6 SC in MR (6) - draw tight and sew in your ends after Round 2
Round 2: INC in each around (12)
Round 3: SC then INC and repeat around (18)
Rounds 4-7: SC in each around (18)
F/O and sew in your end on this lobe
Lobe Two all the way to the point
Round 1: 6 SC in MR (6) -draw tight and sew in your ends after Round 2
Round 2: INC in each around (12)
Round 3: SC then INC and repeat around (18)
Rounds 4-7: SC in each around (18)
Join the two pieces with a DEC in the next stitch of this lobe and the LAST stitch of your first lobe, where the stitch is higher (as you can see below)

(DEC in the stitch here between my index finger and thumb

and in the last stitch from the first lobe)

The DEC forms a cleaner join between the pair

Round 8: DEC the two halves together (described above) and then 16 SC, DEC the back side together as you did the front, 16 SC (34)

Round 9: 6 SC, DEC, 7 SC, DEC, 6 SC, DEC, 7 SC, DEC (30)

Round 10: SC in each around (30)

Round 11: 3 SC then DEC and repeat around (24)

Round 12: 2 SC then DEC and repeat around (18)

Round 13: SC in each around (18)

Stuff up into the lobes and top of the heart now, paying attention that everything is round and plump and full without stretching your stitches and showing your stuffing.

Round 14: SC then DEC and repeat around (12)

Round 15: SC in each around (12)

Finish stuffing as best as you can making sure to keep smooth V shape at the bottom of your heart and in a 3D view around.

Round 16: DEC in each around (6) then gently sew closed and lose your ends up into the heart.

The stick will be inserted in that last Round of crochet in the middle.

The Leaves and wrapping the stem... some tips and tricks.
The Leaf pattern is found on the Daisy pattern here.
To recap:

mark the bottom of your heart so you know where the yarn will end.

mark the stick where it enters the pot if you are potting your heart.

Add a drop of glue to the base of the stick AND to the top of the stick when assembling

as shown on the leaf instructions. Because this plant is potted, it can benefit from 

glue at the crochet line in the pot as well as at the top.

I just love making these guys... this troupe went to different friends and some folks at the post office... because they need smiles, too!

Please please please make and gift and sell items made from my patterns and ALSO please please please remember to give me credit for the pattern. 
I love to see what you make... 
tag me on Instagram at #12SquaredCreations and @12SquaredCreations so that I can see, too!