Valentines

Half asleep, on my way to the bus stop this morning, the sidewalk gifted me this beautiful Valentine... a sacred heart, dropped perhaps by a student or faculty at the nearby Catholic highschool.

I also share with you an easy pattern for a crocheted Valentine.  Mine was worked with a size L hook and worsted weight cotton and produced a facecloth sized Valentine (about 8" across), however you could also work it in a finer gauge to stick on a greeting card, use as a coaster...etc.

Patttern:

1: Ch 4, 3dc in 4th ch from hook; ch 4, turn

2: Dc in next next dc below, ch1, dc, ch1, dc, ch2 turn

3: 2dc in ch1, 3 dc in next ch, 2 dc in last ch, ch3 turn

4: dc in same st, dc in each st across, 2 dc in last st; ch4, turn.

5: 2 dc in next ch, 1 dc in nxt ch, 3 dc in nxt ch, 1 dc, 3 dc; 1 dc, 3 dc, ch4, turn 

6: Skip 1st st, 4 dc in next st, *sk 1st, sc in next st, 5 dc in next repeat from * 2 more times, ch2 turn.

7: sc in 3rd dc, in next sc st, work 5 trbl crochet, work 2 slip stitches across the downward slope fo the cluster below, slip one stitch in the center dip at the top of the heart, work 2 more slip stitches leading up in the central dip at the top of the heart, slip 2 stitches along the opposite side of the heart.

Sc around the entire perimeter of your heart, when you reach a curve, such as the curve of the heart tops, or the point at the bottom, work 2 sc in the same stich.  Work two full rounds in the manner. 

For the Lacy Edge: *ch3, sc in next st, repeat from * around.  When you reach the center dip at the top fo the heart, ch 16 stitches and  sc in the same stitch to create a loop from which you hang the doily if desired.  Once you created a lacy edge around the entire heart.  Bind off and weave in ends.