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Piece is worked in one piece (without breaking the yarn, not even to make the hanging chain!). Short rows and bindoffs are the main components used to create the shaping. Twin Stitch short rows are used throughout the samples. I highly recommend them!

Additional Materials

• yarn-needle for seaming
• stuffing
• optional: crochet hook to create the crochet hanging chain (see “Hanging Chain” below)
• optional: contrasting color yarn for decorative whipstitch seam and/or embroidered embellishments

Yarn, Needles, and Gauge
This is an any gauge pattern: any yarn and needles can be used to obtain different sizes without changing the instructions whatsoever. Pick a yarn then pick some needles that will yield a comfortably dense gauge. Samples feature:

• sock- to light dk-weight yarn with 2 mm needles, yield: 1.25”/2.7 cm heart
• aran weight yarn with 4 mm needles, yield: 2”/5 cm heart
• bulky yarn with 5 mm needles, yield: 3”/7.5 cm heart
• super bulky yarn with 6 mm needles, yield: 5”/12.5 cm heart

Hanging Chain
Instructions are included for both a knitted hanging chain that is knitted right into the piece as you go and a crochet chain that is created with the remains of the seaming tail after the piece is seamed and stuffed.

Just a Heads Up

• backward loop caston (blco) is used in the middle of the piece (as well as on the knitted hanging chain) as it is the least bulky caston, as far as I know. With experience, knitting into these stitches will (probably) not be difficult. Keep your tension easy when creating the loops.

• Row 18 is a doozy, I know it. A slip slip purl is performed using two stitches where short rows were turned. This means that, depending on your short row technique, you might be doing the equivalent of a p4tog through the back loops. Personally I was able to perform the stitch, albeit with some awkward hand positioning sometimes. Just make sure your tension is easy and not too tight when you create the short row turns. I have not tested any other way of making the decrease at that point, so experiment at your own risk :wink: I’m sure it will not throw off the shaping terribly if you use a different decrease.