Knitting Patterns that are Full of Heart

I’ve been writing here at Craft Gossip for a long time (something like 16 years!) and probably every year I’ve done at least one post related to Valentine’s Day knitting patterns. But every year it seems like there’s more to share. Hearts are such a fun and easy motif for knitting, and they’re great to use on projects for Valentine’s Day or anything else.

Here are a few of the latest heart themed knitting patterns I could find that you can stitch up for a loved one or yourself. (And if you need more check out this post all about hats with hearts, or this one that’s all heart knitting patterns.)

If you have a new baby in your life, this heart-topped baby hat from Melody’s Makings on Etsy is adorable. It’s so cute on a newborn but is sized up to a three-year-old if your kiddo is bigger.

And if that kid has a favorite bear who wants to get in on the Valentine’s Day fun, stitch up the heart dress for teddy bear or bunny from Greene Crafts Store. They have patterns for stuffed animals the dress will fit, or you can take the measurements of a stuffed toy your child already has to see if this will fit. It’s made with worsted weight yarn so you could possibly adjust the size by changing the yarn weight.

Hearts on headbands are super cute, and Jessica Pelon has a pretty pattern for a two-color heart covered headband worked in worsted weight yarn that you can find on Ravelry. Or if you’d rather have a hat, try the Valentine Fair Isle Hat from Julie Smith, which uses two colors of super bulky and relies on the stitch shape to make a heart design. You can also find this one on Ravelry.

Vanessa Ewing has a pretty pair of heart-covered mittens you can download from Ravelry. They’re worked in two colors of DK weight yarn and the colorwork pattern differs on the front and back of the hand.

The fun thing about hearts is you can make them in colorwork or in cables. If you’d rather have some cabled hearts on your project, try the Double Heart Cowl from Etsy seller Jacki Bean. This pretty pattern uses super bulky yarn and has a little twist inside the heart shape.

Girly Knits has super cute leg warmers with hearts running down the leg. They’re available in five sizes for girls through adults and the pattern includes a one-size pair of fingerless gloves with the same design.

If you’d rather wear your heart on your socks, grab the All Things Held Dear pattern from Artesanitarium Designs on Ravelry. These toe-up, DK weight socks feature delicate hearts on a reverse stockinette background.

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Craft retailer Michaels has acquired the intellectual property and private label brands of now-defunct retailer Joann, according to a media release, and the Joann website now forwards to Michaels.

The releases states that Michaels will be developing the “beloved Big Twist® brands as part of the Michaels portfolio.” It also notes plans to expand its offerings in the fabric, sewing and yarn categories, with more than 600 new products being added.

“We’re honored to have the opportunity to welcome JOANN customers into our creative community and are committed to delivering the selection, value, and inspiration they are looking for at Michaels,” David Boone, CEO of Michaels, said in the release.

Specific to yarn, the company notes it has plans to expand its yarn selection by 25 percent this year, including releasing more than 60 new private-label Loops & Threads products beginning this month, expanding offerings of Lion Brand and the Yarnspirations family of brands, and welcoming Big Twist yarns.

The release specifically mentions Big Twist Value Plus, Big Twist Twinkle, Big Twist Posh and Big Twist Baby Bear, and notes that the offerings are “now being developed as part of Michaels portfolio of brands and will be available in-stores and online later this year.”

No word on what this means for Herrschners, which previously announced it would carry Big Twist. Its page announcing the news still says “at this time we are not able to release details on specific Big Twist varieties or colors, or the exact date the yarn will be available to order” and encourages signing up for email updates.

This news comes just days after the final closing of the last Joann locations and the appearance of a message on their website talking about “stitching up something new.” The Joann website now forwards to a landing page for craft retailer Michaels.

“Welcome Joann customers,” it says at the top. “We’ve got your go-to essentials and so much more.” The page also notes “everyone is welcome at our craft table” and says the website is a source for “fabrics, yarn, notions & more.”

Further down the page it says “With JOANN stores closing, Michaels is excited to welcome new makers, crafters, and sewing enthusiasts into our community” and has a string of links to product categories these shoppers might be looking for. It says Michaels carries “many of the favorites that Joann customers love” including patterned fabric, yarn, ribbons and notions.

The release calls this a “dedicated landing page” with a “curated assortment of products” they think are relevant to the Joann shopper.

If you go directly to Micheaels.com, you see their regular website but there is a link at the top of the page for Joann customers that leads to the same page linked above.

The release doesn’t mention opening any new stores in towns left without a craft store thanks to the Joann closure. It does note they have 1,300 stores in 49 states and in Canada, and they have both US and Canada-facing websites.

What do you think of this news? It’s not the exciting future I’d hoped for with Joanns cryptic announcement, but I know legions of knitters and crocheters will be happy to know Big Twist will live on, and other crafters will probably be happy about expanded selection at Michaels.

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