A crochet heart is one of the quickest and happiest things you can make with a hook. A tiny flat heart takes about five minutes, so you can make a whole bowl of them from leftover yarn for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, weddings, birthday cards or simply to say thank you.
This free crochet heart pattern page has three designs in UK terms with US conversions: a tiny flat heart worked into a magic ring, a soft puffy amigurumi heart, and a heart garland made by joining little hearts on a chain. There is a diagram of the tiny heart, a size chart for different yarns and plenty of ideas for using your hearts.
Quick answer: To crochet a heart, make a magic ring and work ch 3, 3 tr, 3 htr, ch 1, 1 tr, ch 1, 3 htr, 3 tr, ch 3 and a slip stitch into the ring, then pull the ring tight. The stitches curve into two lobes and a point. In DK yarn with a 3.5mm hook the heart is about 4.5cm wide and takes about five minutes.
The woven red and white heart in the photo is a traditional Scandinavian style. The three patterns below are quicker and easier, so they are perfect if you are new to crochet hearts.
Why you will love these crochet hearts
- Super quick. The tiny heart is a single round, so it is perfect for using up scraps.
- Beginner friendly. If you can make a magic ring, a treble and a half treble, you can make an easy crochet heart.
- Useful all year. Hearts work for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, weddings, baby showers and Christmas trees.
- Great for gifts. Turn them into keyrings, brooches, bookmarks, card toppers or a garland.
All three patterns start with a magic ring. If that is new to you, our magic ring tutorial shows you how, step by step.
What you need
| Item | What to use |
|---|---|
| Yarn | DK (light worsted) in red, pink or any colour; about 2g per tiny heart and 10 to 12g per puffy heart |
| Hook | 3.5mm (UK 9, US E-4) for the tiny heart; 3mm (UK 11) for the puffy heart |
| Stuffing | A small handful of toy filling for the puffy heart |
| Extras | Tapestry needle, scissors, stitch marker |
Cotton yarn gives crisp, neat hearts that hold their shape, which is ideal for garlands and card toppers. Acrylic is softer and a little fluffier, which suits the puffy heart. DK is weight 3 (light) in the Craft Yarn Council yarn weight system, if you are buying yarn online.
Abbreviations (UK terms)
| UK term | US term | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| MR | MR | magic ring |
| ch | ch | chain |
| sl st | sl st | slip stitch |
| dc | sc | double crochet (US single crochet) |
| htr | hdc | half treble crochet (US half double crochet) |
| tr | dc | treble crochet (US double crochet) |
| inc | inc | 2 dc in the same stitch |
| dec | dec | dc 2 stitches together |
Pattern 1: tiny crochet heart (5 minutes)
This little heart is worked entirely into a magic ring. When you pull the ring tight, the stitches bunch into two rounded lobes at the top and a point at the bottom. In DK yarn with a 3.5mm hook it is about 4.5cm wide.
Make a magic ring. Work all of the following into the ring:
- Ch 3 (counts as the first tr).
- 3 tr.
- 3 htr.
- Ch 1, 1 tr, ch 1. This tr forms the point of the heart.
- 3 htr.
- 3 tr.
- Ch 3, then sl st into the centre of the ring.
Close the ring: pull the starting tail firmly so the ring closes completely. The two groups of trebles will curve up into the lobes and the tr between the ch-1s will point downwards. Fasten off and weave in the ends, using the tail to tidy the dip at the top of the heart if needed.
Tip: if your heart looks more like a circle than a heart, pull the ring tighter and gently stretch the point downwards. Steaming or a quick spray of water helps it keep its shape.
Bigger flat heart: add an edge
For a bolder heart, join a contrast colour at the dip at the top and work 1 dc in each st and 2 dc in each ch-space all the way round, working (1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc) into the point tr. Sl st to the first dc and fasten off. The edge adds about 1cm all round and makes the heart shape much clearer.
Pattern 2: puffy amigurumi crochet heart
This soft, stuffed heart is made by crocheting two small bumps, joining them in one round and then decreasing down to the point. It is about 7cm wide and 7cm tall in DK yarn with a 3mm hook, and makes a lovely pocket hug or Valentine’s gift.
Work in continuous spiral rounds and use a stitch marker to mark the first stitch of each round.
Bumps (make 2)
R1: 6 dc in MR. (6)
R2: inc x6. (12)
R3: (1 dc, inc) x6. (18)
R4 to R5: dc in each st around. (18)
Fasten off the first bump. Do not fasten off the second bump; keep it on your hook.
Joining and shaping
R6 (join): hold the two bumps side by side. With the second bump on your hook, work 1 dc into any st of the first bump, then dc in each of the remaining 17 sts of the first bump. Continue straight on and dc in each of the 18 sts of the second bump. (36)
R7: dc in each st around. (36)
R8: (4 dc, dec) x6. (30)
R9: dc in each st around. (30)
R10: (3 dc, dec) x6. (24)
R11: dc in each st around. (24)
R12: (2 dc, dec) x6. (18)
Stuff the heart firmly, pushing filling up into both bumps.
R13: (1 dc, dec) x6. (12)
R14: dec x6. (6)
Fasten off, thread the tail through the front loops of the last 6 sts and pull closed. Use the tail of the first bump to sew up the small gap between the two bumps at the top.
Pattern 3: crochet heart garland
A string of hearts is a beautiful decoration for a mantelpiece, a nursery, a wedding table or a Valentine’s dinner. You will need 10 to 15 tiny hearts from pattern 1 and about 15g of DK yarn for the chain.
- Make your hearts first, in one colour or a mix of reds, pinks and whites. Leave a 15cm tail on each.
- Ch 30 for a hanging loop and tail.
- *Ch 15, then hold a heart behind the chain and sl st into the dip at the top of the heart to attach it.* Repeat from * until all your hearts are joined.
- Ch 45 and fasten off for the second hanging tail.
- Use the tails on the hearts to sew each one securely to the chain so they hang straight.
With 12 hearts the garland is about 1.5m long. For a longer garland, add more hearts or work longer chains between them. Our crochet Christmas garland uses the same idea with stars and baubles.
Crochet heart size chart
| Yarn weight | Hook | Tiny heart (pattern 1) | Puffy heart (pattern 2) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 ply (fingering) | 2.5 to 3mm | 3.5cm | 5cm |
| DK (light worsted) | 3 to 3.5mm | 4.5cm | 7cm |
| Aran (worsted) | 4.5 to 5mm | 6cm | 9cm |
| Chunky (bulky) | 6mm | 8cm | 12cm |
The stitch counts are the same for every size. Only the yarn and the hook change.
Ways to use your crochet hearts
- Valentine’s Day: tuck a tiny heart into a card, tie one onto a gift, or scatter a handful on the table.
- Mother’s Day: sew a pin onto the back of a heart for a handmade brooch.
- Weddings: make white and ivory hearts as table confetti or favours.
- Keyrings and bag charms: attach a puffy heart to a key ring with a short chain.
- Bookmarks: join a tiny heart to the end of a long chain. Our crochet bookmark patterns have more ideas.
- Christmas tree: red and white hearts with a hanging loop look lovely next to your baubles.
- Pocket hugs: give a puffy heart to someone who needs a little comfort.
Looking for more quick makes? Our list of small crochet projects is full of ideas for using up scraps, and our easy crochet gifts round-up has plenty to pair with a heart.
Common problems and how to fix them
My tiny heart looks like a circle
Pull the magic ring tighter, and make sure you work the ch 1, tr, ch 1 point exactly halfway round. Gently stretch the point downwards and press the dip at the top with your fingers.
There is a hole in the middle
The magic ring is not fully closed. Pull the starting tail firmly before you fasten off, and weave it in around the centre to lock it.
The two bumps of the puffy heart are uneven
Count the stitches on each bump at the end of R5. Both should have 18. Stuff both bumps equally before you close the heart.
The puffy heart has a gap between the bumps
This is normal. Use the long tail from the first bump to sew a few small stitches across the gap at the top.
Frequently asked questions about crochet hearts
How do you crochet a heart for beginners?
Make a magic ring, then work ch 3, 3 tr, 3 htr, ch 1, 1 tr, ch 1, 3 htr, 3 tr, ch 3 and a slip stitch into the ring. Pull the ring closed and the stitches form a heart. It takes about five minutes.
How much yarn does a crochet heart need?
A tiny DK heart uses about 2g of yarn, so a 50g ball makes over 20 hearts. A puffy heart uses about 10 to 12g plus a little stuffing.
What size hook should I use for a crochet heart?
A 3.5mm hook with DK yarn for the tiny heart, and a slightly smaller 3mm hook for the puffy heart so the stuffing does not show.
Can I use these crochet hearts on a baby’s toy or blanket?
Yes, as long as they are sewn on very firmly and have no beads or buttons. Check them regularly, and do not give loose tiny hearts to babies as they are small enough to be a choking hazard.
Is this crochet heart pattern in UK or US terms?
It is written in UK terms. In US terms, use single crochet for dc, half double crochet for htr and double crochet for tr. The stitch counts stay the same.
