It’s Valentines day! A day for red and pink and hearts and sweets. A perfect day to re-button an old sweater and maybe add some heart shaped patches to a Gramps sweater.
Hunter got a new black and white polka dot dress for Valentines so I went looking for her Lush cardigan to go with it. When I found it I remembered, the buttons I had put on it were too small. They would hold the sweater closed for a bit but it was only a matter of time. So I busted out my scissors and gave this sweater a make-over!
It’s amazing what a big difference buttons can make!
How to make heart shaped patches for Gramps
When Emily R took over the Gramps sweater, she was not happy with the patch placements (to be fair, they were not really near her elbows). So she decided to re-place them….and make them hearts while she was at it! I had put heart patches on a wee sized Gramps a few years ago, so why not a grown up version? Here’s how to make heart shaped patches for your Gramps.
Heart Patch Pattern (modified from these instructions)
Kiddie hearts
Left and Right Heart Humps
Row 1: cast on 2 stitches
Row 2: kfb, kfb (4 sts)
Row 3: purl 4
Row 4: kfb, knit 2, kfb (6 sts)
Once you have made 1 heart hump, cut yarn, place sts on hold, and make the second.
Once you have made both heart humps place them on a single needle ready to purl. You will have 12 sts.
Row 5: purl
Row 6: knit
Row 7: purl
Row 8: k2tog, k8, k2tog-tbl
Row 9: purl
Row 10: k2tog, k6, k2tog-tbl
Row 11: purl
Row 12: k2tog, k4, k2tog-tbl
Row 13: purl
Row 14: k2tog, k2, k2tog-tbl
Row 15: purl
Row 16: k2tog, k2tog-tbl
Bind off purlwise and weave in the ends.
Grown up hearts
Left and Right Heart Humps
Row 1: cast on 6 sts
Row 2: kfb, k4, kfb
Row 3: purl
Row 4: kfb, k6, kfb
Row 5: purl
Row 6: kfb, k8, kfb
Once you have made 1 heart hump, cut yarn, place sts on hold, and make the second.
Once you have made both heart humps place them on a single needle ready to purl. You will have 24 sts.
Row 7: purl
Row 8: knit
Row 9: purl
Rows 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26: k2tog, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog-tbl
Rows 11, 13, 14, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29: purl
Row 28: k3tog, k to last 3 sts, k3tog-tbl
Row 30: k2tog, k2tog-tbl
Bind off purlwise and weave in the ends
Patches are ready to be sewn on. A perfect hearty addition to an already adorable sweater!
What love inspired knits are you working on?
Valentine friendly knits from TCK:
March 2, 2015 @ 6:21 pm
I used your kid’s pattern to patch holes on the knees of my daughter’s jeans. I found that this pattern had very clear, easy to follow instruction. Thanks!
February 15, 2015 @ 6:36 am
those heart elbow patches are so cute! I love that you’ve got options for grown ups and kids. Thanks so much for sharing! Love both versions.