Happy February! Can you believe we are into the second month of the year? January is generally a drab month for us but it certainly flew by this year. February is a neat month for 2022 because the date 2/22/22 will fall within the month on a Tuesday! We’re also excited to celebrate Valentine’s Day this month. I love this little holiday celebrating love and care for each other as we continue into the New Year. We don’t typically do a whole lot, but love finding little ways to share kindness throughout the month!
I thought this “Sweetheart Purse” would be the perfect pattern to share for this month’s free pattern Friday. And yes, I successfully got this one ready in time for the first Friday of the month š This purse is a quick work-up with a lot of versatility. Use blanket yarn to make a soft, plushy toddler/child purse or change up the yarn size to make something a bit smaller! Worsted weight yarn makes a sweet little matching doll purse that my daughter just loved. Don’t have purse-lovers in your life? Stitch up both panels all the way around, stuff the heart and you’ve got yourself a really cute little heart pillow!
So, onto the good stuff! Below is the FREE pattern for the sweetheart purse or it is available as a pdf for a small cost on Etsy or Ravelry. The pdf includes multiple photos to help beginners with step-by-step visual instructions! I’d love for you to share your projects with me on Instagram or Facebook – tag me with #stuckonyoucrochet for a chance to be featured!
MATERIALS NEEDED:
HOOK(S): 6.00 mm ā¢ US size J / 6.50 mm ā¢ US size K
YARN: Super Bulky, Bernat Blanket Yarn ~35-40 yds
NOTIONS: Buttons (if desired), Darning Needle, Measuring Tape, Scissors, Stitch Marker
GAUGE: 2 inch by 2 inch square = 5 sc stitches x 4 rows
FINAL SIZE: ~7 inches
STITCH ABBREVIATIONS:
SPECIAL STITCHES:
DECREASE STITCHES (dec):
To decrease stitches, you will sc 2 stitches together. This allows the shape to become narrower. To do this, begin your first stitch as you typically would (whether it be sc or hdc) but before finishing off your stitch, place your hook in the next stitch and complete another. To finish your stitch you will pull through both working stitches on the hook, so that you are left with one stitch where previously there were two stitches.
INCREASE STITCHES (inc):
To increase stitches, you will sc 2 stitches into the same spot. This allows the shape to become wider. To do this, complete your first stitch (whether it be sc or hdc) as you typically would. Place a second stitch in the same spot, so that you are left with two stitches where previously you had one stitch.
PATTERN:
You may choose to use the 6.5 mm or 6.0 mm hook for your bulky purse, whatever your preference or helps you to make gauge! If you would like to make a small doll purse, I recommend using a 4.0 mm hook and worsted weight yarn. Pictures are included at the very end of the pattern, if you need them!
CREATING THE HEART PANELS:
Row 1: To begin, ch 2. Place 2 sc in the 2nd chain from the hook. Ch 1 and turn. [2]
Row 2: [inc] x 2. Ch 1 and turn. [4]
Row 3: sc x 4 across. Ch 1 and turn. [4]
Row 4: inc, sc x 2, inc. Ch 1 and turn. [6]
Row 5: sc x 6 across. Ch 1 and turn. [6]
Row 6: inc, sc x 4, inc. Ch 1 and turn. [8]
Row 7: inc, sc x 6, inc. Ch 1 and turn. [10]
Row 8: inc, sc x 8, inc. Ch 1 and turn. [12]
Row 9: inc, sc x 10, inc. Ch 1 and turn. [14]
Row 10: inc, sc x 12, inc. Ch 1 and turn. [16]
Row 11: sc x 16 across. Ch 1 and turn. [16] (see photo A)
You will now make the tops of the hearts
Row 12a: sc x 8 across. Ch 1 and turn. [8](see photo B).
Row 13a: dec, sc x 6. Ch 1 and turn. [7] (see photo C)
*Place a stitch marker at the end of row 13*
Row 14a: dec, sc x 5. Ch 1 and turn. [6]
Row 15a: dec, sc x 2, dec. Ch 1 and turn. [4]
Row 16a: [dec] x 2. Tie off and weave in ends. [2] (see photo D)
Rejoin your yarn at the center of the heart and work out. (see photo E)
Row 12b: sc x 8 across. Ch 1 and turn. [8]
Row 13b: sc x 6, dec. Ch 1 and turn. [7](see photo F)
*Place a stitch marker at the beginning of row 13*
Row 14b: sc x 5, dec. Ch 1 and turn. [6]
Row 15b: dec, sc x 2, dec. Ch 1 and turn. [4]
Row 16b: [dec] x 2. [2] (see photo G). Tie off and weave in ends for first panel. For second panel, do not cut yarn and continue to joining instructions below.
JOINING THE PANELS
Before joining the panels, you will need to get to your stitch marker on the second panel. Slip stitch three stitches to get over to the stitch marker. Now you will place your first panel under the second panel and align them so they are even. (see photo H)
Using the stitch markers as a guide, you will crochet through BOTH the top and the bottom panels to join them together. You will work from the stitch marker on the left side, down the heart and then up to the stitch marker on the right side. You may want to place a stitch marker through both of the panels at the bottom of the heart, to make sure they stay aligned. (see photos I, J, K, L)
sc x 12, place 3 sc in the bottom of the heart, sc x 12
Once the panels are joined, you will single crochet around the edges of each of the hearts to give the purse a finished look. You will work across the front panel only (so you will not be joining) at this point.
(see photos M, N)
sc x 10, sl st (into the middle of the heart), sc x 10
Slip stitch into the space between the two panels and continue working across the top of the back panel.
(see photo O)
sc x 10, sl st (into the middle of the heart), sc x 10.
Slip stitch into the space between the two panels. You will now chain to create the strap of the purse.
(see photos P, Q)
ch 75. Slip stitch to the opposite side of the purse. Cut yarn and weave in all ends.
You may prefer to make your chain shorter or longer depending on the intended recipient for your purse! If you need the strap to be shorter, you can make less chains. If you need the strap to be longer, you can make more chains. Slip stitch to the opposite side of your purse.
Weave in all ends of your purse and enjoy! If desired, you can embroider phrases onto your purse to make them mimic conversation hearts. I recommend using thick blanket yarn to embroider these phrases if you have used blanket yarn for the purse. You might also consider sewing a button and a loop of yarn to make a button closure for the purse. You can also experiment with different sizes of yarn to create different sized purses. Using worsted weight and a G hook will create a sweet little doll purse!
PHOTO TUTORIAL:
