How to Crochet stylish heart crochet baby blanket or bag knitting🧶✨💖💖👶👶

Making a baby blanket or bag with a heart design is a beautiful and thoughtful project. While “knitting” and “crocheting” are two different crafts, you can achieve a similar “stylish heart” look with both. The most common and effective way to create heart motifs in crochet is by using a technique called tapestry crochet or bobble stitch, which creates a textured, raised design.

Here’s a detailed guide on how to approach a stylish heart crochet project, focusing on a technique that works well for both blankets and bags.

The Bobble Heart Stitch

This is an excellent stitch for a heart-themed baby blanket because it creates a soft, plush texture. The bobbles pop out, making the hearts a tactile and visually appealing feature. This technique can also be adapted for a bag, though you’d want to use a sturdier yarn and a tighter tension.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Two colors of yarn—a main color for the background and a contrasting color for the hearts. A soft, machine-washable worsted-weight yarn is perfect for blankets. For a bag, consider a cotton or acrylic yarn that holds its shape well.
• Crochet Hook: Match the hook size to your yarn.
• Scissors
• Tapestry Needle: For weaving in ends.

Understanding the Bobble Stitch

The Bobble Stitch is the key to creating the raised heart shape. A standard bobble is made by working a series of partial double crochets into the same stitch and then pulling them all together.

5-dc Bobble Stitch (a good size for hearts):

1. Yarn over, insert your hook into the indicated stitch.
2. Yarn over and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook).
3. Yarn over and pull through two loops (2 loops on hook).
4. Repeat steps 1-3 four more times in the same stitch. You should have 6 loops on your hook.
5. Yarn over and pull through all 6 loops on the hook.

Creating the Bobble Heart Blanket

This pattern is a repeating series of rows that build a heart shape. The design is worked in tapestry crochet, meaning you’ll carry the inactive yarn color behind your work, switching colors as needed.

Abbreviations:

• ch: chain
• sc: single crochet
• st(s): stitch(es)
• yo: yarn over
• bobble: 5-dc bobble stitch

Pattern Notes:

• This pattern is worked in single crochet, with the bobbles on a single crochet background.
• The bobbles will pop out on the front side of your work.
• The pattern below is for a small sample square. To make a blanket, you’ll need to create a graph or follow a pre-made pattern with more stitches and rows. The key is to follow the same logic of increasing and decreasing bobbles to form the heart shape.

Instructions (Sample Square): Foundation: With your main color, ch 20.

Row 1 (Right Side):

• sc in the second ch from the hook and in each ch across. ch 1 and turn.

Row 2 (Wrong Side):

• sc in each st across. ch 1 and turn.

Row 3 (Right Side – Start of Heart):

• sc in the first 8 stitches.
• Change to your heart color. Work 1 bobble in the next st.
• Change back to your main color. sc in the remaining stitches. ch 1 and turn.

Row 4 (Wrong Side):

• sc in each st across. ch 1 and turn.

Row 5 (Right Side):

• sc in the first 7 stitches.
• Change to your heart color. Work 3 bobbles in the next 3 stitches.
• Change back to your main color. sc in the remaining stitches. ch 1 and turn.

Row 6 (Wrong Side):

• sc in each st across. ch 1 and turn.

Row 7 (Right Side):

• sc in the first 6 stitches.
• Change to your heart color. Work 5 bobbles in the next 5 stitches.
• Change back to your main color. sc in the remaining stitches. ch 1 and turn.

Row 8 (Wrong Side):

• sc in each st across. ch 1 and turn.

Row 9 (Right Side – Top of Heart):

• sc in the first 6 stitches.
• Change to your heart color. Work 2 bobbles in the next 2 stitches.
• Change back to main color. sc in the next stitch.
• Change to heart color. Work 2 bobbles in the next 2 stitches.
• Change back to main color. sc in the remaining stitches. ch 1 and turn.

Repeat Rows 2-9 to create a vertical column of hearts. To make a blanket, you’ll simply expand the number of stitches in your foundation chain to allow for more hearts across each row.

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Creating a Heart Crochet Bag

The same bobble stitch technique can be used for a bag, but for a sturdier structure, consider working the pattern in single crochet or waistcoat stitch. The waistcoat stitch is a type of sc where you insert your hook between the “legs” of the stitch below, which creates a dense, knit-like fabric.

Tips for a Bag:

• Yarn: Use a durable, non-stretchy yarn like cotton or a cotton blend. This will help the bag hold its shape.
• Tension: Keep your tension tight and consistent to ensure the stitches are firm and the bag doesn’t sag.
• Construction: You can make two large heart squares and seam them together, or work the heart pattern in the round for a seamless bag.
• Lining: For a practical bag, consider sewing a fabric lining inside to prevent small items from falling out.

Finishing Your Project

• Weave in All Ends: This is especially important for tapestry crochet. Take your time to neatly weave in all the loose yarn ends to secure your work.
• Blocking: For both blankets and bags, blocking is a great way to make the stitches uniform and the finished item lay flat. Pin the item to a foam board, mist it with water, and let it dry completely.

Whether you choose a blanket or a bag, a heart motif is a classic way to add a personal and loving touch to your crochet project.

Video tutorial: