Mini Crochet Heart Ornament

These mini crochet heart ornaments would be perfect for Christmas,  Valentine's day, or any time of year. These free knitting patterns are an easy way to learn basic crochet skills.
 

Materials:

• 2 colors of worsted weight cotton yarn such as Peaches N Cream or Sugar N Cream
• 5.0 mm crochet hook
• Glittery pipe cleaners sticks

Instructions:

Main color:

1. Chain 8, Row 1-- 3 tr in 3d ch from hook (counts as 1 dc and 3 tr), tr, dc, hdc, 3 sc (this is bottom of heart), turn, and start crocheting up back side of original chain in same space as row 1.
    
2. hdc, dc, tr, 3 tr, ch 2 and sl st join to top center of heart.
    
3. Do not turn, keep on going around!
    
4. Row 2--ch1, dc, (ch1 tr) 3 times, ch1, tr, ch1, dc, ch1, sk, ch1, dc, sk 1, dc, ch3, skip 1 sc at bottom and come back up other side, dc, ch1, sk, dc, ch1, sk, dc, c1, tr, ch1, (tr, ch1) 3 times, ch 1, join with sl st at top. You have now made a large open heart. Fasten off MC.
    

Edging:

1. Change to white or second color for edging.
    
2. You will now have a series of c1 spaces. Make a small picot at the top of each ch1 stitch space as follows: Small picot for each heart space: sl st, ch 3, dc, sl st in next stitch all around heart, EXCEPT at bottom where you have a ch3 space.
    
3. For the bottom of the heart in the chain 3 space, sl st, ch3, dc next stitch, dc next st, slip stitch at end of space.
    
4. When you've finished your last picot, join with a sc to top.
    

To Finish:

1. Either purchase some permanent fabric stiffener and follow the instructions to permanently stiffen the heart (JoAnn's has this stuff) OR take one piece of stiffened glitter felt (in the felt square aisle at JoAnn's or Michael's), hot glue down your heart, being careful to spread it open and shape as desired. I let the edges of the picots or scallops curl forward. Cut out, add glitter or pretty colored hanger hot glued to back. I usually use a small heart to cover the hanger because it secures it better and I don't have to wait and hold the wire until it cools down.
    
2. You can sprinkle these hearts with glitter or glue gemstones onto them also.