Love is in the Air

This is a unique crochet pattern from Red Heart Yarn you can make for Valentine's day. Crochet the bird to fly in the air, and the hearts to show love. Go gaga over your loved one.

Materials:

• RED HEART® “Eco-Ways®”: 2 Skeins 3275 Cinnabar A.
• RED HEART® “Eco-Cotton™ Blend”: 2 skeins 1372 Midnight Marl B; 1 skein 1370 Candy Marl C.
• RED HEART® “Bamboo Wool”: 1 skein each 3650 Dill D, 3365 Cocoa E, and 3265 Gold F.
• Crochet Hook: 4mm [US G-6] and 5.5mm [I-9].
• Stitch marker, 6” Styrofoam® ball, 12” metal ring, Polyester fiberfill, Clear fishing line, Glue gun, Hot glue, Yarn needle.
  PATTERN

GAUGE: With G-6 hook and A, 5 sts and 6 rows sc = 1”.
With I-9 hook and D, E or F, 4 sts and 5 rows sc = 1” after felting. CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size hook to obtain the gauge.

ABBREVIATIONS: A, B, C, D, E, F = Color A, B, C, D, E, F; dc = double crochet; hdc = half double crochet; mm = millimeters; sc = single crochet; st(s) = stitch(es); tr =
treble crochet; [ ] = work directions in brackets the number of times specified, * or ** = repeat whatever follows the * or ** as indicated.

SPECIAL ABBREVIATIONS
sc2tog: [Insert hook next st, yo, draw yarn through st] twice, yo, draw yarn through 3 loops on hook.

BIRD
Body
With B, make an adjustable ring.
Round 1: 6 sc in ring—6 sc. Do not join rounds, work in a spiral, marking first st of each round, moving marker up as work progresses.
Round 2: 2 sc in each sc around—12 sc.
Round 3: [2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc] 6 times—18 sc.
Round 4: [2 sc in next sc, sc in next 5 sc] 3 times—21 sc.
Round 5: [2 sc in next sc, sc in next 6 sc] 3 times—24 sc.
Rounds 6-13: Sc in each sc around—24sc.
Round 14: [Sc2tog in next 2 sts] twice, sc in next 9 sc, 2 sc in next 2 sc, sc in next 7 sc, sc2tog in next 2 sts—23 sc.
Round 15: [Sc2tog in next 2 sts] twice, sc in next 8 sc, 2 sc in next 3 sc, sc in next 8 sc—24 sc
Round 16: [Sc2tog in next 2 sts, sc in next 2 sc] 6 times—18 sc. Start stuffing body.
Round 17: [Sc2tog in next 2 sts, sc in next sc] 6 times—12 sc.
Round 18: [Sc2tog in next 2 sts] around, slip st in next sc—6 sc. Fasten off, leaving a sewing length. Weave sewing length through sts of last round, gather tightly and secure.
Wing (make 2)
With B, make an adjustable ring.
Round 1: 6 sc in ring—6 sc. Do not join rounds, work in a spiral as before.
Round 2: 2 sc in each sc around—12 sc.
Round 3: (Hdc, dc, tr) in next sc, 3 sc along the side of the tr just made, [sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc] 5 times, sc in last sc
Round 4: 2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc, slip st in next sc. Fasten off, leaving remaining sts unworked, and leaving a sewing length.
Beak
With F, make an adjustable ring.
Round 1: 4 sc in ring—4 sc. Do not join rounds, work in a spiral as before.
Round 2: [2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc] twice—6 sc.
Round 3: [2 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc] twice, slip st in next sc—8 sc. Fasten off, leaving a sewing length.
Tail
With C, ch 9.
Row 1: Hdc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next ch, sc in next 5 ch, 4 sc in last sc, working across opposite side of foundation ch, sc in next 5 ch, hdc in next 2 ch, turn—18 sts.
Row 2: Ch 2 (counts as hdc here and throughout), working in back loops only, hdc in first 2 hdc, sc in next 6 sc, 2 sc in each of the next 2 sc, sc in next 6 sc, hdc in last 2 hdc, turn—21 sts.
Row 3: Ch 2, working in back loops only, hdc in first 2 hdc, sc in next 7 sc, 2 sc in each of the next 2 sc, sc in next 7 sc, hdc in last 2 hdc. Fasten off. Rounded end is base of tail.
ASSEMBLY
Sew bird together using matching yarn. With E, satin st 2 eyes on head. Weave in ends.
SMALL HEART (make 9)
First Half
With A, make adjustable ring.
Round 1: 6 sc in ring—6 sc. Do not join rounds, work in a spiral as before.
Round 2: 2 sc in each sc around—12 sc.
Round 3: [2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc] 6 times—18 sc.
Round 4-7: Sc in each sc around. Fasten off.
Second Half
Repeat Rounds 1-7. Do not fasten off.
Bottom
Joining row: With right sides of first and second half facing, working through double thickness, with wrong side of second half facing, slip st in each of next 4 sc.
Round 8: 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 12 sc, 2 sc in each of next 2 sc, sc in next 12 sc, 2 sc in last sc—32 sc.
Round 9: Sc in each sc around.
Round 10: [Sc2tog in next 2 sts, sc in next 6 sc] 4 times—28 sc.
Round 11: [Sc2tog in next 2 sts, sc in next 5 sc] 4 times—24 sc.
Round 12: Sc in each sc around. Start stuffing heart.
Round 13: [Sc2tog in next 2 sts, sc in next 4 sc] 4 times—20 sc.
Round 14: [Sc2tog in next 2 sts, sc in next 3 sc] 4 times—16 sc.
Round 15: [Sc2tog in next 2 sts, sc in next 2 sc] 4 times—12 sc.
Round 16: [Sc2tog in next 2 sts, sc in next sc] 4 times—8 sc. Finish stuffing.
Round 17: [Sc2tog in next 2 sts] 4 times, slip st in next sc—4 sc. Fasten off, leaving a sewing length. Weave sewing length through sts of last round, gather tightly and secure.
LARGE HEART (make 3)
First Half
With A, make adjustable ring
Round 1: 8 sc in ring—8 sc. Do not join rounds, work in a spiral as before.
Round 2: 2 sc in each sc around—16 sc.
Round 3: [2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc] 8 times—24 sc.
Round 4-8: Sc in each sc around. Fasten off.
Second Half
Repeat Rounds 1-8. Do not fasten off.
Bottom
Joining row: With right sides of first and second half facing, working through double thickness, with wrong side of second half facing, slip st in each of next 4 sc.
Round 9-11: Sc in each sc around—40 sc.
Round 12: [Sc2tog in next 2 sts, sc in next 8 sc] 4 times—36 sc.
Round 13: [Sc2tog in next 2 sts, sc in next 7 sc] 4 times—32 sc.
Round 14: Sc in each sc around.
Round 15: [Sc2tog in next 2 sts, sc in next 6 sc] 4 times—28 sc.
Round 16: [Sc2tog in next 2 sts, sc in next 5 sc] 4 times—24 sc.
Round 17: Sc in each sc around. Start stuffing heart.
Round 18: [Sc2tog in next 2 sts, sc in next 4 sc] 4 times—20 sc.
Round 19: [Sc2tog in next 2 sts, sc in next 3 sc] 4 times—16 sc.
Round 20: [Sc2tog in next 2 sts, sc in next 2 sc] 4 times—12 sc.
Round 21: [Sc2tog in next 2 sts, sc in next sc] 4 times—8 sc. Finish stuffing.
Round 22: [Sc2tog in next 2 sts] around, slip st in next sc—4 sc. Fasten off, leaving a sewing length. Weave sewing length through sts of last round, gather tightly and
secure.
RING COVER
Join A with slip st around metal ring, ch 1, sc closely and evenly around ring, join with slip F st in first sc. Fasten off. Weave in ends. With A, sew hearts to outside of ring and to each other at sides in the following order: *3 small hearts, 1 large heart; repeat from * twice.
GLOBE COVER
Note: Some rounds are finished before the end of the previous round; some rounds are worked beyond the beginning of previous round.
Half (make 2)
With A, make adjustable ring
Round 1: 8 sc in ring—8 sc. Do not join rounds, work in a spiral as before.
Round 2: 2 sc in each sc around—16 sc.
Round 3: [2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc] 8 times—24 sc.
Round 4: [2 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc] 8 times—32 sc.
Round 5: [2 sc in next sc, sc in next 3 sc] 8 times—40 sc.
Round 6: [Skip next 2 sc, 5 dc in next sc (shell), skip 2 sc, sc in next sc] 6 times, skip next 2 sc, 5 dc in next sc, leave last sc unworked—7 shells; 41 sts.
Round 7: Skip next 2 sts, [2 sc in next st, skip next 2 sts, 5 dc in next st (shell), skip next 2 sts] 6 times, 2 sc in next st—6 shells; 44 sts.
Round 8: [Skip next 2 sts, 6 dc in next st (shell), skip 2 sts, sc in next st] 8 times—8 shells; 56 sts.
Round 9: Ch 3 (counts as dc), 5 dc in first st (shell), skip next 2 sts, [2 sc in next st, skip next 2 sts, 6 dc in next st (shell), skip next 3 sts] 7 times, 2 sc in next st, slip st
beginning ch-3—8 shells; 64 sts.
Round 10: Slip st in next 2 sts, [skip next 2 sts, 6 dc in next st (shell), skip next 2 sts, sc in next st] 10 times—10 shells; 70 sts.
Round 11: Skip next 2 sts of previous round [5 dc in next st (shell), skip next 2 sts, sc in next st, skip next 2 sts) 13 times—13 shells; 78 sts.
Round 12: Skip next 2 sts, 5 dc in next st (shell), [skip next 2 sts, sc in next st, skip next 2 sts, 5 dc in next st] 12 times—13 shells; 78 sts.
Round 13: Skip next 2 sts, [sc in next st, skip next 2 sts, 5 tr in next st (shell), skip next 2 sts] 12 times, sc in next st—12 shells; 72 sts.
Round 14: Skip next 2 sts, [5 tr in next st (shell), skip next 2 sts, sc in next st, skip next 2 sts)]12 times—12 shells; 72 sts.
Round 15: [5 tr in next st, skip next 2 sts, sc in next st, skip next 2 sts] 12 times, slip st in next st.
Note: Place globe halves on Styrofoam® ball. If there is a gap between the 2 halves, continue to round 16. If there is no gap, fasten off leaving a sewing length and continue to assembly.
Round 16 (optional): Ch 2, hdc in each st around, join with slip st in beginning ch-2. Rep round 16 as many times as necessary to fill gap between 2 halves. Fasten off,
leaving a long sewing length.
ASSEMBLY
With sewing length, sew globe halves together over ball.
Weave in ends.
CONTINENTS
Square (make 1 each using D, E and F)
With I-9 hook, make a 10” long ch.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch across, turn.
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in each sc across, turn.
Rep row 2 until square measures 10” deep. Fasten off.
FELTING
Place 10” squares in mesh sweater bag or pillowcase and close. Using hottest possible water and approximately 2 tablespoons liquid hand soap, fill washer 1/3 full. Place squares in washer with an old pair of jeans (for agitation). Agitate for 6 minutes. Check the felting progress every minute after 6 minutes; depending on your washer, it will take 6-8 minutes of agitation to felt the desired amount. When you’re pleased with the amount of felting, and felted gauge is achieved, remove the squares and drain wash water from machine; gently squeeze water from squares.
Fill washer to the same water level with cold water. Place squares into washer and rinse/agitate for another minute – the cold water will make the squares felt just a bit more.
Set machine to drain, then run spin cycle for approximately 30 seconds (creases caused by over spinning are difficult to remove from the finished piece). Remove squares, gently stretching into shape, if needed. Drying process may take up to 2 days, depending on humidity in the air.
FINISHING
Trace pattern pieces and cut out. Using pattern pieces, cut out North America and Asia from D square; cut Africa and Australia from E square; and cut Europe and South America from F. With hot glue, glue continents to globe in proper position. Cut a 28” length of fishing line. Thread fishing line onto yarn needle, insert needle ½” from center top of globe cover, exit 1” away on opposite side of center.
Draw fishing line through and bring ends together. Using yarn needle, draw 2 ends of fishing line through bird, from center bottom to center top of body. With fishing line measuring approximately 9” from bird to globe, tie ends of line in several overhand knots at top of bird to secure. Cut four 22” lengths of fishing line. Tie one length of fishing line to each side of ring, equally spaces around. With yarn needle, draw 4 lengths of fishing line through bird, from center bottom to center top of body. Adjust lengths of fishing line to place ring, slightly tilted, around center of globe. Tie 4 ends of fishing line in an overhand knot at top of bird to secure. With all 6 strands of fishing line at top of bird, tie in an overhand knot approximately 2” from top of bird to make hanging loop. Cut off excess fishing line.