Last weekend I decided it was time for another tidy up in my ‘yarn room’.  I have an addiction to yarn; when I see something I like I tend to buy it even if I have no particular use in mind.  A beautiful skein of 4 ply yarn could make a shawl, so it doesn’t matter if I have no use in mind, as a use will come to me one day, won’t it?!

You can imagine that this addiction means I have a large stash of yarn. However, I am quite organised – I keep a list of what I have on a spreadsheet and I store it all in large plastic tubs in a large cupboard.

When the cupboard starts to strain at the hinges, I know it is time for a tidy up!   Last weekend’s tidy up meant I found about 15 balls of yarn that I do not think I will use.  So I bagged it up and took it to knitgroup to give to any friends who wanted it (in return for a small donation to charity), and the small remaining amount went to the charity shop.  3 balls of yarn that were bagged up came straight out again when I realised they were red aran, and perfect for a little Valentine!  You see even at the point of giving away yarn, I can still find a use for it!

So out came my hook and I made this:

It’s a simple design, and I thought I’d share it with you.  A little Valentine gift for you.

I used Aran weight yarn and a 5mm hook.  
This is written in English crochet terms:
St = stitch
Ch = chain
Tr = treble (US dc)
Htr = half treble (US hdc)
Dtr = double treble (US tr)
Ss = slip stitch
Sp = space
Ch-sp =chain space

Foundation chain
Make a 4ch foundation ch and join into a ring with a ss.

Round 1 
3ch (counts as 1tr), 2tr in ring, 2ch, (3tr, 1ch) in ring, (3tr, 2ch) in ring, (3tr, 1ch) in ring, ss into 3^rd ch from start to join.

Round 2
1ch (does not count as st), (1dc, 1htr) in top of 3ch, (1tr, 2dtr) in next st, (2dtr, 1tr) in next st, 1dc in 2ch-sp, (1tr, 2dtr) in next st, (2dtr, 1tr) in next st, (1htr, 1dc) in next st, 1dc in 1ch-sp, 1dc in each of next 3 sts, (1htr, 1ch, 1htr) in 2ch-sp, 1dc in each of next 3 sts, 1dc in 1ch-sp, ss to 1^st dc to join.  Break yarn, fasten off and sew in ends.

Mine came out at 7cm tall by 7cm at the widest point.  And it is destined for bunting.  I also made a larger heart, which will be added to a pattern in due course.

Happy Valentines Day (yes a little early, but you need the time to make some Valentine hearts!) xxx