Crochet Heart Square

Recently I was asked for an advice how to crochet a square around a heart. I should admit that it was heavy but very challenging task... It took me some time to complete the crochet pattern but the time spent on it really wort it. Hope you will like it too :o)

Here is the pattern, I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did :)

Abbreviations used:
Stitch/Stitches (st/sts)
Slip stitch (SlSt)
Chain stitch (CH)
Double crochet (DC)
Half double crochet (HDC)
Tripple crochet (TR)

I've used DK weight yarn in red colour for the heart (round 1), pink colour for rounds 2 & 3 and green colour for rounds 4 & 5.

Hook: 3.5mm
The size of the finished heart square is: 8.5cm

Instruction:
Round 1: Crochet all the sts into a magic ring: CH 3, 3 TR, 4 DC, CH 1, 1 TR, CH 1, 4 DC, 3 TR, CH 3, SlSt to the centre of the heart. Fasten off and secure the ends.

Round 2: Attach contrasting colour yarn to the bottom of the heart (as shown on the next picture):

Continue crocheting in the back loops ONLY as follows: CH 1, 1 SC into the same st, (1 SC, 1 HDC) - in the next st, (1 DC, CH 1, 1 TR) - in the next st, (1 DC, 1 HDC) - in the next st, 1 SC in each of the next 4 sts, (1 SC, CH 1, 1 SC) - in the next st, 1 SC in the next st, 1 HDC in the next st, 1 DC in the next st (make this DC into one loop from the right part of the heart and one loop from the left part), 1 HDC in the next st, 1 SC in the next st, (1 SC, CH 1, 1 SC) - in the next st, 1 SC in each of the next 4 sts, (1 HDC, 1 DC) - in the next st, (1 TR, 1 DC) - in the next st, 1 HDC in the next st, join with SlSt to the top of the first SC.

Round 3: CH 1, 1 SC in the same st and in each of the next 3 sts, 2 SC in the next st, *CH 1, 2 HDC in the next st, 1 HDC in each of the next 6 sts, 2 HDC in the next st* - repeat it 2 times, CH 1, 2 HDC in the next st, 1 HDC in each of the next 6 sts, (1 HDC, 1 SC) - in the next st, 1 SC in each of the next 2 sts, join with SlSt to the top of the first SC. Fasten off and secure the ends.

Round 4: Join contrasting colour yarn to the sixth st from the beginning of the round (should be one stitch on the left from the one that you finished round 3 with, the middle st for round 3).

CH 3, *skip 1 st, 1 HDC in the next st, CH 1* - repeat it 2 times, **1 HDC in the next chain loop from the previous round, CH 1, 1 HDC in the same chain loop, CH 1, (1 HDC in the next st, skip 1 st, CH 1) - repeat it 4 times, 1 HDC in the next st, CH 1** - repeat it 3 times, 1 HDC in the next chain loop from the previous round, CH 1, 1 HDC in the same chain loop, CH 1, (1 HDC in the next st, skip 1 st, CH 1) - repeat it 2 times, join with SlSt to the second CH from the CH 3.

Round 5: CH 1, *2 HDC in the next chain loop* - repeat it 3 times, **(2 HDC, CH 1, 2 HDC) - in the next chain loop, (2 HDC in next chain loop) - repeat it 6 times** - repeat it 3 times, (2 HDC, CH 1, 2 HDC) - in the next chain loop, *2 HDC in the next chain loop* - repeat it 3 times, join with SlSt to the top of the first HDC. Fasten off and secure the ends.

Happy Crocheting! :o)