Lovely Hearts DIY Crochet Throw

If you've been looking for that extra special, heartfelt gift to give to your favorite soon-to-be married couple, consider this Lovely Hearts DIY Crochet Throw. Put your crochet skills to work with this gorgeous throw blanket. Nothing says "I Love You" quite like a homemade present, and this crochet blanket is covered in hearts, a literal declaration of your love for the happy couple. Just make sure you check beforehand that they're accepting gifts not on the registry. Once you get the go ahead, you can get started on the perfect wedding gift.

Estimated Cost$31+

Time to CompleteLonger than a weekend

MaterialsYarn

Primary TechniqueCrochet

Intermediate

Project TypeMake a Project

Materials List

RED HEART® Comfort®: 3 balls 3194 Shocking Pink A, and 1 ball each of 3183 Pink B and 3181 Cardinal Red C
Susan Bates® Crochet Hooks: 5.5mm [US I-9] and 5mm [US H-8] (for border Round 8 only)
Yarn needle

Instructions

GAUGE: Rounds 1 and 2 = 4” (10 cm) shell point to shell point; One square = 20 x 20” (51 x 51 cm). CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size hook to obtain the gauge.

Throw measures 47 x 71” (119.5 x 180.5 cm).

1. Throw is made from six squares. Each square is worked in joined rounds.
2. Squares are joined together using a “joinas-you-go” technique.
3. To make a smaller throw, use a hook one or two sizes smaller

Special Stitches
For working Heart Squares:
beg-Inc-Shell (beginning increase shell) = (Slip st, ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in indicated space. beg-Lg-Shell (beginning large shell) = (Slip st, ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in indicated space.
beg-Sm-Shell (beginning small shell) = (Slip st, ch 3, dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in indicated space.
Gt-Shell (giant shell) = (4 tr, ch 8, 4 tr) in indicated space.
Inc-Shell (increase shell) = (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in indicated space.
Sm-Shell (small shell) = (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in indicated space.
Lg-Shell (large shell) = (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in indicated space.
sc2tog (single crochet 2 stitches together) = [Insert hook in next stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop] twice, yarn over and draw through all 3 loops on hook.

For working “join-as-you-go” technique:
square-join (join corresponding ch-spaces of 2 or more Squares together) = Drop loop from hook, insert from front to back through corresponding ch-space of neighboring Square, return dropped loop to hook and draw to front. Note: This draws the chain-space of one Square through the corresponding chainspace of a neighboring Square to join the Squares together.
ch-2 join (join corresponding ch-2 spaces together) = Ch 1, square-join, ch 1.
ch-4 join (join corresponding ch-4 spaces together) = Ch 2, square-join, ch 2.
ch-8 join (join corresponding ch-8 spaces together) = Ch 4, square-join, ch 4.

First Square

With larger hook and A, ch 5; join with slip st in first ch to form a ring

Round 1 (right side): Sc in ring, [ch 10, sc in ring] 7 times; join with ch 3, dtr in first sc (the last ch-3 and dtr count as last ch-10 space)—8 sc and 8 ch-10 spaces.
Round 2: Ch 3 (counts as first dc of beginning shell here and throughout), (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-10 space formed by the last ch-3 and dtr of previous round (first beginning shell made), *ch 1, Sm-Shell in next ch-10 space; repeat from * around, ch 1; join with slip st in top of beginning ch—8 Sm-Shells and 8 ch-1 spaces
Round 3: Slip st in next dc, beg-Sm-Shell in ch-2 space of first shell, ch 4, 3 dc in ch-2 space of next shell, *ch 4, Sm-Shell in ch-2 space of next shell, ch 4, 3 dc in ch-2 space of next shell; repeat from * around, ch 4; join with slip st in top of beginning ch-3—4 Sm-Shells, 8 ch-4 spaces and 4 sets of 3-dc (for lower points of hearts)

Note: After working into the ch-space of a shell, skip the remaining stitches of the shell before working the next part of the instruction.
Round 4: Slip st in next dc, beg-Sm-Shell in ch-2 space of first shell, ch 4, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc, *ch 4, SmShell in ch-2 space of next shell, ch 4, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc; repeat from * around, ch 4; join with slip st in top of beginning ch-3—4 Sm-Shells, 8 ch-4 spaces, and 4 sets of 5-dc (for hearts).
Round 5: Slip st in next dc, beg-Sm-Shell in ch-2 space of first shell, ch 4, [2 dc in next dc, dc in next dc] twice, 2 dc in next dc, *ch 4, Sm-Shell in ch-2 space of next shell, ch 4, [2 dc in next dc, dc in next st] twice, 2 dc in next dc; repeat from * around, ch 4; join with slip st in top of beginning ch-3—4 Sm-Shells, 8 ch-4 spaces, and 4 sets of 8-dc (for hearts).
Round 6: Slip st in next dc, beg-Sm-Shell in ch-2 space of first shell, ch 5, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 2 dc, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 3 dc, 2 dc in next dc, *ch 5, Sm-Shell in ch-2 space of next shell, ch 5, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 2 dc, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 3 dc, 2 dc in next dc; repeat from * around, ch 5; join with slip st in top of beginning ch-3—4 Sm-Shells, 8 ch-5 spaces and 4 sets of 11-dc (for hearts).
Round 7: Slip st in next dc, beg-Sm-Shell in ch-2 space of first shell, ch 5, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 4 dc, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 4 dc, 2 dc in next dc, *ch 5, Sm-Shell in ch-2 space of next shell, ch 5, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 4 dc, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 4 dc, 2 dc in next dc; repeat from * around, ch 5; join with slip st in top of beginning ch-3—4 Sm-Shells, 8 ch-5 spaces and 4 sets of 14-dc (for hearts).
Round 8: Slip st in next dc, beg-Sm-Shell in ch-2 space of first shell, ch 5, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 3 dc, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 4 dc, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 3 dc, 2 dc in next dc, *ch 5, Sm-Shell in ch-2 space of next shell, ch 5, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 3 dc, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 4 dc, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 3 dc, 2 dc in next dc; repeat from * around, ch 5; join with slip st in top of beginning ch-3—4 Sm-Shells, 8 ch-5 spaces and 4 sets of 18-dc (for hearts).
Round 9: Slip st in next dc, beg-Sm-Shell in ch-2 space of first shell, ch 5, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 6 dc, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 2 dc, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 6 dc, 2 dc in next dc, *ch 5, Sm-Shell in ch-2 space of next shell, ch 5, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 6 dc, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 2 dc, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 6 dc, 2 dc in next dc; repeat from * around, ch 5; join with slip st in top of beginning ch-3—4 Sm-Shells, 8 ch-5 spaces and 4 sets of 22-dc (for hearts)
Round 10: Slip st in next dc, beg-Inc-Shell in ch-2 space of first shell, ch 4, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 20 dc, 2 dc in next dc, *ch 4, IncShell in ch-2 space of next shell, ch 4, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 20 dc, 2 dc in next dc; repeat from * around, ch 4; join with slip st in top of beginning ch-3—4 Inc-Shells, 8 ch-4 spaces and 4 sets of 24-dc (for hearts)
Round 11: Slip st in next 2 dc, beg-Lg-Shell in first ch-2 space of first shell, Lg-Shell in 2nd ch-2 space of same shell, ch 3, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 5 dc, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 10 dc, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 5 dc, 2 dc in next dc, *ch 3, Lg-Shell in first ch-2 space of next shell, Lg-Shell in 2nd ch-2 space of same shell, ch 3, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 5 dc, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 10 dc, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 5 dc, 2 dc in next dc; repeat from * around, ch 3; join with slip st in top of beginning ch-3—8 Lg-Shells, 8 ch-3 spaces and 4 sets of 28-dc (for hearts)
Round 12: Slip st in next 2 dc, beg-Lg-Shell in ch-2 space of first shell, ch 2, Lg-Shell in ch-2 space of next shell, ch 2, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 13 dc, ch 2, dc in next 13 dc, 2 dc in next dc, *ch 2, Lg-Shell in ch -2 space of next shell, ch 2, Lg-Shell in ch-2 space of next shell, ch 2, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 13 dc, ch 2, dc in next 13 dc, 2 dc in next dc; repeat from * around, ch 2; join with slip st in top of beginning ch-3—8 Lg-Shells, 16 ch-2 spaces and 8 sets of 15-dc (for tops of hearts).
Round 13: Slip st in next 2 dc, beg-Lg-Shell in ch-2 space of first shell, Lg-Shell in next ch-2 space between shells, Lg-Shell in ch-2 space of next shell, ch 2, dc in next 13 dc, ch 4, skip next 2 dc, sc in next ch-2 space, ch 4, skip next 2 dc, dc in next 13 dc, *ch 2, LgShell in ch -2 space of next shell, Lg-Shell in next ch-2 space between shells, Lg-shell in ch-2 space of next shell, ch 2, dc in next 13 dc, ch 4, skip next 2 dc, sc in next ch-2 space, ch 4, skip next 2 dc, dc in next 13 dc; repeat from * around, ch 2; join with slip st in top of beginning ch-3—12 Lg-Shells and 8 sets of 13-dc (for tops of hearts)
Round 14: Slip st in next 2 dc, beg-Lg-Shell in ch-2 space of first shell, [ch 1, Lg-Shell in ch-2 space of next shell] twice, *ch 2, skip next ch-2 space, sc2tog (over next 2 dc), hdc in next dc, dc in next 2 dc, tr in next dc, 3 tr in next dc, tr in next dc, dc in next 2 dc, hdc in next dc, sc2tog, [ch 4, sc in next ch-4 space] twice, ch 4, sc2tog (over next 2 dc), hdc in next dc, dc in next 2 dc, tr in next dc, 3 tr in next dc, tr in next dc, dc in next 2 dc, hdc in next dc, sc2tog, ch 2 **, [Lg-shell in ch-2 space of next shell, ch 1] twice, Lg-shell in ch-2 space of next shell; repeat from * around ending last repeat at **; join with slip st in top of beginning ch-3—12 Lg-Shells and 8 sets of 13-sts (for tops of hearts)
Round 15: Slip st in next 2 dc, beg-Lg-Shell in ch-2 space of first shell, *ch 1, (tr, ch 4, tr) in next ch-1 space between shells, ch 1, Gt-shell in ch-2 space of next shell, ch 1, (tr, ch 4, tr) in next ch-1 space between shells, ch 1, Lg-Shell in ch-2 space of next shell, ch 2, skip next sc, tr in next hdc, ch 2, skip next dc, dc in next dc, ch 2, skip next tr, hdc in next tr, ch 2, skip next (center) tr, hdc in next tr, ch 2, skip next tr, dc in next dc, ch 2, skip next dc, tr in next hdc, [ch 2, dc in next ch-4 space] 3 times, ch 2, skip next sc, tr in next hdc, ch 2, skip next dc, dc in next dc, ch 2, skip next tr, hdc in next tr, ch 2, skip next (center) tr, hdc in next tr, ch 2, skip next tr, dc in next dc, ch 2, skip next dc, tr in next hdc, ch 2 **, Lg-shell in ch-2 space of next shell; repeat from * around ending last repeat at **; join with slip st in top of beginning ch-3—8 Lg-Shells and 4 Gt-Shells. Fasten off.

Second Square

Make same as First Square through Round 14. One side of Second Square is now joined to one side of First Square while working Round 15.

Round 15: Work same as Round 15 of First Square to 2nd shell (center Lg-Shell at corner), then work across next edge, joining the ch-8, ch-4, and ch-2 spaces to the corresponding ch-spaces of the First Square, as follows: Join One Side of Square to Previous Square: Ch 1, (4 tr, ch-8-join, 4 tr) in ch-2 space of next shell, ch 1, (tr, ch-4-join, tr) in next ch-1 space between shells, ch 1, (3 dc, ch-2-join, 3 dc) in ch-2 space of next shell, ch-2-join, skip next sc, tr in next hdc, ch-2-join, skip next dc, dc in next dc, ch-2-join, skip next tr, hdc in next tr, ch-2-join, skip next (center) tr, hdc in next tr, ch-2-join, skip next tr, dc in next dc, ch-2-join, skip next dc, tr in next hdc, [ch-2-join, dc in next ch-4 space] 3 times, ch-2-join, skip next sc, tr in next hdc, ch-2-join, skip next dc, dc in next dc, ch-2-join, skip next tr, hdc in next tr, ch-2-join, skip next (center) tr, hdc in next tr, ch-2-join, skip next tr, dc in next dc, ch-2-join, skip next dc, tr in next hdc, ch-2-join, (3 dc, ch-2-join, 3 dc) in ch-2 space of next shell, ch 1, (tr, ch-4-join, tr) in next ch-1 space between shells, ch 1, (4 tr, ch-8-join, 4 tr) in ch-2 space of next shell (center corner shell).
Complete Round 15 same as Round 15 of First Square, no longer joining ch-spaces.

Third-Sixth Squares

Work same as Second Square, joining side edges to neighboring Squares as needed to form a rectangle with 3 rows of 2 Squares in each row. Note: When joining the ch-8 corners where four Squares meet, work as follows: 4 tr in ch-2 space of corner Lg-Shell, ch 4, working clockwise (counter-clockwise if left-handed) square-join to ch-8 corner space of next Square, ch 1, skip ch-8 corner space of next Square, square-join to ch-8 corner space of next Square, ch 4, 4 tr in ch-2 space of same corner Lg-Shell.
Do not fasten off after joining last Square.

Border

Round 1 (right side): Slip st in next 2 dc, (slip st, ch 1, sc) in ch-2 space of first shell, ch 2, dc in next ch-1 space, ch 2, sc in next ch-4 space, ch 2, dc in next ch-1 space, ch 2, skip next 2 tr, dc in next tr, ch 2, skip next tr, (dc, [ch 2, dc] 3 times) in corner ch-8 space, *ch 2, skip next tr, dc in next tr, ch 2, skip next 2 tr, dc in next ch-1 space, ch 2, sc in next ch-4 space, ch 2, dc in next ch-1 space, ch 2, sc in ch-2 space of next shell, [ch 2, dc in next ch-2 space] 16 times, ch 2, sc in ch-2 space of next shell, ch 2, dc in next ch-1 space, ch 2, sc in next ch-4 space, ch 2, dc in next ch-1 space, ch 2, skip next 2 tr, dc in next tr, ch 2, skip next tr **, (dc, ch 2, dc) in corner ch-space, ch 2, skip joining seam, (dc, ch 2, dc) in corner ch-space of next Square; repeat from * to next outer corner ch-8 space ending last repeat at **, (dc, [ch 2, dc] 3 times) in corner ch-8 space, repeat from * 2 more times (until all outer corner ch-8 spaces have been worked into), ch 2, skip next tr, dc in next tr, ch 2, skip next 2 tr, dc in next ch-1 space, ch 2, sc in next ch-4 space, ch 2, dc in next ch-1 space, ch 2, sc in ch-2 space of next shell, [ch 2, dc in next ch-2 space] 16 times, ch 2; join with slip st in first sc—294 ch-2 spaces (87 ch-2 spaces across each long edge, 58 ch-2 spaces across each short edge, and 1 ch-2 space at each of the 4 corners). Fasten off.
Round 2 (right side): With right side facing and larger hook, draw up a loop of B in any ch-2 space on edge away from corner, ch 1, working in the ch-2 spaces only (skipping the sc and dc sts), work (sc, ch 2, sc) in each ch-2 space around, working (sc, ch 3, sc) in each of the 4 corner ch-2 spaces; join with slip st in first sc—290 ch-2 spaces and 4 corner ch-3 spaces
Round 3 (wrong side): Slip st in next ch-2 space, ch 5 (counts as first dc, ch 2), turn, dc in next ch-2 space, working in the ch-spaces only, *ch 2, dc in next ch-2 space; repeat from * around, working (dc, [ch 2, dc] 3 times) in each corner ch-3 space; end with ch 2, join with slip st in 3rd ch of beginning ch—306 ch-2 spaces. Fasten off.
Rounds 4 and 5: With C, repeat Rounds 2 and 3—318 ch-2 spaces. Do not fasten off at the end of Rnd 5.
Round 6: With C, repeat Round 2—314 ch-2 spaces and 4 corner ch-3 spaces. Fasten off.
Round 7 (right side): With right side facing and larger hook, draw up a loop of A in 7th ch-2 space following any corner ch-3 space, ch 1, sc in same ch-2 space, *Sm-Shell in next ch-2 space, sc in next ch-2 space; repeat from * around, working Lg-Shell in each corner ch-3 space; end with join with slip st in first sc. Do not fasten off.
Change to smaller hook.
Round 8: *Ch 2, (slip st, ch 2, slip st) in ch-2 space of next shell, ch 2, slip st in next sc; repeat from * around working (ch 2, skip next dc, slip st in next dc, ch 2, skip next dc, (slip st, ch 3, slip st) in corner ch-2 space, ch 2, skip next dc, slip st in next dc, ch 2, skip next dc) in sts of each Lg-Shell at corners; end with ch 2 and join with slip st to joining slip st of Round 7. Fasten off.