My Heart - two in one amigurumi pattern

Assalamu ‘alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh : السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته 

(May the peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you)

I believe there are so many designs and techniques to make amigurumi 'heart' shape.

Inspired from several way to make it, this time I try to design my own amigurumi "Heart" shape.

 I know, I do not use new technique but just little bit different shape than other "Heart" amigurumi.

Pattern Abbreviation:

Ch – chain                                                                  

Sc – single crochet                                                     

Lp – loop                                                        

Sl st – slip stitch

Sc4tog – 4 single crochet together

Sc3tog – 3 single crochet together

Sc2tog – 2 single crochet together

Here step by step to make "My Heart":

Note: 

• I worked in continuous rounds (vs. joined rounds) all the way to the end. 
•   What I mean with “joining st” – the sc that connecting part 1 and part 2 of Heart shape.

Part 1:

*Make magic ring

Round 1: 6 sc into magic ring

Round 2: 2 sc into next 6 sts - total st 12 

Round 3: (1 sc into next st, 2 sc into next st) 6 times - total st 18

Round 4-6 : 1 sc into next 18 sts, fasten off

Part 2:

Repeat from * with in round 5,

Round 6: 1 sc into next each 15 sts, (take out hook from lp, now joint part 1 and part 2: insert hook into a st in  part 1 and then insert into free lp of part 2, pull through out the st, 1 sc into next st of part 2) 3 times. Now both parts already joint together. You can give marker into last st that you just made.

Round  7 : 1 sc into each sts around part 2 until remain 1 st before the joining st, sc4tog, 1 sc into each sts around part 1 until remain 1 st before the joining st, sc4tog.

Here is the image showing to make sc4tog from one side.

Round 8 :  1 sc into each sts around part 2 and part 1 (no decrease in this round)

Round 9 : 1 sc into each sts around part 2 with in the center (st between the two parts), sc3tog, 1 sc into each sts around part 1 with in the center of other side, sc3tog

Round 10 (Long shape heart): [1 sc into each sts around part 2 with in the center (st between the two parts or the decrease st below), sc2tog, 1 sc into each sts around part 1 with in the center of other side, sc2tog.] Repeat [] until remain 1 st, sl st into remain st. Fasten off

Round 10 (For small heart): *1 sc into each sts around part 2 with in the center (st between the two parts or the decrease st below), sc3tog, 1 sc into each sts around part 1 with in the center of other side, sc3tog.* Repeat ** until remain 1 st, sl st into remain st. Fasten off

Note: By continuously repeating ** or [] of this round will reduce the number of sts at each following round.

Don’t forget to stuff in the heart shape few rounds before you reach the end or round

Now “My Heart” is complete:

Long Shape Heart

Small Heart

Can be for Key Chain

Selamat mencoba …. (Good luck)

Happy crochet…. 

#twoinoneheartpattern ; #heart ; #amigurimu ; #crochet

Blocking in crochet or knitting using marbles

Assalamu ‘alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh : السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته 

(May the peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you)

Blocking is an important part in crochet or knitting to give nice final result. There are several way to block crochet or knitting. To get more clear and details meaning about blocking, you can refer here

To be honest, I had never really blocked my crochet or knit like the way advised in some books I have read i.e. using specific media, pin and spray.  What I did was; After I finish crochet work, I washed it and then hang it to dry. Before it got completely dry, I ironed it with medium heat. The way I ironed it was; I put the iron on one part, pressed it for few second at the same time stretched out little bit at the edge of the crochet to shape it, and the move on to next part. I did like this to whole part of crochet till completely dry. I did not know whether this was correct way or not but anyway it worked. I don't know whether I can call this way is as one of blocking technique. By the way the material of my crochet was cotton thread, so might be won't work for other type of thread or yarn. One reason I did this way because I did know how to block crochet cloth due to it was not flat item.

Last year (2013),  I made a  full crochet long dress, I couldn't determine how many round I should made exactly because it would stretch down. I had an idea to hang it and give weight to stretch down. I needed something small and heavy so I could  hang them at the edge of dress. The first thing came out of my mind was small stone because there were many small stone on front yard. So I picked several stones in similar weight. I used plastic strap to tight the stone and hang them around the dress edge ( I already crochet the dress about 1/2 of the exact length I need). I let the stones hang for 2 days, and it worked, the dress was getting longer than before. I was satisfied and proud of myself. I didn't know whether I invented this idea or might be someone had ever done the same way somewhere in this world.

After I discovered that I could use weight to stretch down crochet dress, I thought further to use something else instead of small stones because so hard to get the same or even similar weight. I was worried the crochet dress won't have same length. Suddenly I remembered marbles, I was so excited thinking of them. So I went to buy some marbles. Next step was to think how to hang them without using plastic strap because too slippery . I started to think wrapping each marbles before I could hang them. All of a sudden came into my mind to wrap them by crochet. Taraaa..... here they are;

Here the way I use the marbles to stretch down the crochet dress:

Now I will show you how to fasten on and off the marbles in crochet work:

FASTEN ON THE MARBLE:

1. Determine the space in crochet work as when we want to pin in blocking i.e the tip of a motif. Please refer to image no 1.
2. Insert the loop of crocheted marble into tip of motif space
3. Insert the marble through in the loop
4. Release the marble hung

FASTEN OFF THE MARBLE:

1. Loosen the crocheted marble's loop
2. Pull out the marble through the loop
3. Take out the marble from the crochet work.

Here I show you after all marbles fasten on and hang on the crochet work:

I show you the comparison between before and after stretch down (blocking) by marbles:

Before

After 2 days

Before

After 2 days

Isn't that awesome, looked so beautiful after stretched down (blocking)

I feel wonderful, satisfied, blessed.... Alhamdulillah for the knowledge given by Allah