This lace heart opens out from a single sunburst flower. A ring of long treble spokes sits low in the center of the heart. Each top lobe holds a fan of treble spokes, and an open chain mesh runs down the sides to a crisp point. A corded slip-stitch edge outlines the whole shape and keeps it firm.
The sample is worked in one warm caramel tan cotton. One solid color lets the lace pattern do the work: the round center opening, the radiating spokes, and the small airy windows all show clearly. The heart works as a coaster, a gift-tag topper, a wall ornament, or an appliqué for a bag.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished heart measures about 6 in (15.2 cm) wide by 5.5 in (14.0 cm) tall after blocking.
You make the heart in one piece, worked in joined rounds from the center out. Rounds 1–3 build a circular sunburst. Round 4 gives the circle its heart shape with treble fans at the lobes, chain loops along the sides, and a long loop at the point. Round 5 adds a second mesh layer. Rounds 6–7 are the border.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 6 in (15.2 cm) wide × 5.5 in (14.0 cm) tall
- Skill level: Easy-intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: DK / light worsted (#3) cotton
- Hook: 3.5 mm (E-4)
- Number of pieces: 1 (single motif, no joining)
- Layout: One heart, worked in joined rounds from the center
- Piece size: 6 in × 5.5 in (15.2 × 14.0 cm)
- Size before border: 5.5 in × 5 in (14.0 × 12.7 cm)
- Border depth: 0.25 in (0.6 cm) per edge (Rounds 6–7)
Materials
Yarn: Use a smooth mercerized or combed cotton in DK weight, about 105–120 m per 50 g. Cotton gives clean stitches and blocks flat. Acrylic also works, but the spokes will be softer and the point less crisp.
- Caramel tan (single color): 12 g, about 27 m (30 yd)
The quantity includes a margin for your gauge check and weaving in ends. The heart itself uses about 8–9 g.
Tools:
- 3.5 mm (E-4) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
- 2 stitch markers
- Rustproof pins and a blocking mat or folded towel
- Spray bottle with water
- Ruler or tape measure
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- tr – treble crochet (yarn over twice, insert hook, pull up a loop, [yarn over, pull through 2 loops] 3 times)
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- rnd – round
- MR – magic ring
Special technique – Corded slip-stitch edge: On the right side, work a loose sl st into each stitch of the last round. Keep the loop on your hook slightly enlarged so the slip stitches lie on top of the edge as a raised chain line and don’t pull the edge in.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Make one test heart before you buy yarn for a set. The heart is its own gauge swatch, and you can check it at every stage:
- After Rnd 1: 1.25 in (3.2 cm) across
- After Rnd 2: 2.25 in (5.7 cm) across
- After Rnd 3: 3 in (7.6 cm) across, lying flat as a circle
- After Rnd 5: 5.5 in (14.0 cm) wide × 5 in (12.7 cm) tall, gently pinned
- After Rnd 7 and blocking: 6 in (15.2 cm) wide × 5.5 in (14.0 cm) tall
If your Rnd 3 circle is larger than 3.25 in (8.3 cm): go down to a 3.25 mm hook, or work your chains more snugly.
If it is smaller than 2.75 in (7.0 cm): go up to a 3.75 mm or 4 mm hook.
If Rnd 3 cups, your chains are too tight. If it ruffles, they are too loose. Fix this before you start shaping, because Rnds 4–7 make any error bigger.
Pattern
Pattern notes: Keep the right side facing you the whole time. Don’t turn between rounds. The starting chains count as stitches where stated. Work into chain spaces and loops, not into individual chains, unless the pattern says otherwise.
Center Sunburst (Rounds 1–3)
Rnd 1: MR, ch 3 (counts as dc), 23 dc in ring. Pull the ring closed, leaving a small round opening about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) wide. Join with sl st to top of ch-3. (24 dc)
Rnd 2: Ch 4 (counts as tr), tr in next dc, ch 2, tr in each of next 2 dc, ch 2; rep from * 10 more times. Join with sl st to top of ch-4. (24 tr in 12 pairs, 12 ch-2 sps)*
Each pair of tr forms one thick spoke of the sunburst. Keep all the tr the same height. If one spoke looks short, pull it out and rework it now. Uneven spokes stay visible through every later round.
Rnd 3: Sl st in next tr and into next ch-2 sp, ch 1, sc in same sp, ch 5, sc in next ch-2 sp, ch 5; rep from * 10 more times. Join with sl st to first sc. (12 sc, 12 ch-5 loops)*
Each ch-5 loop arches over one spoke pair, which closes the sunburst in a scalloped ring. Place a marker in the joining sc. This is sc 0, and it becomes the top-center dip of the heart.
Going in the working direction, call the loops L1–L12 and the sc after them S1–S11. Loop L1 comes right after sc 0. The point of the heart forms at S6, opposite sc 0.
Heart Shaping (Round 4)
Rnd 4: Ch 1, sc in marked sc 0.
First lobe: Ch 2, (tr in L1, ch 2) 3 times, tr in S1, ch 2, (tr in L2, ch 2) 3 times, sc in S2. This makes 7 tr fanned with 8 ch-2 sps.
First side: Ch 5, sc in L3, ch 5, sc in S3, ch 5, sc in L4, ch 5, sc in S4, ch 5, sc in L5, ch 5, sc in S5. This makes 6 ch-5 loops.
Point: Ch 5, sc in L6, ch 5, (sc, ch 7, sc) in S6, ch 5, sc in L7, ch 5, sc in S7. This makes 4 ch-5 loops and 1 ch-7 point loop.
Second side: Ch 5, sc in L8, ch 5, sc in S8, ch 5, sc in L9, ch 5, sc in S9, ch 5, sc in L10, ch 5, sc in S10. This makes 6 ch-5 loops.
Second lobe: Ch 2, (tr in L11, ch 2) 3 times, tr in S11, ch 2, (tr in L12, ch 2) 3 times. Join with sl st to first sc. This makes 7 tr and 8 ch-2 sps.
Round 4 count: 14 tr, 19 sc, 16 ch-2 sps, 16 ch-5 loops, 1 ch-7 loop.
The tall treble fans push the lobes up and out. The sc at sc 0 holds the dip down, and the ch-7 loop starts the point. Keep the ch-5 loops relaxed and even, because matching chain lengths keep the heart symmetrical. Move your marker to the joining sc, which is still the dip.
Second Mesh Layer (Round 5)
Rnd 5: Ch 1, sc in same sc.
First lobe: (Ch 3, sc in next ch-2 sp) 8 times.
First side to point: Skip the Rnd 4 sc between the lobe and the first loop. Then (ch 5, sc in next ch-5 loop) 8 times.
Point: Ch 5, (sc, ch 9, sc) in ch-7 point loop.
Point to second side: (Ch 5, sc in next ch-5 loop) 8 times.
Second lobe: Ch 5, sc in next ch-2 sp, (ch 3, sc in next ch-2 sp) 7 times, ch 3. Join with sl st to first sc.
Round 5 count: 35 sc, 16 ch-3 arcs, 18 ch-5 arcs, 1 ch-9 point loop.
To check symmetry, count each half: it should have 8 ch-3 arcs and 9 ch-5 arcs, meeting at the ch-9 point loop. The small ch-3 arcs make the little round windows around each lobe fan. The ch-5 arcs make the larger diamond-shaped openings down the sides.
Checkpoint: Pin the piece out gently. It should measure 5.5 in (14.0 cm) wide × 5 in (12.7 cm) tall.
Border
Border gauge: Along the edge, aim for about 6.5 sc per 1 in (2.5 cm). That is a little denser than flat sc. The arcs gather slightly, which firms up the outline without cupping.
Rnd 6 (sc edge): Sl st into first ch-3 arc, ch 1.
- First lobe: (2 sc in ch-3 arc, sc in next sc) 8 times. (24 sc)
- First side: (3 sc in next ch-5 arc, sc in next sc) 8 times. (32 sc)
- Into point: 3 sc in next ch-5 arc, sc in next sc. (4 sc)
- Point: (3 sc, ch 2, 3 sc) in ch-9 loop. (6 sc)
- Out of point: Sc in next sc. (1 sc)
- Second side: (3 sc in next ch-5 arc, sc in next sc) 8 times. (32 sc)
- Into second lobe: 3 sc in next ch-5 arc, sc in next sc. (4 sc)
- Second lobe: (2 sc in ch-3 arc, sc in next sc) 7 times, 2 sc in last ch-3 arc. (23 sc)
- Skip the dip sc and join with sl st to first sc.
Round 6 count: 126 sc and 1 ch-2 tip space.
Why the math works: Count from the dip to the tip. The first half has 24 + 32 + 4 + 3 = 63 sc. The second half has 3 + 1 + 32 + 4 + 23 = 63 sc. The halves match exactly, so the heart is symmetrical.
Skipping the dip sc makes a sharp V at the top, and the ch-2 keeps the tip pointed. At 6.5 sc per inch, 126 sc covers about 19.4 in (49.3 cm). That matches the outline of a 6 in × 5.5 in (15.2 × 14.0 cm) heart, so the edge lies flat.
Rnd 7 (corded edge): Work loosely on the right side. Sl st in each sc up to the tip, then work (sl st, ch 2, sl st) in the ch-2 tip sp. Sl st in each sc to the end, then join with sl st to first sl st. Fasten off, leaving an 8 in (20.3 cm) tail.
Round 7 count: 128 sl sts and 1 ch-2 tip. That is 64 per half: 63 over the sc plus 1 at the tip.
The corded edge adds definition and completes the 0.25 in (0.6 cm) border. It doesn’t stretch the heart wider.
Final Blocking
- Weave in both ends along the back of the sc edge, then trim.
- Soak the heart in cool water for 10 minutes. Roll it in a towel and press out the water, without wringing.
- Lay it right side up on a blocking mat.
- Pin the tip first, then the dip, so they are 5.5 in (14.0 cm) apart.
- Pin the widest points of the lobes 6 in (15.2 cm) apart.
- Pin each lobe in a smooth curve, putting a pin at the center of each fan.
- Open each chain window with a pin or your finger, and straighten every spoke so it points out from the center.
- Let it dry completely, at least 12 hours, before you unpin it.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Center opening is round and about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) wide
- There are 12 even spoke pairs around the center
- Each lobe has 7 fanned tr spokes
- Both halves have 63 sc in Rnd 6
- The dip is a clean V and the tip is a sharp point
- Corded edge lies flat with no pulling
- Final size is 6 in × 5.5 in (15.2 × 14.0 cm), within 0.25 in (0.6 cm)
- Ends are hidden and secure
Troubleshooting
Center cups after Rnd 2: Your tr are too short or too tight. Pull up a taller first loop, or go up a hook size.
Lobes look flat or squared: You may have worked dc instead of tr in the fans. Each lobe needs all 7 tall stitches.
One side is longer than the other: Count the Rnd 4 ch-5 loops. Each side needs 6, plus 2 on each side of the point.
Edge ruffles: Work 2 sc instead of 3 in a few ch-5 arcs. Change the same number of arcs on each half.
Edge cups or draws in: Work Rnd 7 looser, or use a hook one size larger for that round only.
Point is rounded: Check that you worked the ch-9 and the ch-2 tip, and pin the tip firmly when blocking.
Dip fills in: Make sure you skipped the dip sc in Rnd 6.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap and dry flat. If it loses its shape, pin it back to 6 in × 5.5 in (15.2 × 14.0 cm).
Final Notes
Here is the measurement chain. The 24-dc center measures 1.25 in (3.2 cm) across. The spoke round brings it to 2.25 in (5.7 cm), and the ch-5 ring makes a 3 in (7.6 cm) circle. Two shaping rounds turn the circle into a 5.5 in × 5 in (14.0 × 12.7 cm) heart. The 126-sc border, with 63 sc per half, and the corded edge bring it to a finished 6 in × 5.5 in (15.2 × 14.0 cm). If you meet each checkpoint, the finished size follows.
Happy crocheting!