The Butter Blossom Heart is a small lace ornament built from three flowers. Two compact blossoms fill the rounded lobes, and a larger blossom sits low in the center, pointing toward the tip of the heart. Open chain mesh and a neat single-crochet outline frame all three flowers.
Worked in one soft butter-yellow cotton, the heart looks delicate and a little vintage. It works well on a tree, in a window, on a gift tag, or as a wedding favor. One color keeps the lace pattern easy to read.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished heart measures 4 in (10.2 cm) wide by 4.25 in (10.8 cm) tall, not counting the hanging loop, which adds about 2.5 in (6.4 cm).
Construction is simple. You make two small flowers and one large flower, joining them as you go on their last round. Next, you work two outline rounds around the joined trio to shape the heart, and then you add a hanging loop.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 4 in (10.2 cm) wide x 4.25 in (10.8 cm) tall
- Hanging loop: about 2.5 in (6.4 cm) tall
- Skill level: Easy-intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: DK / light (3) cotton
- Hook: 3.25 mm (US D/3)
- Number of pieces: 1 heart, built from 3 flower motifs joined as you go
- Layout: 2 small flowers side by side on top, 1 large flower centered below
- Small flower (Motif B): 1.75 in (4.4 cm) across
- Large flower (Motif A): 2.25 in (5.7 cm) across
- Size before border: 3.5 in (8.9 cm) wide x 3.75 in (9.5 cm) tall
- Border depth: about 0.25 in (0.6 cm)
Materials
Use a smooth mercerized or combed DK cotton. Cotton holds the lace shape after blocking and keeps the petals crisp. Avoid fuzzy or very stretchy yarns, because they blur the open spaces.
- Butter yellow DK cotton: 10 g (about 23 m) per heart; 60 g (about 138 m) for a set of six
- 3.25 mm (US D/3) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
- Blocking mat and rust-proof pins
- Spray bottle with water
- Optional: fabric stiffener or light spray starch
Quantities include a margin of about 40% for swatching, joining, and tails. One heart uses about 6 g.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- tr – treble crochet
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- rnd – round
- rep – repeat
Special stitches
- dc3cl (3-dc cluster): [Yarn over, insert hook in st, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through 2 loops] 3 times in the same st, yarn over, pull through all 4 loops on hook.
- Beg dc cluster: Ch 2, then work a 2-dc cluster in the same st (as dc3cl, but only 2 times; pull through all 3 loops).
- tr3cl (3-tr cluster): [Yarn over twice, insert hook in st, pull up a loop, (yarn over, pull through 2 loops) twice] 3 times in the same st, yarn over, pull through all 4 loops on hook.
- Beg tr cluster: Ch 3, then work a 2-tr cluster in the same st (pull through all 3 loops at the end).
- Joining loop: In place of the plain chain loop, ch 2, sl st into the matching loop of the finished motif, ch 2. This counts as one chain loop.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge is measured on the motifs, not on a square. Make one small flower first and check it before you continue.
- Motif B, after Rnd 1: 1 in (2.5 cm) across
- Motif B, after Rnd 2: 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across
- Motif B, after Rnd 3: 1.75 in (4.4 cm) across
- Motif A, after Rnd 2: 2 in (5.1 cm) across
- Motif A, after Rnd 3: 2.25 in (5.7 cm) across
- Joined trio: 3.5 in (8.9 cm) wide x 3.75 in (9.5 cm) tall
- Finished heart: 4 in (10.2 cm) x 4.25 in (10.8 cm)
Pin the motif out lightly before you measure, because unblocked lace curls.
If Motif B is larger than 1.75 in (4.4 cm), go down to a 3.0 mm hook. If it is smaller, go up to a 3.5 mm hook. Change the hook size, not the stitch counts, so the joins and border still match.
Motif B – Small Flower (Make 2)
Rnd 1: Make a magic ring. Ch 3 (counts as dc), 15 dc in ring. Pull the ring closed, leaving a small open center. Join with sl st to top of ch-3. (16 dc)
Rnd 2: Sl st into the space between sts. Work a beg dc cluster in the same space, ch 2, skip 1 dc, dc3cl in the space before the next dc, ch 2; rep from * 6 more times. Join with sl st to top of beg cluster. (8 clusters, 8 ch-2 sps)*
The clusters should be evenly spaced around the ring, with 2 dc between each pair. If the petals crowd, check that you skipped 1 dc each time.
Rnd 3 (first Motif B only): Ch 1, sc in top of beg cluster, ch 4, sc in top of next cluster, ch 4; rep from * 6 more times. Join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off. (8 sc, 8 ch-4 loops)*
Lay this motif flat with one loop pointing straight to the right. Call this loop B1-East. The next loop below it, going clockwise, is B1-Southeast.
Rnd 3 (second Motif B, joining): Work as for the first Motif B until you have 6 sc and 6 ch-4 loops. Then:
- sc in top of next cluster, then work a joining loop into B1-East
- sc in top of the last cluster, ch 4
- join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off.
(8 sc, 7 ch-4 loops + 1 joining loop)
Lay the pair flat side by side. On the second motif (B2), the loop just after the join, moving down toward the center, is B2-Southwest.
Motif A – Large Flower (Make 1)
Rnd 1: Make a magic ring. Ch 3 (counts as dc), 15 dc in ring. Join. (16 dc)
Rnd 2: Sl st into the space between sts. Work a beg tr cluster in the same space, ch 3, skip 1 dc, tr3cl in the space before the next dc, ch 3; rep from * 6 more times. Join to top of beg cluster. (8 clusters, 8 ch-3 sps)*
Rnd 1 is the same as in Motif B. The taller tr clusters and longer chains make this flower bigger.
Rnd 3 (joining): Ch 1, sc in top of beg cluster, ch 5, sc in top of next cluster, ch 5; rep from * 4 more times. (6 sc, 6 ch-5 loops)*
Now join the last two loops to the pair:
- sc in top of next cluster, ch 2, sl st into B2-Southwest, ch 2
- sc in top of last cluster, ch 2, sl st into B1-Southeast, ch 2
- join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off.
(8 sc, 6 ch-5 loops + 2 joining loops)
Weave in all tails along the chain loops. The three flowers now meet in a small triangle at the center.
Joining Checkpoint and Free Loops
Lay the trio flat, with the small flowers on top and the large flower centered below. Check the free loops before you start the border:
- B2 (right lobe): 8 loops − 2 joined = 6 free loops
- A (bottom): 8 loops − 2 joined = 6 free loops
- B1 (left lobe): 8 loops − 2 joined = 6 free loops
- Total perimeter loops: 18
Each motif should have 6 loops facing outward. If a loop faces into the center triangle, one join is in the wrong place. Move that join to the loop next to the existing join.
The joined trio should measure 3.5 in (8.9 cm) wide x 3.75 in (9.5 cm) tall.
Border
Border gauge: Rnd 2 runs about 7.5 sc per 1 in (2.5 cm) along the outline. The two border rounds together add about 0.25 in (0.6 cm) all around.
Rnd 1 builds the heart shape. Chain mesh rounds out the lobes, a tr fills each side notch, and a dc point forms the tip. Rnd 2 is a solid sc outline. Number the free loops of each motif 1–6 in working order, going clockwise from the top dip.
Rnd 1 (shaping mesh): With the front facing, join yarn with sl st in B2 loop 1 (the first free loop to the right of the top dip).
- Right lobe: Ch 1, sc in same loop, ch 4, sc in next B2 loop; rep from * 4 more times. (6 sc, 5 ch-4 sps)*
- Right notch: Ch 3, tr into the joining sl st between B2 and A, ch 3. (1 tr, 2 ch-3 sps)
- Right bottom: Sc in A loop 1, ch 4, sc in A loop 2, ch 4, sc in A loop 3. (3 sc, 2 ch-4 sps)
- Point: Ch 3, (dc, ch 3, dc) in the Rnd 3 sc of Motif A that sits between loops 3 and 4, ch 3. (2 dc, 3 ch-3 sps)
- Left bottom: Sc in A loop 4, ch 4, sc in A loop 5, ch 4, sc in A loop 6. (3 sc, 2 ch-4 sps)
- Left notch: Ch 3, tr into the joining sl st between A and B1, ch 3. (1 tr, 2 ch-3 sps)
- Left lobe: Sc in B1 loop 1, ch 4, sc in next B1 loop; rep from * 4 more times. (6 sc, 5 ch-4 sps)*
- Top dip: Ch 1, join with sl st to first sc. (1 ch-1 sp)
Rnd 1 totals: 18 sc, 2 tr, 2 dc, 14 ch-4 sps, 7 ch-3 sps (including the point), and 1 ch-1 sp.
Rnd 2 (outline): Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each sc, tr, and dc. Work 4 sc in each ch-4 sp and 3 sc in each ch-3 sp, except the point. In the point ch-3 sp, work (2 sc, ch 2, 2 sc). At the top dip, skip the ch-1 sp and sl st into it from the front so it pulls the dip down. Join with sl st to first sc.
Rnd 2 count per side:
- Right lobe: 6 sc + (5 x 4) = 26
- Right notch: 3 + 1 + 3 = 7
- Right bottom: 3 sc + (2 x 4) = 11
- Right of point: 3 (ch-3 sp) + 1 (dc) + 2 (half of point) = 6
- Right side total: 26 + 7 + 11 + 6 = 50 sc
- Left side total: 50 sc (mirror image)
- Rnd 2 total: 100 sc + 1 ch-2 point
Why the math works: Each of the 18 perimeter loops gets exactly one sc in Rnd 1. That makes 18 anchors, so the border can’t drift or ruffle. Each ch-4 space is about 4 sc wide, so 4 sc per space keeps Rnd 2 flat. Each ch-3 notch space takes 3 sc, so the tr can fill the inward curve at each side without pulling it tighter. The point uses 2 dc and a ch-2 tip, which gives the heart a sharp bottom. The ch-1 top dip, closed with a slip stitch, holds the center V.
If the edge ripples, use ch 3 instead of ch 4 in the lobes. If it cups, use ch 5. Keep the sc counts the same.
Hanging loop: After joining Rnd 2, sl st across into the top dip. Ch 30, sl st in the same dip. For a sturdier hanger, turn and work 35 sc over the chain loop. For a lighter look, leave it as plain chain. Sl st in the dip and fasten off. The loop stands about 2.5 in (6.4 cm) tall.
Final Blocking
- Weave in the remaining tails along the outline stitches. If you may need to adjust tension, leave 6 in (15.2 cm) tails until after blocking.
- Soak the heart in cool water for 10 minutes, then press out the water in a towel.
- Pin the heart to 4 in (10.2 cm) wide x 4.25 in (10.8 cm) tall.
- Pin the bottom point first, then the top dip, then the widest point of each lobe.
- Pin each flower center open and stretch each petal outward a little.
- Open each mesh space by pinning its chain loop outward.
- For firm ornaments, spray lightly with stiffener or starch.
- Let it dry fully, at least 8 hours, then unpin and trim the tails.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Motif B measures 1.75 in (4.4 cm); Motif A measures 2.25 in (5.7 cm).
- Each flower has 8 clusters and 8 outer loops.
- Exactly 18 loops face outward before the border.
- Rnd 1 has 18 sc, 2 tr, and 2 dc.
- Rnd 2 has 100 sc (50 per side), plus the ch-2 point.
- Both lobes are the same size and shape.
- The top dip and bottom point sit on the same center line.
- The hanging loop is centered and secure.
- The finished heart is 4 in (10.2 cm) x 4.25 in (10.8 cm).
Troubleshooting
Flower center won’t close: Pull the magic ring tighter before joining Rnd 1, or work Rnd 1 into a ch-4 ring.
Petals look crowded or uneven: Check that each cluster sits in its own gap and that you skipped 1 dc each time.
Joined flowers overlap: The joining loop is too short. Keep ch 2 on both sides of each joining sl st.
Heart looks lopsided: One join is off by a loop. Count 6 outward loops per motif before the border.
Side notches still dip inward: Pull the tr up to full height, or use a dtr in place of the tr.
Bottom point is blunt: Make sure the (dc, ch 3, dc) sits in the center sc of Motif A, and work a ch-2 tip in Rnd 2.
Hanging loop twists: Work sc over the loop, or pin it straight during blocking.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, press dry in a towel, and reshape flat. Re-starch as needed, and store flat between tissue so the points stay crisp.
Final Notes
The measurement chain is short and easy to check. The small flower is 1.75 in (4.4 cm) and the large flower is 2.25 in (5.7 cm). Together they make a trio 3.5 in (8.9 cm) wide x 3.75 in (9.5 cm) tall. Two outline rounds with 18 anchors and 100 sc bring the heart to 4 in (10.2 cm) x 4.25 in (10.8 cm). If your first small flower matches the gauge, every heart that follows will match too. Make one for a gift tag, or a whole set for the tree.
Happy crocheting!