My mother in law has been knitting beautiful hearts for charity for a while - She gives hers to the Chaplain of the Epsom and St Helier group of hospitals who was originally asking for hearts for Covid patients.

At first I wondered what difference these could actually make ...super cute but surely just another 'thing'!
Then she recounted several touching stories of their use.
How an anxious old lady at the hospital had used one for comfort and as a symbol of hope at the time of an operation. How it saw her through and even now she sleeps clutching it each night.
How a mass of pink ones were given to all attendees at a child’s funeral as a keepsake. So symbolic in so many ways.

Little things can certainly make a big difference and sometimes the smallest token can carry great meaning and hope.

So I am calling out to all knitters with spare wool and a little time to join the heart making.

They are a great quick pick-up time filler knit as they only take 15-20 mins each.

Below are the instructions... please feel free to share.

Cast on 3 stitches

Row 1    knit

Row 2    purl but Increase into first and last stitch (5 stitches)

Row 3    knit

Row 4    purl but increase into first and last stitch (7 stitches)

Row 5    knit

Fasten off wool and push the bit you have just knitted to the end of the
needle.

Make 4 pieces like this so that they all end up on the same needle  (to
do this, you cast on the next 3 stitches on the empty needle) Don't
fasten off the wool from the last of the pieces.

Row 6    purl across all 4 pieces

Row 7    knit

Row 8    purl

Row 9    knit 1, slip 1, psso, knit 8, knit 2 together, knit 2, slip 1,
psso, knit 8, knit 2 together, knit 1 (you should see the symmetry in this!)

Row 10    purl

Row 11    knit 1, slip 1, psso, knit 6, knit 2 together, knit 2, slip 1,
psso, knit 6, knit 2 together, knit 1

Row 12    purl

Row 13    knit 1, slip 1, psso, knit 4, knit 2 together, knit 2, slip 1,
psso, knit 4, knit 2 together, knit 1

Row 14    purl

Row 15    knit 1, slip 1, psso, knit 2, knit 2 together, knit 2, slip 1,
psso, knit 2, knit 2 together, knit 1

Row 16    knit 1, slip 1, psso, knit 2 together, knit 2, slip 1, psso,
knit 2 together, knit 1

Row 17    purl

Row 18    slip 1, psso, knit 2 together, slip 1, psso, knit 2 together

Row 19    purl 2 together, purl 2 together

Row 20    knit 2 together, fasten off

That looks awfully complicated but you need to make a start and you will
see how logical it is (unless I've made a terrible mistake)

Perhaps this is something your local hospital would appreciate?

We are now knitting yellow and blue ones for Ukraine!

Be creative & share the love!

Annika

Annika Rutlin Designer Jewellery

www.annikarutlin.com