Lavender Hearts

As promised, here is the pattern for these lavender-filled hearts

Double Knitting Yarn

Needles - size 2.75 or 3 mm

Lavender

Ribbon for Hanging

Decorations

This pattern is for the Stocking Stitch Heart, but you can use any stitch that produces a close-knit fabric. Using the smaller gauge needles helps to stop the lavender from poking through the knitting.

Abbreviations

P = Purl  ::  K = Knit  ::  St/s = Stitch/es

M1 = Make 1 by picking up loop between stitches and knitting into the back of it

S1K1PO = Slip 1, Knit 1, Pass Slip Stitch Over

K2tog = Knit 2 together

P2tog = Purl 2 together

Make 2 as follows:-

Cast on 4 sts

Row 1:  P

Row 2:  K1, M1, K to last stitch, M1, K1

Row 3:  P

Rows 4 - 18:  Repeat these last 2 rows until there are 22 sts

Row 19:  P

Row 20:  K

Row 21: P

Row 22: K

Row 23: P

Now it is time to divide the work for the top of the heart.

Row 24:  K1, S1K1PO, K5, K2tog, K1 (9sts)

Turn and work on these stitches

Row 25:  P9

Row 26:  K1, S1K1PO, K3, K2tog, K1 (7sts)

Row 27:  P2tog, P3, P2tog (5sts)

Row 28:  S1K1PO, K3 (4sts)

Row 29: P2tog, P2tog (2sts)

Row 30: K2tog (1st)

Cut yarn and reattach it to remaining stitches on needle.

Repeat Rows 24 -30

Cut yarn leaving a long tail for sewing up.

Place hearts wrong sides together and sew, using mattress stitch.  At centre top, sew in ribbon to form a hanging loop and before continuing to stitch seam, fill with dried lavender.

I use a cone of card to help fill my sachets.  I find that it keeps the edges of the material clean.

Today I knitted another heart and added beads to it.

You will need to thread approximately 70 beads onto the yarn before knitting.

 Randomly place bead by bringing yarn with bead to front of work, slipping the next stitch knitways onto right hand needle and passing yarn to back of work, leaving the bead sitting snugly in front of the slipped stitch.  Ensure that the next stitch is worked firmly.  When completing the next row (purl stitches), make sure that the bead is to the front of the work and keep the tension firm.  

I hope that that made sense!

Whilst I had my dried lavender out I made a couple of wreaths:-

One completely lavender

 and the other one made using hessian for a more rustic look.

 Our living-room now smells strongly of lavender! :)