The heart granny square sets a heart shape into the center of an otherwise standard square. There are two common ways to do it. Some patterns crochet the heart as part of the rounds using color changes, so the heart is worked right into the fabric. Others crochet a small separate heart and stitch it onto a finished plain square, which is the easier route for a beginner.
These squares are a favorite for Valentine makes, baby blankets, and gifts, since a grid of hearts reads as warm and handmade. The background is a plain solid or classic granny square, so most of the work is familiar, and the heart is the one feature that takes planning. Color-change versions need you to follow a small chart; appliqué versions just need a tidy whip stitch to attach the heart.
What you need
- Yarn
- Worsted (CYC 4) cotton or acrylic on a 4.0 to 5.0 mm hook, with a background color and a contrast color for the heart.
- Skill
- Beginner to intermediate. An appliqué heart is beginner friendly; a worked-in color-change heart needs chart reading.
Heart projects to make
- 1Appliqué heart square. A small crocheted heart sewn onto a plain square. The easiest version.
- 2Worked-in heart square. A heart made with color changes inside the rounds. Teaches following a small color chart.
- 3Heart blanket. A grid of heart squares in a palette. Teaches consistent square size for joining.
- 4Valentine garland. A few heart squares strung together. A fast, seasonal make.
Where to find free heart patterns
Heart granny squares are widely available for free, especially around the Valentine season. Ravelry filters them by free, and crochet blogs show both the appliqué and worked-in methods. Pick the method that matches your comfort with color changes.
Stitches you will use
- Double CrochetUS: dc / UK: tr
- Chain StitchUS: ch / UK: ch
- Single CrochetUS: sc / UK: dc
Looking for more? See all crochet granny squares patterns.