Knit Heart Ornament – 12 Ornaments of Christmas

It’s time for the second ornament of Christmas! If you have no idea what I’m talking about, check out the 12 ornaments of Christmas kickoff post from last week. Today’s installment of the series is in keeping with my promise to hold off on sharing ornaments that are super festive. While you can of course knit this in any color (or color combo!), I went with a nice bluish color to add some variety to my upcoming yarn-covered Christmas tree. Even if you don’t want to knit up this sweet little heart as an ornament, it easily doubles as a nice gift topper or baby toy. As a gift, this simple knit heart could cheer even the humbuggiest of Scrooges!

Get an inexpensive, printable, ad-free PDF of this pattern here, or you can continue scrolling to see the pattern now.

Don’t forget! If you make this or any other of the 12 ornaments of Christmas, you can share them on social media using #handsoccupiedhohoho! 

Knit Heart Ornament Pattern

Updated 12/8/18. 

Skill level: easy

Supplies
1 pack Lion Brand Yarn Bonbons in Beach, which comes with 8 mini skeins. – You need 1 skein of blue to complete the ornament.
size US 3 (3.25 mm) knitting needles
stitch holder or scrap yarn
scissors
tapestry needle
poly-fil
scrap ribbon
sewing needle & thread

Abbreviations & Terms
CO – cast on
sts – stitches
WS – wrong side
p – purl
RS – right side
k – knit
M1R – make 1 right-leaning stitch. Here’s a tutorial.
M1L – make 1 left-leaning stitch. Here’s a tutorial.
(X sts) – X indicates the number of sts that will now be on your needle
rep – repeat
ssk – slip one st as if to knit, slip one as if to purl, k2 sts together through the back loop
k2tog – knit 2 sts together
BO – bind off
mattress stitch – A seaming technique for joining knit pieces. Here’s a tutorial.

Gauge & dimensions: 22 sts & 28 rows over 4 inches, knit in stockinette stitch. Finished ornament measures approx. 3.5” tall and 3.75” wide.

Looking for a printer-friendly version of this pattern? Grab an inexpensive, ad-free PDF of this pattern right here.

The Pattern

Heart Panels (make 2)

CO 3 sts
odd rows 1-23. (WS) p across.
row 2. (RS) k1, M1R, k1, M1L, k1. (5 sts)

row 4. k1, M1R, k to last st, M1L, k1. (7 sts)
even rows 6-18. Rep row 4. (21 sts)
rows 20 & 22. k21.
row 24. k 10, ssk, k9. (20 sts)

Begin working only on left top of heart.

row 25. p 10, turn. (You’re only working half of the row.) Place other 10 sts on holder.
row 26. ssk, k6, k2tog. (8 sts)

row 27. p8.
row 28. ssk, k4, k2tog. (6 sts)

row 29. p6.
row 30. ssk, k2, k2tog. (4 sts)

BO in pattern.
Break yarn, draw tail through last loop to secure.

Knit right heart top.

Move 10 live stitches from holder to knitting needle. Add yarn and rep rows 25-30, forming the top right of the heart. BO in pattern. Break yarn, draw tail through last loop to secure.

Finishing
Once you’ve knit two hearts, sew the two hearts together using the mattress stitch with right sides facing out. Work all the way around, stuffing the heart with poly-fil as you go. Weave in ends. Using a needle & thread, sew a scrap of ribbon to the back of your finished ornament to hang.

New to mattress stitch? I’ve got you covered.

Click here to find patterns & tutorials for all of the ornaments in this series!