Sweetheart Kisses | Crochet Stitch Tutorial

I am very excited to share a brand new stitch I designed for Valentine's Day and for everyone who loves hearts! Introducing "Sweetheart Kisses" (thanks mom for the name suggestion), a stitch that gives you sweet little hearts lined up in rows...

The sweetheart kisses stitch is worked over the course of four repeat rows.

It starts with a foundation of two single crochet rows. The third row of the repetition, is where you will work the hearts – alternating between both colours, working in the current row and dropping down to the previous row. The fourth row of the repetition, is where you will bring the row back to level again – alternating between working in the current row, dropping down into unworked stitches from the previous row and working into the back-center of the hearts. 

Those four rows are repeated until designed length is reached, and then two final rows of single crochet is worked to complete the piece. 

For this stitch, you should be familiar with basic crochet stitches (such as ch, sl st, sc, dc, & tr), working dropped stitches, switching colours mid-row and carrying yarn/thread under the stitches as you work a row (this is necessary for the heart row of the repetition and is also used in the row after when working in rows instead of rounds). If you're new to any of these techniques, either the photo or video tutorial below or both will help you master them.

​Let's get started!

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You'll need:

• thread or yarn (10ply / 4:medium / worsted weight yarn in blue/green tones is used for the tutorial, but cotton thread size 10 is used above in red & pink.)
• hook (5mm / H:8 hook is used for this tutorial, but a 5.5mm / I:9 hook would be optimal for worsted weight yarn. A 1.5mm hook is paired with the thread version pictured above.)

TIP – use a yarn and a hook size that will produce a gauge of a perfect square from the same number of sts per row as the number of rows to get a perfectly square project from this stitch.

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Abbreviations: ~US terms are used~

• *...** - repeat instructions between the two asterisks as directed ~ I always highlight the repeat directions for this in purple so it is easier to spot.
• (...) - work the stitches between the parenthesis into the space as directed
• [...] - work stitches between the brackets how ever many times called for
• ch - chain 
• dc - double crochet
• f/o - fasten off 
• lp(s) - loop(s)
• prev - previous 
• rem - remaining, remain(s)
• rep - repeat
  
• RS - right side
  
• sc - single crochet
• sk - skip
• sl st - slip stitch
• sp(s) - space(s)
• st(s) - stitch(es)
• sweetheart - sweetheart kisses stitch (see how-to below)
• tr - treble/triple crochet​
• WS - wrong side​​

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Sweetheart - Special Stitch Abbreviation:

Each time you see "sweetheart" below, you will be making one heart.

TIP for switching colours = When only 2 loops rem on the hook to complete the stitch, drop the current colour and use the next colour to yarn over and pull through the loops to complete the stitch. Proceed as normal.

sweetheart = switch to heart colour as you complete the last st before the sweetheart stitch is made – sk 2 sts, dc in the next st, tr in the st from the prev row below the last dc made (tr drop st), (dc, sc, dc) in the same sp as the last dc made, tr in the same sp as the last tr made (tr drop st), dc in the same sp as the last dc made – switch to background colour as you finish this last dc of the sweetheart kiss stitch, sk 2 sts (7 sts = 1 heart).

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Sweetheart Kisses Stitch Instructions:

You have 2 different options to start your project. You can either start with the traditional foundation chains, or you can start with foundation single crochet (this is the preferred option as it allows for more stretch, see Moogly's tutorial here).

Before you get started, please note that if you will be working in rnds rather than rows, you'll want to (sl st join, ch 1, turn) at the end of rnds instead of the (ch 1, turn) you do for rows.

Option 1 – If starting with foundation chains, you'll need to ch (a multiple of 7 + 1 sts) in background colour until you reach your desired length. Then for row 1, you'll sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across. This will give you a multiple of 7 sts in the row. Ch 1, turn and proceed to row 2...

Option 2 – ​If starting with foundation single crochet (FSC), you'll need to FSC (a multiple of 7 sts) in background colour until you reach your desired length. Ch 1, turn and proceed to row 2...

   row 2: sc across the row, ch 1, turn (same number of sts as row 1).

   row 3: carry the alternate colour under the sts, so that it is avail when you need it – sc, [sweetheart, sc 2] rep across the row until only 6 sts rem, (sweetheart, sc) over rem sts, ch 1, turn (a multiple of 9 sts).

*Click on pictures to get a closer look.

   row 4: carry the heart colour under the sts as you work this row, so that it will be on the correct side when you need it again (do not do this if you are working in rnds instead of rows – instead, only carry the heart yarn up the rnds until you need it again) – sc, [*dc into each of the next 2 unworked sts from the prev row, insert your hook into into 2 lps of a post st from the top-center-back of the heart – work a sl st here (remember that the WS is facing you right now, so you’ll work into the side facing you), dc into each of the next 2 unworked sts from the prev row,** sc into each of the 2 sc sts between the hearts] rep across the row until only one heart section rem, (rep from * to **, sc) over rem sts, ch 1, turn (same number of sts as row 1). *Make sure not to accidentally grab or work around the heart sts. 

From here, only carry the heart thread up the rows until you need it again...

   row 5-6: sc across the row, ch 1, turn (same number of sts as row 1).

   row 7+: rep rows 3-6 alternately until you reach desired height, f/o at the end of the last row.

Weave in all ends.

Jump to a specific section in this video tutorial! 

*Note: Clicking on the links below will open this video in YouTube at the respective time. If you would rather stay on this page, just use the time bar to scroll to the linked time for the section you wish to view...

0:00 – Intro
0:10 – Supplies & Techniques
0:48 – Row 1-2 | Starting Your Project Notes 
1:17 – Row 3 | Intro Notes
1:42 – Row 3 | Working the first row of hearts...
8:32 – Row 4 | Intro Notes
9:16 – Row 4 | Returning to original stitch count & evening out the row again...
15:10 – Row 5-6 | Intro Notes
15:59 – Row 5-6 | Working 2 rows of sc...
19:13 – Row 7 | Intro Notes
19:41 – Row 7 | Working the next row of hearts...

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Stitch Variation:

Let's say you would like there to be more space around the hearts...

​All you would need to do is increase the number of sc's between each heart in the row and increase the number of sc rows and the starting chain / FSC row accordingly. 

​Have fun playing with this fun stitch!

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I hope you've enjoyed learning this new stitch. If you have, please share your rating of this stitch with us here, or favourite this stitch pattern on Ravelry here...

You won't have to wait too long before you can try some new projects with this sweet stitch because I have created 3 new free patterns just for you!

​These patterns will be coming to you this month. Here's a little sneak preview...

1. Sweetheart Kisses 6" Afghan Square
2. Sweetheart Kisses Coaster
3. Sweetheart Kisses Girl Fashion Doll Dress

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Thanks so much for visiting. I hope you have a marvelous day!

Please share this tutorial with your friends or anyone you know who loves hearts...