Use this adorable, cozy heart shaped handwarmer knitting pattern (or use them as sachets!) this winter, they make a perfect gift!
Friends, I am in LOVE with this cute heart shaped handwarmer knitting pattern. It’s the most fun I’ve had knitting in a while!
And I’m extra excited because I am pretty sure I came up with a totally unique strategy for knitting hear shapes. I did a TON of research when I was planning these, because you know, if you’ve ever knit a shape, like a heart that has two unconnected sections (the curves on top of the heart), it’s a pain in the neck.
You pretty much have to knit each section separately and then you need stitch holders and there are extra ends to weave in. It’s just annoying.
And I knew I needed to knit 4 identical heart shapes for this handwarmer knitting pattern so I did NOT want to be doing that 8 separate time. Ugh.
So I set out to see if I could knit a heart shape on straight needles with no stitch holders, no extra ends, no short rows, etc.
And guess what?! I did it! Yay! These heart shapes are SO easy and today I’m using them to knit handwarmers but I can imagine tons of future uses for this beyond easy knitting technique.
If you use it for something else, just give me a little credit, yeah?
Tips and Tricks for Knitting Handwarmers
- Use a natural fiber like wool, alpaca or cotton, not acrylic, you don’t want it to melt!
- If you knit loosely, size down your needles. You want a dense fabric so the filling doesn’t leak out between stitches.
- Block your heart shapes before assembling your handwarmers for best results.
- When heating your handwarmers in the microwave, heat in short 5-10 second increments, and NEVER walk away while heating, let’s not start any fires, ok?
- To make the assembly step easy, you can pin the heart shapes together so they don’t shift while you sew.
Heart Shaped Handwarmer Knitting Pattern Supply List
- Us 7 12″ straight knitting needles
- Yarn needle
- Dried rice
(If you need help, my favorite knitting reference book for everyone from beginners to advanced knitters is THIS ONE!)
Looking for the pattern? Here’s how it works: This pattern is available for FREE to view right here on my site (keep scrolling down). Or for just a few dollars, you can choose to purchase an upgraded PDF pattern that is nicely formatted and easy to print. Thank you for supporting Little Red Window!
Heart Shaped Handwarmer Knitting Pattern Instructions
Gauge: 20 stitches = 4 inches
Finished Size: approx. 4 1/4 inches wide x 4 inches tall x 1 inch thick
Note: Gauge is not that important for this project. If you want smaller handwarmers, use thinner yarn and smaller needles.
Abbreviations:
sl1: slip one stitch purlwise
Errata: There was a typo in row 5, it should read p12, sl1, p12 and it has been corrected in all version of the pattern.
To Knit a Heart Shape (make 4):
Cast 19 stitches onto your knitting needles
Row 1 (WS): pfb, p8, sl1, p8, pfb (21 stitches)
Row 2 (RS): kfb, k9, sl1, k9, kfb (23 stitches)
Row 3: pfb, p10, sl1, p10, pfb (25 stitches)
Row 4: k12, sl1, k12
Row 5: p12, sl1, p12
Rows 6-7: repeat rows 4 & 5
Row 8: ssk, k10, sl1, k10, k2tog (23 stitches)
Row 9: p11, sl1, p11
Row 10: knit all stitches
Row 11: purl all stitches
Row 12: ssk, knit across until there are 2 stitches left, k2tog
Row 13: purl all stitches
Repeat rows 12 & 13 until you have 3 stitches left after a right side row. Then p3tog.
Cut yarn and pull through remaining stitch to finish. Leave a 24 inch long cast off tail to assemble the handwarmers on two of the 4 heart shapes. Weave in the other ends.
Block your heart shapes.
To Assemble the Handwarmers:
Place two heart shapes (one with a long cast off tail, and one without) on top of each other wrong sides together.
You may pin them in place. Thread one long cast off tail on a yarn needle and use it to carefully stitch the two hearts together along the edges.
I used a basic running stitch with VERY small stitches (so the rice won’t leak out). Stitch around 80% of the heart, leaving about 1 1/2 inches open along one straight edge to fill the handwarmers.
Use a spoon to fill your handwarmer with dry rice.
When it is full of rice, continue sewing with the yarn needle to close the opening.
Tie a small, secure knot and bury the yarn tail end inside the middle of the handwarmer (you can do this by sticking the yarn needle all the way through the middle and out the other side, then trimming the yarn close to the surface. As you handle the handwarmer, that yarn tail will be pulled back into the center and remain hidden.)
Repeat with the other two heart shapes to make a second handwarmer.
To warm your handwarmers, heat them in the microwave for short 5-10 second increments until they are warm but not hot.
Watch carefully, check their temperature frequently and never leave them unattended in the microwave. Never get handwarmers wet or heat to a temperature hotter than you can hold comfortably with bare hands. Be careful not to burn yourself.
Do not give hot handwarmers to children.
Variations on Knit Heart Shaped Handwarmers
To make beanbags:
Instead of rice, fill the heart shapes with dried beans. Use for supervised play or sensory activities. Do not heat.
To make sachets (photo below):
Instead of rice, fill the heart shapes with dried lavender flowers. Place in closets or dresser drawers. Do not heat.
If you liked this, you may also like some of my other posts…
- Gingerbread House and Gingerbread Man Knitting Patterns - December 13, 2024
- Peppermint Candy Cane Wreath Knitting Pattern - December 9, 2024
- Gingerbread Wreath Knitting Pattern - December 9, 2024
Naoimh says
Cassie, I adore this pattern! I love it for the edging detail and for the way the heart is shaped. I would love to knit it about 3/4 larger, as a piece to attach to the front of a baby blanket.
Is there a simple equation I can apply to the pattern to achieve this?
Many thanks! 🧶
Cassie May says
Hi! I don’t really have a formula, but I think you would just cast on more stitches and carry the slipped stitch more rows while following the same decrease pattern to achieve the shape. It shouldn’t be too hard, I don’t think!
totallybemused says
Lovely pattern! I cast-on the 19 sts as for the toe of a sock, and knit the two at once in the round. (All RS rounds) Fingering weight hand-dyed silk on 2 mm needles. Photo on Ravelry!
Betty Amber says
I possisbly didnt make my query clear I knit with 8 ply wool using size 4 needles
Perfect for retrieval babies but need to make them bigger By using bigger needles doesnt make the size bigger only the weave and because of the stuffing I dont need to make the weave bigger
Ideal size would be around 5 and half inches high
I love the pattern the best one Ive seen so thank you so much
Cheers Betty
Cassie May says
Hi!
Ok, so if you’re using this for babies, my concern would be any possibility of rice escaping. Because of that, I would recommend making a cotton bag for the inside to contain the rice. You could use a thin muslin or similar. Then to increase the size of the heart shapes, you can use both bigger needles AND thicker yarn which will make the hearts bigger and contain the rice. Hope that helps!
Best, Cassie
Betty Amber says
I would like to knit these hand warmers in a bigger size can you help
Have made lots for charity babies just stuff them will filling not to be heated
but need to make them larger
Any help would be appreciated
thank you
Susan says
Hi, what size ok knitting needles required for the knitted hearts warmers .
Love the pattern .
Cassie May says
Hi!
This one takes US 7 (4.5mm) straight knitting needles 🙂
M Gill says
Where would a homeless person find a microwave to heat these?
Cassie May says
Hi!
I love the idea of handing out handwarmers for the homeless, but you are right, lack of access to a microwave would be a problem for this specific project. I did have one reader who knit the back side of the heart shape in two overlapping halves (knit slightly more than half the heart shape (bottom to middle) then cast off, then knit slightly more than the other half (middle to top) of the heart shape separately) and then she sewed the shapes together only around the edges. This left an opening where the two heart halves overlap (like a decorative pillowcase) where you could insert those disposable individual hand warmers that you get at the dollar store and other places. I thought that was a brilliant customization!
Penny says
Love this pattern! I am going to make lavender sachets with ribbon loops for hanging as presents for my knitting group.
Christine says
Darling! Will send to adilt daughter with lavender and grandbaby with beans inside! Thank you ❤
Cassie May says
yay! Enjoy!