Intermediate
What the pattern's own author called it. Nothing here is graded again.
Garments 9 Laid out for paper No account, no download
Heart stitch cardigan with a V-stitch collar
Cardigan with heart-stitch panels, 3 back rounds, 4.5mm hook, 4mm for the V-stitch collar.
- Skill
- Intermediate
- Time
- 4-6 hours
- Yarn weight
- Worsted
- Hook
- 4.5 mm
- Rounds
- 9
Worsted
What the sample was worked in. Any weight works; the size moves with it.
9
Each one is typed out whole and gets its own line.
Cardigan with heart-stitch panels, 3 back rounds, 4.5mm hook, 4mm for the V-stitch collar.
Common mistakes and their fixes
- Losing the heart shape between rounds
- Place a marker in the center space of each heart after Round 1 so you can find it fast when working the Round 2 heart stitch into it.
- Starting V-neck decreases too early
- Measure the panel from the top edge and wait until it reaches 7 inches before combining the last two stitches; starting early shortens the V and skews the neckline.
The materials list
- 4.5 mm hook for main body
- 4 mm hook for collar
- Acrylic yarn
Listed by the pattern's own author, in their words.
Key to this pattern, 4 short forms
Back Panel
Foundation: Make a starting chain one inch less than your desired chest width (e.g., 66 chains for approx. 18 in width).
Main Stitch pattern: Work 5 DC; ch 1 and skip 1; make heart stitch in next stitch; ch 1; make second puff in same stitch; ch 1 and skip 1; repeat 5 DC and heart stitch pattern across.
Round 1
Skip two chains and make DC in third chain; Work 3 DC; Ch 1 and skip 1; Make heart stitch; Ch 1; Make second puff in same stitch; Ch 1 and skip 1; Work 5 DC; Repeat sequence; End with DC in last chain
Round 2
Ch 3 and turn; Make heart stitch in center space of previous heart; Ch 1; Make 1 DC in each of next 5 DC; Ch 1 and repeat pattern across
Round 3
(Continue Panel): Repeat Row 2 until desired length
Front Panels
Round 1
Divide initial chain number in half; Work identical stitch pattern for each panel
Round 2
V Neck Begin decreases when panel is 7 in from top; Decrease neckline edge by combining last two stitches each row; Continue until V shape is formed
Collar
Round 1
Attach thinner yarn with 4 mm hook at neckline; Work SC around neckline; Ch 2; Skip one stitch and work V stitch into next stitch; Continue V stitches to end
Round 2
Collar Increase At row start work extra V stitch; At end work extra DC; Repeat V stitches acrossContinue 4–5 rows.
Sleeves
Round 1
Work main stitch pattern
Round 2
Add V stitch cuff
Assembly, in order
Step 1Attach sleeves
Step 2Seam front, back, and sleeves together
Step 3Add scallop edging along front opening
Step 4Create buttonholes
Check these before you start
- The heart stitch and its paired puff sit in the same stitch, separated by a single chain — keep that chain-1 consistent or the heart shape flattens.
- Front Panel decreases for the V-neck begin only once the panel measures 7 inches from the top — measure before you start combining stitches, not by row count.
On one line
| Rounds | 9 |
|---|---|
| Parts | 4 |
| Level | Intermediate |
| Time | 4-6 hours |
| Hook | 4.5 mm |
| Yarn | Worsted |
Set-up
- Chain one inch less than your desired chest width before starting Round 1 of the Back Panel, so check your gauge against that measurement first.
- Read Round 2 of the Back Panel before you start Round 1 — the heart stitch placement in the center space only makes sense once you see how the second row sits into it.
- Set aside the thinner yarn and 4 mm hook separately from your main acrylic yarn and 4.5 mm hook so you are not hunting for them at the collar stage.
- Confirm how many chains your chest width requires before dividing that number in half for the two Front Panels — an odd split will throw off the V stitch symmetry later.
Finishing
- Weave in all ends from the Back Panel, both Front Panels, and both Sleeves before assembly, since seams will hide fewer loose tails once panels are joined.
- Seam the front, back, and sleeves together, then attach sleeves at the shoulder openings so the heart stitch pattern lines up across the seam.
- Add the scallop edging along the front opening and work the buttonholes last, once the collar's 4-5 rows are complete and the front bands are stable.
Construction
The heart motif is built in two passes: Round 1 sets the puff stitches into the DC field, and Round 2 works a fresh heart stitch directly into the center space left by the round below, which is why the two rounds cannot be worked in isolation.
The Front Panels are worked flat rather than in the round because each needs independent V-neck shaping — decreasing the neckline edge on one side only would be impossible on a piece worked in the round.
Time per section
| Back Panel | about 2 hours, because it runs 3 rounds and carries the full heart-and-puff repeat across the widest section. |
|---|---|
| Front Panels and Sleeves | about 2 hours, because two Front Panels each need separate V-neck decreases and two Sleeves are worked to match. |
| Collar and assembly | about 1 to 2 hours, because the Collar's 4-5 rows use a smaller hook and finer yarn, then seaming, edging, and buttonholes follow. |
Photographs of this one
Every one was taken by whoever published the pattern, in the order the source listed them.
Common questions
These answers came from whoever first published the pattern, kept word for word.