Harmony Rug with Hearts : Video tutorial

Welcome, creative souls! Today, we’re embarking on a heartwarming journey to crochet a truly special piece for your home: the Harmony Rug with Hearts. This isn’t just a rug; it’s a cozy declaration of love and connection, perfect for adding warmth and personality to any space. Imagine sinking your toes into a soft, handmade rug adorned with sweet little hearts – a constant reminder of the harmony you cherish.

This project, while requiring some patience and dedication, is achievable for crocheters with a solid grasp of basic stitches. The repetitive nature of the pattern makes it a wonderfully meditative project, and the final result will be a unique and cherished heirloom. So, gather your favorite bulky yarns, your trusty hook, and let’s weave some love into a Harmony Rug!

What You’ll Need:

• Bulky Weight Yarn in Your Chosen Colors: You’ll need a substantial amount of your main rug color and a contrasting color for the hearts. The exact yardage will depend on your desired rug size. It’s always better to overestimate slightly to avoid running out. Consider using a durable and washable yarn for a rug.
• Large Crochet Hook: The size will depend on your yarn weight. Typically, an L/11 (8.0 mm) or N/15 (10.0 mm) hook works well for bulky yarn rugs. Check your yarn label for recommendations.
• Scissors: For snipping your yarn.
• Yarn Needle with a Large Eye: For weaving in those ends securely.
• Stitch Markers (optional but highly recommended): To help you keep track of your rows and heart placements.
• Measuring Tape: To check your progress and ensure your rug reaches your desired dimensions.

Understanding the Foundation: The Harmony of Stitches

Our Harmony Rug primarily utilizes a simple yet effective stitch that creates a dense and cozy texture:

• Half Double Crochet (hdc): This stitch provides a good balance of height and density, making it ideal for a rug.

The hearts will be incorporated using basic shaping techniques with double crochet (dc) and slip stitches (sl st).

Video tutorial

The Pattern: Weaving Love Row by Row

Let’s begin building our Harmony Rug! This pattern provides a foundation for a rectangular rug with evenly spaced hearts. You can easily adapt the size and number of hearts to fit your vision.

Part 1: The Main Body of the Rug

1. Foundation Chain: Chain the desired width of your rug. For a medium-sized rug, you might start with 80-100 chains. Remember that the initial chain will determine one side of your rug.
2. Row 1: Half double crochet (hdc) in the third chain from the hook (the first two chains count as a turning chain), and in each chain across. Turn.
3. Row 2: Chain 2 (counts as the first hdc). Half double crochet (hdc) in each stitch across. Turn.
4. Repeat Row 2: Continue working rows of half double crochet until your rug reaches your desired length, or until you’re ready to start incorporating the hearts.

Part 2: Incorporating the Hearts

We’ll strategically place hearts throughout the rug. You can decide on the spacing between your hearts. For a balanced look, consider placing them evenly across the width and down the length of your rug.

Creating a Single Heart:

This is a small, simple heart that will be integrated into your hdc fabric.

1. On the row where you want to place a heart: Work your regular hdc stitches until you reach the desired position for the heart.
2. Heart Foundation: Chain 3.
3. First Half of the Heart: In the second chain from the hook, work 1 hdc. In the third chain from the hook, work 1 dc.
4. Point of the Heart: Chain 1. Slip stitch (sl st) into the top of the dc you just made. Chain 1.
5. Second Half of the Heart: In the same third chain of the heart foundation (where you worked the dc), work 1 dc. In the second chain of the heart foundation, work 1 hdc.
6. Connecting Back to the Rug: Slip stitch (sl st) into the next stitch on your rug row.
7. Continue the Row: Resume working half double crochet (hdc) across the rest of the row. Turn.

Placing Multiple Hearts:

• Horizontal Spacing: Decide how many hdc stitches you want between each heart across a row. Use stitch markers to mark the placement of your hearts if it helps.
• Vertical Spacing: Decide how many rows of plain hdc you want between rows of hearts.

Example of a Row with Hearts:

Let’s say you have 80 hdc stitches in your row and you want to place 3 hearts evenly.

1. Hdc 15 stitches.
2. Work one heart following the “Creating a Single Heart” instructions.
3. Hdc 20 stitches.
4. Work another heart.
5. Hdc 20 stitches.
6. Work the final heart.
7. Hdc the remaining 15 stitches.

On the subsequent rows, you’ll continue working regular hdc stitches until you reach the row where you want to place the next set of hearts, maintaining your chosen vertical spacing.

Part 3: Continuing the Main Body and Finishing

1. Continue with hdc rows: After your last row of hearts, continue working rows of half double crochet in your main color until your rug reaches your desired overall length.
2. Edging (Optional): You can add a simple border to your rug for a more finished look. A round of single crochet or slip stitch around the entire perimeter can create a neat edge. You could also do a few rounds of half double crochet or even a decorative shell stitch border.
3. Fasten Off: Once you’re satisfied with the size and look of your rug, fasten off your yarn securely.
4. Weave in Ends: Using your yarn needle, carefully weave in all loose ends on the wrong side of your rug to ensure they are secure and won’t unravel.

Tips and Variations for Your Heartfelt Rug:

• Heart Color: Use a vibrant contrasting color for your hearts to make them pop, or choose a more subtle shade for a softer look.
• Heart Size: You can experiment with making larger or smaller hearts by adjusting the number of chains and stitches used in the heart pattern.
• Heart Arrangement: Get creative with the placement of your hearts! You could create a central cluster, a border of hearts, or scatter them randomly for a whimsical feel.
• Stripes: Incorporate stripes of different colors into the main body of your rug for added visual interest.
• Texture Play: Experiment with different bulky yarn textures for the main body of the rug to add depth and coziness.
• Shape Variations: While this pattern focuses on a rectangular rug, you could adapt the concept to create a circular or oval rug with hearts.

Caring for Your Harmony Rug:

Since this rug is meant to be loved and used, consider the care instructions for your chosen yarn. Many bulky yarns are machine washable, which is a great option for a rug. If hand washing is recommended, do so gently and lay flat to dry.

A Labor of Love, A Gift of Harmony:

Creating a Harmony Rug with Hearts is a truly rewarding experience. Each stitch is a testament to your creativity and care, and the finished rug will be a beautiful and functional piece that brings a sense of warmth and love to your home. It also makes a thoughtful and heartfelt gift for someone special.