Knitting Patterns Online: Quick and Easy Valentine and Heart Projects

Quick and easy Valentine's knitting projects can be useful when you're pressed for time.

Or maybe you just want to knit something easy for a change. They're fun to make and to give away. If you're looking for a gift on a budget, many of these can be made for less than $10 - often much less.

With the Internet knitting patterns online are often available free or at low cost, often for immediate download.

Start with Hearts!

Hearts are synonymous with Valentine's Day.

There are lots of patterns online for simple hearts. You can find them on sites with lots of searchable patterns like Knitting Pattern Central and Ravelry. Search terms to start with include heart and Valentine. You can even find them on many knitting blogs. For example, Vickie Howell has even created a video of her Easy Mitered Hearts knitting pattern.

So, what can you do with knitted hearts?

1. Make one and attach it to a folded piece of card stock or construction paper. Voila! You have a handmade one of a kind greeting card ready for you to add your own special message.

2. Attach a pin or a clip, and you have homemade jewelry.

3. Use as an applique on a knitted or crocheted item. Ties, purses, sweaters, scarves, and hats are among the many possibilities to embellish with an applique.

4. Knit two hearts. Sew them together, leaving an opening for stuffing. Stuff and you have a pillow - large or small depending upon the size of your hearts. A tiny stuffed heart makes a unique 3-dimensional pin.

For those folks who like a more anatomically correct heart, there's even a free knitting pattern for a pillow. It's knit with double-pointed needles in the round.

5. Knit Valentine dishcloths. Okay, so many folks don't find the prospect of giving a knitted dishcloth appealing on Valentine's Day. However, when you take your favorite Valentine or heart dishcloth or washcloth pattern and make a couple of them, they become spa cloths!

Tie them together with a ribbon, maybe adding some special soaps or lotion for an even more unique gift.

You don't have to limit yourself to cloths in heart shapes. There are many free downloadable patterns on sites such as Knitting Pattern Central and Ravelry, for all levels of knitting expertise. Most have pictures so you can visualize the final product.