This life-sized heart is part of a series of patterns I'm gradually releasing that make up all the organs of the human body.
Difficulty:
Medium
You will need:
- A 2.5mm crochet hook
- anchor essentials creativa 4ply cotton in signal red, light orange, lemon, and dark blue
- #10 cotton or embroidery thread in blue and red
- Polyester toy stuffing
- A darning needle
- An embroidery needle
- A pair of scissors
Note:
- 'Fasten off neatly' refers to a special way of fastening off which is neater and makes it easier to see where you should be crocheting on the next round (also known as invisible fastening off). This involves pulling up your yarn through your stitch, threading the yarn underneath the second stitch from where you pulled your yarn up, then threading your yarn back through the top of this stitch and down through the back of the work. There is a very helpful site that explains it clearly found here. Just make sure when you do this that you thread your needle through the SECOND stitch after the last stitch you made, otherwise you will end up with an extra stitch which may mean that all of the following rounds are out of line with each other. The false stitch that you create is referred to in this pattern as the 'new' st.
For the ventricles:
With light orange ch3Round 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook, then make 3sc in the first chain st you made. Make 2sc in the back of the previous chain st you crocheted into (6sc)Round 2: Make 2sc in each st (12sc)Round 3: Make 2sc in the first st, sc3, make 2sc in each of the next 3 sts, sc3, make 2sc in each of the next 2sts (18sc)Round 4: Sc in each stRound 5: Make 2sc in the first st, sc, make 2sc in the next st, sc3, (sc, make 2sc in the following st) 3 times, sc4, make 2sc in the next st, sc (24sc)Round 6: Sc in each stRound 7: Sc2, make 2sc in the next st, sc7, make 2sc in the following st, sc3, make 2sc in the next st,sc7, 2sc, sc (28sc)Round 8: Make 2sc in the first st, sc2, make 2sc in the following st, sc7 make 2sc in the next st, sc2, make 2sc in the following st, sc2, make 2sc in the next st, sc7, make 2sc in the following st, sc2 (34sc)
Round 9: Sc, make 2sc in the next st, sc2, make 2sc in the following st, sc10, make 2sc in the next st, sc2, make 2sc in the following st, sc2, make 2sc in the next st, sc10, make 2sc in the following st, sc (40sc)
Round 10: Sc in each stRound 11: Sc, make 2sc in the next st, sc3, make 2sc in the following st, sc11, make 2sc in the next st, sc3, make 2sc in the following st, sc3, make 2sc in the next st, sc11, make 2sc in the following st, sc2 (46sc)
Round 12: Sc in each stRound 13: Sc5, make 2sc in the next st, sc15, make 2sc in the following st, sc6, make 2sc in the next st, sc15, make 2sc in the following st, sc (50sc)
Round 14: Sc in each stRound 15: Sc, make 2sc in the next st, sc4, make 2sc in the following st, sc14, make 2sc in the next st, sc4,make 2sc in the following st, sc4, make 2sc in the next st, sc14, make 2sc in the following st, sc3 (56sc)
Round 16: Sc in each stRound 17: Sc5, make 2sc in the next st, sc19, make 2sc in the following st, sc7, make 2sc in the next st, sc19, make 2sc in the following st, sc2 (60sc)
Round 18: Sc in each stRound 19: Sc5, make 2sc in the next st, sc21, make 2sc in the following st, sc7, make 2sc in the next st, sc21, make 2sc in the following st, sc2 (64sc)
Rounds 20 - 22: (3 rounds) Sc in each stRound 23: Sc4, sc2tog, sc5, sc2tog, sc16, sc2tog, sc5, sc2tog, sc5, sc2tog, sc16, sc2tog, sc (58sc)Round 24: Sc4, sc2tog, sc5, sc2tog, sc13, sc2tog, sc5, sc2tog, sc5, sc2tog, sc13, sc2tog, sc (52sc)Round 25: Sc3, sc2tog, sc4, sc2tog, sc12, sc2tog, sc4, sc2tog, sc4, sc2tog, sc12, sc2tog, sc (46sc)Round 26: Sc3, sc2tog, sc4, sc2tog, sc9, sc2tog, sc4, sc2tog, sc4, sc2tog, sc9, sc2tog, sc (40sc)Round 27: Sc3, sc2tog, sc3, sc2tog, sc8, sc2tog, sc3, sc2tog, sc3, sc2tog, sc8, sc2tog (34sc)Round 28: Sc3, sc2tog, sc3, sc2tog, sc5, sc2tog, sc3, sc2tog, sc3, sc2tog, sc5, sc2tog (28sc)Round 29: (note that this is slightly over 1 round) Sc3, sc2tog, sc2, sc2tog, sc4, sc2tog, sc2, sc2tog, sc2, sc2tog, sc4, sc2tog (22sc)
Round 30: Sc, sc2tog, sc, sc2tog, sc3, sc2tog, sc, sc2tog, sc, sc2tog, sc3, sc2tog (16sc)Round 31: Sc2tog 3 times, sc2, sc2tog 3 times, sc2 (10sc)
StuffRound 32: Sc2tog, sc2, sc2tog (8sc)Fasten offFor the right atrium:With light orange ch6Round 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and the next 3 chain sts. Make 3sc in the first chain st you made, then sc in the back of the previous 3 sts you crocheted into. Make 2sc in the back fo the first chain st you crocheted into (12sc)Round 2: Make 2sc in the first st, sc3, make 3sc in the next st, sc, make 2sc in the next st, sc, make 2sc in the following st, sc, make 2sc in the next st, sc (18sc)
Round 3: Sc, make 3sc in the next st, sc5, make 3sc in the next st, sc2, make 2sc in the next st, sc2, make 2sc in the following st, sc2, make 2sc in the next st, sc (25sc)
Round 4: Sc2, make 3sc in the next st, sc7, make 3sc in the next st, sc3, make 2sc in the next st, sc3, make 2sc in the following st, sc3, make 2sc in the next st, sc2 (32sc)
Round 5: Sc3, make 3sc in the next st, sc9, make 3sc in the next st, sc5, make 2sc in the next st, sc4, make 2sc in the following st, sc4, make 2sc in the next st, sc2 (39sc)
Rounds 6 - 9: (4 rounds) Sc in each stRound 10: Sc22, sc2tog, sc12, sc2tog, sc (37sc)Round 11: Sc21, sc2tog, sc5, sc2tog, sc5, sc2tog (34sc)Round 12: Sc20, sc2tog, sc5, sc2tog, sc5 (32sc)Round 13: Sc2tog, sc20, sc2tog, sc6, sc2tog (29sc)Round 14: Sc2, sc2tog, sc15, sc2tog, sc4, sc2tog, sc2 (26sc)Round 15: Hdc, hdc2tog, sc16, hdc2tog, hdc3, hdc2tog (23sts)Round 16: (Note that this is slightly more than a full round) Sc2, hdc2, sc, sc2tog, sc, sc2tog, sc, sc2tog, sc3, sc2tog, sc, sc2tog, sc, sc2tog (17sc)Round 17: Sc, sc2tog 3 times, sc3, sc2tog 3 times, sc (11sc)Round 18: (Once again this is slightly more than a full round) Sc, (sc2tog, sc) 3 times, sc2tog (7sc)
Round 19: Sc2tog (6sc)Fasten offFor the left atrium:With light oragne ch10Round 1: Sc in the 2nd st from hook, sc in the next 2 chain sts, make 3sc in the next chain st, sc4, make 3sc in the first chain st you made, in the back loops of the chain sts you previously crocheted into: sc3, sc3tog, sc, make 2sc in the back of the first chain st you crocheted into (20sc)Round 2: Make 2sc in the first st, sc3, make 2sc in the next st, sc2, make 2sc in the following st, sc2, make 2sc in the next st, sc, make 3sc in the following st, sc2, sc2tog, sc2, make 3hdc in the last st (27sts)Round 3: Make 2hdc in the first st, sc6, make 2sc in the next st, sc3, make 2sc in the following st, sc3, make 2sc in the next st, sc2, make 3sc in the following st, sc3, sc2tog, Sc, make 2sc in the next st, make 2hdc in the last st (34sts)
Round 4: Make 2hdc in the first st, sc27, sc2tog, sc4 (34sts)Rounds 5 - 7: (3 rounds) Sc in each stRound 8: Sc20, sc2tog 3 times, sc6, sc2tog (30sc)Round 9: Sc2, sc2tog, sc6, sc2tog, sc6, sc6tog, sc4, sc2tog (22sc)Round 10: Sc, Sc2tog, sc5, sc2tog, sc4, sc6tog, sc2 (15sc)Round 11: Sc, sc2tog, sc4, sc2tog, sc3, sc2tog, Sc (12sc)Round 12: (Sc, sc2tog) 4 times (8sc)Fasten off
Sew the atria to the top of the ventricles, as shown in the image below
Sew the atria to the top of the ventricles, as shown in the image below
For the aorta:
With red 4ply yarn ch14
With red 4ply yarn ch14
Round 1: sc in the first chain st you made, then sc in every following chain st to make a loop (14sc)
Rounds 2 - 3: (2 rounds) sc in each st
Round 4: sc7, hdc7
Rounds 5 - 6: (2 rounds) sc in each st
Round 7: hdc, sc7, hdc6
Round 8: sc in each st
Rounds 9 - 10: (2 rounds) hdc6, sc7, hdc
Rounds 11 - 13: (3 rounds) hdc7, sc7
Rounds 14 - 16: (3 rounds) sc, hdc7, sc6
Rounds 17 - 19: (3 rounds) sc2, hdc7, sc5
Rounds 20 - 22: (3 rounds) sc3, hdc7, sc4
Rounds 23 - 25: (3 rounds) sc4, hdc7, sc3
Rounds 26 - 30: (5 rounds) sc in each st
Fasten off neatly
Fasten off neatly
For the blood vessels (make 3):
With red yarn ch6
Round 1: sc in the first chain st you made, then in every following chain st (6sc)
Rounds 2 - 4: (3 rounds) sc in each st
Fasten off neatly
Sew these to the centre of the aorta, as shown in the image below
Sew the cast-on edge in between the lef tand right atria
For the pulmonary artery:
With blue 4ply yarn ch13
With blue 4ply yarn ch13
Round 1: sc in the first chain st you made, then sc in every following chain st to end (13sc)
Rounds 2 - 3: (2 rounds) hdc7, sc6
Round 4: hdc8, sc5
Round 4: hdc8, sc5
Round 5: sc4, hdc5, sc4
Round 6: sc, hdc7, sc5
Round 7: sc2tog, sc2, hdc7, sc2 (12sts)
Round 8: hdc6, sc6
Round 9: sc in each st
Round 10: sc4, hdc7, sc
Rounds 11 - 13: (3 rounds) sc in each st
Round 14: sc, ch8, skip8, sc*, sc2
Rounds 15 - 29: (15 rounds) sc in each st
Fasten off neatly
Rejoin yarn to the same st you crocheted when making st*
Round 15: sc in this st, sc in the back of the next 8 chain sts, sc in the same st as you crocheted into when making the first st of round 14, sc in the next 8sts (18sc)
Round 16: sc3tog, hdc6, sc3tog, slip6 (14sts)
Round 17: sc2tog, hdc6, sc2tog, sc4 (12sts)
Rounds 18 - 23: (6 rounds) sc in each st
Fasten off neatly
Sew the cast-on edge of this in front of where you attached the aorta, as shown below
For the vena cava:
For the upper section:
With blue 4ply yarn ch13
With blue 4ply yarn ch13
Round 1: sc in the first chain st you made, then sc in every following chain st (13sc)
Rounds 2 - 7: (6 rounds) sc in each st
Round 8: sc5, ch5, skip3, sc5 (15sts)
Round 9: sc4, sc2tog, sc3, sc2tog, hdc3 (13sts)
Rounds 10 - 12: (3 rounds) sc in each st
Fasten off neatly
Rejoin yarn to the same st as the first one you crocheted into after making the chain sts on round 8.
Round 9: Sc in this st and the back of the next 5 chain sts. Sc in the same st as the last st you crocheted into before making the ch5 on round 8, then sc in the next 3sts of round 7. (10sc)
Rounds 10 - 15: (6 rounds) sc in each st
Fasten off neatly
Sew the cast-on edge to the top of the right artium, as shown below
For the lower section:
With blue 4ply yarn ch14
With blue 4ply yarn ch14
Round 1: sc in the first chain st you made, then sc in the next 3 chain sts. Hdc in the next 3 chain sts, sc in the following 4 chain sts, then slip the last 3 chain sts. This should form a loop (14sts)
Rounds 2 - 3: (2 rounds) sc4, hdc3, sc4, slip3
Rounds 4 - 12: (9 rounds) sc in each st
Fasten off
Sew this to the back of the right atrium, as shown below (the heart has been flipped from the previous images)
For the pulmonary veins (make 4):
With red 4ply yarn ch5
Round 1: sc in the first chain st you made and the next 4 chain sts
Rounds 2 - 3: (2 rounds) sc in each st
Fasten off
Sew these to the left atrium, as shown in the images below
For the fat patterns:Left side of front:With lemon 4ply yarn ch23Round 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and the next 7 chain sts, ch7, sc in the 2nd loop from hook and the next 5 chain sts, in the next chain sts of the original ch23 you made: sc3tog, sc10, make 2sc in the next chain st, in the back loop of the chain sts you just crocheted into: slip3, sc4, hdc2, make 2hdc in the back of each of the next 3 chain sts, sc3, slip6Fasten off neatlyRight side of front:With lemon 4ply yarn ch21Round 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and next 2 chain sts, sc2tog, sc3, hdc, ch1, sc3, ch3, sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and the next chain st, in the next chain sts of the original ch21 you made: sc4, hdc3, make 3sc in the next chain st, in the back loop of the chain sts you just crocheted into: sc, hdc5, sc3, hdc2, sc3, ch4, sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and the next 2 chain sts, slip the back of the next 5 chain sts of the original ch21 you madeFasten off
Sew these fat patterns to the front of the heart, as shown below. After this use blue and red embroidery thread/ #10 cotton to embroider blood vessels on approximately over where the fat patterns are located.
Back of heart:With lemon 4ply yarn ch32Round 1: sc in the 2nd chain st from hook, ch8, sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and the next chain st, hdc in the next 3 chain sts, hdc2tog between the next 2 chain sts, dc in the same st as the first chain st you crocheted into, hdc2tog between the next 2 chain sts of the original ch32 you made, sc in the next 2 of these chain sts, ch19, in these chain sts: hdc in the 2nd chain st from hook and the next 6 chain sts, make 2hdc in each of the next 2sts, hdc6, hdc2tog, hdc in the same st as you crocheted into before you made the ch19, hdc in each of the next 2sts of the original ch32 you made, sc in the next 2 of these chain sts, ch8, sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and the next 6 chain sts, sc in the same st as you crocheted into before the ch8, then sc in the next 4sts of the ch32, sc3tog, sc5, ch18. Sc in the 2nd chain st from hook and the next 4 chain sts, hdc7, sc3, hdc2, dc in the last of the ch32 stitches you crocheted into, in the next of these sts: hdc2tog, hdc4, sc3, 2sc, slip the back of the previous 29 chain sts of the original ch32 (effectively you'll be slipping the back loop of each of then except the turning st and the very end sts)Round 2: make 3hdc into the first st you made on the previous round, in the back of the next chain sts:(hdc4, sc3), make 2sc in the next st, sc2, hdc3, hdc2tog, sc, sc2tog between the next st and the back of the following chain st, in the back of the next chain sts: (hdc5, sc11). Slip the next st, make 2sc in the following st, sc8, make 2sc in the next st, sc3, hdc4, hdc3tog, hdc3tog between the next st and the back of the following 2 chain sts, in the back of the next sts: (hdc3, sc2). Sc in the next 6sts, sc3tog, sc3, sc2tog, hdc2, ch3, hdc in the 2nd chain st from hook and the next chain st, hdc in the same st as you crocheted into before making this chain, hdc3tog in the next 3 sts and back of the following chain st. In the back of the next chain sts: (hdc5, sc5, hdc2, sc4). Sc in the next 5sts, slip2, sc3, slip6, sc3tog, sc4, slip4Fasten off
Sew this to the back of the heart, then add blood vessels in the same way as you did for the front.
Also here's some photos of the heart integrated with a set of life-sized lungs (pattern will be released at some point in future), and in the chest cavity of the life-sized skeleton I've made (patterns for various parts of this skeleton are being gradually released)
