Loop yarn is a special type of yarn that allows you to knit without needles and is especially suitable for beginner-friendly projects. Decorative home accessories in particular can be created in no time at all.
A heart-shaped pillow made from loop yarn is not only eye-catching but also wonderfully soft and cozy. Whether as a Valentine’s Day gift, a wedding present, or a charming accent for your sofa or bed, this project is versatile and fun to make.
In this tutorial, I’ll guide you step by step through knitting your own heart pillow. Thanks to the simple technique, it’s also perfect for beginners.
If you are new to loop yarn or would like to refresh the basics, you can find a detailed guide to knitting with loop yarn in a separate article, where all fundamental techniques are explained step by step.
Materials
You will need the following materials for the heart pillow:
-
Loop yarn, 100 g
(used here: Alize Puffy Color, color 5926) -
Polyester fiberfill / pillow stuffing
-
Fabric scraps, 2 pieces approx. 30 × 30 cm
(e.g. from an old T-shirt) -
Sewing thread
-
Sewing needle
-
Scissors
-
optional: sewing machine
Instructions
Cast on
To start the heart pillow, begin with a round cast-on using loop yarn. Place 6 loops together to form a circle. Then pull the starting yarn through all 6 loops and gently tighten it until the hole in the center is completely closed. If the starting yarn is not long enough, you can carefully open a few loops at the beginning to extend the yarn.
Knitting the Heart Shape
The heart pillow is knitted in the round and from the bottom up using loop yarn. First, the lower part of the heart is worked until both heart curves begin. After that, each half of the heart is knitted separately to create the characteristic heart shape.
All rounds are worked using knit stitches only. The shape is formed through regular increases and decreases.
Lower Part of the Heart
In the following rounds, work in the round while increasing evenly:
-
Round 1: Increase every 2nd stitch, repeat 3 times
(knit stitch, increase) -
Round 2: Increase every 3rd stitch, starting with an increase, repeat 3 times
(increase, 2 knit stitches) -
Round 3: Increase every 4th stitch, repeat 3 times
(3 knit stitches, increase) -
Round 4: Increase every 5th stitch, starting with 2 knit stitches, repeat 3 times
(2 knit stitches, increase, 2 knit stitches) -
Round 5: Increase every 6th stitch, starting with 1 knit stitch, repeat 3 times
(knit stitch, increase, 4 knit stitches) -
Round 6: Increase every 7th stitch, starting with an increase, repeat 3 times
(increase, 6 knit stitches) -
Round 7: Increase every 4th stitch, repeat 6 times
(3 knit stitches, increase)
From Round 8 onward, continue working on the first half of the heart only.
First Heart Curve
-
Round 8: Increase every 5th stitch, starting with 2 knit stitches, repeat 6 times
(2 knit stitches, increase, 2 knit stitches) -
Round 9: Knit 18 stitches (one full round around the first heart half)
-
Round 10: Decrease every 2nd stitch, starting with a decrease, repeat 6 times
(decrease, knit stitch) -
Round 11: 6 decreases
Bind off. Cut the yarn after approximately 5 additional loops, carefully open these loops, pull the yarn tail through the last loop and use it to close the remaining hole and weave in the ends.
Second Heart Curve
Attach a new strand of yarn in the center of the heart and secure it with a knot. You can create the yarn tail by carefully opening a few loops of the loop yarn.
On the second half of the heart, you will now have 18 loops remaining, which are worked in the round as follows:
-
Round 1: Increase every 5th stitch, starting with 2 knit stitches, repeat 6 times
(2 knit stitches, increase, 2 knit stitches) -
Round 2: Knit 18 stitches
-
Round 3: Decrease every 2nd stitch, starting with a decrease, repeat 6 times
(decrease, knit stitch)
Sewing and Inserting the Inner Pillow
Because the stitches are relatively large and fiberfill may show through, it is recommended to sew a small inner pillow.
Place the knitted heart onto an old T-shirt and roughly trace its shape, keeping about 2 cm (¾ inch) distance from the edge. Pin both fabric layers together and cut them out at the same time. Add an additional 1 cm (⅜ inch) seam allowance.
Sew both fabric pieces together using a sewing machine or by hand, leaving an opening of about 5 cm (2 inches) for stuffing.
Insert the fabric pillow into the knitted heart so that the opening is positioned at the unfinished heart curve. Fill the inner pillow with fiberfill and close the opening by hand.
Finishing the Second Heart Curve
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Round 4: 6 decreases
Bind off and fasten off in the same way as for the first half of the heart. Leave the yarn tail slightly longer if needed to close the remaining hole in the center of the heart. Thread the yarn through the stitch loops on both sides of the opening and gently pull tight.
Repeat this wherever larger gaps remain. Finally, weave in all ends securely without a needle, simply threading the yarn through the stitches using your fingers.
The heart pillow is now finished and should look approximately like this:
With this loop yarn heart pillow, you have completed a soft and decorative knitting project that is perfect for beginners and can be made without knitting needles. Knitting in the round combined with simple increases and decreases creates the heart shape step by step.
Whether used as a thoughtful handmade gift, a cozy home décor piece, or a relaxing DIY project, a heart pillow made from loop yarn is versatile and easy to customize with different colors. Take your time when closing gaps and weaving in the ends to ensure a neat and long-lasting finish.
Enjoy knitting with loop yarn and creating your very own heart pillow!
