Free pattern: Giant Squishy Heart Pillow

A giant squishy soft heart pillow is the perfect way to show people you love them. Give a gift they will love year round… and will be reminded how much they are loved too.

I made this when my first granddaughter was born 6 weeks premature and came home from the hospital close to Valentine’s Day. I wanted to make a giant heart mat for her newborn pictures. They were the perfect size and made a great heart pillow too. It is hard to believe she is now 5! It is still a great pillow for her to snuggle.

I picked up some matching fleece at the store and added fringe around the edges. I really like how it turned out.

This pattern is part of my “Make Ahead Mondays” event for 2023. A different pattern is added each monday (or pretty close): https://snappy-tots.com/happy-new-year-lets-rock-2023/

Giant Squishy Heart Pillow Directions

The pattern is available to view below. A downloadable, ad-free PDF of this pattern with all of the photos is available to purchase for a small fee: Ravelry

MAKE AHEAD STASH FREEBIE: The pdf is FREE to download from my Ravelry shop until 2/14/2023 to encourage you to whip some of these up and stash away from gifts. Visit THIS LINK, put the pattern in your cart, enter coupon code: 1makeahead
PLEASE make sure it changes to free BEFORE checking out. THANK YOU. I would LOVE to see what you make from my patterns. Please share pix as a ravelry project or tag me in social media posts by adding #snappytots.

Description: Instructions included for making a 24” heart mat, stuffed pillow, pillow with a place to hold pajamas and as a sack to hold a snuggie sack.

Materials and Details

Bernat Blanket Yarn 150 yards per heart (300-450 yards for a pillow)
Crochet Hooks: M/N 9mm
Miscellaneous: Yarn needle for weaving in ends, stuffing, ½ yard fleece fabric (optional for edging)
Gauge: not needed for this project
Finished Measurements: 24” along edge

Tips

First stitch of each row is worked into the same stitch as the turning chain.
Numbers at the beginning of each line may refer to steps and not
indicate number of rows.

Large Heart

Make 2-3. See options on page 4.

1. With an M/N hook and yarn color of choice, ch 31, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (30sts)

2-27. Ch 1, turn, sc in each st to end of row.

28. Place a marker on this row for future reference. Ch 1, turn, sc in each st to end of row. See arrow in photo (top right).

29. Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in each st until 2sts remain, sc2tog. (28sts)

30. Ch 1, turn, sc in each st to end of row.

31. Repeat steps 29-30 until 18 sts remain. End with an sc row.

32. Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in each st until 2 sts remain, sc2tog. (16sts)

33. Repeat step 32 until 12 sts remain.

34. Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, hdc in each st until 2 sts remain, sc2tog. (10sts) Finish off.

35. Attach yarn to bottom corner of heart on same edge as the marker from step 28. Ch 1. Sc 30 sts evenly across of heart.

36. Ch 1, turn, sc in each st to end of row.

37. Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in each st until 1 st remains, sc2tog. (28sts)

38. Ch 1, turn, sc in each st to end of row.

39. Repeat steps 37-38 until 18 sts remain. End with an sc row.

40. Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc in each st until 2 sts remains, sc2tog. (16sts)

41. Repeat step 40 until 12 sts remain.

42. Ch 1, turn, sc2tog, hdc in each st until 2 sts remain, sc2tog. (10sts) Finish off.

43. Attach yarn to bottom corner of heart. This step is worked around outer edge of heart.
Ch 1, Sc in same spot, sc evenly across edge of heart, working 2sc before first stitch on top row of heart (see X in photo). Hdc in each st of row. 2sc in next spot (X in photo).

Sc evenly to center V. Skip stitch at V. Sc evenly to top of heart, working 2sc before first stitch on top row of heart (X in photo). Hdc in each st of row. 2sc in next spot (X in photo).

Sc evenly across edge of heart, sl st in first st to join.

Heart Options

See photos at bottom of page for sewing together all options.

Use the large hearts to make one of the of following:

Sack

This option uses 2 hearts.

This was designed to store a snuggie sack when not in use.

Stack the two hearts on top of each other. With matching yarn and a yarn needle sew the outer edges together, leaving one side of beginning squares unsewn.

Pillow

This option uses 2 hearts.

Stack the two hearts on top of each other. With matching yarn and a yarn needle sew the outer edges together, leaving one side of beginning squares unsewn. Stuff pillow and then use a yarn needle and matching yarn to sew the opening closed.

Pillow Plus PJ Holder

This option uses 3 hearts.

This was designed to be a pillow and store PJs.

Stack the three hearts on top of each other. With matching yarn and a yarn needle sew the outer edges together, leaving one side of beginning squares unsewn.

There are two compartments. One will be the pillow and the other is for storing PJs.

Stuff one compartment and then use a yarn needle and matching yarn to sew the opening of JUST THAT COMPARTMENT closed. Leave the other compartment open.

Tip: be careful to not over stuff the pillow section or PJs won’t fit in the second compartment. See photo at right. Top piece will pull away from edge if stuffed firmly.

Fleece Fringe: Cut 50 or more strips of fleece, 1.5” wide by 8” long. Fold each strand in half. Use a crochet hook to pull the center fold loop through a spot on the heart edge. Pull the ends through the center fold loop until loop is snug against heart. Continue around outer edge.