There’s a free pattern that I absolutely love, by Michelle Alvarez at http://bunniesandyarn.blogspot.com/2017/01/free-crochet-pattern-3d-hearts.html
I have been making large versions of these plush hearts, about 8 inches tall, using Bernat blanket yarn with an N hook. I have made seven so far, and I’m planning to make more! They’re easy, they work up quickly, and the finished product is a very satisfying size and shape.
My husband, a huge Disney nerd, suggested making one stylized like Mickey Mouse: black on top and red on bottom, with two yellow spots for buttons. It was pretty simple to work up, and I immediately made a Minnie to go with Mickey. My notes on how you can modify Michelle Alvarez’s pattern are below.
I didn’t want to sew the dots onto the Minnie version because it would be time consuming and because they could be a choking hazard for small children, so I crocheted little white bobbles.
I used Red Heart Super Saver yarn because that’s what I had around in the right colors, with a G hook.
Note: for some reason, the black yarn was much thicker than the red, yellow, and white that I used. See notes below for the adjustments I made.
Stitches used: (US terminology)
ch = chain
mc = magic circle
sc = single crochet
dc = double crochet
sl st = slip stitch
yo = yarn over
inv dec = invisible decrease
3-dc bobble = bobble made with 3 dc (final step is to pull through 4 loops)
The original pattern says *2 sc, dec* around, but I like to increase or decrease at the beginning of the repeat instead, so I do *dec, 2 sc* around instead.
Mickey modifications:
Work as written through round 8 with black yarn
Slip stitch with black, chain 1 with red, then work round 9
Note: I worked round 9 a second time because the red yarn was much thinner than the black. If your yarns are the same thickness, you can probably work round 9 just once.
Continue working the pattern as written through round 14.
Yellow “buttons” (make 2)
Chain 2
Working into the back of the chain stitches: sc 1, (3 sc in same loop)
Continue working around the oval: sc 1, (3 sc in same loop)
Sl st, fasten off, leaving a long tail to sew the “button” on
Sew the ovals onto the front of the heart
Finish working the pattern as written
Minnie modifications:
3-dc bobble technique:
With white yarn: *yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull through 2 loops* 3 times
Switch to red yarn: yo, pull through all 4 loops
Push the bobble from the back to make sure it puffs out toward you
Directions:
Work as written through round 8 with black yarn
Slip stitch with black, chain 1 with red, then work round 9
Note: I worked round 9 a second time because the red yarn was much thinner than the black yarn. If your yarns are the same thickness, you can probably work round 9 just once.
Round 10: *inv dec, sc 1, 3-dc bobble, sc 1* around
Work rounds 11 and 12 as written
Round 13: sc 1, *3-dc bobble, sc 2* until 2 stitches remain, 3-dc bobble, sc 1
Finish working the pattern as written
Bow for Minnie:
Start with a magic circle
Dc 10 into mc, join, ch 2
(2 dc in same stitch) around, join and fasten off
Leave a very long tail
Fold the circle into a bow shape, sew together to hold in place
Wrap the rest of the tail around the center of the bow, leaving about 8 inches at the end
Secure the yarn to the back of the bow
Sew the bow onto the heart
I had a lot of fun making these variations, and I’m thinking about other ways I might change up the pattern in the future!
