Whispering Willow Heart Trio Free Pattern – Crocheted Botanical Love Tokens
Whispering Willow Heart Trio: A Crocheted Botanical Love Token
There's something deeply romantic about a handmade heart—especially one that carries the quiet, organic texture of a woodland walk. The Whispering Willow Heart Trio is a free crochet pattern that invites you to craft three distinct botanical-inspired hearts, each with its own unique stitch personality. From the mossy ridges of sage green to the delicate, layered petals of dusty rose and the pebbled charm of cream, this trio is perfect for gifting, seasonal decor, or simply adding a touch of handmade love to your space.
Whether you're a seasoned crocheter or a curious beginner, this pattern is designed to be approachable and rewarding. The construction is clever—two identical flat pieces are joined and shaped into a plump, three-dimensional heart, then finished with a texture stitch of your choice. The result is a firm, huggable token that feels as good in your hands as it looks on a shelf.
Let's gather our materials and begin crafting these botanical love tokens.
Materials Needed
Before you begin, ensure you have the following supplies on hand. The gauge is not critical for this project, but aim for a tight, firm fabric to prevent stuffing from showing through.
- Yarn: Worsted weight cotton yarn in three shades:
- Sage Green (for the Moss Stitch heart)
- Dusty Rose (for the Petal Stitch heart)
- Cream (for the Seed Stitch heart)
- Hook: 3.5mm (E) crochet hook
- Notions: Stitch marker, tapestry needle for weaving ends, fiberfill stuffing
- Optional: Small amount of matching yarn for hanging loops
Each heart uses approximately 50-60 yards of yarn, so one skein of each color will easily complete the trio.
Step-by-Step Instructions
This pattern creates three hearts, each with a distinct stitch texture. Work each heart in continuous rounds unless otherwise noted. Use a stitch marker to track the beginning of each round.
Heart Base (Make 2 per heart, then join)
You will make two identical flat circles, then join them to form the heart shape. Work the following rounds for each piece:
Round 1: Magic ring, 6 sc into ring. (6)
Round 2: Inc in each st around. (12)
Round 3: (sc in next st, inc) around. (18)
Round 4: (sc in next 2 sts, inc) around. (24)
Round 5: (sc in next 3 sts, inc) around. (30)
Round 6: (sc in next 4 sts, inc) around. (36)
Round 7: (sc in next 5 sts, inc) around. (42)
Round 8: (sc in next 6 sts, inc) around. (48)
Round 9: (sc in next 7 sts, inc) around. (54)
Round 10: (sc in next 8 sts, inc) around. (60)
Round 11: (sc in next 9 sts, inc) around. (66)
Round 12: (sc in next 10 sts, inc) around. (72)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Make a second identical piece.
Joining and Shaping the Heart
Place the two pieces together with wrong sides facing. Join yarn with a slip stitch at the center bottom. Work through both layers to create the heart shape:
Round 1: Sc in next 12 sts (through both layers), then work 3 sc in the next st (this forms the bottom point). Sc in next 12 sts. (27 sts across the bottom edge)
Now work around the top edge of the heart. You will be working through both layers, but the shaping will create the two lobes:
Round 2: Sc in next 10 sts, then work 3 sc in the next st (this forms the left lobe). Sc in next 10 sts, then work 3 sc in the next st (this forms the right lobe). Sc in next 10 sts. (36 sts)
Round 3: Sc in next 9 sts, then work 3 sc in the next st. Sc in next 9 sts, then work 3 sc in the next st. Sc in next 9 sts. (42 sts)
Round 4: Sc in next 8 sts, then work 3 sc in the next st. Sc in next 8 sts, then work 3 sc in the next st. Sc in next 8 sts. (48 sts)
Round 5: Sc in next 7 sts, then work 3 sc in the next st. Sc in next 7 sts, then work 3 sc in the next st. Sc in next 7 sts. (54 sts)
Round 6: Sc in next 6 sts, then work 3 sc in the next st. Sc in next 6 sts, then work 3 sc in the next st. Sc in next 6 sts. (60 sts)
Round 7: Sc in next 5 sts, then work 3 sc in the next st. Sc in next 5 sts, then work 3 sc in the next st. Sc in next 5 sts. (66 sts)
Round 8: Sc in next 4 sts, then work 3 sc in the next st. Sc in next 4 sts, then work 3 sc in the next st. Sc in next 4 sts. (72 sts)
Round 9: Sc in next 3 sts, then work 3 sc in the next st. Sc in next 3 sts, then work 3 sc in the next st. Sc in next 3 sts. (78 sts)
Round 10: Sc in next 2 sts, then work 3 sc in the next st. Sc in next 2 sts, then work 3 sc in the next st. Sc in next 2 sts. (84 sts)
Round 11: Sc in next 1 st, then work 3 sc in the next st. Sc in next 1 st, then work 3 sc in the next st. Sc in next 1 st. (90 sts)
Round 12: Work 3 sc in the next st, then sc in next 1 st, work 3 sc in the next st, sc in next 1 st, work 3 sc in the next st. (96 sts)
Now, stuff the heart firmly with fiberfill before closing the top.
Closing the Top
Round 13: (sc2tog) around. (48 sts)
Round 14: (sc2tog) around. (24 sts)
Round 15: (sc2tog) around. (12 sts)
Round 16: (sc2tog) around. (6 sts)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Weave the tail through the remaining 6 sts and pull tight to close. Secure and hide the tail.
Stitch Texture Variations
Now for the fun part—each heart gets its own unique texture. Choose one of the following stitch patterns for each heart, or mix and match to your liking.
Heart 1 (Sage Green – Moss Stitch)
Work the entire heart using the moss stitch pattern: *sc in next st, ch 1, skip next st* repeat around. This creates a dense, woven texture reminiscent of moss.
Heart 2 (Dusty Rose – Petal Stitch)
Work the entire heart using the petal stitch: *dc in next st, ch 1, dc in same st, skip next st* repeat around. This creates a delicate, layered petal effect.
Heart 3 (Cream – Seed Stitch)
Work the entire heart using the seed stitch: *sc in next st, ch 1, skip next st* repeat around, but on the next round, work sc into the ch-1 spaces and ch 1 over the sc sts. This creates a bumpy, seed-like texture.
Finishing
Weave in all ends. Optionally, attach a small loop of yarn at the top of each heart for hanging. Block gently if desired.
Your Whispering Willow Heart Trio is now complete! These botanical love tokens are perfect for gifting to someone special, adorning your own space, or even stringing together as a garland. The texture variations make each heart a unique piece of art, and the soft cotton yarn ensures they'll be cherished for years to come.
Happy crocheting, and may your hearts be filled with the quiet romance of the woodland.
