About This Pattern
This is a small square, built one row at a time. A pixel heart grows from plain white stitches into pink, then back again. It sits well in a single evening, worked in front of the television. All it needs is single crochet and a steady hand for color changes. Treat it as one square, or make several. Sewn together, they become something bigger.
In the basket
Abbreviations
- ch
- chain
- sc
- single crochet
Crochet pixel heart square for beginners
Start
Begin with a slip knot.
Foundation chain: Chain 11.
- Row 1(single crochet across): Increase by chaining one for height (this chain does not count towards your 11 stitches).Turn your work to start the next row. Perform a single crochet in each of the chains from the previous row (11 single crochets total).
- Row 2and onwards (introducing color change): Before you start each new row, chain one for height.Introduce a new color yarn for the heart pattern as described in the specific row instructions below. Utilize the invisible color change technique when switching colors.
Creating the Heart
- Row 2Start with 5 white stitches, change to pink for 1 stitch (the middle of the heart), and then back to white for the rest of the row.
- Row 34 white, 3 pink (expanding the heart), finish with white.
- Row 4Begin to shape the heart with 3 white, 5 pink, and 3 white stitches.
- Rows 5–8Continue following the pattern to expand and then decrease the heart size, aligning with the pixel heart design.
More pictures
Before the first stitch
- Check you have enough white and pink 5 ply yarn for one full square.
- Read through the Creating the Heart part before you begin Row 2.
- Practice one invisible color change on scrap yarn first.
Minutes per piece
- Start about 15 minutes, because it is only 2 rounds of plain single crochet
- Creating the Heart about 45 minutes, because the color changes need care
Other yarns that work
- cotton, 5 ply gives crisper stitch definition, but less give in the fabric
- acrylic, DK weight makes a slightly larger square, so size up your hook
Where it ends up
- A coaster, paired with a plain mug.
- One square among many, sewn into a small blanket.
- A patch for a tote bag or pillow front.
Joining up
- Step 1 After completing the heart pattern, continue with a few more rows of single crochet (or as desired for your project) before finishing off.
- Step 2 Cut yarn and weave in ends for a neat finish.
Small notes
- Use a 3.5 mm hook and keep your tension even across color changes.
- Invisible color changes matter here. A loose one will show on the front.
- Count your stitches after each row. A pixel heart shows every mistake.
Little questions
Can I use a different two colors?
Yes, any two contrasting colors work. Just keep the same stitch counts for the heart shape.
What if my heart looks lopsided?
Check your stitch counts match each row's totals. A missed stitch early on will shift everything after.
Can I make this bigger?
Add more plain rows at the start or end. The heart itself stays the same size.
How do I join multiple squares?
Finish each square, weave in ends, then sew edges together. A whip stitch along the sides works well.
Original pattern: https://crocheteverything.com/crochet-pixel-grid-heart-tutorial-for-beginner/
About the Author
Tamsin Okoro Who writes the patterns at Yarn Gallery, how a pattern gets from the hook to the page, and what this site will never do.
