Love.
The word love can evoke many different kinds of feelings for someone. It can be romantic, friendly, a heightened like for something, or it can even be a focal point for your life.
Bomb drop.
When living life day to day, the difference in a good day versus bad day could be as simple as someone showing you a small token of love, even if it isn’t from someone you know. Have you ever had your coffee paid for by someone else for you? Someone helped you with your bills? Someone held the door open for you while your arms were entirely full? Someone tell you that they appreciate you and all that you do for them? There are so many small things we can do to show others around us love.
During the years where I was simply drowning in darkness, made poor choice after poor choice and was in the mindset of EXPECTING people to take advantage of me and treat me poorly, those moments of love were SO visible, even if I didn’t believe that they were even there. Love is what kept me alive, honestly. Love from others who let me sleep on their couch when I didn’t have a place to call home.. Love from others that fed me home-cooked meals after I hadn’t had one in months.. Love from others by standing in my way of my next poor choice and really making me look at what I was doing to myself.. Love from others who helped SAVE me. Who helped me see life in a new way. God’s love is one of those loves.
It always has been incredibly important to me to BE love to others (without allowing others to take advantage of the love I give) because I recognized how significant other’s actions of love towards me helped me heal and grow and recognize myself in a new way. Love shows others they are not alone. Love shows others you are there for them, no matter what. Love conquers all.
I hope you all love this quick and easy project that is not only a beautiful handmade home decor piece, but also a lovely and gentle reminder where to focus your energy each day.
Love one another, just as He has loved you.
1 Corinthians 13:13
This is a personal blog. All editorial content and projects are intellectual property of Jessica Carey, designer of The Hook Nook. This post was sponsored by JOANN Stores but all ideas and opinions are my own.
LOVE CONQUERS ALL CROCHET PATTERN
MATERIALS:
-360 yds Buttercream Luxe Craft Angel Hair Yarn (wt 5/bulky - 50% acrylic, 28% nylon, 22% wool) - Color A
-40 yds Red Heart Scrubby Sparkle (wt 4/worsted - 100% polyester) - Color B
-L/8mm Crochet Hook
-Wooden Dowel
-Scissors
-Measuring Tape
-Yarn Needle
GAUGE: 8 sts x 8 rows = 4”x4” in HDC
FINAL SIZE: 21” x 33”
ABBREVIATIONS:
CH : chain
SC : single crochet
HDC : half double crochet
HDCDEC : half double crochet decrease
Sl St : slip stitch
SURFACE SLIP STITCH:
We will be using Color B for this step. Create slipknot.
- Insert hook into project at preferred starting point. With the hook inserted, attach Color B slipknot onto hook on the wrong side, yarn over, pull hook back through to right side. You will have two loops on your hook. Sl St these two loops. (Note: Your working strand will remain on the wrong side of your work. Do not pull working strand to front.) Insert hook into next st sp, yarn over, pull back through. Sl St two loops on hook. Repeat until desired detail has been created. Finish off, weave in ends.
- OPTIONAL: You can check out this great tutorial by Bhooked for how to do surface slip stitches if you have never done this before. I’ve also included the video at the bottom this post for easy access. See below.
NOTES:
At the beginning of each row, CH 1 does not count as a stitch.
First we will use the Angel Hair yarn to create the main banner section. After that’s complete, we will attach the banner to the dowel using single crochets around the dowel to secure. Lastly, we will surface slip stitch the heart design onto the banner.
To add a new skein to an in-progress project, you may do the version that works best for you. I generally just tie the ends together, leaving about 4-6” tails for each strand to weave in later. This allows for seamless and continual making time!
Let’s get started!
WALL BANNER PATTERN:
Using Color A, CH 56.
- Starting in 2nd CH from hook, HDC across. (55)
- CH 1, turn. HDC in each st across. (55)
- Repeat Step 2 for a total of 40 HDC rows
- CH 1, turn. HDCDEC in first two sts, HDC across, HDCDEC in last two sts. (53)
- CH 1, turn. HDCDEC in first two sts, HDC across, HDCDEC in last two sts. (51)
- CH 1, turn. HDCDEC in first two sts, HDC across, HDCDEC in last two sts. (49)
- CH 1, turn. HDCDEC in first two sts, HDC across, HDCDEC in last two sts. (47)
- CH 1, turn. HDCDEC in first two sts, HDC across, HDCDEC in last two sts. (45)
- CH 1, turn. HDCDEC in first two sts, HDC across, HDCDEC in last two sts. (43)
- CH 1, turn. HDCDEC in first two sts, HDC across, HDCDEC in last two sts. (41)
- CH 1, turn. HDCDEC in first two sts, HDC across, HDCDEC in last two sts. (39)
- CH 1, turn. HDCDEC in first two sts, HDC across, HDCDEC in last two sts. (37)
- CH 1, turn. HDCDEC in first two sts, HDC across, HDCDEC in last two sts. (35)
- CH 1, turn. HDCDEC in first two sts, HDC across, HDCDEC in last two sts. (33)
- CH 1, turn. HDCDEC in first two sts, HDC across, HDCDEC in last two sts. (31)
- CH 1, turn. HDCDEC in first two sts, HDC across, HDCDEC in last two sts. (29)
- CH 1, turn. HDCDEC in first two sts, HDC across, HDCDEC in last two sts. (27)
- CH 1, turn. HDCDEC in first two sts, HDC across, HDCDEC in last two sts. (25)
- CH 1, turn. HDCDEC in first two sts, HDC across, HDCDEC in last two sts. (23)
- CH 1, turn. HDCDEC in first two sts, HDC across, HDCDEC in last two sts. (21)
- CH 1, turn. HDCDEC in first two sts, HDC across, HDCDEC in last two sts. (19)
- CH 1, turn. HDCDEC in first two sts, HDC across, HDCDEC in last two sts. (17)
- CH 1, turn. HDCDEC in first two sts, HDC across, HDCDEC in last two sts. (15)
- CH 1, turn. HDCDEC in first two sts, HDC across, HDCDEC in last two sts. (13)
- CH 1, turn. HDCDEC in first two sts, HDC across, HDCDEC in last two sts. (11)
- CH 1, turn. HDCDEC in first two sts, HDC across, HDCDEC in last two sts. (9)
- CH 1, turn. HDCDEC in first two sts, HDC across, HDCDEC in last two sts. (7)
- CH 1, turn. HDCDEC in first two sts, HDC across, HDCDEC in last two sts. (5)
- CH 1, turn. HDCDEC in first two sts, HDC across, HDCDEC in last two sts. (3)
- CH 1, turn. HDCDEC in first two sts, HDC across, HDCDEC in last two sts. (1)
- Finish off, weave in ends.
ATTACHING BANNER TO WOODEN DOWEL:
Attach Color A to hook using a Sl St and attach to top corner of banner using a Sl St.
- SC around dowel across. (Note: see image below) (55)
- Finish off, weave in ends.
SURFACE SLIP STITCH HEART DETAIL:
Using Color B and your crochet hook, surface slip stitch a heart onto your wall banner. Tip: I started at the top center section and worked one half of a heart free-hand. I then used my measuring tape to replicate the shape for the other half of the heart. This allowed it to be equal on both sides. Using my measuring tape allowed me to make sure I kept each section at the same distance from the edge of the banner on both sides and keep is properly proportionate!
And there you go. Stick that baby up on your living room wall and remember daily to BE love to anyone you encounter, even if they are hard to love. I’ve learned that sometimes those that are hardest to love haven’t received the kind of love others have. It made me realize that it’s hard for someone to spread love if they have never experienced it. How can you share something you don’t actually know about?
Be the love that you want to see in the world. Actions are louder than words.
Love. Conquers. All.
Always.
xo,
Jessica
