Materials
Acrylic DK and a 3.00mm hook or DMC Petra/Perle size 5 and a 1.50mm hook, toy stuffing or plastic canvas, tapestry needle for sewing in ends.
My heart is 20cm/8ins tall when using yarn and 11cm/4¼ins when using thread.

Stuffing
Stuffing is optional.  The double thickness makes the heart sturdy enough but stuffing gives them a more 3D effect.  If you prefer them flat but want it firmer, plastic canvas can be used.

General Notes
Turning ch 1: the ch 1 at beginning of dc rows is for turning only and not counted as a stitch unless other wise stated.
Joining slip stitch: the ss used to join rounds is not counted as a stitch and is not worked into when you turn.
Starting chain:  Always work into the back loop of the starting chain unless otherwise stated.  This gives a neater finish, making both the bottom and top of the work look the same.  When working into unused loops, pick up both loops as you would when working into the tops of other stitches.

Special Stitches
dc2tog:  (Insert hook in next st, yoh and draw through) twice, yoh and draw through all 3 loops on hook.
dc3tog:  Insert hook in next st, yoh and draw through, miss next st, insert hook in next st, yoh and draw through, yoh and draw through all 34 loops on hook.

1st side:
Ch 84, ss to 1st ch taking care not to twist.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, dc in each ch, ss to 1st ch, turn. (84 sts)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, 3 dc in next dc, dc in next 25 dc, (2 dc in next dc, dc in next 4 dc) 3 times, dc3tog, (dc in next 4 dc, 2 dc in next dc) 3 times, dc in next 25 dc, ss to 1st ch, turn. (90 sts)
Rnd 3: Ch 1, dc in next 15 dc, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 13 dc, (2 dc in next dc, dc in next 4 dc) twice, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 2 dc, dc3tog, dc in next 2 dc, (2 dc in next dc, dc in next 4 dc) twice, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 13 dc, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 16 dc, 3 dc in next dc, dc in next dc, ss to 1st ch, turn. (96 sts)
Rnd 4: Ch 1, dc in next dc, 2 dc in each of next 3 dc, (dc in next 6 dc, 2 dc in next dc) twice, dc in next 14 dc, (2 dc in next dc, dc in next 5 dc) 3 times, dc3tog, (dc in next 5 dc, 2 dc in next dc) 3 times, dc in next 14 dc, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 6 dc, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 5 dc, ss to 1st ch, turn.
Rnd 5: Ch 1, dc in next 32 dc, (2 dc in next dc, dc in next 6 dc) twice, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 2 dc, dc3tog, dc in next 2 dc, (2 dc in next dc, dc in next 6 dc) twice, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 35 dc, 2 dc in each of next 2 dc, dc in next 3 dc, ss to 1st ch, turn.
Rnd 6: Ch 1, dc in next 4 dc, 2 dc in each of next 2 dc, dc in next 31 dc, (2 dc in next dc, dc in next 7 dc) 3 times, dc3tog, (dc in next 7 dc, 2 dc in next dc) 3 times, dc in next 27 dc, ss to 1st ch, turn.
Rnd 7: Ch 1, dc in next 23 dc, (2 dc in next dc, dc in next 8 dc) 3 times, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 2 dc, dc3tog, dc in next 2 dc, (2 dc in next dc, dc in next 8 dc) 3 times, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 29 dc, 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 5 dc, ss to 1st ch, fasten off.

2nd side
Leaving 3 m unused at the beginning, repeat the 1st side. Do not fasten off, leave loop for later use. Place both sides together and work the joining rounds through both pieces.

Join Inside: Working on unused loops of starting ch, insert hook through 1st ch, dc2tog, dc in next 20 dc, (dc2tog, dc in next 4 dc) 3 times, 2 dc in each of next 3 dc, (dc in next 4 dc, dc2tog) 3 times, dc in next 20 dc, dc2tog, dc in next dc, ss to 1st ch, fasten off and sew in ends.
Join Outside: Insert hook in left loop, ch 1, dc in next 5 dc, 2 dc in each of next 3 dc, dc in next 42 dc, (2 dc in next dc, dc in next 8 dc) twice, dc2tog, (ss, ch 8, ss to 1st ch, ss) in next dc, dc2tog, (dc in next 8 dc, 2 dc in next dc) twice, dc in next 37 dc, ss to 1st ch, fasten off and sew in ends.

1st side: Ch 84, slst to 1st ch taking care not to twist.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in each ch, slst to 1st ch, turn. (84 sts)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 25 sc, (2 sc in next sc, sc in next 4 sc) 3 times, sc3tog, (sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc) 3 times, sc in next 25 sc, slst to 1st ch, turn. (90 sts)
Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in next 15 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 13 sc, (2 sc in next sc, sc in next 4 sc) twice, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc, sc3tog, sc in next 2 sc, (2 sc in next sc, sc in next 4 sc) twice, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 13 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 16 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next sc, slst to 1st ch, turn. (96 sts)
Rnd 4: Ch 1, sc in next sc, 2 sc in each of next 3 sc, (sc in next 6 sc, 2 sc in next sc) twice, sc in next 14 sc, (2 sc in next sc, sc in next 5 sc) 3 times, sc3tog, (sc in next 5 sc, 2 sc in next sc) 3 times, sc in next 14 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 6 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 5 sc, slst to 1st ch, turn.
Rnd 5: Ch 1, sc in next 32 sc, (2 sc in next sc, sc in next 6 sc) twice, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc, sc3tog, sc in next 2 sc, (2 sc in next sc, sc in next 6 sc) twice, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 35 sc, 2 sc in each of next 2 sc, sc in next 3 sc, slst to 1st ch, turn.
Rnd 6: Ch 1, sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in each of next 2 sc, sc in next 31 sc, (2 sc in next sc, sc in next 7 sc) 3 times, sc3tog, (sc in next 7 sc, 2 sc in next sc) 3 times, sc in next 27 sc, slst to 1st ch, turn.
Rnd 7: Ch 1, sc in next 23 sc, (2 sc in next sc, sc in next 8 sc) 3 times, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc, sc3tog, sc in next 2 sc, (2 sc in next sc, sc in next 8 sc) 3 times, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 29 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 5 sc, slst to 1st ch, fasten off.

2nd side
Leaving 3 m unused at the beginning, repeat the 1st side. Do not fasten off, leave loop for later use. Place both sides together and work the joining rounds through both pieces.

Join Inside: Working on unused loops of starting ch, insert hook through 1st ch, sc2tog, sc in next 20 sc, (sc2tog, sc in next 4 sc) 3 times, 2 sc in each of next 3 sc, (sc in next 4 sc, sc2tog) 3 times, sc in next 20 sc, sc2tog, sc in next sc, slst to 1st ch, fasten off and sew in ends.
Join Outside: Insert hook in left loop, ch 1, sc in next 5 sc, 2 sc in each of next 3 sc, sc in next 42 sc, (2 sc in next sc, sc in next 8 sc) twice, sc2tog, (slst, ch 8, slst to 1st ch, slst) in next sc, sc2tog, (sc in next 8 sc, 2 sc in next sc) twice, sc in next 37 sc, slst to 1st ch, fasten off and sew in ends.