There is something about soulmate-hood that demands to be shouted from the rooftops. What better way to flaunt your stolen heart than to wear it on your sleeve (or your butt pocket, collar, knee, you get the picture)? I’ll tell you what: by making wearable hearts together! On hearing the word crochet, what usually comes to mind for me are older ladies. And let me tell you, those women are true friendship goals. Nothing screams friendship more than a group of women bonding over yarn. Still, you don’t have to be over 60 to get to this level of friendship. Crochet patches for you and your friends, and proclaim your love to the world!

What you’ll need

• Two different colors of yarn
• A 5.5 crochet hook (You can vary the size depending on if you want your stiches bigger or smaller—this is just the size I used.)
• A tapestry needle
• Thread
• A sewing needle

Stitches, foundations, and terminology:
There are many different crochet stitches (here’s a handy stitch directory), but today I’ll just be going over the ones we’ll use to make these patches. Below is a list of the stitches, plus photos of how to do each one.

Magic circle

Wrap some yarn around two fingers, insert your hook into the center of the circle, then pull the outer strand of yarn inward. Yarn over and pull through. Crochet the indicated stitches into the circle and pull tightly on the yarn tail.

Chain stitch (ch)

Loop the yarn over the hook, then pull the hook inward, through the loop. (This diagram shows the direction you should pull the hook.)

Slip stitch (sl st)

Insert your hook into a stitch, wrap the yarn over the hook, and then pull your hook back through.

Half double crochet (hdc)

Yarn over hook, insert hook into stitch, yarn over hook, pull through the first loop. Yarn over hook, pull through both loops.

Double crochet (dc)

Yarn over hook, insert hook into stitch, yarn over hook, pull through one loop. Yarn over hook, pull through two loops. Yarn over hook, pull all the way through.

Round off

To round off just means to finish the project. To do so, cut the yarn about 3-5 inches from your project, insert the tail through a loop and pull (basically, make a knot). Take your tapestry needle and weave the tail of yarn in between the stitches, making sure the tail ends on the back of your project (away from the part that you want to show) so that the tail is hidden between the stitches.

Now you’ve got the terminology, let’s get started on making these embroidered patches.

Step One:

Round One: Start with a magic circle. Do one chain stitch, and then do 11 double crochet on the ring. Pull the yarn tail to tighten stitches together.

Round 2: Do one chain stitch. Turn the project around. Half double crochet in the tops of the next two stitches. In next stitch, half double crochet three times in one stitch. Half double crochet in the next five stitches. Three half double crochet in the next stitch. Half double crochet in the next two stitches.

Round 3: Do one chain stitch. Turn the project around. Half double crochet in the tops of the next two stitches. In next stitch, half double crochet three times in one stitch. Half double crochet in the next four stitches. In next stitch, half double crochet, then do two chain stitches, and then half double crochet in the same stitch. Half double crochet in the next four stitches. In the next stitch, do three half double crochet in one stitch. Slip stitch in last stitch and round off.

Step Two:

The great thing about this pattern is that there are a whole bunch of ways to customize it. I used my embroidery needle and some contrasting thread to sew on the words “SOL M8,” but you can totally let your imagination run wild with it. Maybe hot glue on some googly eyes or add some beads? The choice is yours!

Step Three:

Once you’ve finished decorating your patches, sew them onto anything you like! Show off your new, super unique patches and be the old lady friend goals you’ve always dreamed of. ♦