Catnip Heart Pillows

Wrote by Martha Stewart

There isn't a kitten that wouldn't purr over a catnip-filled knitted pillow. The toys are also packed with wool stuffing and a jingle bell.

Knitted Catnip Delight How-ToThis toy is a great way to use leftover yarn because it requires less than an ounce. You'll also need a handful of wool stuffing, a large needle, a jingle bell, and a couple of spoonfuls of dried catnip. 

We used chunky-weight yarn and size-11 needles to make a 3-inch-wide heart. Using different yarn weights and needles will produce results in a variety of sizes. The instructions use standard knitting abbreviations; refer to the key for clarification.

Abbreviation KeySt= Stitch
K= Knit
KFB= Knit into front and back of stitch (to make 2 stitches where there was 1)
P= Purl
K2Tog= Knit 2 stitches together
P2Tog= Purl 2 stitches together
BO= Bind off

Instructions

 To knit 1 heart:

 Cast on 2 St.

Row 1: KFB, K to last St, KFB.

Row 2: P.

Repeat these 2 rows until there are 14 St (12 rows total).

Row 13: K2Tog, K5, and turn work; leave remaining 7 St on needle.

Row 14: Working with the 6 St closest to end of needle, P2Tog, P2, P2Tog.

Row 15: BO 4 Sts, and trim remaining yarn to 24 inches. Use large needle to weave yarn through back of piece to beginning of reserved 7 St.

Row 16: Working with reserved 7 St, K5, K2Tog.

Row 17: P2Tog, P2, P2Tog.

Row 18: BO 4.

To assemble toy:

 1. Using a large needle, weave loose ends of yarn into back of heart.

2. Repeat knitting instructions above to make a second heart.

3. Stack hearts with right sides out. Using a mattress stitch and a needle threaded with yarn, sew hearts together along perimeter, leaving a 1-inch gap.

4. Tuck half the stuffing inside heart, and insert a bell and catnip. Add remaining stuffing to fill heart.

5. Sew closed the 1-inch gap in the heart pillow, and weave yarn up inner side of heart. Trim excess yarn at edge of heart so that the loose end is hidden inside.