Happy Black History Month beauties! 

Alrighty, to follow our first Passion Project, the Donut, we are introducing the Black History Heart. Whoooop Whoooop! 

Now I know you didn’t think you were going to just stop by and get a free pattern without learning a little somin’ somin’ about black history.  

I was going back and forth on which historical black figure to highlight, because there are sooo many, and I landed on Octavia Butler. Crocheting is a huge part of my world, but reading is also a really big passion of mine.  

My oldest daughter and I read books together, and if we are able, we like to watch series attached to the book (shout out to Charmaine Wilkerson’s Black Cake, check it out if you haven’t already!). Recently we picked up the series Kindred. We started reading the book and decided to dive into the series while doing so. 

Kindred’s insight into African American social injustices gave me everything I needed while feeding my curiosity of time travel and African American trauma. Did you know that Octavia Butler, author of Kindred, was a pioneer author in the world of science fiction? She was the first African American female science fiction author who wrote books related to social injustices.  

Though Butler didn’t aspire to be a science fiction author in her early years, growing up she knew she wanted to be a writer. She was dedicated to her success and often rose before the sun to perfect her craft. She is the recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including the Hugo Award for best Novelette in 1985, and she was the recipient of the MacArthur Foundation “Genius” grant, another prestigious honor in the world of science fiction. 

Octavia Butler is black excellence. If you are interested in learning more about her, the resource below is a good start. Google is also an awesome place to gather more insight into this amazing beautiful, talented, and overall amazing woman.

Learn more about Octavia Butler    

Now, you may have the pattern =)  

Materials:

- Worsted Weight Yarn – 4 colors (black, green, yellow, and red) 

- 3.5 crochet hook 

- Yarn needle 

- Polyfill stuffing 

- Stitch marker 

Abbreviations: 

- St = stitch 

- Ch = chain 

- Sc = single crochet 

- Sl st = slip stitch 

- Sc2tog = single crochet 2 together 

- ** = repeat the pattern between the asterisk   

Pattern: 

Heart Tip #1 

Start with Black yarn 

R1: Magic Circle, 6sc 

R2: 2sc in each st 

R3: *1sc then 2sc in the next st* 

R4-R6: I sc in each st  (you should have 18 sts) 

Fasten off   

Heat Tip #2 

Repeat R1-R6 for Heart Tip #1 

DO NOT FASTEN OFF 

- Join #1 to #2 with sc in the first st of #2, sc in the next 17 sts 

- Join #2 to #1 with sc in the last st of #1, sc in the next 17 sts (you should have a total of 36 sts) 

Heart Body 

Switch to green yarn 

R7: sc in each st 

R8: *7 sc then 2sctog* 

R9: 1 sc in each st 

R10: *6sc then 2sctog* Switch to yellow yarn 

R11: 1 sc in each st 

R12: *5sc then 2sctog* 

R13: 1 sc in each st 

R14: *4sc then 2sctog* Switch to red yarn 

R15: *3sc then 2sctog* 

R16: *2sc then 2sctog* 

R17: *1 sc then 2sctog* 

R18: *2sctog*   

All done! Now let me see!  Tag us on Instagram @zumamiko. I can’t wait to see what you come up with. Remember to let your creativity take over. I decided to make mine a keychain and add it to my work bag. I want to see what you come up with.