Heart Cactus Amigurumi Pattern - Valentine's Day Hoya Plant

You know those cute little heart-shaped succulents you see all over grocery stores and plant shops? I've been obsessed with Hoya Kerrii (also called the Sweet Heart Plant) ever since I spotted one at my local nursery. But since I have a talent for accidentally loving plants a bit too much (read: overwatering), I thought - why not create a crochet version that's impossible to kill?

This little amigurumi is my take on the adorable Hoya Kerrii, complete with its signature heart-shaped leaf. I had so much fun designing this pattern, especially figuring out how to capture that perfect heart shape while keeping it simple enough that we can all enjoy making it. It's become my favorite desk companion - all the charm of a real plant with zero maintenance required (which, let's be honest, is sometimes exactly what we need)!

Skill Level and Time Investment

Skill Level: Beginner-Friendly

• Perfect for crocheters who can:
  • Work in rounds
  • Increase and decrease
  • Create basic shapes
  • Sew pieces together

Time to Complete:

• Total time: 2-3 hours
• Break it down into manageable sessions:
  • Heart leaf: 45 minutes
  • Soil: 20 minutes
  • Pot: 45 minutes
  • Assembly and finishing: 10 minutes

Materials List

Yarn Requirements

Main Colors:

• Green (Heart Leaf):
  • Dark green plush chenille yarn
  • Light green plush chenille yarn
• Brown (Soil):
  • Dark Coffee plush chenille yarn
• Pink or red (Pot):
  • Pink plush chenille yarn
  • Red plush chenille yarn

Alternative Yarn Suggestions:

• Any bulky weight (5) yarn will work great
• The Big Twist Posh yarn from JOANN works perfectly because it's soft but still holds its shape well

Tools and Notions

Essential Tools:

• 4.5mm hook (I got this ergonomic kind)
• Tapestry needle for seaming
• Stitch markers (1-2)
• Scissors
• Polyester fiberfill for stuffing

For Features and Finishing:

• Black yarn of the same weight or thinner cotton (for face details)

Project Details

Finished Size

• Height: 6 inches (15 cm) total
• Heart width: 3 inches (7.5 cm)
• Pot diameter: 3 inches (7.5 cm)

Gauge

• 16 sc and 18 rows = 4" (10 cm)
• Gauge is not critical for this project, but consistent tension will help achieve the intended size

Customization Options

• Size adjustments: Use larger or smaller hook for different sizes
• Color variations:
  • Traditional green for realistic look
  • Pink or red for Valentine's theme
  • Variegated yarns for unique effects

Abbreviations

• ch: chain
• sc: single crochet
• inc: increase (2 sc in same stitch)
• dec: decrease (sc2tog)
• st(s): stitch(es)
• MR: magic ring
• BLO: back loops only
• FLO: front loops only
• YO: yarn over
• [ ]: stitch count for round

Pattern Notes

• Work in continuous rounds unless otherwise specified
• Use stitch markers to keep track of rounds
• The heart is worked in two halves that are joined together
• Be careful not to overstuff the heart as it should remain relatively flat
• When joining the two heart halves, special attention to the connection point helps prevent gaps

Instructions

Heart Leaf (Make Two Top Halves)

First Half: with green yarn,
Rnd 1: 8 sc in MR [8 sts]
Rnd 2: (sc, inc) x4 [12 sts]
Rnd 3: (2 sc, inc) x4 [16 sts]
Rnd 4-5: sc around [16 sts] Invisible finish off and weave in end.
Second Half: Repeat Rounds 1-5 of first half, but DO NOT finish off.

Joining and Completing Heart:
Rnd 5: Connect to the second top half, and sc 16 around. When connecting back to the first half, to prevent a gap from forming between the two halves, pull up a loop in each sc that connect the two halves, pull up another loop from the next sc, then YO and pull through all 4 loops. 14 sc around, and when reaching the middle of the two halves again, 1 dec. Place a marker to indicate the end of the round.

Rnd 6: 13 sc, dec, 14 sc [28 sts]
Rnd 7: (5 sc, dec) x4 [24 sts]
Rnd 8: (4 sc, dec) x4 [20 sts]

Insert 8mm safety eyes between rounds 6 and 7

Rnd 9: (3 sc, dec) x4 [16 sts]

Begin stuffing the piece. Do not overstuff as the plant should be flat.

Rnd 10: (2 sc, dec) x4 [12 sts]
Rnd 11: (sc, dec) x4 [8 sts]

Cut green yarn and fasten off. Do not close. Hide the yarn tail inside the piece and add a bit more stuffing if needed.

Soil ball

With brown yarn:
Rnd 1: Working in FLO of the last round of the heart, pull up a loop in the middle back of the piece (the side without eyes). This is the start of the round. (inc) x8 [16 sts]
Rnd 2: (sc, inc) x8 [24 sts]
Rnd 3: (2 sc, inc) x8 [32 sts]
Rnd 4-6: sc around [32 sts]
Rnd 7: (2 sc, dec) x8 [24 sts]
Rnd 8: (sc, dec) x8 [16 sts]
Rnd 9: dec x8 [8 sts]

Fasten off leaving a tail. Sew the tail through each FLO of the last round. Pull tight to close, tie a knot to secure yarn onto the piece, and hide tail inside the soil.

Pot

With red or pink yarn:
Rnd 1: 10 sc in MR [10 sts]
Rnd 2: inc x10 [20 sts]
Rnd 3: (sc, inc) x10 [30 sts]
Rnd 4: BLO (5 sc, inc) x5 [35 sts]
Rnd 5-7: 35 sc [35 sts]
Rnd 8: BLO 35 sc [35 sts]
Rnd 9: 35 sc [35 sts]
Rnd 10: FLO 35 sc [35 sts]
Rnd 11: 35 sc [35 sts]

Cut yarn, leaving a tail 3 times the circumference of the pot. Pull yarn through. Using a tapestry needle, whipstitch through the leftover front loops from round 8 and through both loops of the last round to create the pot rim.

Embroidering the Smile

Using black yarn and a tapestry needle:

1. Starting position: Insert your needle anywhere through the side of the head
2. Create the right side of the smile
   1. Bring needle out one stitch left and below the right eye
   2. Leave a 4-inch tail on the back (where you insert the needle in step 1)
3. Create the left side of the smile
   1. Insert needle 3 stitches to the left
   2. This creates the width of your smile

4. Form the smile's center point

1. Bring needle out through one stitch below the center of the smile line

5. Shape the curve

1. With your finger, gently pull the line downward to create the curved smile shape
2. Create a tiny anchoring loop by:
   1. Passing needle under the smile line
   2. Bringing it back through the same center point hole

6. Secure the smile

1. Push needle back into the exact same hole as your starting position from Step 1 (back of the head)
2. Pull with gentle tension
   1. Aim for enough tension to hold the smile in place
   2. Avoid pulling so tight that it distorts the face

7. Tie off and hide yarn tails

1. Tie a double knot to secure the yarn
2. Cut tails down to about 2-3 inches long
3. Hide yarn tails inside
   1. Push a crochet hook into a random stitch near where the knot is
   2. Push the hook through out of the hole where the knot is and pull the tails inside until they dissappear into the head

And there you have it - your very own crochet Heart Hoya Kerrii plant! Unlike its real-life counterpart that can take years to grow new leaves, you've just created this adorable heart-shaped beauty in just a few hours. Pop it on your desk, windowsill, or gift it to a plant-loving friend (maybe one who, like me, has a tendency to overwhelm their plants with love and water). This one will stay forever heart-shaped and happy with absolutely zero maintenance required!

Care Instructions

• Spot clean with a damp cloth
• Air dry only
• Keep away from direct sunlight to prevent fading
• Store in a cool, dry place

Pattern Support

Need help? Contact me at magicbearcrochet@gmail.com

© 2024 Magic Bear Crochet. This pattern is protected by copyright law and is for personal use only. You may sell items made from this pattern in small quantities, but please credit Magic Bear Crochet as the designer. Mass production, distribution, or copying of the pattern itself is prohibited.