Free Project - Valentine Wand

A cute little gift for Valentine's Day (or make without the wand and add a hanging cord for pretty ornaments)

Materials:
oddments of red, pink and white dk yarn
2.75mm needles
darning needle
small amount of polyester stuffing
two drinking straws

Gauge:
Nice and tight so the stuffing doesn't show through. Aim for around 10 sts and 9 rows to 1 inch.

Heart (make2):
Using red cast on 2 sts.
Inc K-wise into every st.
P 1 row.
Inc into first and last st.
Repeat the last 2 rows until there are 20 sts in total.
St-st 5 rows.
Next Row: K2tog, K6, K2tog. Turn and continue on these 8 sts. Leave remaining sts on a spare needle.
P 1 row.
K2tog, K4, K2tog - 6 sts.
P2tog, P2, P2tog - 4 sts.
K2tog twice - 2 sts.
Break off long length of yarn, thread through remaining sts, pull up tightly and fasten off.
Reconnect yarn to remaining sts.
K2tog, K6, K2tog - 8 sts.
P 1 row.
K2tog, K4, K2tog - 6 sts.
P2tog, P2, P2tog - 4 sts.
K2tog twice - 2 sts.
Break off a long length of yarn, thread through remaining sts, pull up tightly and fasten off.

Place the two pieces together and oversew around all edges, leaving a gap at the lower point to insert the handle of the wand. Stuff the heart lightly.

Handle:
Using red, cast on 40 sts.
K 1 row.
Break off red and join on white.
G-st 5 rows.
Cast off.

Cut the two lengths of drinking straw to 15cm. Cut one in half lengthwise, squeez and push inside the other straw to strengthen.
Join the cast on and cast off edges of the knitted piece around the straw. Gather the row ends.
Push the handle inside the heart. Sew the remaining edges and catch the handle inside

Bow:
Using pink, cast on 50 sts.
Cast off.
Shape the strip into a bow shape. Sew to the base of the heart. Work a few stitches around the middle to shape the bow.