Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. We think nothing says “I love you” quite like a handmade knitted or crocheted item. We’ve compiled our favorite patterns from around the web and paired them with the best yarn for the project.

Napkin Tie

Having a romantic dinner in? Class it up a little with these sweet crochet napkin ties. They work up quickly and will add your personal touch to the evening. We like the flair our tweed-like Merino & Donegal yarn HAGRID line offers. The Acajou color makes a lovely heart and the Kalamata works well as the ties. If you don’t have time to wait for yarn to arrive, these can also be made with scrap yarn from other projects.

Two Hand Mitten

This adorable idea is appropriately called “smittens.” If you’re anything like me and my boyfriend, you try to hold hands in each other’s pockets and wind up tripping all over the place. Not exactly a recipe for romance. Smittens are the perfect solution and work up quickly with bulky yarn. Lion’s Brand Wool-Ease Tonal yarn would be perfect for this.

Monster Hugs

Add some lighthearted cuteness to the special day with this sweet monster hugging a heart. We’ve got a shelf of “love symbols” so something like this would be a great addition. I especially love the google eyes! Select the perfect colors from our DK PURE line. There are so many reds and pinks, we couldn’t decide!

iPad Sleeve

I know. This doesn’t say “romance” right out of the gate, but Valentine’s Day is about giving your sweetheart something they’ll appreciate. If your love is into technology and take his iPad everywhere, this cabled protective sleeve just might fit the bill. To show off the cables, we recommend one of our semi-solid yarns.

Which of these projects is your favorite? Do you have other Valentine’s Day projects in mind? Share what you make and how your love responds. And have a Happy Valentine’s Day!