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Paul's Generous Human Heart
...a knitting surgeon in the making                               


Materials
Any worsted weight wool in
red, blue and beige. 
A small amount is required.
Needles:  #6 dp

Note
The red indicates arteries carrying blood rich in oxygen coming from the
lungs to the heart then being pumped out to the body.  The blue veins, which are
larger diameter, indicate oxygen depleted blood returning from the body to
the heart, then back to the lungs for more oxygen.

Body
Using beige yarn, cast on 6 st.  Place 2 st on each of 3
needles.  Knit 1 row around.
Inc 1 st in beginning of every second stitch around, 9 st.
Repeat until 15 st.  Knit 1 row around, 15 st.
Repeat inc every other row until 18 rows, 45 st.
Knit 8 rows even stockinette, 45 st.
Inc in first st 3 times around, 48 st.
Work 1 row even.
Repeat last 2 rows 3 times, 54 st.
Decrease for top.  Decrease 1 st every 6th st around,  45 st.
Repeat decrease every row until 28 st.
Thread yarn through these 28 stitches to hold them for later closing.

Aortic Artery
Using red yarn, cast on 12 st. 
Divide 4 st on each of 3 needles. 
Knit around 12 rows, 12 st, 2 inches long.
Divide this tube into two separate arteries by placing 6 st n each of 2 DP
needles.  Work "idiot" cord on one needle at a time until each artery is 40
rows. 
Bind off each artery, 6 st each.

Pulmonary arteries
Using red yarn, cast on 10 st and on 3 DP needles. 
Knit around for 2.5 inches.  Place 5 st on each of 2 DP needles.
Work "idiot" cord to make two arteries 32 rows, 6 inches.
Bind off each artery.

Pulmonary (smaller) arteries
Using red yarn and DP needles,
cast on 4 st. 
Work "idiot" cord for 24 rows, 5 inches. Bind off.
Make a second one.

Upper vena cava:
Using blue yarn, cast on 15 st with 4 DP needles. 
Knit around for 17 rows, 3.5 inches.  Bind off.

Lower vena cava
Using blue yarn, cast on 9 st with 3 DP needles.  Knit around
for 17 rows, 3.5 inches.  Bind off.

Upper right atrium
Wind a tight ball of blue yarn about 1 inch in diameter.

Upper left atrium
Wind a tight ball of red yarn about 1 inch in diameter.

Right ventricle
Wind a tight bundle of blue yarn about 2 inches diameter and
3 inches long.

Left ventricle
Wind a tight bundle of red yarn about 2 inches in diameter
and 3 inches long.

Finishing
Sew the aorta to the top of the left ventricle, red bundle.
Sew the upper vena cava to the top of the right atrium, blue ball.
Make a hole in the lower back of the body by spreading the stitches. 
Pull the lower vena cava through this hole and sew it to the bottom of the
right atrium, blue ball.
Sew the pulmonary artery to the top of the right ventricle, blue bundle.
Make two small holes in the right side of the upper body by spreading the
stitches.  Pull the smaller arteries through these holes and sew them to the
left atrium, red ball.
Pull the yarn at the top of the body snug around the arteries and upper vena
cava.  Tie off.

PS:  If the bottom of the body looks too peaked, thread yarn through all
stitches about 0.5 inches from the bottom and pull closed while stuffing the peak
inside.  Tie off.

Paul in his hand-knitted camouflage gear!!!
You can contact him via W7MYA@aol.com