57 2 Hearts Joined and Rings Pattern by Nancy Liggins: A Complete Guide to This Timeless Crochet Classic
There is something undeniably special about a crochet pattern that manages to combine romance, geometry, and wearable artistry into a single design. The 57 2 Hearts Joined and Rings pattern by Nancy Liggins is exactly that kind of pattern — one that has captured the imagination of crochet enthusiasts across skill levels and continues to inspire makers who want to create something meaningful, beautiful, and technically rewarding. Whether you stumbled across this pattern in a vintage pamphlet, found it listed in an online marketplace, or heard about it from a fellow crafter in your local stitch circle, you are in the right place. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about this beloved design, from its origins and appeal to tips for completing it successfully and ideas for how to use the finished pieces in your life or as gifts.
What Is the 57 2 Hearts Joined and Rings Pattern?
The 57 2 Hearts Joined and Rings pattern by Nancy Liggins is a crochet thread pattern that features interlocking heart motifs and ring elements worked together to create lace-style pieces with a romantic, heirloom quality. The “57” in the title refers to the pattern number in a series, which was a common naming convention for leaflets and booklets published by yarn and thread companies throughout the mid-to-late twentieth century. These numbered patterns were distributed through craft stores, mail-order catalogs, and needlework shops, making them accessible to a wide audience of home crafters.
Nancy Liggins was a designer whose name appears on a number of published crochet patterns from this era. Her work tends to reflect the elegant, lace-forward aesthetic that was popular in thread crochet during the latter half of the twentieth century, with an emphasis on decorative items for the home as well as wearable accessories. The Hearts Joined and Rings pattern is a particularly beloved entry in her catalog because the motif is simultaneously simple in concept and rich in visual impact. Two hearts joined together carry obvious romantic symbolism, making this pattern a natural choice for wedding gifts, anniversary presents, Valentine’s Day projects, and items created to celebrate love and partnership in all its forms.
The Appeal of Thread Crochet Motifs
Before diving deeper into the specifics of this pattern, it is worth pausing to appreciate why thread crochet motifs have remained so popular across generations of crafters. Unlike bulky yarn projects that can be completed in an afternoon, thread crochet requires a slower, more meditative pace. This is not a drawback — for many makers, it is precisely the appeal. Working with fine crochet thread on small steel hooks demands attention and rewards patience. The result is a fabric of extraordinary delicacy that simply cannot be replicated with heavier materials.
Motif-based designs like the one Nancy Liggins created are especially well-suited to thread crochet because they allow for tremendous versatility. A single motif can stand alone as a delicate ornament or appliqué. Several motifs joined together can form a doily, a table runner, a shawl insert, or even a full-sized tablecloth if the maker is ambitious enough. The Hearts Joined and Rings concept gives each individual piece a sense of completeness and elegance, while also creating a natural visual rhythm when multiple units are combined.
The ring element in this particular pattern adds an interesting geometric counterpoint to the organic curves of the heart shapes. Rings in crochet can be worked in a variety of ways — as simple chain loops, as solid rings of single crochets, or as elaborate picot-edged circles — and the interaction between the rounded ring shapes and the pointed bottom of the heart creates a dynamic visual tension that keeps the eye moving across the finished piece.
Materials You Will Likely Need
While this guide does not reproduce the pattern itself, which would require the original published leaflet or an authorized digital copy, it is helpful to understand the general material requirements that patterns of this type call for. If you are sourcing the Nancy Liggins pattern through a vintage craft seller, an online marketplace like Etsy or eBay, or a digital pattern platform, you should find all the specific details you need within the pattern text itself. That said, here is a general overview of what to gather before you begin.
Thread crochet patterns from this period almost universally call for crochet cotton thread, typically in size 10. This is sometimes called bedspread-weight thread, and it is the most widely available size for general craft stores. Brands like Aunt Lydia’s Classic Crochet Thread, Coats and Clark Knit-Cro-Sheen, and DMC Cebelia are all commonly used and widely available. If you want a finer, lacier result, some makers substitute size 20 or even size 30 thread, though this will require adjusting your hook size and will result in a smaller finished piece.
For the hook, you will typically work with a steel crochet hook in a size that corresponds to your thread weight. For size 10 thread, a steel hook in the range of size 7 to size 9 (US sizing) is a common starting point. Because steel hook sizing runs in the opposite direction from regular hooks — smaller numbers mean larger hooks — this can be a source of confusion for makers who are more accustomed to working with yarn. Always check the pattern for the recommended hook size and swatch before committing to a large project.
You will also want a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, a pair of sharp scissors, and starch or blocking solution if you plan to block your finished pieces. Blocking is particularly important for thread crochet because it opens up the lace structure, evens out tension inconsistencies, and gives the finished item that crisp, professional look that distinguishes a carefully finished piece from one that looks homemade in the less flattering sense of the word.
Understanding the Heart and Ring Motif Structure
At the heart of this pattern — no pun intended — is the construction method that brings two hearts together with connecting ring elements. In most patterns of this style, the two hearts are not worked separately and then seamed. Instead, they are constructed in a way that joins them as you go, or in a sequence that allows the connection point to be worked organically as part of the stitch pattern.
Heart shapes in thread crochet are typically achieved through a combination of increases and decreases that create the characteristic double-lobed top and pointed bottom of the heart silhouette. The rings, which may appear between the hearts or surrounding them depending on the specific design, are often worked as foundation elements from which the heart shapes grow, or as finishing elements that frame the completed hearts and create connection points for joining multiple motifs together.
If you are new to motif-based thread crochet, this type of pattern is an excellent learning ground. You will practice reading written crochet instructions or charted symbols (the pattern may include one or both), managing thread tension at a fine gauge, understanding how increases and decreases create shape, and learning how to join motifs either as you work or with a finishing seam. These are skills that translate directly to countless other crochet projects, making the time investment in learning this pattern genuinely worthwhile beyond the immediate goal of completing a finished piece.
Skill Level and Who This Pattern Is For
Patterns like the 57 2 Hearts Joined and Rings design are generally marketed to crafters who have some experience with crochet and are comfortable with basic stitches including chain stitch, slip stitch, single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet, and treble crochet. Experience with working in the round and with joining rounds is also helpful.
That said, experienced beginners who are patient and willing to work slowly should not be discouraged from attempting this pattern. Thread crochet does have a learning curve, particularly if you have only ever worked with yarn, but the skills involved are not fundamentally different — they simply require more precision and a lighter touch. Many makers find that switching to thread crochet opens up an entirely new world of design possibilities and gives them a deeper appreciation for the craft.
For intermediate and advanced crocheters, the Hearts Joined and Rings pattern offers the pleasure of a design that is both familiar in technique and visually rewarding in result. Experienced thread crochet workers will likely move through the pattern relatively quickly and may enjoy experimenting with variations in thread color, thread weight, or finishing details.
Project Ideas and Uses for Finished Pieces
One of the most exciting aspects of a versatile motif pattern is the range of projects it can support. Here are some ideas for putting your finished Hearts Joined and Rings pieces to beautiful use.
As a standalone ornament, a single completed motif makes a lovely decorative accent. Starched and framed, it becomes a piece of fiber art suitable for display. Attached to a cardstock backing and placed in a greeting card envelope, it becomes a handmade card that doubles as a keepsake. Stitched onto a ribbon and hung from a tree branch, it transforms into a delicate seasonal ornament.
As part of a larger textile, multiple joined motifs can form the basis of a doily, which remains one of the most beloved applications for lace crochet. A small doily of perhaps seven to twelve motifs makes a charming centerpiece for a side table or dresser. A larger version with dozens of motifs could serve as a runner along a dining table or a decorative overlay on a tablecloth.
Wedding and anniversary gifts are an obvious and wonderful use for a pattern centered on joined hearts. A framed pair of motifs, a doily made as part of a bridal shower gift, or a set of decorative coasters for a newly married couple’s home are all ideas that land beautifully. Because the pattern carries so much symbolism — two hearts becoming one, the rings suggesting wedding bands and eternal commitment — it communicates care and meaning in a way that a purchased gift rarely can.
The pattern also lends itself to wearable applications if you are creative in your approach. Individual motifs can be incorporated into the yoke of a blouse, used as appliqués on a hat or bag, or assembled into a delicate collar or cuffs for a garment. These applications require some additional thought about how to attach and integrate the motifs, but the results can be extraordinary.
Tips for Success With Thread Crochet Patterns
If you are preparing to tackle this pattern or a similar thread crochet project, a few practical tips can make a significant difference in your experience and your results.
Tension control is the single most important skill in thread crochet. Because the thread is so fine and the stitches so small, any inconsistency in tension is magnified in the finished fabric. Practice working slowly and deliberately, especially when you are first learning to work with thread. Many experienced thread crocheters find that holding the thread differently than they would yarn helps achieve more consistent tension — experiment with wrapping the thread around your index finger one or two extra times to increase resistance.
Always make a gauge swatch before beginning your project, even if the project is small. Gauge determines the finished size of your work, and a significant deviation from the pattern’s gauge can result in motifs that are too large or too small to join properly or to fit their intended application.
Good lighting is not a luxury when working with fine thread — it is a necessity. Natural light is ideal, but a quality daylight lamp will serve you well during evening crafting sessions. Magnification is another tool worth considering, particularly for makers whose close vision has changed over time. A simple magnifying glass or a dedicated crafting magnifier can transform a frustrating experience into a pleasant one.
Blocking is worth the effort and should not be skipped. Wet-blocking, which involves soaking the finished piece in water, gently squeezing out the excess moisture, pinning the piece into shape on a blocking board, and allowing it to dry completely, opens up the lace structure beautifully. For a crisper finish appropriate for decorative items, spray starch or liquid starch can be applied before or after pinning. The difference between an unblocked and a properly blocked piece of thread crochet is dramatic and immediately visible.
Where to Find the Nancy Liggins Pattern
The 57 2 Hearts Joined and Rings pattern by Nancy Liggins is a vintage publication, which means it may not be available in brick-and-mortar craft stores today. However, vintage crochet patterns have found a thriving second life in the digital age. Online platforms specializing in handmade goods and vintage items are excellent places to search, and you will often find the pattern available either as the original physical leaflet or as a digitized PDF scan of the original.
When purchasing vintage patterns online, look for sellers who describe the condition of the pattern clearly and who provide images showing all pages. If you are purchasing a digitized version, confirm that all pages are included and that the scan quality is sufficient to read the pattern instructions clearly. For patterns that include charts, image clarity is especially important.
You may also find this pattern in estate sales, used bookstores with craft sections, or through crochet guilds and groups whose members sometimes share access to vintage publications. Public libraries in some areas maintain collections of vintage craft pamphlets that can be borrowed or photographed for personal use.
The Legacy of Numbered Craft Patterns
It is worth reflecting briefly on the cultural history that surrounds patterns like this one. Numbered craft pamphlets were a cornerstone of mid-twentieth-century domestic crafting culture. Published by thread companies, yarn manufacturers, and independent craft publishers, these inexpensive pamphlets made sophisticated designs accessible to home crafters across economic backgrounds. They were sold at the counter of the local five-and-dime, mailed to subscribers of craft clubs, and passed from neighbor to neighbor until the covers were soft and the pages worn.
Designers like Nancy Liggins were the creative engines behind this culture, translating aesthetic sensibilities and technical knowledge into instructions that could be followed by makers working alone at kitchen tables and in front of evening television sets. Their names appear on hundreds of patterns that shaped the aesthetic of American homes throughout the latter half of the twentieth century, and the continued interest in their work today is a testament to both the quality of the designs and the enduring human love for making things by hand.
When you work the 57 2 Hearts Joined and Rings pattern, you are participating in a long tradition of craft knowledge being passed forward — from designer to pamphlet to crafter to crafter, across decades and across the slow transformation of how we share and receive information. That is a genuinely beautiful thing, and it adds a layer of meaning to the finished work that no commercially produced item can carry.
Final Thoughts
The 57 2 Hearts Joined and Rings pattern by Nancy Liggins is more than a set of instructions for creating a decorative object. It is an invitation to slow down, to work with care, and to produce something that carries real meaning — whether that meaning comes from the romantic symbolism of joined hearts, from the satisfaction of mastering a skilled craft, or from the knowledge that what you have made will be treasured rather than discarded. Thread crochet at its best creates objects that outlast their makers and carry memories across generations, and a pattern as enduring as this one has clearly demonstrated that it belongs in that distinguished company.
Whether you are a seasoned thread crochet artist adding another treasured pattern to your collection or a curious crafter picking up a steel hook for the first time, this pattern has something to offer you. Take your time finding a quality copy of the original pattern, gather your materials with care, and settle in for the quiet, rewarding pleasure of making something beautiful with your own hands. The hearts joined in the finished design will reflect the care and attention you put into every stitch.
