This crochet thing, I just can't get enough of it these days. First there were squares. Then came the flowers, hearts, stripes and ripples. And now ta-dah let me present to you the Hexagons!
I know, I know, but what about the ripples I hear you ask? Weeeelllll......I am still faithfully working on the ripple blanket, two rows/one colour stripe every evening, more at weekends if I can manage. I have this lovely little routine going :: after my delightful Little People are safely tucked up in bed, I spend about half an hour doing jobs, you know, tidying up a bit, sorting the laundry, getting stuff ready for the next day. Then around 8.30 when all is still and peaceful, me and the ripple hang out together in my bedroom chair next to the window. I feel the breeze blowing in and ripple, ripple, listen to the neighbours children still playing in the street, ripple, ripple, notice the gradual fading of the light, ripple, ripple. It takes me roughly 45 minutes to ripple two rows/one stripe and I can just about manage to do it before the daylight fades away to dusk. I have taken to sleeping with the ripple on my bed so I can see it when I wake up, it has become a bedroom blanket for sure. It's too big now for discreet hooking out and about, it likes to stay on my bed and not be bundled into a bag anymore.
Sooooooo. I needed to start a new portable project that I could take out and about, crucially to my Knit and Natter mornings. I did wonder about more granny squares and drew up a plan for making a Babette blanket. But then I discovered the Hexagon Love on Flickr and was smitten. Absolutely bowled over by it. For a colour junkie like me, the possibilities of creating such a colourful piece of work is giving me the jitters, I am so excited about it. I love the idea of so many small shapes coming together to make one magnificent whole, the joy of using colour in this way almost like mosaic. Of course I am using my trademark zingy brights, I already had about 14 or 15 colours of Rowan dk cotton sat waiting in the box, just begging to be hooked into hexagons. But what finally gave the hexagon blanket the edge over the Babette was when I found out there was a method to join hexagons as you crochet them, meaning no tedious piecing together for 200+ shapes at the end. Oh joy!
The spread of hexagon love through Flickrville and Blogland has been largely due to Alex of Moonstitches. Her hexagon blanket on flickr is awesome, take a look here. And her generosity in sharing the precious joining method, oh my goodness, words fail me. I know I've said it before, but honestly this creative blogging community gets me soo excited, it's amazing in the way it allows us to share ideas and information don't you think? I am so very, very glad to be a part of it.
I tell you I could not wait to get started on this project. I studied all the images in the hexagon flickr pool, searched through endless patterns on the internet but could not find one as nice as the one that Alex used. So I sat up in bed one night till the early hours with my baby laptop, my yarn and hook, scrutinising Alex's pictures and trying to work out the pattern for myself. I made a few mistakes, had to tweak the sticthes a bit to suit my yarn, practice the joining method a bit, but I eventually sussed it out. And forgive me for sounding smug here, but I was really damn pleased with myself!!
I love the fact that before the hexagon shape is formed in the final joining-together round, you start out making these gorgeous flowery circles in three quick rounds. I've decided to keep all the centres yellow like daisies, then randomly select the other colours as I go :: it's so satisfying seeing this little colourful yarn-garden begin to grow and bloom. Like yesterday morning when I was Knitting and Nattering and drinking cappuccino in the cafe (yes, it's a hard kind of life I lead) I manged to turn five little pre-hooked yellow wheels into blooming flowers. Its going to be one heck of a blanket when it's done. Blooming marvelous I tell you.
Woo hoo! I've made my first hexagon! Now, I'm a bit confused about the joining together as you go instructions. It seems like on the first corner join, I'm instructed to chain one and slipstitch once. But, on subsequent joins, I should chain none and slipstitch twice. Why is that? Am I reading that right? Thanks, Lucy!
Posted by: Rachael | October 15, 2013 at 12:57 AM
Oh. My. Goodness. I can't keep up with you! First it was the ripple afghan, then crocheted hearts for my tree, then a mini granny square pillow, and now I am going to have to make one of these hexagon afghans. I can't wait to get started! Thanks for all the inspiration!
Posted by: Karen | February 27, 2013 at 10:02 PM
Oh I love this! Your colors are always so wonderful, they always make me smile. I hope as I progress further into your blog (I have started at the beginning!) I will find you did a tutorial for this. :)
Posted by: Lori | May 01, 2012 at 10:11 PM
Oh... what a discovery for me! I read the blog of the Moonstitches... so actually you are making these hexagons while joining them! That's a great idea!I must try it as well!
Posted by: Anna | March 14, 2012 at 08:20 AM
I just love Your hexagons! I too are hooked on hexagons. But I´ve just done the granny modell and fabric patchworks. Would You mind sharing Your pattern with me? I´m from Finland by the way! :-)
Posted by: Sandra | July 20, 2009 at 02:12 PM
Hi Lucy, I was just over and flickr that led me to this post and smiled when I read you were going to start the babette....I was too until I saw your hexagon goodness...not sure why I had to share that thought with you but I have:) I think I am up to 68 hexagons now...hooking like mad I am...Tam xo
Posted by: Tamara Erbacher | January 23, 2009 at 08:56 PM
I love your blog. I discovered you a couple of months ago and look forward to checking in every day. Your hexagon blanket is beautiful and joyful and simply yummy! Would you be willing to share your pattern and yarn type? I looked at the rowan site but couldn't figure out which one you referenced. Is it 100% cotton or a cotton rayon mix? Either way, thanks for sharing your daily joy!
Posted by: Melissa | July 17, 2008 at 07:30 PM
What a perfectly lovely blog to stumble upon this morning while enjoying a peaceful moment with my cup of coffee. :~) I love your crochet work and your color choices. I am just now getting into crochet and I am waiting for Jan Eaton's book to come back to the library so that I can begin a ripple blanket. I have fallen in love with your hexagons, and I would love to start making some now. I have looked at many hexagon patterns, but I really am drawn to yours. They remind me of little sunbursts, and the edges of color transition nicely into each other. Have you given a tutorial? I am enjoying reading your blog, thank you. :~)
Posted by: gardenymph | July 16, 2008 at 02:55 PM
oh my! Now this is something i have to do! Thank you for the inspiration, your colours are beautiful.
Posted by: thevintagemagpie | May 13, 2008 at 09:01 AM
Wow, this truly looks amazing, and quite tempting! I love the colours you use, and can not wait to see more of it. As for the ripple, yours looks just lovely. I too enjoy rippling away on mine... and now that the weather has been so lovely, I sit on the deck a while (or two), drinking my tea and crocheting a row (or two). And it is growing surprisingly fast... even though I still have a fair bit to do. But I am already dreaming of new projects once the ripple is finished, and these hexagons really look tempting. Thanks for the inspiration!
Posted by: Mia | May 10, 2008 at 10:24 PM
Just love your blog!...and those hexagons are just beautiful...must add your link to my blog so I can come back to see all your pretty creations, so inspirational!
Posted by: Toni | May 10, 2008 at 07:22 PM
Your colour selection is amazing, I love them. Your hexagons are really beautiful, and once again the colours of this wool just make them look fantastic. Would you mind sending me the name and size of the wool you are using, pretty please? I've been on the Rowan Yarns web site but they have hundreds of colours and wools to select from and I'm a bit overwhelmed.
I just love the Babette blanket too, it's really funky and just my kinda thang :) Once I get some nice colours I will be doing one of those for sure.
I’m with you, the only way to get the ripple done is to set aside an hour a day or it just won't happen. And I can just see you up in the Attic in the window. All you need is a rocking chair!
Have a great weekend.
Posted by: Maddy | May 09, 2008 at 11:09 PM
More gorgeous colour.......... you may well be the Queen of colour Lucy! I am printing out the joining technique as I write this........... I agree with you, the generosity of the blogging world is incredible........
Posted by: vanessa | May 09, 2008 at 05:30 PM
I love it. Of course your color choices are fabulous. Keep hooking.
Posted by: Teresa Alber | May 09, 2008 at 02:09 PM
I'm totally in love with crochet too. A blanket is on my to-do list and now I can't decide whether it's to a ripple or a hexagon!
Do you think the cotton dk is easier to work with than wool dk? The colours are amazing.
Posted by: Dragonfly | May 09, 2008 at 02:01 PM
The hexagons are looking good already! Can't wait to see it grow.
Posted by: Chris | May 09, 2008 at 01:49 PM
What can I say, yet another totally inspiring post. I would LOVE to be able to crochet, my mum tried to teach me a couple of weeks ago, mmmm, lets just say it so doesn't come naturally! Have a lovely weekend. Kathy
Posted by: kathy | May 09, 2008 at 01:23 PM
ooohhhh This looks wonderful!!! now I want a go!!! , but i still have a ripple and a granny square blanket to finish.DOH!!you are a wicked woman for tempting me with your pretty hexegons. It is going to be a wonderful blanket, and now you have inspired my next project.
Posted by: crazyjane | May 09, 2008 at 01:18 PM