Hexagonal Goodness

Good morning! I am feeling very happy today :: no particular reason for it, only that the sun is shining, the sky is bright and blue and I'm wearing one of my favourite jumpers. The jumper was a charity/thrift shop find and cost me about £3.50 I think, and I do really enjoy wearing it. It's made of pure wool (slightly scratchy, but I try and ignore that), it has a diamond pattern on the front which is slightly old fashioned, but it 's the sleeves that I love. For some reason, just glancing down and seeing my arms wrapped in these wooly, stripy sleeves makes me feel so hippety-hop-happy! Hang on a moment,  let me just take my jumper off and photograph it for you so you can see what I'm talking about.......

......there! See what I mean? Can you imagine what these coloured stripes do to me? They make me smile broadly, that's what. And smiling broadly, in my opinion is always a Good Thing for a Monday morning. As well as smiling, this jumper also makes me think of my crocheted afghan blankets, and this morning it reminded me that I have been meaning to show you something of my hexagon blanket progress.

The photo at the top of this post was taken in August when I was on holiday in Craster. Of course I took my crochet with me on holiday, and most early mornings I would sit myself by the open bedroom window, drink tea and crochet whilst listening to the sounds of the sea. It was quite wonderful, and the memories of those mornings fills me with joy.

This is my third crocheted Afghan blanket and it is proving slow going actually. Remember when I began it back in May of this year? I was so excited! Well yes, five months on and I am still excited, am still enjoying this blanket, really I am, but truthfully it's quite fiddlesome. There isn't the same easy, soothing rhythm that I so enjoyed with the ripple blanket. And the Granny squares I could almost do with my eyes closed. I most definitely have to concentrate more with the hexagons, and sometimes I find this a hard thing to do. I am easily distracted, and quite a bit of frogging usually takes place whilst I'm making hexagons.

But as fiddlesome as they are, there's no denying that they are full of colourful goodness. And Colourful Goodness, like Wooly Striped sleeves, is a happy thing.

For quite a while I was producing lots of these colourful three-round circles without actually making them up into hexagons. I liked to see them as flowers, liked the way I could arrange them and play with them, line them up and stack them.

But a month or so ago I felt it was time to start the process of joining them together. And suddenly, the pile of individual flowery circles became a blankety field of colour. There are 73 hexagons here so far (I just counted), and as this is going to be a smaller blanket than I usually make (destined to drape over the back of an armchair), I reackon I am almost half way :: I don't think there will be more than 200 hex's in he finished afghan.

Well seeing them in these photographs today, I have to admit they do look good all joined together, looking snug and colourful and blankety.

Yes, I must keep going with them, even though I can feel myself being pulled towards starting another blanket, the thrill of a new project. Possibly a big giant granny square? Or another ripple? Or a straight striped one like this one? Or a granny blanket made out of giant granny squares? Squares or stripes, squares or stripes? No no no shhhhhhh naughty brain, you must not be distracted. Think Hexagon Goodness, Hexagon Goodness, stay focused!

Incidentally, I have been asked many times now about the pattern for the hexagons, as it doesn't appear to be available online anywhere that I could find. If you read back through my post in May, you will know that I managed to work it out for myself by studying other peoples photographs in Flickr. And as I had to alter it to suit the weight of yarn I'm using, my pattern I think has ended up slightly different from other peoples. I am pondering sharing it, if I can work out how to write it. If I manage to do it, I'll let you know.

So many things to do, so many colourful, lovely things to contemplate and such a fidgety brain and stripy sleeves and sunny weather that keep making me all distracted.
Ah well, at least I'm happy, even if it is in a fidgety, flitty, wooly, distracted sort of a way.

Comments

[elena]

Hi! Thank you so much for inspiring us to make beautiful things!!!
I have a question, probably a bit silly, I am trying a hexagon pattern out and after round 2 my circle curls slightly upwards. What could I be doing wrong? Could you please help with this?

[Jerri Bagley]

I live in a climate quite similar to yours. Pacific Northwest, so Love, love, seeing your bright, cheery projects. Let me tell you, they have given me the gumption to crawl out from under the blankets, and do some cheery of my own.:) Thank you so much for sharing! Pacific Northwest, being in Washington state.

[Barbara]

I love this blanket! The colors just pop out and look like they want to dance! I'm just reading back trying to catch up. :)

[Cecília Gabrile]

Hello Lucy! Where can I take the recipe of this flower so colorfull!! I loved them. I´m writting to you from Brazil.
Thankyou. Cecilia

[rc helicopter reviews]

Impressive blog! -Arron

[wening]

hi..I'm newbie at using crochet,,ur blog really really interesting n inspiring..I want to make a hexagonal blanket too..after my square project first
thanx a lot :)

[Sarah]

I have just discovered your fantastic website whilst I was searching a crochet pattern for hexigon'African Flower' for my blanket project. I am wondering if you can help with this particular pattern.

[Deborah]

Hello Lucy! I recently stumbled upon your site and fell in love with your work. I became obsessed with making colorful little circles and beautiful hexagons and my blanket went together easily. One question for you, does this blanket have an edging? My outer hexagons tend to curl and I was thinking a border would help. Any suggestions? Thanks for all your instructions and inspiration!

[Lindsey]

how many hexagons make a queen size blanket?? If I did the math right its like about 800!! I was never that good at math... so If you would kindly let me know it you know!??

[Doreen]

I love your hexagon blanket ! Thank you for sharing - You say you used 16 different colors- how many balls of each yarn did you need? And how much for the finished edge? I am going to start my own blanket- I am soooo inspired by yours!

[gardenymph]

I am just so in love with your hexagons. I know I've said it before, but every time I see pictures of your growing blanket, I am just filled with the excitement that all of those beautiful cheerful colors give me. Wonderful!
I for one would be very happy to have a tutorial from you if you decide to give one. I just like your pattern so much better than the other ones that I have seen out there. Happy hexagon-ing!

[Molly]

So I guess it's a hexagon blanket next for me! I've made a granny and a ripple too. I've been so busy lately that I haven't been blogging or crafting much. :( But you continue to inspire me so much!

[Kirsten]

You make me want to drop everything and start a hexagon blanket right now!

[do you mind if i knit]

I remember you were wearing that gorgeous jumper when you came to visit................ and I remember thinking how beautiful it was............... and how expensive it looked!
The blanket is going to be fantastic................ it already looks lovely..............

[kim]

I'm in love with all those colours, beautiful beautiful hexagons, I can see why you're addicted!
Kimx

[sherri]

love love love your crocheted afghans puts me to shame I shoud be making my own too.

[Barbara Webb]

Hello again,
I truly love you use of color. It really brings light into ones spirit. When I finish with my afghan, I want to try and use the colors you use. Mine are so plain and bland. Could you, as someone earlier suggested if you could mention the yarns and colors for your projects?

[Kathryn]

What Fantastic blankets you make. I love your jumper too. I love reading your posts, your sound like my cup of tea.
With Smiles
Kathryn

[Patricia]

As always, I love your colours. I was so happy when I noticed you used the word 'jumper'. In Australia we say 'jumper' as well.
Yours is the only blog that I have seen that word used. Most say 'sweater'
an American term. So anyway yaaaaay for 'jumper'. I love it.

[kitschen pink]

Oh those colours! 4 pictures up would make the most wonderful screen saver! it would make me smile every time I peeked it! Oh the lure of a new project! So tempting! t.xx

[Rachel]

What a happy post, so full of color! The blanket is AMAZING.

[Cele]

Love those beautiful and cozy looking works of art.

[Daisy Steiner]

Gorgeous. I wish I had talent like that.

[carole]

great photos! in cafe tomorrow if you get chance to pop in for a capo!
c x

[Solveig]

Love your hexagons! There's nothing like a colourful blanket... I'm quite a fan of hexagons myself. Found a pattern for them here once: http://sunshinescreations.vintagethreads.com/2007/08/j-is-for.html