Hexagon How-to

My crochet Hexagons, I am LOVING them right now, can't get enough. For a brief spell I fell out of love, I got fed up with the fiddlesomeness of them, the fact that they are very hard to do whilst simultaneously doing anything else (like drinking cappuccino and nattering). They take concentration folks, but if you are prepared to concentrate then these will reward you handsomely. 

I'm not sure how this post will turn out, maybe a bit of a descriptive pattern/tutorial mixture, but one thing's for certain :: I will do my damndest to help you make these if you are interested. I made my own pattern to suit my own yarn, after not being able to find a pattern anywhere on the web in general. And as my pattern appears to differ slightly from others I've seen, I feel confident in finally sharing it :: ie no plagiarism/copyright issues involved I hope. But I must give absolute credit to Alex of Moonstitches who taught me (via her fabulous tutorial) the method of joining the hex's together. If you look on her blog, in the right hand sidebar, you'll see the tutorial waiting for you there :: it's called Block Meet. You will need to use this when you get to the joining stage.

Another valuable source of information and inspiration is the Hexagon Love pool on Flickr. It is quite simply full of fabulous hexagonal goodness.

And there is more info/blurb to be found in my own archives here and here.

I've had many emails during the past few months asking me for specific yarn info with regards to my various crochet projects. I do intend to put a permanent page in my sidebar where you can reference this info, but that will have to wait a little. For now, lets concentrate on these 'ere Hexagons.

For this blanket, I am using Rowan Handknit DK Cotton. It should cost in the region of £3.50 per 50g ball in the UK. I am using 16 different colours, although the deep yellow I chose for the centres is now discontinued. And as I know you like specifics, these are the other 15 colours I'm using ::

215 (Rosso)

219 (Gooseberry)

239 (Ice Water) 

254 (Bright Orange colour, now discontinued)

287 (Diana)

303 (Sugar)

309 (Celery)

313 (Slick)

314 (Decadent)

316 (Slippery)

318 (Seafarer)

324 (Bermuda)

327 (Aqua)

332 (Rose)

333 (Antique)

I'm crocheting on a 4mm hook, and the size of the finished hexagon as you can see above is roughly  hand-sized. Each straight side measures 6cm, and about 11cm across between the points.

Now I have never attempted to write out a pattern before. But lets just assume that if you're reading this in order to try your hand at crocheting hexagons, then you already know how to make basic stitches right? I'll try and not get too complicated, but as I do SO want you to be able to do it, I'll try to explain things as well as basic pattern-write.

First off chain 4 and join to form a ring. The hole in the centre of the ring will be smallish, but this is where you need to work from for the first round. Tweak it a bit with your fingers to open it out a little.

Chain 3, then work 11 double crochet stitches (US) or treble crochet stitches (UK) into the ring. Join with a slip stitch to the 3rd stitch of the initial chain 3 and fasten off.

You should now have a little whirly wheel circle with 12 stitches/spokes altogether.

 

Join in a new colour for round 2 :: knot the two yarns together, remember like I showed you for the Granny Squares? Remember you can crochet the ends in as you go with the hex's too, to save you darning ends  in at the end.

Pull the new colour yarn through to the front,  through one of the dc/tr stitches :: you are working out of the stitches in this round, not the spaces in between the spokes.

For this round, you're going to be making what I think is known as a Bobble Stitch. It's basically where you work two incomplete dc/tr's into the same stitch, joining them at the end by pulling the yarn through all loops.

I shall describe it to you :: yarn over, insert hook through next stitch, yarn over, hook back through stitch (3 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through 2 loops (2 loops on hook). Then yarn over and insert hook through SAME STITCH, yarn over, hook back through stitch (4 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through 2 loops (3 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through all 3 loops.

I know it sounds complicated, but honestly, it's really not. Try watching the little Bobble Stitch video I've linked to above, it might help if you see the stitch being made.

So this is the pattern for round 2::

Chain 2, then 1 US dc/UK tr in same stitch. Chain 1.

Work a bobble stitch into next stitch as described above, then chain 1 to space.

Repeat 10 more times until you get back to the beginning and have 12 "bobbles" in total. Join round with a slip stitch into the 2nd stitch of the initial chain 2.

OK, you still with me? Onto round 3 :: Nice and easy now, you're doing dc/tr clusters just like you do for granny squares. You are working out of the SPACES now, the spaces between the bobble stitch clusters of your previous row.

Join a new colour, pull loop through a space between 2 bobble clusters to start.

Chain 3 (counts as 1 dc/tr), work US dc/UK tr twice into same space, then chain 1.

Work US dc/UK tr three times into next space, chain 1.

Repeat 10 more times until you get back to the beginning and have 12 "clusters" in total. Join round with a slip stitch into the 3rd stitch of the initial chain 3 and fasten off.

Round 4 :: the chain-loop round ::

Join in a new colour and pull loop through a space between the dc/tr clusters of the previous row.

Chain 3, then make a slip stitch into the next space between your dc/tr clusters :: this anchors the chain loop.

Continue making little chain-3's, slip stitching them in place in the gap between the dc/tr clusters of the previous round. Join the last chain-3 with  slip stitch into the first chain stitch you made. Do not fasten off as you will use the same colour for round 5.

Round 5 is the final round that forms the hexagon shape. I'm going to tell you how to crochet this as a single hexagon before we talk about the joining-as-you-go method.

You are using the same colour as the last round, and you will be working the stitches under the chain-3 loops you created. So to begin, make a slip stitch under the nearest chain-3 loop.

Chain 3 (counts as one dc/tr), then US dc / UK tr twice. Chain 2 (this is the corner spacing), then in the SAME chain-3 loop,  US dc / UK tr three times. This is your first corner, it should look like a double cluster of 6 dc/tr's with a pointy corner bit in the middle.

Into the next chain-3 loop, work US dc / UK tr three times. This is a single cluster and makes a straight side.

Into the next chain-3 loop, work US dc / UK Tr three times, chain 2, then US dc / UK Tr three times. This is your second corner.

Continue working your way round making your clusters of 3 dc's /tr's, alternating between making a double cluster corner group (with chain 2 spacing) and a straight side single cluster. You should be ending the round on a straight-side group of three dc's/Tr's. Join the round with a slip stitch and fasten off.

See?????? It's not so hard?????? You've made your first hexagon!!!

Now if you're happy to make lots of single hexagons and join them all by stitching, then that's absolutely fine. But joining them as you go is fairly easy, although a little fiddly.

You will be working anti-clockwise, starting with a corner, as shown above.

To begin, you make a single cluster as before (chain 3, then dc/tr twice). Then instead of chaining 2 to make your corner spacing, chain ONE, then replace your second chain space with a slip stitch into the corner space of the ajoining hexagon.
Then working into the SAME chain-3 loop, dc/tr three times to finish your corner cluster.

Now you need to slip stitch into the next space of the ajoining hexagon to secure (see above). Basically, you have to insert hook into the space, hook the yarn from the back and pull it through to the front :: first through the space, then through the loop on the hook. It takes a bit of practice, it can be fiddly. But persevere.

You continue to work your way round, forming the hex shape in the same way as described above, but making sure that after each cluster you slip stitch into the relevant space on the ajoining hexagon which makes the attachment. When you get to a corner where you would normally chain 2, you make 2 slip stitches instead (in picture above, one slip stitch is made into the corner of the bright blue hex, and the next slip stitch into the corner of the sage green hex). This is quite hard to explain in words :: please do look over Alex's tutorial, she has some great photos to illustrate. But keep in mind that her pattern is different to mine, she uses more stitches so try not to get confused.

I so hope that if you are inspired to give this a go, then you will be able to follow my blurb. I've done my very best with this, tried not to be too wordy, and its taken me a very long time to write it all out. But you are worth it, every word! I am happy, SO happy to be spreading the Hexagon Love. And if just one of you manages to make a hexagon out of this post, then I am gonna be MiGhTy HaPpy :)

I'm going to put this post over in my sidebar so you can reference it easily :: look over to the left, down at the bottom, and it will be listed as a Page.

If you find you need further help, please just leave a comment and I will do my best to reply and help out.

HAPPY HOOKING!

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All my tutorials are created for you to use and enjoy for free. However, if you would like to make a donation you can do so using the button below (all donations are gratefully received and will be used to fund future projects).

 

xx Thank you xx

Comments

[Kim M.]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing.

[Noni Florida USA]

I love all of the different colors! Your work is wonderful.

[Sara]

Thank you so much for the tutorial Lucy! I just finished my lap blanket, just in time too - my baby's 'due date' is today!
xxx

[Yola Bergh]

Hi there! Many thanks for the instructions for making and joining the hexagonals for my lovely wool blanket. Now i've finished doing the joining I'm wondering how to edge off the blanket to make it have a straight edge finish. If you can help I'd be delighted
thanks
Yola Bergh from SouthAfrica

[Lise]

www.topping.dk/blog/2013/02/27/sekskanter-hele-halve/
Here is how you make a half hexagon. It is in Danish but you can easy use the good Pictures.
Click on the link to Adobe. Good luck to all of you, and have a nice day and summer :-)

[Rebecca S Stacks]

Thank you so much Lucy.

[Mariam]

Hi Lucy, I'm a first time crocheter, and I found your hexagons easy to do, thanks for taking the time to explain everything so well👍. I' have made 61 hexagons thus far and worked out I need about 300 in total to use as a throw for. Queen size bed. Next I'm going to try joining as you go along! Thank you for the inspiration! Would love to send you a pic when it's done.

Thanks
Mariam (Cape Town, South Africa)

[Penny]

I have finished my hexagon afghan. It is beautiful. The pattern was so easy to follow. Thank you very much. I do have one question. Do you have a pattern for a half hexagon, that I could use to fill in the top and bottom edge. I have been fiddling with my own pattern, but it just doesn't work. Can you help? Would really appreciate it.

[Joelle]

Hello ladies, please I need to know the patterns for making a square around these hexagons I.e hexagons inside squares!!!

Appreciate your help

Joelle

[Emma]

Rounded up all my odds and ends of dk yarn today and started on some solid colour hexagons, no order to colours, just picking one out and making the hexagon. Joining as I go. hopefully I will get a good deal of it done over the school holidays before classes start up again in 2 weeks

[Tina]

Hi can you go a u tube toto rial please

[Yasmin Bennett]

I have a question about round 5. Not sure what to do where you say chain 2 THEN IN THE SAME CHAIN LOOP 3....not sure what to do there. Sorry, would appreciate some help :).

[Nancy from Kansas, USA]

Thank you very much for sharing your talent and expertise. Also, thank you for including American stitches as well as the English. How many hexagons did you use to finish your blanket and what is the size of the blanket?

[lori]

this is gorgeous and can't wait to give it a try.. just curious as to how many balls of each colour you needed to complete the blanket? also, what was the finished size of it? thanks!

[Donna B.]

Thank you!! 😁 I searched and searched for a hexagon pattern that worked for me!! I am working on a turtle infant photo prop for my great-nephew that is due soon. This pattern is so easy to follow! I am making them all one color and will attach with a darker shade. Again, thank you!

[barbara burdick]

I think hexagons are much more interesting than squares.God created the earth, and all its beauty in six days, and to me they are a reflection of that.It's been awhile since Ive made one tho.Thank you for sharing them with me! Bb

[Mary Spicer]

Thank you sooooo much! I have tried hexagon patterns before, none have worked. i followed your instructions and it worked out so well. i have already started on the 2nd one and we'll be making many more for a table topper. thank you so much for posting this.

[Mary]

Could you let me know your pattern of colors?
Did you repeat any patterns with your individual
Hexagons? It's very beautiful and I'm hoping
to make one like it.

[Isobel Swade]

Searching for ages for a readable hexagon pattern. Now! here you are with wonderful photos and, above all - an easy to understand written pattern. I've been crocheting for ages but never been able to master hexagon. Really cannot thank you enough.
Isobel

[debbie]

hi
I have made a bag with hexagons. . should have used squares. . I am battling with finding a please handle . . the top edge of the bag has the hex points,i have used a 4ply cotton with intentions of lining the bag. . can u help with handle ideas,I tried the dcrochet, but didn't really feel that stripes completmented the bag
thanks
debbie

[Lynda Coulter]

This crochet is the absolute best. Love your colours and designs. Your tutorials are easy to follow. keep up the wonderful creating.

[??????????????????????????????????]

thank you so much for making this pattern I looked every for one but nun working until I used yours

[Lindsey]

Many thanks for the lovely clear instructions with pictures. I missed out the 3ch ring that you did for round 4 as I'm making it look too holey. But thanks so much for your help on hexagons, I wasn't going to make them like this as I thought they were too complicated!

[Carole]

How do I turn these hexagons into a square for a cushion I.e. Fill in the gaps at the end

[christopher lawyer]

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