Two More Hexagon Afghans and Winter Restoration

I'm still in restoration mode as I call it. In the winter cold (and it has been cold this winter), I hunker down, try to keep warm (the woodstove helps), do a lot of reading and perusing of my book collection, cook some very nice meals and help out with the lambing when needed. We are used to the cold here in western Massachusetts. I really felt for the folks in Texas who struggled with the cold, snow, and lack of electricity and water. 

The days are getting longer each and every day. It has been very, very gray. We have had a lot of storms of sorts - mostly snow but not as much as in other parts of the the Northeastern US. The hills are about to come alive with "sugaring season." I can feel spring coming!

I can also feel the energy for creating coming back after its winter slumber. I've finished (!!!!!!) two hexagon afghans from the free pattern you can find on this blog here. Crochet hexagons are one of those carry along projects I take with me to meetings (when there were meetings), appointments, and the farmers market so that my hands have something to do while I am listening and watching. Evidently I have spent a lot of hours listening and watching because I had enough hexagons for two afghans (272 hexies each) and and extra 238 hexies for a start (and almost finish) on a third afghan. Not sure if I will get to sewing the third together this winter. Here are the piles of hexies I've got made for the next one. 

I've sorted all the hexies into color piles. When I am sewing the afghans together, I use the outer ring of the hexie to determine the color. I attach complementary colors next to each other so the colors pop and vibrate. I use the outer yarn color to sew them together when possible and the seam kind of disappears into the piece. 

I know a lot of folks like to crochet their pieces together. I've never done that because I'm not much of a crocheter. And I actually love the process of sewing the pieces together with a blunt pointed tapestry needle. I find it meditative and soothing. 

Our small hilltown recently got high speed internet service. It took years and years of planning for it to happen and I am so thankful to the townspeople who served on the committees to make it happen. It has been a game changer since we now can watch Netflix and Amazon Prime without buffering. Julia has got the television hooked up with all kinds of features that I don't know how to use. There is a mass of cables on the floor that is a serious eyesore. I try to not look at it but once in a while I sort it all out. And then it gets tangled again. 

A movie we watched recently is the 2015 Icelandic movie Rams. The cinematography is beautiful. This is not a feel good movie but a "makes me think" movie. In fact, I'm still thinking about it. There is an Australian remake of the movie out in 2020 with Sam Neill but I can't imagine it could be as poignant as the original version. Here is the trailer. 

Hope you are well. If you are looking for winter lambing photos, follow me on Instagram HERE. 

Scrappy Hexagon Crochet Afghan - The FREE Pattern

Kristin's Scrappy Hexagon Crochet Afghan 
The FREE Pattern

I began this afghan on New Year's Day 2018 and finished it just before St. Patrick's Day 2018. Originally I expected it to take me a couple of years but I surprised myself by becoming very enthusiastic about it. We had a long, cold, snowy winter and making the hexies brightened up every evening. It didn't hurt that the Winter Olympics intervened and they offered lots of television time.  

I made extra hexagons and I will probably keep making them and make a second afghan. They are a perfect project to tote along places and make in downtime. Each little hexagon is a study in color. Once you start, it is difficult to stop. 

YARN: Use worsted weight yarn and a size H (5.0 mm) crochet needle. 

I used my Classic Elite Yarns Color By Kristin/Nashua Handknits Julia yarn - 50% Wool, 25% Alpaca, 25% Mohair. 93 yards for 50 grams. 

Each of my hexagons weighs approximately 6 grams. 
Each measures 4 1/4" (10.75 cm) side to side and 4 3/4" (12 cm) tip to tip.

You will need approximately 210 hexagons. I suggest making at least 250 hexagons so that you will have alternate color choices to choose from. 

My afghan is 14 hexies long by 15 hexies wide. 
It measures 53" x 58". I find this to be a good size for using as a blanket on a couch. It is big enough to take a nap under. Of course, you can make yours larger by adding more hexagons. 

The finished afghan is 1260 grams. You will need approximately 1400 grams for the afghan because you lose bits in seaming and weaving in ends. 

I used a selection of colors that were included in my two different yarn lines over the years. Sadly both the lines are discontinued but you may be able to pick up odd balls on ebay or on Ravelry. The most dominant shades are: 

Nashua Handknits Julia Yarn: 

5185 Spring Green, 1890 Peony, 3916 Lady's Mantle, 2163 Golden Honey, 0950 Caramel, 0154 Sunflower, 5178 Lupine Blue, 6085 Geranium

Color By Kristin: 

3215 Spring Green, 3220 Blue Thyme, 3232 Raspberry, 3235 Lady's Mantle, 3243 Yarrow, 3244 Caramel, 3250 Sunflower, 3257 Cornflower, 3258 Geranium, 3278 October Leaves, 3281 Lichen, 3285 Pumpkin, 3289 Julia's Pink, 3295 Anemone

Make several extra hexagons in different color variations so that when sewing together you will have extra pieces to play with. They can be the start to a second afghan. 

NOTE: Depending on my mood (uptight and frazzled or happy and relaxed) my hexies turned out different sizes. It doesn't matter much because they even out when sewing together. 

HEXAGON INSTRUCTIONS: 
(NOTE: These are American instructions.)

To Begin: With Color 1, chain 6. Work slip st to join in a circle. 

Round 1: With Color 1, [Chain 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc, ch 1], 

*(3 dc, ch 1)* - rep bet *'s 5 times,

join with a slip st to complete round. 
Break yarn leaving a 6" tail. 
You will have 6 spaces created by the chain 1 between each set of 3 double crochets. This space is where the pattern will build out. 

Round 2: With Color 2, join yarn in one of the chain 1 spaces, 

[ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc, ch2, 2 dc - work these sts into the open space created by the ch1 in first round], 

*(2 dc, 2 ch, 2 dc)* rep bet *'s 5 times, (this sequence is worked in each of the ch1 spaces created in the first round),

join round with a slip stitch to complete round. Break yarn leaving a 6" tail. 
The piece will begin looking like a hexagon.

Round 3: With Color 3, join yarn in one of the open 2 chain spaces. 

[Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc, ch2, 2 dc - (work these sts into the open space created by the ch2 in second round), - then work 2 dc in the next open space], 

*(2 dc, 2 ch, 2 dc) in each ch2 spaces, 2 dc in next open space)* rep bet *'s 5 times around the hexagon,

join round with a slip stitch to complete round. Break yarn leaving 6" tail.
Hexagon is complete. 

My hexagons are 3 rounds. Use this same pattern and keep adding rounds of crochet to enlarge the hexagons to your desired size. Each "corner" will be worked the same but there will have more "2 double crochets" between each corner as the hexagon grows larger. You'll get it once you begin working - trust me. 

Finishing: I chose to sew my hexies together using whipstitch. I like to sew and found it relaxing piecing it all together. 

Here is a link to a short video on Instagram showing me steaming the individual pieces before seaming them together. You can read about my steamer here. 

Here is a longer video discussing how to put together different colors and how to seam the pieces together. 

For seaming, I use a simple whipstitch and sew with a large eyed blunt point tapestry needle. If you prefer, you can join the hexies together with single crochet. It is up to you and your preference. 

Optional edging: If you desire, work a row of single crochet around the entire edge of the afghan using different colors of yarn. This will make the edging stronger. 

March Snow and My Finished Scrappy Crochet Hexagon Afghan

This has been a very long winter. A few weeks ago, it hit 70 and we thought it was close to over. The maple farmers were tapping their trees and the sap was running. Sugaring season is always a sign of the coming of spring and as a country person, I always look for the signs of smoke coming from the various sugar houses around our little town. 

We have had three snowstorms over the past 2 weeks. And there is supposed to be another one next week possibly. Snow sure does make everything look pretty but it complicates farming. Mud season seems to be lasting forever - the ground has been freezing and thawing, freezing and thawing. Every time it snows, the barn gets wetter because the sheep bring the snow inside and shake or it melts. I'm not sure they mind it but the humans do. 

Here are a few photos from the latest snowstorm. The black, white and gray tones are what we have been looking at all winter. 

Maybe that is why I have had such fun working on my Scrappy Crochet Hexagon Afghan. Originally I thought the project would take a couple of years. I totally surprised myself and now it is done! The other day when it was snowing, I did a quick steam job on it and headed out for some snowy photos. Here they are.  

I love this one of it lying on top of the snow. 

I am working on the pattern and hope to be posting it here on the blog this weekend. Come back and check it out in case you have lots of odd balls of yarn just waiting for a scrappy project. 

Hexagon Update, Remembrance, + A Video How To on How I Seam the Crocheted Hexagons into a Blanket

When I began my Hexagon Crochet Afghan, I thought it would take me a couple years to finish. I have surprised myself. It is rolling along - thanks to all the sports watching during the Olympics. And to the Oscars. I'm deep into the sewing together phase of the project now. 

The afghan has gotten mighty big. It is a bit unwieldy to handle and it is tricky to see how and where to attach new pieces. I moved the furniture in the living room to the walls and I've got a big open space on the floor to check on my progress. During the Oscars the other night, I sewed and sewed and sewed. And then I had to rip a bit. I couldn't figure out why pieces weren't fitting correctly. It was looking a bit wonky. 

And then I discovered it - one of the hexagons was 7 sided - a heptagon. It wasn't  6 sided at all and it was throwing things off. Rip rip rip and re-sew. It is going better now. 

And here I thought I might finish it during the Oscars. Not a prayer. As it is now, it will take several more nights of sewing. 

I haven't made a project like this in a long time. Lately the things I have been making have been projects that don't take days and days and days and evenings (unless you count my book which took 1 1/2 years). They have been pieces of pottery or painted walls or tea towels or ...... This has felt like a marathon. It is a bit addicting and I am thinking of starting another afghan. I seem to have caught the crochet bug. It really is super portable and playing with the colors is such fun. 

As I have been crocheting in fits and starts all over creation - at the Saturday Farmers Market (one more week for me - it is at the Hadley Mall just outside Target), taking Julia to the doctor and in the evenings, I've thought back to my grandma Frieda. She is the person who taught me to crochet when I was young. I am trying to remember how old I was but for the life of me, I cannot figure it out. I do remember that Gram was always crocheting or quilting or baking or cooking or cleaning or gardening, arranging her dried flowers or making something. 

The last big project of her life was making every single one of her grandchildren a crocheted afghan. My Mom procured the pure wool and she made 8 zigzag afghans - one for my 4 sisters and me and for my 3 Nicholas cousins. 

(BTW - Kim Werker has a new Zigzag Crochet Class just available on Craftsy. She is giving away 3 classes for FREE - check it out here to sign up to win.)

Gram was a huge part of our lives - how lucky was I? Gram frequently came to our house and babysat for us. We frequently were dropped off at her house. She lived on Conger Street in a 4 square house she and her husband built in 1927. She was a composter before it was cool (for her - it was just right and what you did). She grew all kinds of flowers and veggies. There too she was before her time - she mixed the veggie plants in with her gorgeous roses and flowers. Behind her garage, she planted lots of vegetables. One of my favorite stories from Gram was about when the circus came to town. (Yes - that really did happen in Dover.) The big thing with all the German immigrants was not the circus - it was when the circus was leaving town. They would all be waiting for the elephants to leave and would be there with their buckets to pick up the elephant poop. I can just picture it. 

One of my strongest memories of Gram is popping in to visit her on a Sunday evening. She would be sitting in her chair crocheting and watching Masterpiece Theatre. If you went to visit her on a Sunday, you could not talk to her until "her show" was over. I realize now that I have followed in her footsteps - don't bother me until Victoria is over. When I was little, I didn't really "get the drama" of those shows but I sure do now. 

On Gram's couch, there was massive green afghan made in wool. It had color blocks of some tan and another green - at least that is how I remember it. On it, there were crocheted flowers and leaves applied. It always looked so beautiful and untouchable to me.  I couldn't believe that someone had had the patience to make such a huge textile by hand with a hook and yarn. I don't know if anyone ever slept under it - it was more of a showpiece in my eyes. Perhaps it was a subliminal piece of work and history that inspired the crocheted flowers I made and included in my floral knit and crochet pattern - Olympia's Knit and Crochet Felted Flowers.

When Gram was in the nursing home at the end of her life, we would visit her. She didn't know us and really couldn't communicate. I found it so incredibly sad to see her like that. I try to remember her as I described above. The one thing I do remember from her days in the nursing home is she would hold the hem of her sheets and she would work the edge like she was crocheting. She couldn't communicate but she still had that motion in her fingers. 

Last week, I made a little video that I have posted to YouTube. It is a little long -- 11 minutes - sorry. In it I talk about how I choose which color hexie to put next to another. I also demo my method for sewing the hexies together. I've posted it at the bottom of this post or you can see it on YouTube here. 

If you want to see a quicker video - check out this one I posted on Instagram. 

While you are on YouTube - do me a favor - sign up to follow my channel. I am trying to build up my following there and it would help me out. Thanks! The more followers I get, the more apt I am to make more videos.

Feel free to ask questions if you have any while watching and I will try to answer them in the comments or in a future post or video. 

Crochet Hexagon Update

Have you been watching any of the Olympics? I've been working on my Crochet Hexagon Afghan most nights while watching. The afghan is coming along. 

I am attaching the hexagons together with whip stitch using a blunt point tapestry needle. It is not a fancy technique and I prefer it to crocheting them together. I like to do hand sewing and it is quite relaxing to piece the hexies together. I wasn't sure how it was going to look. The edges of each hexagon are different colors. I am choosing one of the colors and sewing it to the next. I was a bit worried that it wouldn't be up to snuff but with all the colors, the different colored sewing yarn isn't really noticeable from far away. The overall feel of the afghan is crazy colorful and fun. 

It feels good to not be looking for perfection in a project. I am not going to enter this afghan in any fair or contest. I am defintely not what you would call an expert crocheter - I just get by. My family - who will be fighting over this blanket - could care less if the sewing threads don't match. So I am just going with it and enjoying the process. It feels nice to just let go and see where it takes me.

The other day, I posted a video on IG of me steaming my hexagons using a steamer. Here is the link. I have had this Jiffy Steamer for over 20 years ago. It is still going strong. I think it cost $115 back then. I have gotten my money out of it many times over. You can buy one now on Amazon - here is the link. It is a real miracle worker. I remember using a similar steamer at CEY to stretch sweaters out in size by almost 8-10" when they came in too small from our sample knitters (those were the days of oversized sweaters). You really do need one if you do a lot of knitting or crochet. It makes any piece look more professional and finished.

As you can see in the video, before steaming the hexagons were curled up and quite uneven. After steaming - they are nice and flat and easy to sew together. 

Scrappy Crochet Hexagons with Extra Colors + More Inspiration

I am working away on my Scrappy Crochet Hexagon Blanket. I stumbled on this idea to make the rounds in two different colors. This way, if I am working along and run out of a color, I can pick up another and complete the round. I wouldn't do all the hexagons this way because it makes for more ends to weave in but once in a while, it is fun to throw in a hexagon with more than three colors. When the blanket is done, it will give the person snuggling under something to discover. 

A few years ago, a lovely woman named Maria came to one of my summer classes. We were painting lampshades but whenever we were in the "discussion" part of the weekend, Maria whipped out her new project - a crochet hexagon afghan. Maria was totally obsessed with her hexagons - as it seems many people are. I contacted Maria to ask her if I could share her pattern and she said sure. 

Here is Maria's Crochet Hexagon Project on Ravelry.

Here is the tutorial that Maria followed. 

The Hexagons that Maria made are different than the ones I am making. They begin as a circle. In the last round, they turn into a hexagon. 

You can follow Maria at "quiltmomoffive" on both Ravelry and Instagram. She is a super talented woman who knits, crochets, spins and weaves! And she is lovely on top of it all.  Thanks Maria for the inspiration! 

And more inspiration ---- My blog friend from "across the pond" Adaliza made a gorgeous crochet afghan from my yarn several years ago. It was called Gypsy Rose and you can see it here. This winter she is working on a second one. Check that out here. Gorgeous work from another talented woman. 

Scrappy Crochet Hexagons - Progress and The Pattern

Here is what I have so far. 

I've been working every evening on my Scrappy Crochet Hexagons. At the beginning of every evening crochet session, I weave in the ends from the night before. I am piling them up each morning. Soon I am going to sew them together so I can get an idea of how many hexagons I will need to make to complete the afghan. I think this will be a multi-year project. 

Here are the directions for the hexagons I am making. 

Kristin's Scrappy Hexagon Crochet Afghan

Use worsted weight yarn and a size H (5.0 mm) crochet needle. I used my Color By Kristin/Julia yarn that has 93 yards for 50 grams. Each of my hexagons weighs approximately 6 grams. I will be able to determine how many hexagons and how much yarn I need once I begin sewing the pieces together. 

To Begin: With Color 1, chain 6. Work slip st to join in a circle. 

Round 1: With Color 1, [Chain 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc, ch 1], 

*(3 dc, ch 1)* - rep bet *'s 5 times,

join with a slip st to complete round. 
Break yarn leaving a 6" tail. 
You will have 6 spaces created by the chain 1 between each set of 3 double crochets. This space is where the pattern will build out. 

Round 2: With Color 2, join yarn in one of the chain 1 spaces, 

[ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc, ch2, 2 dc - work these sts into the open space created by the ch1 in first round], 

*(2 dc, 2 ch, 2 dc)* rep bet *'s 5 times, (this sequence is worked in each of the ch1 spaces created in the first round),

join round with a slip stitch to complete round. Break yarn leaving a 6" tail. 
The piece will begin looking like a hexagon.

Round 3: With Color 3, join yarn in one of the open 2 chain spaces. 

[Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc, ch2, 2 dc - (work these sts into the open space created by the ch2 in second round), - then work 2 dc in the next open space], 

*(2 dc, 2 ch, 2 dc) in each ch2 spaces, 2 dc in next open space)* rep bet *'s 5 times around the hexagon,

join round with a slip stitch to complete round. Break yarn leaving 6" tail.
Hexagon is complete. 

My hexagons are 3 rounds. Use this same pattern and keep adding rounds of crochet to enlarge the hexagons to your desired size. Each "corner" will be worked the same but there will have more "2 double crochets" between each corner as the hexagon grows larger. You'll get it once you begin working - trust me. 

I like this pattern because it is easy to memorize. It is also a bit lighter in weight than other hexagon patterns which often place 3 double crochets in the corners and open spaces. This pattern will use less yarn but might not be quite as warm. 

I am using my worsted weight wool/mohair/alpaca yarn which has been produced three times by three different yarn companies. It went by the name of "Julia" when produced the first time by "Goddess Yarns." Next, it was produced by Nashua Handknits and it was again called "Julia." Lastly, it was produced by Classic Elite Yarns and had the name "Color By Kristin." 

Sadly the yarn is no longer available although Webs has 2 colors left at a great price here. You might also be able to find it on eBay and Etsy. I doubt there will ever be another yarn quite like this one and luckily, I have a whole bunch of it that I am hoarding for my own knitting and crochet projects for the next umpteen years. I'm not sure what I will do with it all but crochet seems like a good way to use it. 

Loving These Colorful Crochet Hexagons

I started a project I have been thinking about doing for a while. When working on my last book project, I discovered the versatility of the hexagon shape. I know - I know - late to the party considering all the people who have made Grandmother's Flower Garden Quilts over the years - including my Gram Frieda. (I have yet to do any English Paper Piecing.) In my new book, I used the hexagon motif in several of the designs (more on that soon). 

Several years ago, I saw the movie Nanny McPhee written and directed by Emma Thomspson. Every holiday season, I re-watch it. It is a sweet story but the real joy in it for me is all the fantastic color, set design, interior scenes and the fabrics and clothing - so many of them handmade. 

Here are a couple blurry photos I took as the movie was playing. I fell in love with the afghan. Every time I watch the movie I notice something else about the colors, the art and the fabrics and costumes. 

 

Back to the new project. I looked through books and the web to find a hexagon stitch pattern I liked. There sure are a lot of them out there. I wanted one that looked like a granny square but with six sides. I wanted it to be easy to remember so I can knock these things out over and over without thinking. 

Here's what I have done so far. 

These are finished including weaving in the ends - 31 so far. I think I need hundreds. 

These need their ends woven in.

I'm still deciding if I want to add an extra round of crochet to the hexagons so they are a little bigger. I may do. I plan to sew them together by hand. I love to sew by hand so it won't be a chore for me. When I made my last Granny Square afghan awhile back I edged all the squares in a chocolate brown. I am contemplating having the same color go around each edge. Still deciding if I want it to have a cohesive design or an allover crazy colorful look. I'm leaning towards the crazy color. 

This project will probably take me a couple years but at least I started. I sure do have enough odds and ends of my Color By Kristin and Julia yarns to make several afghans. 

Have you made a crochet granny square afghan yet? Are you totally addicted? I found this one by blogger Erika Eckles. I think the colors are stunning. Read about her project and check out her tutorial for half hexies for the edges here.  

Book Review and Giveaway - Design Your Own Crochet Projects from Sara Delaney

It's been a while since I have posted an interesting new book. Fact is there haven't been many new releases that have excited me - especially in the textile craft world. So many books that have come across my desk seem to be repeats of things that have come before. Perhaps I have been around publishing and yarn too long? 

Finally, I have found a book that has just been released that is NEW - at least to these eyes. It is called Design Your Own Crochet Projects: Magic Formulas for Creating Custom Scarves, Cowls, Hats, Socks, Mittens and Gloves and it is written by Sara Delaney. That sure is one long title, isn't it? But it is pretty perfect as it tells the reader exactly what they will find inside its pages. Published just last month by Storey, this handy little book is spiral bound and will fit easily into a project bag. It has been sitting on my desk for a couple weeks now and I just have had time to crack it open and investigate. 

My first reaction to this book was - at last! Design Your Own Crochet Projects gives crocheters what they have been missing - a book to help them customize and design their own projects. This book breaks out into 7 chapters: Introduction, Scarves, Cowls, Hats, Fingerless Mitts, Mittens, Gloves, and Socks. The intro is very well done - giving the novice crochet designer what they need to begin. 

Each of the chapters introduces the specifics of what a novice designer needs to know when designing the project. It tells how to develop the project and then gives several pages of "templates" to use when designing each project. Photocopying of this template is encouraged which gives the reader the permission to design many projects of their own.

Each chapter then includes at least two designs with charts for plugging in your own gauge and yarn choice. The book also includes a link to an on-line calculator which will take your yarn choice with your gauge and plug them into each of the patterns given to automatically generate a pattern. Pretty amazing. 

There is even a small stitch dictionary of various crochet stitches at the end. That is such a nice addition giving new designers a chance to pick a stitch, swatch it and then jump into designing without having to purchase another stitch dictionary.

There is an excellent review over on the Crochet Concupisence blog. Full disclosure here - I have published with Storey twice and I personally know Sara Delaney. That said, when I first saw this book I said to myself - YAY - newbie crochet designers now have a book that tells them how to design accessories. Knitters have had the marvelous series of "Handy Books" by Ann Budd for years but now crocheters have a great book to use to learn to design their own patterns too. Great job Sara and Storey.

Here's what I have for one lucky winner today - - their very own copy of Design Your Own Crochet Projects. Here's how you enter.....

Answer the following question in the comments: Tell me what you would like to crochet this winter season. Are you a knitter who is thinking about learning crochet? Or are you a crocheter who only makes flat things and you would like to learn to make socks and mittens and hats? 

Contest ends Sunday evening at November 12, 2017 at  11:59 p.m. Please leave an easy way to get a hold of you - Rav id, blog, or email address. US addresses only please. Good luck everyone. 

More Sunflower Inspiration

 

The sunflowers are almost done now. Here's a shot at dusk a couple weeks ago. It was beautiful that day. Good thing I snapped them. 

Thought I would share a project I made 3 years ago for my 50 Sunflowers to Knit, Crochet, and Felt book. This project got canned by the publisher. I guess they just didn't get me or else thought the project wasn't worth the pages. I was inspired by sculpted relief tiles and thought I could turn some crochet into a plaque for the wall. Turning crochet into art - that would be a good thing. But no, it was too far over the top. 

Here's the plaque as it hangs on our porch.

Here's a side view - you can see the all the pieces and the shapes of the petals and leaves.

Here are a few process photos. I crocheted a shaped center and stuffed it w/ fiberfill.

This photo shows all the pieces before assembly.

 

After I made the whole thing, I added wire to the back of the crochet to make the pieces bend and curl like real flowers. I glued it onto a wooden plaque I got at the craft store. Then I painted the whole thing in acrylic paint in a color similar to cement. 

What do you think? Sometimes my work is misunderstood I suppose.