Saturday 13 June 2015

Crochet Hexagons - Q2 Finish a long

Is it a rug? or is it a blanket? My friends in the UK tell me they only use the word "rug" to refer to something on the floor. We do call mats on the floor rugs, but we also call small blankets rugs.  So I would call this a rug.



Anyway, it's finished.  On my Q2 Finish along list here, I said that I wanted to make a smaller crochet rug for my knees at night. At that stage I thought I might do the Cosy Ripple pattern from Attic 24, but then I started to see some hexie rugs and thought why not?  English Paper Piecing in the form of la passacaglia is taking over my life at the moment, so why not make a rug in a similar geometric pattern.



I tried to use Attic 24's pattern for hexagons, but they just wouldn't sit flat for me, so I swapped to another pattern that I found on Ravelry.  It was by LavenderWildRose and you can find it here on her blog.  It's a very simple pattern, and I could churn out 10 hexagons a night sometimes.

The bit that I really liked about Attic 24's pattern was that you could join the hexagons as you go, so you don't end up with 100 hexagons and have to spend weeks joining them up.  So I combined the two patterns and used these instructions from Attic 24 to join as I went a long. The joining stitches felt very awkward at first, but if you're going to do it, persevere because it become easier and it's so much quicker.  As you crochet the outside ring of each hexagon you join it up to the previous ones.



I didn't fill in the edges of my blanket, but I did add a border, both to make it look finished, and to stabilize it a bit.

Now I have two new crochet blankets to keep me warm this winter. Below is my other one, also finished in Q2.  Both were made with California 100% wool from Australian Spinners. It was a pleasure to work with, and I love the variegated colours which have produced great results in the hexagon blanket.




21 comments:

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

they both look really pretty - love the bright colors - pieces that size I call "throws" as you can throw them over your legs in cold weather to stay warm or wrap about like a very big shawl.

Lisa in Port Hope said...

I always call these "afghans" or rarely blankets. I don't know if that is uniquely Canadian.

magistra said...

They both are so lovely! I will admit to a preference for that beautiful Hexie afghan. Sorry, I'm from Texas and only things on the floor are rugs for me! I definitely would call it an afghan. I use that term for a knitted or crocheted blanket. In fact, I'm sure I would use the term afghan before blanket. But no matter what you call it, they are definitely beautiful pieces of art that you get to snuggle with! Thank you for sharing how you made your Hexie. I always appreciate the generosity of a blogger who tells me how they made something. Have a wonderful weekend!

Vicki H said...

I call it an afghan. It's beautiful. I love the fact that the hexies are joined as you go.

margaret said...

2 lovely blankets/rugs/throws/afghans your have created. The hexie one is realing apealing and what good way of joining them together I must have another go at crochet seem to struggle with it

Mrs Milkybar Kid said...

Whatever it is Wendy, rug or blanket, it is beautiful!

Helen@Till We Quilt Again said...

My PROLIFIC Friend is at it again. Your afgan is stunning!

Her Indoors said...

That's really gorgeous, Wendy. To confuse the issue, my grandparents referred to a thick wool blanket as a 'car rug'. It kept you warm on long journeys. In fact, their car rug lives on my bed these days. But yes, usually, a rug is something you put on the floor, perhaps in front of the fire.

Carol Q said...

you have such a fabulous way with colour Wendy. love your crochet

Wendy said...

It looks lovely, and it really does remind me of a la pasca... (can't spell it)!

Katrina said...

Both are just lovely Wendy :)

JudyC said...

Your quilts are so colourful and beautiful and these two crochet blanket are lovely.

Daryl @ Patchouli Moon Studio said...

Wendy your hexagon rug is beautiful! I like your knit wavy blanket too. I just knit a similar one to use up yarn scraps.

Oops-Lah said...

I adore the colours of your hexagons. So rich and glowing. It sounds interesting how you join the hexagons together. Definitely a plus to do it as you go.

HeathersSewingRoom said...

Your blanket looks really cosy and I am sure you have it wrapped over your knees at present. It made me smile to see how much your crochet hexagons remind me of the la passacaglia.

Rochelle aka Bella Quilts said...

Really love the rug (and I knew you meant a blanket from reading all those English novels). The colors are so bright and cheerful. It's interesting that wool yarn made in Australia is named California!!

Jojo Loves Food said...

Hi Leeann!
I love this crochet quilt! So colourful!
I thought I would reach out from Sydney Australia! The annual quilt fair is on in Sydney at the moment and to coincide with the fair one of the local shops call The Remnant Warehouse is offering 25% off all the patchwork fabrics, including jelly rolls, layer cakes, backings and waddings etc. I’m a regular customer there and they ship to New Zealand a lot- I’ve sent fabric over there for family members before and it arrived a lot quicker than I was expecting. Just thought I would let you know because a lot of my family over there say it’s hard sourcing fabrics sometimes, so thought I would let you know in case you were looking to pick up some bargains in the sale which goes until Monday 22nd June. https://www.theremnantwarehouse.com.au/fabrics/patchwork-american-cottons/patchwork-cottons.html

Granny Maud's Girl said...

Or, given its location, is it a table cloth? :)
Whatever it is called, it is very pretty and colourful.
Like you, I prefer the join-as-you-go method. It makes me nervous about planning colour placement and balance, but it is the easiest by far.

Linda @ kokaquilts said...

Lovely, lovely colourful crochet blankets... they are so special, and being hand made, so very precious!

Live a Colorful Life said...

Such beauty! I really love Attic 24. I need to finish up my ripple afghan before I crochet anything else, but I sure do love your hexies!

Mary maloney said...

Very beautiful!