The problem with hexagons is that they don’t give you a straight edge. When making a blanket with them, the rows are offset, leaving gaps at the ends.
(Sorry I didn’t post more of a picture–I’m trying to keep the blanket a little bit of a surprise until it’s finished!)
For me, the best way to solve this problem was to make half-hexagons (or as Little Bear would call them, “trap-zoids”) to fill the gaps.
This pattern is the half-version of the modified hexagonsthat I’ve been using. (I’ll include instructions for the half-version of the Make & Do Crew basic hexagon, too, if you’re able to use their pattern without modifying it.)
For this project, I’m using Loops & Threads Impeccable yarn from Michaels and a size J hook.
Abbreviations:
Ch = chain
Dc = double crochet
Start with a magic loop. (This is the tutorial I used.)
Ch 3, 2 dc into loop, pull snug. Do not join! Turn work.
Ch 2, 2 dc into first stitch, ch 2, 2 dc into second stitch, ch 2, 3 dc into third stitch (aka the 3 chains that you started the last row with. Throughout this pattern you’ll treat your starting chains as a stitch.) Turn work.
(If you’re using the Make & Do Crew basic hexagon tutorial for your hexagons, you can ignore the last two rows and do this instead: Start with a magic loop. Ch 3, 2 dc into magic loop, ch 2, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc. Do not join into a round! Pull loop snug, turn work. Now you can follow the next rows as written.)
Ch 2, 1 dc into gap between first and second stitches, 1 dc into each of next 2 stitches, *1 dc into space left by chains in last row, ch 2, 1 dc into same space, 1 dc into each of next 2 stitches. Repeat from * one more time, 2 dc in last stitch. Turn work.
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| Dc 1 in the gap between the first and second stitches. |
Ch 2, 1 dc into gap between first and second stitches, 1 dc in next 4 stitches, *1 dc into space left by chains in last row, ch 2, 1 dc into same space, 1 dc into next 4 stitches. Repeat from * once more, 2 dc in last stitch. Turn work.
Ch 2, 1 dc into gap between first and second stitches, 1 dc in next 6 stitches, *1 dc into space left by chains in last row, ch 2, 1 dc into same space, 1 dc into next 6 stitches. Repeat from * once more, 2 dc in last stitch. Turn work.
Ch 2, 1 dc into gap between first and second stitches, 1 dc in next 8 stitches, *1 dc into space left by chains in last row, ch 2, 1 dc into same space, 1 dc into next 8 stitches. Repeat from * once more, 2 dc in last stitch. Ch 1, cut yarn about 6 inches from hook, pull tail through last chain.
Your half-hexagons may not look perfectly straight (you can see how curvy mine is), but it will straighten out when blocked or when joined to the rest of your hexagons.
Stay tuned for the finished hexagon blanket post for details on joining, layout, and finishing!
