Saturday, June 19, 2021

 FREE PATTERN - Hexi Mat (Part 2 - Half Hexagons)


As promised, I'm back with Part 2 and this time I've moved out of my comfort zone in terms of colour, and have gone with a rainbow palette as well as my favourite blues. I've also gone for a slightly different design look by keeping each hexagon a consistent theme in my colour choices for my rainbow design. I loved that these were so quick to work up and helped eat away at my yarn stash!

By now, you should already have made 11 hexagons (see Part 1) and are ready to start on the last two parts to the mat.

I've designed this half hexagon with the view to being able to join all parts together easily and not have to worry about a border row, but feel free to do one if you wish.

Half hexagon measurements: from left point to right point = 20 cm; top to bottom = 9 cm.

Don't worry if your half hexagon is larger or smaller than mine. You can either go with the flow, or adjust the hook size used to achieve the desired size.


MATERIALS

Yarn:    Cotton yarn in 8ply/10 ply (medium weight 3/4), worked double stranded, in various colours

(Number of balls needed will depend on number of colours used and tension)

You can use any yarn that you wish, but I personally feel that cotton is the best choice when it comes to "wet area" items such as this mat.

Hook:    5 - 6.5 mm (There is no right or wrong choice, so chose the hook that suits your yarn)

Darning needle

Scissors

 

KEY (This pattern is written in US terms)  

MR - Magic ring

ch - Chain  

sc - Single crochet (UK double crochet)

hdc - Half double crochet (UK half treble crochet)

dc - Double crochet  (UK treble crochet)   

sl st - Slip stitch 

beg - Beginning

 

I prefer to begin with standing stitches and have done so in this pattern You may substitute a standing stitch for a slip stitch join and chains. 

    - Standing sc = sl st join, ch1 

    - Standing dc = sl st join, ch 3.

 

INSTRUCTIONS

Work all rows with right side facing you

Rnd 1

In MR, ch 3 (counts as dc). Repeat [2dc, ch 2] x2, 3dc. Sl st join to top of beg ch-3. Tighten MR, fasten off and change colour. 

 

Rnd 2

Join new colour with standing dc in top of 3rd ch from beg ch-3 last rnd and dc in same st. Repeat [ch 1, skip 2 sts, then in ch-2 space (dc, ch 2, dc)] x2, ch 1, skip 2, 2dc in last st. Fasten off.

 

Rnd 3

Join same colour with standing dc and 2dc in same st. Repeat [skip 1, sc in ch-1 space, skip 1, in ch-2 space (2dc, ch 2, 2 dc)] x2, skip 1, sc in ch-1 space, skip 1, 3dc in last st. Fasten off and change colour.

 

Rnd 4

Join new colour with standing dc and 2dc in same st. Dc in next st. Repeat [skip 1, sc, skip 1, dc, in ch-2 space (3dc, ch 3, 3dc), dc] x2, skip 1, sc, skip 1, dc, 3dc in last st. Fasten off and change colour.

 

Rnd 5

Join new colour with standing dc and 2dc in same st. Dc in next 2 sts. Repeat [skip 1, sc, skip 1, dc in next 3 sts, in ch-3 space (3dc, ch 3, 3dc), dc in next 3 sts] x2, skip 1, sc, skip 1, dc in next 2 sts, 3dc in last st. Fasten off and change colour.

 

Rnd 6

Join new colour with standing sc and sc in same st. Repeat [hdc in next 2 sts, dc in next 2 sts, skip 1 (previous rnd sc), dc in next 2 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, sc in next 2 sts, in ch-3 space (sl st, ch 1, sl st), sc in next 2 sts] x2, hdc in next 2 sts, dc in next 2 sts, skip 1, dc in next 2 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, 2sc in last st.

Working along final side of half hexagon:

Ch 1, work 24sc evenly spaced (do not work in MR closed centre) to end, ch 1 and sl st join to beg standing sc.

{TIP: Place st markers at each ¼ point on final side & ensure 6 sc are evenly worked in each section}

Weave in all ends and block hexagons & half hexagons.


                         
 




















  







FINISHING

 

Once all parts have been blocked and you have decided on your layout, join all hexagons together with your preferred joining method, matching up corners and sts on each side.

I have used slip stitches to join my blue mat below, and will do the same for my rainbow one.

The half hexagons will go on either end of your mat layout (seen in the above picture at the top and bottom in peach). 

Safety Tip: Use a rubber non-slip mat under the Hexi Mat to prevent sliding.

Now you're all done!


I hope you enjoyed making the Hexi Mat as much as I did. Please tag me on Instagram or Facebook with your wonderful creations @MuchAdoAboutCrochet. I would love to see what design & colour choices you make!

Monday, June 7, 2021

FREE PATTERN - Hexi Mat (Part 1 - Hexagons)

 


I'm back! Long time no speak. I cannot believe that it has been so long since I last wrote my blog. Where has the time gone?

You would think working from home would free me up to type patterns and post them, right? Wrong. If anything, I find I spend more time working in front of my computer at home than I do when I am actually in the office! But today, I am righting that wrong 😁

I came up with the idea for this pattern out of a need to fill a gap. That gap being a mat needed for the base of my bathroom sink, in colours to match some of my "good towels". 

My original mat was made using 11 hexagons, but feel free to customise this pattern to your preferred size. It would even make a beautiful blanket - maybe that can be added to my to-do list... 

I recommend working up one hexagon to determine the best hook size to use for your tension and to work out how many hexagons you need to achieve the mat size you want. I used a 5.5 mm hook and a mixture of Patons Cotton Blend & Bendigo Woollen Mills 8 ply (DK) cotton yarns in 8 different colours. At a guess, equivalent to 50g of each colour and 150g of the white was used for the whole project, but as I was stash busting, I cannot guarantee this is accurate. 

Hexagon measurements: from left point to right point = 20 cm & top to bottom = 18 cm.

Don't worry if your hexagon is larger or smaller than mine. You can either go with the flow, adjust the hook size used or add more (or less) hexagons to achieve the desired mat size!


MATERIALS

Yarn:    Cotton yarn in 8ply/10 ply (medium weight 3/4), worked double stranded, in various  colours

(Number of balls needed will depend on number of colours used and tension)

Hook:    5 - 6.5 mm (There is no right or wrong choice)

Darning needle

Scissors

 

KEY (This pattern is written in US terms)  

MR - Magic ring

ch - Chain  

sc - Single crochet (UK double crochet)

hdc - Half double crochet (UK half treble crochet)

dc - Double crochet  (UK treble crochet)   

sl st - Slip stitch 

beg - Beginning

 

 INSTRUCTIONS

Rnd 1

In MR, ch 3 (counts as dc), dc, ch 2. Repeat [2dc, ch 2] x5. Sl st to join to top of beg ch-3. Tighten MR, fasten off and change colour. 

 

Rnd 2

Sl st join new colour in any ch-2 space and ch 5 (dc + ch 2 - or work standing dc, ch 2) and dc in same ch-2 space. Ch 1. In each of next 5 ch-2 spaces repeat [dc, ch 2, dc, ch 1]. Sl st join to 3rd ch of beg ch-5 (or standing dc). 

 

Rnd 3

Ch 1. Sc in same ch-1 space. Repeat [in next ch-2 space (2dc, ch 2, 2 dc), sc in next ch-1 space] x5, omitting last sc. Sl st join to beg sc. Fasten off and change colour.

 

Rnd 4

Sl st join to any sc from previous rnd, ch 1 and sc in same st (or standing sc). Repeat [Skip next st (previous rnd dc) and dc in next st before ch-2 space. In ch-2 space (3dc, ch 3, 3dc), dc in next st, skip st, sc in next st (previous rnd sc)] x6, omitting last sc. Sl st join to beg sc. Fasten off and change colour.

 

Rnd 5

Sl st join to any sc from previous rnd, ch 1 and sc in same st (or standing sc). Repeat [Skip next st (previous rnd dc) and dc in next 3 sts. In ch-2 space (3dc, ch 3, 3dc), dc in next 3 sts, skip st, sc in next st (previous rnd sc)] x6, omitting last sc. Sl st join to beg sc. Fasten off and change colour.

 

Rnd 6

Sl st join in any ch-3 space, ch and sl st in same space. Repeat [sc in next 2 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, dc in next 2 sts, skip st (previous rnd sc), dc in next 2 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, (sl st, ch 1, sl st) in ch-3 space] x6, omitting last (sl st, ch 1, sl st). Sl st join to beg sl st and fasten off.

Weave in all ends.

 

Make as many hexagons as you need and don't forget to block them. This is important for maintaining a consistent shape for your project. 

Adjust any of the colour changes as you like. Have fun with creating your own style.

Part 1 is done, but I will see you back here for Part 2 soon! 


I hope you enjoyed making these as much as I did. Please tag me on Instagram or Facebook with your wonderful creations @MuchAdoAboutCrochet. I would love to see what design & colour choices you make!

 

 

LADY BETTY GRANNY SQUARE

  I feel as though I must apologise for my long absence here and I really do not have a good excuse, except for the time it takes to write u...