Saturday, May 11, 2013

African Flower Hexagon Crochet Pattern

So today I thought I'd post (for the first time in several months!) about Mummy-hood and Crocheting - my two favourite things that take up my time.

Firstly - on mummy-hood - I now have a four-month-old daughter and things are starting to get back to 'normal' or perhaps we are just creating a new 'normal' and getting used to each other. We have just finished building our new home, and are in the throes of landscaping, gardening, measuring window furnishings, and packing boxes for the move next week. In amongst this bedlam I have attempted to continue my artsy-crafty nature (though as any new mummy will know - not a lot of time for that!!) and have started a new project (which we hope will not get vomit/spit/baby juices on it in the near future!) 

Meet my (or at least the beginnings of) African Flower Hexagon Crochet Blanket.

It's a mouthful, but it's pretty, and has bright colours and a nature pattern, both of which I love.

I finished my Chevron Crochet Blanket before Isla was born (though I still need to edge it and finish it off nicely!) but it is currently packed so I thought I'd start this! Basically all the hexagons interlock when I sew them together down the track. 205 hexagons in total, and several half hexagons for edging! I then have to decide how to do the edging. I estimate several months, but as they are small projects, I can do one in around 20 minutes - which is enough time when my little Muffin is having a nap without getting all the crochet regalia out of the box! All it involves is four colours of wool (I chose to do all my centres and outside edges white! I also added an extra row to join them together!) and a 5mm crochet hook.

If you are interested, here is the Pattern!







African Flower Hexagon Crochet Pattern
You Will Need:
4 colours of wool that you like together (I like to choose ones that are either harmonious or complementary colours!)
1 crochet hook (5 mm)

First Round (Colour 1)
1.      Make a magic ring. Chain 1.
2.      Do five DCs in the Magic ring.
3.      DC once more and slip stitch into the first DC to finish the round.
4.      Chain 1

Second Round (Still Colour 1)
5.      DC x 2 into the first DC from Round 1.
6.      Chain 1.
7.      Repeat for each of the six DCs from Round 1.
8.      Slip stitch to connect the final chain to the first DC in Round 2 to finish the round.
In the next two rounds we will make the ‘petals’ of the flower.

Third Round (Colour 2)
9.      Attach your new colour using a slip stitch. Chain 1.
10.  DC x 2 in the first chain space from Round 2. Chain 1. DC x 2 in the same chain space.
11.  Repeat for the next chain spaces from round 2.
12.  Slip stitch from final DC into first DC from round 3 to finish the round.
13.  Chain 1.

Fourth Round (Still Colour 2)
14.  DC x 7 in each of the chain spaces from Round 3. (42 DCs in total!)
15.  Slip stitch from the final DC into the first DC to finish the Round.

Fifth Round (Colour 3)
16.  Attach your new colour using a Slip Stitch into the central DC of one of your Six ‘Petals’.
17.  Chain 1.
18.  SC in the same DC.
19.  SC in the next two DCs.
20.  SC underneath the entire two rows into the ‘gap’ between the petals of your flower.
21.  SC the next 4 DCs.
22.  Chain 1. SC in the same DC.
23.  Repeat from step 19 – 22 for the rest of your flower.
24.  Slip stitch into the first chain you made in this row to finish the round.

Sixth Round (Colour 4)
25.  Attach your new colour using a Slip Stitch into the ‘point’ you have made at the
26.  tip of one of your petals. (In the chain space between two SCs)
27.  Chain 1. SC in the same space.
28.  SC in the next 10 SCs.
29.  SC in the ‘point’ of the petal, Chain 1, and do a second SC in the same point.
30.  Repeat 27/28 for the entire round.
31.  Slip stitch into the first chain to finish the round.
32.  Chain 1 to finish and pull tight. Cut final colour!

You are done! Hopefully it looks something like these!



 Tips:
You can also make Pentagons/octagons/etc by simply adding more or less DCs in the first round and adjusting your pattern from there!)
Try to keep your tension even throughout the project to avoid ‘holes’ or one side being longer than the other.
Use yarn with same (or similar) ply (ie: All 8 ply) to avoid buckling or stretching!

Happy Crocheting!




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