Knitted Hexagon or Fish Blankie
A Simple Knits design
This is a perfect project for using up scrap yarn. Knit individual hexagons or knit them in strips. Sew the hexagons or strips together to form the blanket or use the join-as-you-go instructions. Weave in all yarn tails as you go to save yourself a major job at the end. Change colors after each hexagon, make them all the same color, or do a planned layout like a Grandmothers Flower Garden quilt. Have fun with it! I've include a blank grid you can print out if you'd like to plan your color scheme. As you can see from the grid on page 3, the first strip is all full hexagons. The second and every other strip will begin and end with half hexagons. This allows the strips to fit together evenly. Knitting one and a half hexagons in the same color results in a fish shaped piece. The pattern is written for worsted weight yarn but it could be made with any weight of yarn simply by changing the needle size to suit the yarn you are using.
July 2007 Vicki Mikulak All rights reserved.
Key:
CO - cast on k- knit BO - bind off st(s) - stitch(es) kf&b - knit in front and back of st k2tog - knit 2 sts together k2tog tbl - knit 2 sts together through the back loops
Materials:
Worsted weight yarn full hexagon - about 17 yards half hexagon - about 9 yards Size 7 (4.5 mm) or 8 (5.0 mm) knitting needles Size: The size of the needles and yarn you choose determines the size of your hexagons. Note: You may slip the first stitch of each row (instead of knitting it) for a chain stitch edge. Individual Hexagons (or First Hexagon in a Strip): CO 10 sts with a long tail cast on. Rows 1-2: Knit 2 rows. Row 3: K1, kf&b, knit to last 2 sts, kf&b, k1. (12 Sts) Rows 4-5: Knit 2 rows. Rows 6-13: Work Rows 3-5 four more times (14, 16, 18, 20 sts). Row 14: K1, k2tog tbl, knit to last 3 sts, K2tog, k1. (18 sts) Rows 15-16: Knit 2 rows. Rows 17-28: Work Rows 14-16 four more times. (16, 14, 12, 10 sts) BO all sts\*. Cut yarn; weave in all ends. Knit more individual hexagons/half hexagons until you have as many as you need for your blanket. \*For strips of hexagons, do not BO. Continue with the instructions on the next page.
Next Hexagon in a Strip:
Change colors and knit 1 row. Knit Row 1-28 on page 1. (The extra knit row makes up for the CO.) Change colors on the same side of the blanket on the first row of a garter stitch ridge. Two color ridges should be on the wrong side. Continue knitting hexagons until your blanket is as long as desired. If you look at the grid, you will see that the second and every other strip must start and end with a half hexagon. This allows the strips to fit together.
Next Strip Beginning with a Half Hexagon:
CO 20 sts and knit 1 row. Work Rows 14-28 on page 1. Then go to Next Hexagon in a Strip above.
Strip Ending with a Half Hexagon:
A strip that begins with a half hexagon, must end with a half hexagon. After finishing the last full hexagon, change colors and knit 1 row. Work Rows 1-13 on page 1. BO all stitches. Strip done. Continue knitting strips until your blanket is as wide as you desire.
Finishing:
Individual hexagons - Arrange and sew them together. (l warned you about this. LOL!) Strips - Arrange the strips and sew them together.
Options:
Use any weight of yarn by changing the needle size to suite the yarn you are using. Knit larger hexagons by doubling the yarn (use larger needles) or add stitches to your CO. For example, to make the hexagons 5 stitches larger, CO on 15 stitches instead of 10. Follow the directions, increasing until you have 25 stitches. Then decrease until you have 15 stitches. BO or change colors to begin the next hexagon. Knit each strip in a different color. Offset colors by one hexagon (or %2 hexagon) on different strips for a diagonal look. Google Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt or other quilts made with hexagons to get different layouts you can use.
Fish Blanket Option:
Knit a full hexagon and a half hexagon with the same color to make a fish shape. Knit them individually or in a strip. This makes a nice scarf too!
Join-As-You-Go Method for strips:
If you knit strips, it's easy to join-as-you-go to avoid sewing them together. With your completed strip right side up. You will be attaching the new strip from the bottom up. CO for the next strip. \*Knit the first row until you have 1 stitch left on your needle to knit. Slip this unworked stitch from your left to your right needle. Insert your right needle tip under the first purl bump (ridge) along the right edge of Strip #1 (starting from the bottom of the strip). Then place your left needle through both of these stitches from left to right. K2tog to join the strips. This method joins the last stitch and an edge st from the previous strip. Turn and knit the wrong side row.\* Repeat from \* to \* joining stitches on all RS rows as you knit the next strip of hexagons. When you come to the end of the strip, BO all stitches. Here's a grid you can color for different combinations. Knit half hexagons at the beginning and ending of some strips to even out the ends of your blanket.
