Welcome to the 2023 Fiber Flux Summer Crochet Along…yippee! Today marks week two of the CAL and we’ll be jumping in today with the fun project we’ll be making…the Summer Of Love Throw! This blanket is fun, bright, and I think the happiest blanket ever!
We will be going over a few things today to begin:
- Crocheting the first full granny hexagon
- Joining the second hexagon onto the first
- Joining the third hexagon onto the other hexagons
- Schedule of the CAL
- Where to connect with other makers
Be sure to scroll down for the schedule with actual dates and what we’ll be doing on each week.
*This is a self-paced project, so definitely go at the speed you feel most comfortable. The instructional videos and posts will be up forever and you will always be able to go back and watch again and again!
Add this to your Ravelry queue!
Missed the first week? Get the info on the project and here:
Can’t see the video? Get it here!
Check out this week’s video to learn more about the crocheting the granny hexagons and joining them together:
Can’t see the video? Get it here!
Here’s our CAL schedule below for easy reference:
Here’s our CAL schedule below for easy reference:
- Wednesday, June 21: Introduction & Supplies
- Wednesday, June 28: The Granny Hexagon & Joining
- Wednesday, July 5: The Half Granny Hexagon & Joining
- Wednesday, July 12: Tassels & Finish Work
- Wednesday, July 19: CAL Recap
Today we’ll focus on the full hexagons and joining them together. Let’s do a sizing recap first. My blanket is throw sized and is 6 full hexagons across and 9 full hexagons tall. Our half hexagons will be added later to give the sides a straight edge in next week’s tutorial. To figure out what size you’d like to make, check out this chart of common blanket sizes:
Next, if you are doing a colorful theme like the one shown, you’ll want to be mindful of your color placement. Try to avoid placing two of the same (or similar) colors side by side. Think high contrast for maximum effect.
Ok, let’s move onto our hexagons, shall we?
The First Hexagon:
Chain 4 and join into a ring with a slip stitch.
Round 1: Chain 4 (counts as a dc, ch 1), then work (a dc, chain 1) 11 times. Join to close with a slip stitch.
Note: If you want to make round 2 in the same color, simply slip stitch until you reach a ch 1 space and keep going. If you want to switch colors…cut yarn and join the new yarn at one of the ch 1 spaces and tie securely.
Round 2: Chain 3 and work a dc in the same space. Chain 1, *then work (2 dc, ch 1) in the next ch 1 space. Repeat from * around. Join with a slip stitch to close.
Round 3: Chain 3, then work 2 dc in the same space, then chain 1. *In the next space, work three dc, then chain 1. Repeat from * around. Join with a slip stitch to close.
Round 4 (circle becomes hexagon in this round): Chain 3, and in the first space work (2 dc, chain 1, then 3 dc, ch 1) all in the same space. This creates the first hexagon corner. *In the next space, to work the hexagon side, work 3 dc, ch 1). In the next space (to create the next corner) work 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1). Repeat from * around. Join with a slip stitch to close.
Round 5: Chain 3, and in the first space work (2 dc, chain 1, then 3 dc, ch 1) all in the same space. This creates the first hexagon corner. *In the next space, to work the hexagon side, work 3 dc, ch 1). In the next space work another side (3 dc, ch 1). In the next space (to create the next corner) work 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1). Repeat from * around. Join with a slip stitch to close.
Note: just be sure there is a ch 1 in between each grouping of 3 dc as you work each round. That is what gives it the pretty spaces in between each cluster and keeps it nice and flat.
*IMPORTANT: Make 1 full hexagon to begin, then make all of the other motifs of rounds 1-4. Then you will join them together for round 5. Proceed below for the JAYGO (join as you go) technique.
I have seen many different beautiful ways to join motifs as you go, this one is super simple and very quick to do. Before you begin, you’ll need 1 fully finished hexagon (all five rounds of the pattern), plus at least one or two hexagons (first four rounds of the pattern).
Note: it really helps to keep everything flat as you work, I like to lay mine on a table or lap as I go.
For the first motif, we learned rounds 1-5 of the very first hexagon, but for the rest of the motifs, we’ll do it this way:
Part 2: Joining The Second Hexagon
Begin the next hexagon and work rounds 1-4 of the granny hexagon (see above). Begin round 5 as you normally would with that first corner (ch 3, 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1). Next, work the sides as you normally would (3 dc, ch 1) in each of the next two spaces across. Now we’re ready to make our first join. In the corner space work 3 dc, then work a slip stitch into the other hexagon’s corner space, then work (3 dc, ch 1) back into the hexagon’s corner. As you continue down the side of the square, you’ll work 3 dc into the side spaces of the hexagon, but instead of the ch 1, work a slip stitch join into the other square. When you get to the next corner, work 3 dc, ch 1, then slip stitch join into the other hexagon’s corner space, then 3 dc, ch 1 back into the corner space. Work the rest of the hexagon the way you normally would (3 dc, ch 1) in each of the side spaces and (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1) in the corner spaces. Join with a slip stitch to close round, fasten off yarn and you’re ready to join another!
Part 3: Joining Subsequent Hexagons
As you join the rest of your hexagons, you’ll basically be repeating part 2 (see above), except the only difference being that sometimes there will be an area where you’ll be joining into a corner that has two hexagons (instead of simply joining one into another one). In this case, make you slip stitch join in the spaces between the hexagons where the two corners meet (not the corner space). Always go directly across in your join to avoid it being off center. To see this join in action in greater detail, be sure to check out the video. In the video, I join two hexagons together, then three, showing all possible joining scenarios that may arise as you work on your blanket. The rule of thumb is that when you don’t require a join, ch 1. When you are at a spot that requires a join, simply replace the ch 1 with a slip stitch into the other square.
*Important: If you have never tried the JAYGO technique, I highly recommend the video.
Last part…let’s connect! You can connect at any of the social media platforms below, and don’t forget to use the hashtag #fiberfluxcal
Also we have two special communities for our CAL makers! Each has a welcome area/thread, so please hop on and introduce yourself. You can get info, ask questions, help each other, see what everyone is doing, and show off your work too!
Click HERE to join the Facebook group!
Click HERE to visit and join the Ravelry group!
Also, don’t forget to tag me and use the hashtag, #fiberfluxcal to share your work on social media!
I can’t wait to see all of your gorgeous projects…please share those pictures and above enjoy, take some time to relax with your hook, and have fun! That’s all for today lovelies, see you next week for part three!!
© Fiber Flux LLC 2023
