Hey there, awesome yarn artist! There is so much to share today! Once in a while someone in my crafty community stumbles upon a photo of an old make of mine, and asks me “where is this pattern?” And it’s true!
I just did not get around to writing up the pattern for everything I made, but every time I get a request like this, it motivates me to dig up those old makes and refresh them, and maybe even get the pattern written. So today I have to show you an old make of mine, and the new spin I am putting on it!
Lacy Hexagons Blanket PDF Pattern
If you would like to purchase the PDF version of this pattern, you can do so in my Etsy Shop or on Ravelry.
You will receive a condensed, convenient PDF perfect if you choose to print. Both US Terms and UK Terms PDFs are included in the purchase. It helps to support my work, and as a bonus, you get early access to the pattern! Of course showing up for the free pattern next Thursday will be enough support if snagging the PDF is just not in the cards. I appreciate you!
Reminiscing Over an Old Make
In the Summer of 2014, I raided my stash of bright yarn and created a lacy hexagon blanket. Versions of this pattern are everywhere, but I am especially fond of my own take on it, as I just love the flat braid join as-you-go, and the perfect hexie size. Plus, the little half hexagon is precious, and really adds to the blanket.
I had a little play with the sizing and the joining method, and the final motifs from 2014 are in the photo below.
Don’t you just love these cuties?? This is such a retro pattern and a total comfort make. I could definitely see this blanket looking very classing in all one color, but there’s just something about using ALL the colors that I can never resist.
Sometimes using a ton of color can take away from the overall design of a blanket, but I feel like the little repetitive floral hexie can take on a bold color palette without it looking like the pattern is “lost.”
I had a lot of fun creating a few of these bright blankets in 2014 and 2015. You can also see that I have always been the type to jump around my blanket. I just do not work in rows! For the color to be flowing, I have to be flowing.
If you’ve followed me for any length of time, you know that I consider the two dimensions of a blanket to be my “canvas” and I just paint with the yarn. Painting my canvas in straight rows from top to bottom is just not my creative vibe.
Slight tangent: Check out this mini-gallery of me working my hexagon blankets from the outside in. I start with the middle, then I get bored, and jump to complete the outside perimeter like a jigsaw puzzle, then I work the border, then finally I come back to the center and fill it all in.
These are the Geometric Lace and Cottage Quilt Blanket patterns.
But back to the blanket at hand! I just love how this one came together and I’m so glad to revisit it and give the pattern to you all.
Looking through all of these photos has been a blast from the past, but I do want to use some Scheepjes Yarns to create the pattern and give the blanket a little update. My plan is to switch up the layout a bit because these days I like to start and end my hexie blanket rows with a half-hexagon, and then I’ll add a border to complete the blanket pattern.
Refreshing this Pattern with Our Tribe Yarn
I have some of every color in the Our Tribe range in my stash, and for this refresh I do want to play with color contrast and placement just like in the original make. I think I will choose a few shades of Our Tribe and see if I like how they would flow together. Follow me to my yarn stash!
Shop Our Tribe Yarn
Look at that pile of loveliness and tell me you don’t want to just reach out and squeeze a skein.
- Browse this yarn at Wool Warehouse through my affiliate link to help support CypressTextiles at no additional cost to you!
- Or find a Scheepjes retailer close to you!
Choosing Colors
Here are my initial thoughts for the color palette. These Our Tribe shades are:
- 963 Haak Maar Raak
- 968 Happy in Red
- 975 Canadutch
- 974 The Curio Crafts Room
- 878 Pistachio Branch
- 977 A Spoonful of Yarn
- 877 Raspberry Radiance
- 971 Jellina Creations
- 951 50 Shades of 4ply
- 965 Felted Button
- 970 CypressTextiles (my own shade – I’ll never get over that!)
- 962 Marie
I decided to take out these solids because I am going for an art blanket feel, and the more color mixing I can add in, the better.
Here is my second try, and I actually like this a lot. The mix of reds, blues, and greens is making me happy! These are the final 8 shades that I used in the pattern!
- 965 Felted Button
- 977 A Spoonful of Yarn
- 974 The Curio Crafts Room
- 970 CypressTextiles
- 971 Jellina Creations
- 963 Haak Maar Raak
- 951 50 Shades of 4ply
- 962 Marie
I definitely feel like these eight shades will make for a bold color layout. The color changes for Our Tribe are longer than they are in the original blankets I made years ago, so I suspect this will make a difference in the overall look of the piece, but I still think it will work. Let’s see how it looks!
Making a Few Sample Motifs
This is the first motif I made to revive this blanket, but there are a few things I changed after this prototype for a better shape. I wanted the lacy portion to be more open, and not so flat.
Okay this is going to be so good! I really love how the lacy bits stand up taller and more open, and those crispy corners really make the hexagons pop. I would normally make 3 chains in the corners, but for this hexagon I only made 1 chain, so where three hexies meet, it is a very sharp corner.
I could not put this project down! The pattern is complete, but the entire blanket still needs to be made, and I think I will finish it in less than a week because it is just so addictive and speedy!
I thought the Our Tribe color changes were very long – almost too long for the motifs, but it turns out they are shorter than I thought, and actually work very well for these size motifs. Also, as a side note, there are so many back-and-forth patterns out there using Our Tribe, and not that many motif blankets! It is very well suited for motifs.
Designing the Pattern for my Lacy Hexagons Blanket
This lacy hexagon pattern is almost as traditional as a granny square, and isn’t it just gorgeous? Lately I have been working a lot with squares and other geometric shapes, but if you’re an OG follower, you know that my first love is the hexagon.
That’s why the 2022 VVCAL blanket is made with hexagons, and it’s why I decided to make this hexie blanket. There’s just something about this six-sided shape that is so fun and exciting, especially turned with the points vertical, instead of the flat side. It gives the blanket layout a stylish upgrade.
I’m working on an online course that includes ways to achieve creative clarity when making a motif blanket like this. The questions I get the most are about color palette and color placement layout, and yes I get into a flow state, but I also have a lot of tricks in my notebook that help me create my layouts.
One thing I know is that you cannot be thinking about color techniques in the middle of trying to be creative while joining your motifs. It’s like trying to remember the rules of a card game while you’re trying to play. Instead, you should have a framework of how you place colors already set in place, and then you can work within the “rules” but still be in a creative state of mind.
I’m so excited to offer this class very soon, and I know you will love it!
Half Hexagons are absolute gems!
Filling the triangle zig-zag sides with a very simple lace pattern.
Adding the border! This will be a few rounds, just to use up the rest of the 8 balls of yarn. It is a zero-waste border which I have been very fond of lately! Holding onto yarn remnants is very un-satisfying, but on the other hand, using them all in the border feels like a superpower!
Free Pattern Coming Soon!
You can find the PDF pattern for the Lacy Hexagons Blanket now on Etsy or Ravelry, and I will release the free pattern here on my website on Thursday, August 11th!
Whew! All this inspiring and exciting eye candy has me wanting to get a cuppa and my hooky, so as soon as the sun goes down, I’ll be doing just that.
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Hope you have a great day, and try to squeeze some crafting in!
Rachele C.