I have just complete updating this pattern and I am so pleased with it. I have added instructions for a half hexagon, edging to fill in the zig-zag edge and make it straight, and border instructions. I also added charts for the hexagon, half-hexagon, and edging. Also included are written instructions to join the hexagons as you go so you don’t have to see them all together at the end!
This was one of my first patterns and needed a facelift very badly and be updated to my newer pattern style. It is so fun to watch this project grow and I love how this looks completed.
My latest pattern design, the Texagon Blanket, is now available in my shop on both Etsy and Ravelry. I never knew how much Texans love Texas until we lived there. EVERYTHING has Texas on it. Even the store brand zip bags we bought. 😅 If you have a Texan in your life, I am certain they will love this blanket.
This beauty is worked up using the filet crochet technique, like most of my other crochet blanket patterns. It features Texas as a tessellation. See it both upside down and right side up?
I used a 5.5 mm / I hook and Paintbox Simply Aran yarn to make this. However, like my others, this can be made in whatever hook and yarn weight you prefer and made in any size you like. The starting chain multiple is included so you can add or subtract until it’s the size you need.
The border is done with front and back posts, creating a nice ribbed effect that completes the look without distracting from the main design.
As with all my patterns, this one has been tested by others to make sure there are no errors. For the first time, I hired a tech editor to look over this pattern as well.
I love this hat for a casual look. While any worsted weight yarn will work with this pattern, I think it looks best with a yarn that has nice drape and sheen, such as Lion Brand Heartland or Caron Simply Soft. These give such a nice slouch look and are so comfortable to wear. The ribbed brim helps keep it in place and adds some nice texture. If you want extra slouch or additional room for more hair, you can simply add more rows to the body. I will tell you when. 😉
Materials
Worsted weight yarn such as Lion Brand Heartland or Caron Simply Soft
Size J/6.00 mm crochet hook or hook needed to achieve gauge
Important Notes
The start of the hat uses the magic circle technique, chain (ch), single crochet (sc), and a closing slip stitch (slst).
The main part of the beanie is worked in double crochet (dc) and double crochet increase (dc inc). The brim is made with alternating front post double crochet (fpdc) and back post double crochet (bpdc).
Gauge is 6 st X 4 rows of dc is 2″ square
Hat is worked from the top down.
Each dc round is started with a ch 2 and finished with a slst into the first dc. I have found this combination creates an almost invisible seam. It’s not conventional, but I encourage you to try it out over the standard ch 3.
Laid flat, hat measures 11″ from top to bottom and 8″ across.
Written Instructions
Create a magic circle. Ch 1, sc 11 into circle. Slst into first sc. (ch 1, 11 sc)
Ch 2, dc into closing slst, work a dc inc into each sc around, slst into first dc. (ch 2, 23 dc)
Ch 2, dc into closing slst, dc, *dc inc, dc* repeat from * to * around, slst into first dc (ch 2, 35 dc)
Ch 2, dc into closing slst, dc 2, *dc inc, dc 2* repeat from * to * around, slst into first dc (ch 2, 47 dc)
Ch 2, dc into closing slst, dc 3, *dc inc, dc 3* repeat from * to * around, slst into first dc (ch 2, 59 dc)
For next 14 rounds, ch 2, dc 59, slst to first dc (ch 2, 59 dc)
NOTE: This is where you can add rows to increase the length of the hat for more slouch or to accommodate more hair.
For next 5 rounds, ch 2, *fpdc, bpdc* repeat from * to * around, slst into first fpdc (ch 2, 59 fp/bpdc)
For last round, finish hat with an invisible join into the top of the first fpdc.
I have been working on this one for quite a while, but after having a baby and then moving halfway around the world here I am, finally getting around to writing it down.
The main part of the beanie is worked in the back loops only.
Gauge is 8 st X 8 rows of sc in blo is 2″ square
Colorwork is require to create the image of the skull. I carried the black strand through the white, but did not carry the white strand through the black beyond the last white stitch of each row. This can take some practice if you have not done it before, but this is a great small project to work on it! Here is a link with some information on colorwork and a photo tutorial on how to change colors. I am sure there are many youtube videos on how to do this as well.
All slip stitches should be on same side of your work. This will be the top of the hat.
Color changes are noted with highlighting. Black background instructions are worked with black, white background is worked with white.
Written Instructions
***ALL STITCHES WORKED IN BACK LOOP ONLY UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED***
ch 36, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each st across (36 ch, 35 sc)
turn, slst in first 5 st, sc in next st and each st across (5 slst, 30 sc)
turn, ch 1, sc in first 30 st, slst in last 5 st (ch 1, 30 sc, 5 slst)
Repeat rows 2 and 3 for next 20 rows–you should have 23 rows total of solid black sc with 5 slst all on one side before moving on to next step
turn, slst 5, sc 13, sc 5, sc 12
turn, ch 1, sc 9, sc 10, sc 11, slst 5
turn, slst 5, sc 10, sc 7, sc 2, sc 3, sc 8
turn, ch 1, sc 8, sc 2, sc 4, sc 7, sc 9, slst 5
turn, slst 5, sc 9, sc 7, sc 4, sc 3, sc 7
turn, ch 1, sc 4, sc 6, sc 4, sc 8, sc 8, slst 5
turn, slst 5, sc 8, sc 9, sc 2, sc 8, sc 3
turn, ch 1, sc 4, sc 2, sc 3, sc 13, sc 8, slst 5
turn, slst 5, sc 8, sc 12, sc 3, sc 4, sc 3
turn, ch 1, sc 4, sc 2, sc 3, sc 13, sc 8, slst 5
turn, slst 5, sc 8, sc 9, sc 2, sc 8, sc 3
turn, ch 1, sc 4, sc 6, sc 4, sc 8, sc 8, slst 5
turn, slst 5, sc 9, sc 7, sc 4, sc 3, sc 7
turn, ch 1, sc 8, sc 2, sc 4, sc 7, sc 9, slst 5
turn, slst 5, sc 10, sc 7, sc 2, sc 3, sc 8
turn, ch 1, sc 9, sc 10, sc 11, slst 5
turn, slst 5, sc 13, sc 5, sc 12
turn, ch 1, sc in first 30 st, slst in last 5 st (ch 1, 30 sc, 5 slst)
turn, slst in first 5 st, sc in next st and each st across (5 slst, 30 sc)
Repeat step 22 and 23 for next 29 rows–you should have 71 rows total, having ended with 5 slst
Slst your starting chain and last row together. You can tie off here or move on to next step for ribbed brim.
ch 2, turn hat so you’re working into the sides of the sc rows, fpdc, bpdc, evenly around hat. Looking at the ribbing created by working in the back loops only, I fpdc around the peaks, and bpdc around the valleys. Doing this I had 70 stitches, plus the ch 2. Slst into top of first fpdc.
ch 2, fpdc, bpdc, around each post stitch from previous round, slst into top of first fpdc
Repeat previous round as many times as desired. I did 3 rounds total of post stitches. Invisible join into top of first fpdc.
Chart
Closing
Two common closing options for this type of hat: cinch and X/4 point closure
For cinch closure: turn hat inside out, with tapestry needle, weave in and out through inside/outside edge of top of beanie (side with the slsts) in approximately 1 inch increments. Pull both tails tight, cinching beanie closed, tie off, eave in ends.
For X/4 point closure: turn hat inside out, lie flat, find center and stitch center point together. Push the end points to the center so you now have an X, with 4 points touching in the center. Stitch each side together, working through 4 layers of hat at a time.
Do this on both sidesStitch closed through all layers
I am slowly but surely getting all of my older patterns updated. As a perfectionist, this makes me so happy! Here are a few I have finished up.
The Argyle Blanket
The Argyle Blanket is a classic argyle design and works up so fast in filet crochet! I added a new border that fits with the clean lines of the design and is beginner friendly. For the blanket pictured I used Paintbox Simply DK in Duck Egg Blue and Pistachio Green.
Flying Kites Blanket
The Flying Kites pattern was actually my very first blanket design and is quite special to me. I added a border with picots that I think compliments the design quite well and gives it an antique feel. I used Paintbox Simply Aran in Blush Pink and Vanilla Cream for this blanket.
The World Map Blanket
The World Map blanket is my first non-repeating design. The original write up worked just fine but was a bit clunky and easy to get lost in. I created a short-hand just for this blanket to clean up the pattern and make it easier to follow and keep track. I also added a cute and fun bobble border. I used Paintbox Cotton Aran in Washed Teal and Misty Grey for this blanket.
Ziggy Zaggy
The Ziggy Zaggy is a fun zigzag design. I originally designed this because I love the ripple/chevron crochet blankets but they can be real yarn eaters and take a lot of time. By creating a similar design with filet, you get the look without the time sink. I added a cute new border as well! I crocheted this blanket using Paintbox Simply DK in Misty Grey and Dusty Lilac.
Tumbling Blocks
Tumbling Blocks is a classic quilt design that I love and decided to create using filet. This is a fun one because depending on how you look at the pattern, you can see so many different things! This blanket was crocheted using Paintbox Simply DK in Vanilla Cream and Washed Teal.
I have updated my Honeycomb Blanket crochet pattern and I am excited to share it with you all!
The newest version has an updated format. I have organized and cleaned up the pattern so it’s easier to navigate and I hope you enjoy it.
The first page has important info like gauge, yardage, starting chain counts, and explanations of the abbreviations I use throughout the pattern.
The second page is the written instructions. I have kept the original, standard crochet instructions and I have also included a new shorthand for each row. I find this much easier to read than the traditional crochet instructions for filet, especially when there are groups of dc and ch 1 spaces.
The third page is the new border instructions. I have included both written instructions and a chart.
The fourth page is the chart for the honeycomb pattern. It has both traditional chart symbols and color to indicate Whig stitches to use where. I love these new charts i can create using a new software I discovered. They are nice and clean and being able to incorporate colors helps see what is going on so much more clearly.
The fifth and last page is an “easy print” page for your convenience. It has the short-hand instructions as well as a place for you to write your own notes. You can print out just this page to keep with your project while you’re on the go. In the notes section, I recommend writing down your hook size, yarn, and anything else you may want to keep track of in case you let your project sit on the back burner for a minute. Too many times I have done that and went to pick things back up and couldn’t remember what I was doing!
I hope you enjoy all of these new features I have included to this old favorite and that it helps make working up this beauty easier and more enjoyable for you.
There was this one summer growing up that my mom had foot surgery. She waited until summer break because she was a teacher and had to be on bed rest for like 6 weeks. She may have been a bit miserable recovering, but I was her nurse and it was the BEST summer of my life.
We hung out in her bed most of the day and I made us food and got whatever she needed. We watched TV—reality tv had just taken off and we were obsessed with season 1 of Big Brother and CourtTV—read books, she taught me how to crochet (you know how that’s going 😉), we talked about everything, and we planned this Millennium quilt. If you weren’t born yet or were just a baby, the changing Millennium was a HUGE deal when it happened. Everybody thought the world was going to crash. 😅
My mom drew up a sketch and we decided on 2000 2 inch squares of different fabric and I remember we thought it wouldn’t take that long… My mom did 99% of the work on this, so I can’t really take much credit other than being there for the initial design concept. This quilt has fabric from EVERYTHING—baby quilts she made for her grandkids and great-grandkids, old clothes from my late grandparents and my dad. I think there are squares from some of my formal dresses she made me, too. Basically if it was fabric and she could cut a square out of it, it got a square cut out of it. 🤣 22 years later and she finally finished it! I can’t wait to see it in person and show my own daughters! Amazing job, mom!!! I can only hope to have a summer like this with each of my own children.
I’m in the process of rebranding. I’m very excited about all of my goals and plans and can’t wait to share all of my changes with you.
I’m currently going back over my old patterns, making new samples in fresh yarns, taking new photos, and adding borders and fun details to my patterns. I also have a few things in the works and I am so anxious to get them finished and out into the world.
I haven’t been very active for a while and I can’t wait to connect with the crochet and fiber community. I’m also hoping to take up knitting and tatting soon. I’ll share here how that adventure goes.
Two of my blanket patterns, Rippling Diamonds and Flying Kites, create a pattern by leaving strategically place chain spaces (basically filet crochet style). Rippling Diamonds has a beautiful almost-diamond wavy ripple pattern. Flying Kites has diamonds inside of rectangles. The (I think!) awesome and exciting part about these two patterns is they include instructions how to make these blankets in ANY size you could possibly want. I even included the math equation to figure out how to make them in any gauge, hook, or yarn of your choice. I am available to help or check your math if needed, of course. I think these are fun and super easy. If you can chain and double crochet, you can make these!
I’ve switched gears and focus recently and have started cranking out patterns for animal hats. My first is the classic sock monkey hat. I think it turned out pretty cute. My son really loves it. I’ve also got a fox and a hippo in the works, so stay tuned!