the coolest thing i've ever made?

You were expecting a white couch in my front yard, perhaps?

There is something so very deeply satisfying about crochet.  You can ask different crafters and get different answers; but, quite frankly, time-wise, you get a lot of bang for your buck.  I made Babette in a month.  That's how long it took me to make Ruby.  It took me longer to weave loose ends and write the pattern.  It also took me a while to decide whether I would release the pattern or not.  After searching the internets and countless on-line library catalogs (or OPACs for you library types) for a traditional granny hexagon pattern and coming up empty-handed, I made one up.  You can reverse engineer it, or, you can just use my pattern and save your time for working up your color combinations.

So, here she is.  This is, yet another, blanket that is not destined to cozy up my home, it was made for a really artistic friend who loves bright colors.  I think she will be pleased. I, too, am pleased, which means I will likely be making another one for my own abode...maybe two.

My friend wanted something that was "granny" but "not granny".  I knew what she meant.  I like hexagons, and I like to think of crocheted blankets as an opportunity to play with color, because these bright colors would never really occur to me on a normal occasion, I don't think.  And I like squares, but they are so...square, and hexagons are... awesome.

I worked on this blanket quite a bit traveling to Kansas City for the funeral of Special K's grandmother, Ruby, who was a pretty amazing crocheter, so the name seemed pretty appropriate.  When I finally finished this blanket, Special K said that it's "the coolest thing [I've] ever made."  Really?  Maybe.  Yes, okay.  I think so, too.

Pattern is up in Ravelry (probably the best place to download it).  Or you can download it here (it make take a while to download, there are a few pages).

This is my first crochet pattern.  In terms of skill, I am a much better knitter than I am a crocheter; but, I had some friends (thank you knitbloggers and flickr friends: Maryse, Bertha, Lauren, Anne and Emily) test the hexagon motif for me to ensure that my directions could, indeed, be duplicated.  The description for the edging is long-winded with (what I think are helpful) photos because, quite frankly, if I was doing it for the first time, I would want to be walked through it.  The edging is actually something I figured out after I finished the blanket.   Oh, decreases in the corner joins, of course!  I have listed the yarn and colors that I used; but, I have provided no color chart, because you should come up with your own combinations (that is really the *best* part of this project).  You are smart fiber folk, I am sure your will come up with all sorts of fabulousness.

There will likely be ways that the pattern could be made better, if you have constructive criticism, please let me know and I will update the pattern to reflect constructive user feedback.  So again, this is my first crochet pattern that I am putting out there for the masses, it is free, Happy January.  Be nice.  Have fun.

Comments

[Louise Rownd]

Thanks for the great pattern. I can't wait to get started.

[Oiyi]

It is stunning! And where is that white couch?

Btw, the coolest things you have ever made is your two beautiful sons.

[EmilysNana]

This is just the most beautiful blanket! I can't wait to start making one.

[Yarndude]

After seeing your babette, and now this, I desperately want to learn how to crochet!

[Pork with Bones]

I quite like that blanket. It quite reminds me of one of my treasured possessions, a quilt in the Grandmother's Flower Garden pattern that my grandmother made when I was young (but which I was not given until my late teens). She outlined each of the flowers (themselves made up of hexagons in many bright colours) with a row of dark red hexagons, and the paths between the flowers were white. Perhaps someday I shall learn to crochet; or to quilt.

[whitney]

This is such a beautiful blanket! Thanks so much for sharing the pattern...I am totally going to crochet one of these someday. (I almost said "knit one of these up", which should tell you where I usually fall on the knit/crochet spectrum!)

[Mandy]

Gratuitous baby shot! Love it! (yes, i was expecting a couch)

[Bertha]

It's perfect Nova. Perfect.

[Grace]

It is beautiful! Thanks for sharing the pattern. I have been hankering for a crocheted blanket...I think I will try this!

[lori]

Oh wow this is beautiful!

[vasudha]

this blanket is mind-blowingly beautiful...it is also why i've made up my mind to learn how to crochet, just now. WOW!!!!

[brooke]

This blanket really reflects the heart and energy you put into projects ... something I really admire. The design and colors you created are wonderful. I'd love to make one someday.

[Katie]

Your blanket is gorgeous! I love it so much. I'm working on a different hexigon crochet blanket right now or I'd get started on this right away. Hopefully, I'll get to tackle it soon. Thanks!

[Lauren]

aghhh! I can't wait to make more of those hexes. That is a seriously great pattern, Nova. Congratulations.

[Kathy]

I'd like to think that my awesome crochet lessons in college helped with this... but probably not. :~P Awesome, awesome blanket. I love the smile on Little Mister's face. I believe he agrees that it's the best blankie ever.

[grumperina]

This is ridiculously awesome. I love it! Of all the granny-inspired blankets I've seen recently, this is definitely my favorite!

[Kristy]

This is very cool! I think it's right on the mark for your friend, although I wouldn't blame you if you wanted to keep it. Thank you for writing up the pattern! I'll have to give it a look.

[caitlyn]

This is beautiful!!! Now I want to learn how to crochet!

[Vicki]

Oh, my, my!! It's WONDERFUL!! Good going, you.

[yaiAnn]

The coolest thing you ever made is the thing that's gonna bring me back to crochet!!

[Jen Gough]

Thanks so much for sharing your pattern! I started last night and it's wonderful!

[Stasia]

Thank you! Beautiful!

[CrimsonPurl_Stacey]

The blanket is wonderful and you are looking FAB!!!

[leslie]

oh. my. gosh!
that is A M A Z I N G ! ! ! ! !

[Lisa]

That's gorgeous Nova!