Join-on-the-go

I get a lot of questions about how to join hexagons with
the join-on-the-go method.  Time for a tutorial.

Here we go.

The basic pattern for the african flower hexagon can be found
in english here >> and in swedish here >>

To use the join-on-the-go method, you need to change the middle dc on each
side of the hexagon into a chain stitch. This will give you 12 points to join
the hex’s together. One point in each of the six corner and one point
at each of the hexagons sides. You can see it in the picture above.

You will make the joining on the last row of the hexagon pattern (the dc row).
When you reach one corner you make the chain stitch around the
chain stitch in the corner of the other hexagon.

Put the hook through the “hole” at the corner, get the yarn with the
hook and pull the yarn through…

… and through the loop on the hook, to form a chain stitch around the corner.

Make 4 dc along the side, and then join again with the next chain stitch.

Make again 4 dc along the side, and again join with a chain stitch in the corner.

Tadaa! - You have now joined two hexagons together.

The join-on-the-go method can also be used for granny squares.

As a granny square has three chain stitches at each corner to make them square,
when joining at the corners you need to make one chain stitch, join with one chain stitch,
and then one chain stitch again. Don’t forget about the extra chain stitches!

Along the sides just join with one chain stitch same as with the hexagons.

This is how your finished result will look like. Neat isn’t it ?!

Colour change tutorial

When crocheting squares and rounds and hexagons, like the African Flower,
there are several ways to make a colour change on a new round.
Here is how I do it.

You have made the last chain stitch of the first row of an African Flower.

Now cut the yarn.

Pull the yarn through the chain stitch.

Insert the hook at the top of the first dc on row one.

Get the loose end with the hook.

Pull the yarn through.

Insert the hook from below in the last chain stitch of the round and get the yarn.

Pull the yarn through to the back.

Now your crochet piece will look like this.
The joining between the first dc and the last chain stitch of round one
is almost invisible, looking same as all the other stitches.

Now insert the hook at the joining point and get the new yarn.

Pull the yarn through to make the first loop.

Get the yarn again with the hook to make the first chain stitch,
and make sure the loose end of the yarn is above the hook.

Pull the yarn through and your first chain stitch is made.
Notice how the loose end is above the yarn and behind the stitch.

Now when you make the second chain stitch the loose end gets locked
between the two stitches. Make the third chain stitch.

Continue with the dc and make sure both the loose ends lay flat against
the crochet piece and make the dc’s around the loose ends.

When you made three groups of dc’s your piece will look like this from
the back side. The loose ends are locked by the dc's.

Cut both the loose ends off and continue crocheting.

Granny wheel square

Varv 1: 5 lm, slut ringen med en sm Varje följande varv börjas med 3 lm som ersätter en stolpmaska, och avslutas med en smygmaska i första stolpen. Varv 2: “1 st, 1 lm” 12 ggr Varv 3: “2 st, 1 lm” 12 ggr + 1 extra sm fram till nästa lm Varv 4: “3 st, 1 lm” 12 ggr + 2 extra sm fram till nästa lm Varv 5: “4 st, 1 lm” 12 ggr + 3 extra sm fram till nästa lm Varv 6: “4 st, 1 lm, 4 st, 1 lm, 4 dst, 2 lm, 4 dst, 1 lm” 4 ggr Varv 7: (grått) 1 st mellan varje st på varv 6, 2 st om varje lm på varv 6 och i hörnen 2 st, 3 lm, 2 st.……………………………………………………………………………………….

Row 1: 5 ch, close the ring with a slip stitch Every next row starts with 3 ch to replace 1 dc, and ends with a slip stitch around the first dc. Row 2: “1 dc, 1 ch” 12 times Row 3: “2 dc, 1 ch” 12 times + 1 extra slip stitch to reach next ch Row 4: “3 dc, 1 ch” 12 times + 2 extra slip stitch to reach next ch Row 5: “4 dc, 1 ch” 12 times + 3 extra slip stitch to reach next ch Row 6: “4 dc, 1 ch, 4 dc, 1 ch, 4 trc, 2 ch, 4 trc, 1 ch” 4 times Row 7: (grey) 1 dc between each dc of row 6, 2 dc around each ch of row 6 and at the corners 2 dc, 3 ch, 2 dc.

Enjoy!!

A little something for you

As a little extra shop-opening-bonus-gift for you all I give you two tutorials
on how to make nice edgings to your crochet granny square blankets.

Oops! I think I was a bit too tired to write tutorials. Row 8 should not be there at all!

African Flower

Jag har fått tillåtelse av Elizabeth Cat att översätta mönstret till den här härliga blomster-hexagonen “African Flower” till svenska! English version is available on Flickr >>

Varv 1: 5 luftmaskor, slut ihop till en ring med en smygmaska. Varv 2: 3 luftmaskor (bildar första stolpen). Virka sedan om luftmaske-ringen: 1 stolpe 1 luftmaska, sedan 2 stolpar 1 luftmaska – 5 gånger vilket bildar de 6 grunddelarna. Varv 3: Byt färg. Virka om varje luftmaska: 2 stolpar 1 luftmaska 2 stolpar, 6 gånger. Varv 4: Virka om varje luftmaska: 7 stolpar. Varv 5: Byt färg. Virka en fast maska i varje stolpe, samt mellan varje blomblad en stolpe med nertag mellan två grupper om två stolpar på 3e varvet. Varv 6: Byt färg. 1 stolpe i varje fast maska, förutom mitt på varje kronblad där man virkar 1 stolpe, 1 luftmaska, 1 stolpe i samma maska vilket bildar hörnen på hexagonen.

Mönster till väska av Afrikanska blommor finns att köpa på Ravelry.

English pattern for an African Flowers bag is available for purchase on Ravelry.