My lockdown learning was crochet and I have been crocheting wonderfully challenging blankets for my family members to teach myself different stitches and patterns. I now have a lot of leftover wool in lots of vibrant colours and have been thinking about how I could use up the yarn and Sarah Shrimpton’s Hello Hexie! book is absolutely ideal.
There are ten different hexagon motifs to try and all were easy or intermediate in the stitches used and all had a great finish. While I would not recommend this book for beginners it is a book that newish crocheters will be able to use. I have decided to use the Flower Hexie and the Trefoil Hexie as the motifs to use up my leftover yarn and then will bring them together with a matching colour to build a larger colourful blanket.
There are 23 projects in the book if you would like to explore other ways of using hexagon squares and they are: A Sunburst Bag; Star Blanket; Cosy Cardigan; Linen Lace Tee; Spring Garden Shrug; Cosy Poncho; African Flower Skirt; Pure Wool Rug; Striped Rug; Tortoise Stuffed Toy; Baby Bee Blanket; Baby Bee Lovey; Slipper Socks; Bobble Cushion; Festival Bag; Bohemian Scarf; Trefoil Table Set; Wall Hanging; Starburst Footstool; Patchwork Wristwarmers; Coaster; Pin Cushion, Christmas Decoration and Earrings. I will be trying the Patchwork Wristwarmers as a great gift option but do not want to plan a bigger project as do have so much yarn to use up. These are a great way to use up that leftover yarn that we all end up with when we crochet and I can see my own designed blanket being a UFO (unfinished object) that I work on over the coming months. As I have yarn in multiple weights I will end up doing 2 blanket projects as well as a few pairs of the Patchwork Wristwarmers.
"Recommended for all those who love crochet and want to challenge themselves to do something different or who have lots of leftover yarn to use up."
- Jane Cowell
Hello Hexie! is written using the UK terminology with a conversion chart to assist you in converting the patterns to the US terminology located in the back of the book. There is a detailed techniques section in the back of the book which outlines all of the basic crochet stitches used in the book, including some join-as-you-go techniques for joining your crochet hexies. Each crochet hexagon motif pattern is accompanied with a stitch diagram so if you prefer to use a crochet hexagon stitch diagram over the written pattern, it’s available for you. Good pictures of techniques are also provided in the techniques section so you get a visual and written instruction.
Recommended for all those who love crochet and want to challenge themselves to do something different or who have lots of leftover yarn to use up. This book gave me some fun ways to think differently about Granny squares and as I have not tried hexagons before. Looking forward to my finished projects and the joy they bring me to produce.