Welcome to the 2018 Fiber Flux Holiday Crochet Along...hooray! Today marks week one of the CAL and we'll be learning about the beautiful project we'll be making...the Cozy Grannies Table Runner! This project was a highly requested item in the Fiber Flux community and I'm so excited we are making a fun & festive table runner this time! Here's what we'll be doing today:
- How to crochet a granny hexagon
- Placement of motifs using a chart
- Joining the motifs using the JAYGO technique
- Schedule of the CAL
- Where to connect with other makers
Add this project to your Ravelry queue by clicking on the button below:
*This is a self-paced project, so definitely go at the speed you feel most comfortable. The instructional videos and posts will be up forever and you will always be able to go back and watch again and again!
Because there are those of you who prefer a written pattern and those who prefer a video tutorial, below are both. Either way, be sure to check out the video for additional information, plus helpful tips too!
Here's this week's CAL video:
Granny Hexagon Pattern:
Chain 4 and join into a ring with a slip stitch.
Round 1: Chain 4 (counts as a dc, ch 1), then work (a dc into center of ring, chain 1) 11 times. Join to close with a slip stitch.
Note: If you want to make round 2 in the same color, simply slip stitch until you reach a ch 1 space and keep going. If you want to switch colors...cut yarn and join the new yarn at one of the ch 1 spaces and tie securely.
Round 2: Chain 3 and work a dc in the same space. Chain 1, then work two double crochet in the next (chain 1) space. Keep doing this all the way around, working 2 dc in each space, then a chain 1. Join to close with a slip stitch.
Round 3: Chain 3, then work 2 dc in the same space, then chain 1. In the next space, work three dc, then chain 1. Keep doing this all the way around the circle...3 dc, then a chain 1 in each space. Join with a slip stitch to close.
Round 4 (circle becomes hexagon in this round): Chain 3, and in the first space work 2 dc, chain 1, then 3 dc all in the same space. This creates the first hexagon corner. In the next space, to work the hexagon side, chain 1, then work 3 dc in next space. Keep going in this manner, working a corner of two "clusters" and a side of 1 cluster (each cluster being separated by a chain 1). Join with a slip stitch to close.
Note: just be sure there is a ch 1 in between each grouping of 3 dc as you work each round. That is what gives it the pretty spaces in between each cluster and keeps it nice and flat.
*IMPORTANT: Make 1 full hexagon to begin, then make 9 motifs of rounds 1-3. Proceed below for the JAYGO (join as you go) technique...
Here's how we will be laying the motifs out (10 motifs total):
I have seen many different beautiful ways to join motifs as you go, this one is super simple and very quick to do. Before you begin, you'll need 1 fully finished hexagon (all four rounds of the pattern), plus at least one or two circles (first three rounds of the pattern). I know many of you have made more (even some have made them all!). The number of motifs is totally up to you, but you need at least 1 hexagon and 1 circle to get started.
Note: it really helps to keep everything flat as you work, I like to lay mine on a table or lap as I go.
For the first motif, we learned rounds 1-4 of the very first hexagon, but for the rest of the motifs, we'll do it this way:
(Rounds 1 through 3 are the same)
Chain 4 and join into a ring with a slip stitch.
Round 1: Chain 4 (counts as a dc, ch 1), then work (a dc into center of ring, chain 1) 11 times. Join to close with a slip stitch.
Round 2: Chain 3 and work a dc in the same space. Chain 1, then work two double crochet in the next (chain 1) space. Keep doing this all the way around, working 2 dc in each space, then a chain 1. Join to close with a slip stitch.
Round 3: Chain 3, then work 2 dc in the same space, then chain 1. In the next space, work three dc, then chain 1. Keep doing this all the way around the circle...3 dc, then a chain 1 in each space. Join with a slip stitch to close.
For round 4, we're going to break down each step along the way. For more help, crochet along with me in the video too for this part.
Step 1: Figure out placement first (see chart). I like to lay them out first on something flat.
Step 2: Tie the new color on into any of the ch 1 spaces.
Step 3: Work a corner as you normally would (ch 4, 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc), then ch 1, then a side as you normally would (3 dc), but leave out the ch 1 at the end of this grouping--this is where we'll be making the first join.
Step 4: Locate the corner space on the other hexagon (ch 1 space at the "peak" of the hexagon). Now work 3 dc to begin the first part of the corner.
Step 5: Insert the hook into the ch 1 corner space from the top and "scoop" up the yarn from the top to bring up a loop.
Step 7: You'll have two loops on the hook.
Step 8: Work a slip stitch by bringing that loop through the loop already on your hook. First join made!
Continue around each motif, and where two hexagons meet, work a slip stitch as you did above. Where there is only one hexagon (where they do not meet) work a ch 1 as you normally would.
Repeat for each motif, following the placement chart. If you are new to JAYGO, I highly recommend the video, where I walk through each part stitch by stitch.
OK, let's take a quick peek at the schedule...last week we talked a little bit about the table runner and went over supplies needed:
Wednesday December 5: Introduction to the CAL, the project, approximate size of finished project, yarn, and supplies needed.- Wednesday December 12 (that's today!): The granny hexagon and joining the motifs.
- Wednesday December 19: Tassels & finish work.
- Thursday December 20: The BIG CAL reveal!
- Friday December 21: Surprise! Today is a bonus pattern using the yarn leftovers!
Last part...let's connect! You can connect at any of the social media outlets below:
Let's connect!
Also I have set up a special group for us on Ravelry, the "Fiber Flux CAL Group" There is a special welcome area, so please hop on and introduce yourself. You can get info, ask questions, help each other, see what everyone is doing, and show off your work too!
I am so super excited to see all of your beautiful projects in the next few weeks...please share those pictures and above enjoy, take some time to relax with your hook, and have fun! That's all for today lovelies, see you next Tuesday for part three of the CAL!!
