hexagon bathmat
March 3rd, 2010
I finished the hexagon bathmat that I started a while back. Thanks in part to Alice from futuregirl. She saw the photo I put up of it and emailed to say I might be following the chart incorrectly–I wasn’t joining the hexagons as I went a long and there was a little dot in the chart that said I should be. Not only did she explain how to connect the hexagons (or whatever motif) as you go, but she downloaded the pattern I was working with so she could better explain it to me. Thank you Alice! And thank you to everyone for reading and supporting me and all the crafty bloggers out there. Even if we are only making silly bathmats, I think all this creativity is doing the world some good. And speaking of helping, if there is anyone out there who knows of a good “how to read this freakin complicated japanese crochet pattern” website could you shoot it my way? because my next project isn’t going so well.
Oh, one more thing about the bathmat. It might look a little off because it should have another row of 6 hexagons. I ran out of white yarn and just could not be bothered to go get more. Also these yarn leftover are killing me. I found a few scrapy (is there a yarn equivilant for scraps?) projects but it’s not as easy as using up leftover fabric. I now understand the allure of pompom making.
I love it! I want to make one for myself, but would have to learn how to crochet…
For your scraps: I recommend the yarn equivilent of the crazy quilt — pick a super easy afgan pattern and just use all your bits in random orders. The one at our house is called “the ugly blankie.” I use it for things that I wouldn’t want to wreck a decent blanket with. In the winter, it’s kept in our van for emergencies. In the summer, it’s at the bottom of our beach basket. The best part is that when ever we use it, the little bits remind me of the projects that I made — the more than slightly ugly equivilent of a scrap book!
Yay for helpful blog friends!
I love the colour combination on your math.
Actually, I do know of a place to get help — it’s the Japanese Knitting and Crochet forum on Ravelry. There are helpful people on the board that can actually read Japanese, are familiar with those nebulous symbols, and often translate for the rest of us.
Here’s a link to the forum page:
http://www.ravelry.com/groups/japanese-knitting-and-crochet
this is great! i couldn’t figure out the pattern, but i’d like to try this sometime. how much yarn do you think you used total? what kind of yarn did you use?
Bits: I save a few for embroidery – especially faces on stuffies, any projects that call for small amounts of a colour when I don’t want to spend the money on a whole skein and adding accents to mitten cuffs, etc.
But you can always just make a bunch of yo-yos, throw them in a basket and when you have enough, make an “ugly blanket” like Monique. I’ve done it, too.
It’s lovely. I think it’s wonderful that you can enjoy a craft in the making and the using
Love it!
Isn’t it amazing how generous people are in helping you master a new craft technique? Helps you remember that people are good and generous…
OH!! make me one!! LOL love it – hand made beats store bought ANYDAY!!!
See, this is the beauty of crafty blogland. There’s always someone who knows how to do whatever it is you are trying to master.
And a hundred people like me, who are incapable of crocheting a bathmat, but are enjoying admiring yours!
meg! that’s awesome. now i want to make one.
I made some of your fabric belts. Thanks for the tutorial. I don’t know why I didn’t make some of these sooner.
Kinsey
oh, I am loving it! I love the colors against the crisp white. yeah for a fellow blogger helping you out too :)
Your mat looks very stylish. I too love the colours against the crisp white.
If you do want to do more hexagons I found Attic24 not only inspiring, I love the way she uses colours, but also very useful. She explains how to make hexagons and also how to crochet them together instead of sewing them. Your pattern sounds as though it had you joining them at the same time as crocheting them which is something I’ve always thought must be possible but too mind boggling to attempt.
http://attic24.typepad.com/
And for ideas on how to use up your left over wool you could:
Try the cute little creatures on http://littlegreen.typepad.com/romansock/
Check out Laughing Purple Goldfish’s crazy yarn – she just knots her left over bits together and crochets. She also often holds two pieces of yarn together as she crochets to get a thicker yarn and a more interesting colour.
http://laughingpurplegoldfish.blogspot.com/2008/09/finished-object-3-experimenting-with.html
Have fun and thanks for your blog. I can’t remember how I found it but I do enjoy reading it.
Jo (from France)