A baby blanket worked from the centre outward in six-sided rounds, so it grows as a single hexagon rather than being assembled from motifs. Good for the beach, for the car, and for overnight stays away from home.
Why the hexagon works well here
Working in continuous rounds means no seaming at all, and no ends to weave in except at colour changes. For a first blanket that is a considerable advantage – assembly is where most motif blankets stall.
It also means you decide the size as you go. Keep working rounds until it is as big as you want and then stop. There is no pattern length to follow and no calculation to get wrong.
Keeping it flat
The one thing to watch. A hexagon needs the same number of increases in each round, spaced evenly at the six corners. Too few and the blanket cups upward into a bowl; too many and the edges ruffle.
If it starts to cup, you have missed increases – go back and find them rather than carrying on and hoping. If it ruffles, you have added extra. Both are easy to fix within a round or two and very hard to fix twenty rounds later.
Yarn
Soft and machine washable. A blanket that travels to the beach and to grandmother’s house will need washing often, and sand gets everywhere.
Cotton or a cotton blend suits a summer blanket and washes well. For year-round use, a soft acrylic or superwash wool holds up better to frequent hot washes.
Colours
Rounds make stripes automatically, so this is a good project for using several colours without any planning. Changing colour every two or three rounds gives an even band; changing at random intervals gives a more relaxed look.
Finishing
A round or two of a firmer stitch around the outside edge stops the blanket stretching out of shape with use, and gives the hexagon a clean outline.
