The African flower hexagon is a six-sided crochet motif with a little flower in the middle. A star center, a ring of fat petals, a thin outline, then a border that turns the circle into a hexagon. Marie of Adore Crea Crochet works one start to finish in four colors, in US terms, slowly enough that you can crochet along. Make one and you have a coaster. Make forty and you have a blanket.
What you need to know before you start
The pattern uses four stitches: chain, slip stitch, single crochet and double crochet. If double crochet still feels shaky, practice a few rows first with how to double crochet. The motif starts from a magic circle, so how to crochet a magic ring is worth a look too. Marie rates it intermediate. A patient beginner can do it.
The African flower hexagon at a glance
| Round | Color here | What you make |
|---|
| 1 | Yellow | 6 pairs of double crochet in a magic circle |
| 2 | Pink | 6 V groups: 2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc |
| 3 | Pink | 6 petals of 7 dc each |
| 4 | Red | 7 sc over each petal, 1 long dc into round 2 between petals |
| 5 | Green | 7 dc per side, (dc, ch 1, dc) at each of 6 corners |
Choosing colors
The classic look is a bright center, a petal color, a dark outline and a light border. The outline does most of the work. A deep red, navy or black round 4 makes the petals pop. Keep the border color the same on every hexagon in a blanket and the joins disappear. Then play with the centers and petals. Scrap yarn is perfect here, since each round uses only a few yards. Swapping colors is easy once you know how to change colors in crochet.
Yarn and hook
A smooth DK or light worsted yarn with a 4 mm hook gives a firm motif about the size of a coaster. Cotton shows the petals crisply and holds its shape. Acrylic is softer and cheaper for a big blanket. Use the same yarn weight in every color, or the hexagons will not match in size.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting the chain 3. It counts as the first double crochet in every round. Skip it in your count and the petals come out uneven.
- Working round 4 into round 3. The long double crochet goes down into the round 2 chain space, between the petals. That stitch is what makes the outline.
- A cupped or ruffled motif. Cupping means tight tension or too few stitches. Ruffles mean too many. Count 7 per petal and 7 between corners.
- Loose ends showing. Weave every tail on the back, through same-color stitches where you can.
What to make with African flower hexagons
Blankets and throws are the big one. Pillow covers, tote bags and table runners work well too. A single hexagon makes a good coaster or a gift-tag topper. When you have a stack, they fit together with no gaps, the same way squares do in how to join granny squares.
Finishing and next steps
A quick soak and pin out, covered in how to block crochet, makes every hexagon the same size before you join them.
