How to Crochet an African Flower Hexagon
Source: Adore Crea Crochet • Full tutorial: www.craftingstepbystep.com/crochet/how-to-crochet-an-african-flower-hexagon
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Hands-on time
- About 40 minutes
- Cost
- About $1 to $3
- Makes
- 1 hexagon motif
Tools
- crochet hook (4 mm)
- yarn needle
- scissors
- stitch markers
Materials
- DK or light worsted yarn in 4 colors
Steps
1. Start the African Flower With a Magic Circle
Wrap the yellow yarn twice around two fingers so the strands cross on the back. Slide the hook under the bottom strand, catch the top strand and pull it through.
Tip: Leave a tail of about six inches. You will pull it later to close the center tight.
2. Crochet Round 1 of the African Flower Into the Ring
Chain two more for a chain 3. It counts as the first double crochet.
Tip: Work over the tail as you go. The stitches hold it and you have one less end to weave in.
3. Pull the Magic Circle Tail to Close the Flower Center
Hold the stitches and pull the yarn tail firmly. The hole in the middle shrinks until the ring closes into a solid yellow disc.
Tip: Pull the tail before you join. Once the slip stitch is in, the ring is harder to close.
4. Join the Pink Yarn to the Yellow African Flower Center
Pick any chain space on the yellow ring. Push the hook through it and pull a loop of the pink yarn back through.
Tip: A knot is fine here because it sits on the back and gets hidden by later rounds.
5. Crochet Round 2 V-Stitches Around the Flower Center
In the same space as the chain 3, work one double crochet, chain 1, then two more double crochet. That is one V group.
Tip: Tuck the yellow tail behind your stitches and work over it, as Marie does here.
6. Crochet the Seven-Stitch Petals of the African Flower
Slip stitch into the chain space in the middle of the first V, then chain 3. Work six more double crochet into that same space, for seven in all.
Tip: Count each petal out loud. Seven stitches is what keeps all six petals the same size.
7. Join the Red Yarn Between the African Flower Petals
Round 4 attaches lower down than you might expect. Find a gap between two petals.
Tip: If you join into round 3 by mistake, the outline will not dip between the petals.
8. Outline the African Flower Petals in Single Crochet
Single crochet into each of the seven stitches across the top of the next petal. At the gap, yarn over and work a double crochet down into the round 2 chain space below, the same spot you joined in.
Tip: Keep the long stitch loose enough to reach without pulling the petals inward.
9. Crochet the Green Hexagon Corners in Round 5
Join the green into any long double crochet from round 4 and chain 3. Double crochet into the next three stitches.
Tip: Put a marker in each corner chain space. It makes the hexagons easier to line up for joining.
10. Weave In the Yarn Tails on the Finished Hexagon
Fasten off the green and tie a small knot. Thread each tail onto a yarn needle and weave it through the stitches on the back of the hexagon.
Tip: Pin the hexagon flat, mist it and let it dry. The corners sharpen up and the petals sit flat.
