purlJam

# Centre-Out Hexagon Throw with Alternating Textured Panels

**Skill Level:** Intermediate  
**Construction:** Worked seamlessly in the round from the centre outwards, finished with a knitted-on moss stitch border.

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## Finished Measurements

- **Point to point (across hexagon):** approximately 126 cm (49½ in)
- **Flat side to flat side:** approximately 109 cm (43 in)
- **Border depth:** approximately 6 cm (2½ in)
- **Final point-to-point including border:** approximately 138 cm (54½ in)

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## Materials

- **Yarn:** Sport weight (5-ply / DK-light), approximately **1,800–2,000 m (1,970–2,190 yds)** total
  - Suggested: 8–9 × 100 g skeins (≈ 230 m / 100 g)
  - Choose a smooth, plied yarn in a solid or semi-solid colour to showcase the texture.
- **Needles:**
  - 4 mm (UK 8 / US 6) double-pointed needles (set of 5) — for starting
  - 4 mm (UK 8 / US 6) circular needle, 80 cm cable — for middle rounds
  - 4 mm (UK 8 / US 6) circular needle, 150 cm cable — for outer rounds and border
- **Notions:**
  - 7 stitch markers (1 unique colour for beginning of round, 6 matching for wedge dividers)
  - Tapestry needle
  - Blocking pins and mats

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## Tension (Gauge)

**24 sts × 32 rounds = 10 cm (4 in)** measured over stocking stitch, after blocking, using 4 mm needles.

Tension is important for sizing — please make a swatch.

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## Abbreviations (UK)

- **k** – knit
- **p** – purl
- **st(s)** – stitch(es)
- **yo** – yarn over (forms an increase and a small eyelet at the wedge boundary)
- **m1L** – make 1 left-leaning (use instead of yo if you prefer a solid hexagon without eyelet "spokes")
- **pm** – place marker
- **sm** – slip marker
- **rnd** – round
- **rep** – repeat
- **RS / WS** – right side / wrong side

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## Construction Notes

The blanket begins with a circular cast-on of 6 stitches, dividing the work into **6 wedges**, separated by 6 section markers plus 1 beginning-of-round marker. Increases of **2 stitches per wedge** are worked every alternate round (one at each side of each wedge), creating the six points of the hexagon.

The 6 wedges alternate between two textures:
- **Wedges 1, 3, 5:** Seed stitch
- **Wedges 2, 4, 6:** Garter ridges

> **Design choice:** *yo* increases create delicate eyelet "spokes" radiating from the centre. For a fully solid hexagon, substitute *m1L* throughout.

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## Stitch Pattern Notes for Wedges

Within each wedge, the stitch count grows from 1 to 151 sts. Because pattern position must remain consistent as stitches are added, work the textures as follows:

### Seed Stitch Wedges (Wedges 1, 3, 5)
On every round, **alternate k1, p1** across the wedge, **always beginning with k1** at the marker. Because the stitch count in each wedge increases by 1 every increase round, the column pattern naturally offsets — this is the desired seed-stitch look on a circular fabric.

### Garter Ridge Wedges (Wedges 2, 4, 6)
Work in 4-round repeats:
- **Rnds 1 & 2:** Knit all sts of the wedge
- **Rnds 3 & 4:** Purl all sts of the wedge

This creates raised garter ridges radiating outward, contrasting nicely with the bumpy seed texture.

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## Pattern Instructions

### Set-Up: Circular Cast-On

Using a circular cast-on (Emily Ocker method recommended), cast on **6 sts**. Divide evenly over 4 DPNs (or use magic loop) and join to work in the round, being careful not to twist.

**Rnd 1 (Set-up):** [K1, pm] 6 times. The last marker placed is the **beginning-of-round marker** — use a unique colour. *(6 sts)*

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### Increase Section — Establishing the Hexagon

**Increase Round (Inc Rnd):** *Yo, work to next marker in established texture, yo, sm; rep from * 5 more times. *(+12 sts per round; 2 per wedge)*

**Plain Round (Plain Rnd):** Work each wedge in its established texture pattern to the next marker, sm; rep around. *(no increases)*

> **Check after each increase round:** total sts = 6 + (12 × number of increase rounds completed). Each wedge contains 1 + 2(number of increase rnds) sts.

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### Rounds 2 – 4: Beginning

- **Rnd 2 (Inc):** [Yo, k1, yo, sm] 6 times. *(18 sts; 3 per wedge)*
- **Rnd 3 (Plain):** Establish textures:
  - Wedges 1, 3, 5: k1, p1, k1 (seed)
  - Wedges 2, 4, 6: k3 (garter ridge — Rnd 1 of texture)
- **Rnd 4 (Inc):** *Yo, work in established texture to marker, yo, sm; rep around. (30 sts; 5 per wedge)*

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### Main Body — Continue in Pattern

Continue working **Inc Rnd** on every odd-numbered round, and **Plain Rnd** on every even-numbered round, maintaining seed stitch in Wedges 1, 3, 5 and the 4-round garter ridge sequence in Wedges 2, 4, 6.

**Continue until you have completed 75 increase rounds in total (150 rounds worked from cast-on).**

**Stitch count check:** 6 + (12 × 75) = **906 sts**. Each wedge = **151 sts**.

**Size check:** 151 sts ÷ 24 sts per 10 cm = **62.9 cm** along each wedge edge → point-to-point ≈ **125.8 cm (49½ in)** ✓

> **To customise size:** Each additional pair of rounds (1 inc + 1 plain) adds approximately **0.6 cm** to each wedge edge, or **1.25 cm point-to-point**. Work fewer rounds for a smaller throw, more for a larger one. End on a plain round so all wedges contain the same number of stitches.

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### Transition Round

**Next Rnd:** Knit all sts, removing wedge markers as you go but **keeping the beginning-of-round marker** in place. *(906 sts)*

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## Moss Stitch Border

The border is worked in the round directly onto the live stitches, with corner increases at each of the 6 hexagon points.

### Locating the Corner Points

Each hexagon corner sits at the position of a (now removed) wedge marker. There are **151 sts between each corner**. Place 6 new markers: one immediately before the beginning-of-round marker, and one every 151 sts thereafter. Each corner is the **stitch just before each marker** (the "corner stitch").

### Border Pattern

**Border Inc Rnd:** *Work in moss stitch to 1 st before marker, [k1, yo, k1] into corner st, sm; rep from * 5 more times. *(+12 sts: 2 per corner)*

**Border Plain Rnd:** Work all sts in moss stitch as set, slipping markers.

**Moss stitch (worked in the round):**
- **Rnds 1 & 2:** *K1, p1; rep from * around
- **Rnds 3 & 4:** *P1, k1; rep from * around

Work corner increases on every alternate round to keep the border lying flat:

- **Rnd 1 (Inc):** Establish moss as *k1, p1*; work corner increases as above. *(918 sts)*
- **Rnd 2 (Plain):** Continue moss pattern as set.
- **Rnd 3 (Inc):** Switch moss to *p1, k1*; work corner increases. *(930 sts)*
- **Rnd 4 (Plain):** Continue.
- **Rep Rnds 1–4** for a total of **20 border rounds** (5 full repeats), worked over ~ 6 cm.

**Final stitch count:** 906 + (12 × 10 inc rnds) = **1,026 sts**.

### Cast Off

Using a 5 mm needle (one size larger) to keep the edge elastic, cast off loosely in pattern: knit the knits and purl the purls as you cast off.

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## Finishing

1. **Weave in ends** on the wrong side using a tapestry needle, working ends along the textured rows for invisibility.
2. **Wet block** thoroughly:
   - Soak the blanket in lukewarm water with a wool wash for 20 minutes.
   - Gently squeeze out excess water (do not wring); roll in towels.
   - Pin out on blocking mats into a regular hexagon shape, ensuring all 6 corners are equally extended and the sides are straight.
   - Measure point-to-point on opposing corners — all three measurements should match (within 1 cm).
   - Allow to dry completely before unpinning.

Blocking is essential to open up the eyelet spokes (if used), define the texture contrast, and ensure the hexagon lies perfectly flat.

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## Math Validation Summary

| Check | Calculation | Result |
|-------|-------------|--------|
| Sts after 75 inc rnds | 6 + (12 × 75) | 906 sts ✓ |
| Sts per wedge | 1 + (2 × 75) | 151 sts ✓ |
| Wedge edge length | 151 ÷ 24 × 10 | 62.9 cm ✓ |
| Point-to-point (body) | 62.9 × 2 | 125.8 cm ✓ |
| Border depth | 20 rnds ÷ 32 × 10 | 6.25 cm ✓ |
| Final sts after border | 906 + (12 × 10) | 1,026 sts ✓ |

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> **Note on advanced patterns:** This template supports intermediate textures (seed stitch, moss stitch, basketweave, garter ridges, simple slip stitches, and basic ribbing variations). If you would like to incorporate advanced cables (Overlapping Leaves, Honeycomb), traveling stitches, or lace patterns such as Feather and Fan within the hexagon wedges, **please request an advanced difficulty blanket** for comprehensive stitch pattern support with detailed charts and chart-reading instructions.

Happy knitting! 🧶