The Deconstructed Hexagon Vest

An avant-garde, jewelry-joined vest of floating colorwork hexagons

A collection of independent, colorwork hexagonal motifs suspended by exposed beaded chains that mix seed and teardrop beads. The chains are structural — they hold the vest together as they drape over the shoulders and down the sides like body jewelry. There are no seams. This is an advanced project: it combines small-motif colorwork in the round, precise bead pre-stringing, and free-suspension assembly requiring careful balancing.

Materials

Yarn — Fingering weight (CYC #1 / sock), ~438 yd (400 m) per 100 g skein.

• MC (Main Color) — Charcoal Gray: ~650 yd (595 m)
• CC1 (Contrast 1) — Warm Brass/Gold: ~300 yd (275 m)
• CC2 (Contrast 2) — Ivory: ~180 yd (165 m)

Hooks

• US B/1 (2.25 mm) — main motif hook
• US 7 steel (1.65 mm) — for pulling yarn through bead-strung sections if needed

Notions

• Seed beads, size 8/0 — approx. 600 total (matte bronze)
• Teardrop/drop beads, 4×6 mm — approx. 130 total (translucent amber)
• Big-eye beading needle or dental-floss threader (to pre-string beads onto fingering yarn)
• Stitch markers (12+)
• Tapestry needle
• Blocking mat and pins
• Fine crochet cotton or matching sewing thread (for reinforcing eyelet joins)

Gauge

26 sc and 30 rows = 4" (10 cm) on US B/1 (2.25 mm), blocked.

One finished hexagon motif measures approximately:

• 5.5" (14 cm) point-to-point
• 4.75" (12 cm) flat-side to flat-side

Gauge check: Round 6 = 72 sc. At 26 sc / 4", 72 sc ÷ 26 × 4 = 11.08" perimeter of the outer round worked flat; distributed over 6 hexagon sides = ~1.85" per side edge before blocking, opening to ~2.75" per side blocked — consistent with a 5.5" point-to-point hexagon. ✓

Sizes

Written for Women's M (bust 38"/96.5 cm). The floating construction is highly adjustable because motif spacing is set by chain length, not fabric.

Instructions below are for M (12 hexagons). For L/XL, make the extra 4 motifs and add one vertical column of connectors per side.

Abbreviations (US)

• beg — beginning
• CC — contrast color
• ch — chain
• dc — double crochet
• MC — main color
• PB — place bead (slide a pre-strung bead up against the hook, complete stitch trapping bead on the RS)
• rep — repeat
• rnd(s) — round(s)
• RS — right side
• sc — single crochet
• sl st — slip stitch
• sp — space
• st(s) — stitch(es)
• [ ] — repeat instructions within brackets

Special Stitches

• PB-sc (place-bead single crochet): Insert hook, yarn over and pull up a loop (2 loops on hook), slide a pre-strung bead snug to the base of the stitch on the RS, yarn over, draw through both loops. The bead sits on the fabric face.
• Corner eyelet (ceyelet): ch 3, skip 3 sts — this open chain-3 becomes a channel through which the beaded connector chain will pass. There are 6 per hexagon (one per point).

Pattern Notes

• Motifs are worked in joined rounds with RS always facing (do not turn). Join each round with sl st to the first st of the round.
• Colorwork is done by carrying floats along the WS; because rounds are short, keep floats loose over no more than 3 sts, catching longer floats every 3rd st.
• Turning chains: The beg ch-1 at the start of a round does not count as a stitch.
• Work in both loops unless noted.
• Pre-string all beads before starting a motif. Beads feed off the working yarn, so stringing order matters (see each color's bead count in Charts section).
• Stitch counts are given at the end of each round in parentheses.

COLORWORK CHARTS

Each hexagon carries a 6-fold radial starburst. Because the motif is round, each chart below represents one of the 6 identical wedges of a round; work the wedge 6 times per round. Read charts bottom row = inner round, top row = outer round, and within each row right to left (RS facing).

Color Key:

• □ = MC (Charcoal)
• ■ = CC1 (Brass) — worked as a PB-sc with a seed bead
• ● = CC2 (Ivory) — worked as a PB-sc with a teardrop bead (outer round only)

CHART A: Hexagon Wedge (per wedge, expands each round)

Rnd6 (12 sts/wedge): ● □ □ ■ □ □ ■ □ □ ● □ □
Rnd5 (10 sts/wedge): □ □ ■ □ □ ■ □ □ □ □
Rnd4 ( 8 sts/wedge): □ ■ □ □ ■ □ □ □
Rnd3 ( 6 sts/wedge): □ ■ □ □ ■ □
Rnd2 ( 4 sts/wedge): □ ■ ■ □
Rnd1 ( 2 sts/wedge): ■ ■

Key: □ = MC · ■ = CC1 + seed bead (PB-sc) · ● = CC2 + teardrop bead (PB-sc)

Reading the chart: Rnd 1 = 6 wedges × 2 = 12 sts. Each higher round adds 2 sts per wedge (12 sts total increase/round). The single square marked at the wedge midpoint/edges of each round produces the radiating starburst lines.

Per-motif bead requirement (from Chart A):

• CC1 seed beads (■): Rnd1 = 2, Rnd2 = 2, Rnd3 = 2, Rnd4 = 2, Rnd5 = 2, Rnd6 = 2 → 12 per wedge × 6 wedges = ~48 seed beads per hexagon (round up to 50).
• CC2 teardrop beads (●): Rnd6 = 2 per wedge × 6 = 12 teardrops — but note 6 of these 12 fall on hexagon points and are replaced by the corner eyelet (see motif instructions), so string 6 teardrops per motif.

Stranding note: With only 3 colors and short rounds, use the stranded/floating method. Never carry a float longer than 3 sts without catching it; catch on the WS to avoid show-through on charcoal.

HEXAGON MOTIF (make 12)

Pre-string per motif: onto MC, string in this feeding order (last strung = first used): none needed on MC directly — instead string the seed beads onto CC1 and teardrops onto CC2, since beads are placed only on those colors. String 50 seed beads onto CC1 and 6 teardrop beads onto CC2 per motif.

(Tip: pre-string generously; unused beads slide off at the end.)

Set-up: With MC and US B/1, make a magic ring.

Rnd 1 (MC/CC1): ch 1, following Chart A Rnd 1, work 12 sc into ring alternating per chart (each wedge = 1 CC1 PB-sc + 1 CC1 PB-sc… i.e. work sts per chart symbols), placing seed beads on the ■ sts. Sl st to first sc. (12 sc)

• Check: 6 wedges × 2 = 12. ✓

Rnd 2 (increase rnd): ch 1. In each wedge work: 1 sc in first st, then following Chart A Rnd 2 (□ ■ ■ □) work into the 2 sts of the wedge doing 2 sc in each st to increase, placing seed beads on ■ sts. Total: 2 sc in each of 12 sts. Sl st to first sc. (24 sc)

• Check: 12 × 2 = 24. ✓ (+12)

Rnd 3: ch 1. Following Chart A Rnd 3 per wedge (6 sts): work [1 sc, 1 PB-sc(seed), (2 sc in next st), 1 sc, 1 PB-sc(seed)... ] — practically: work 24 sc around, working 2 sc in every 2nd st to add 12 sts, placing seed beads where ■ appears. Sl st to first sc. (36 sc)

• Check: 24 + 12 = 36. ✓

Rnd 4: ch 1. Add 12 sts evenly (work 2 sc in every 3rd st), following Chart A Rnd 4 for bead placement (■ = seed PB-sc). Sl st to first sc. (48 sc)

• Check: 36 + 12 = 48. ✓

Rnd 5: ch 1. Add 12 sts evenly (2 sc in every 4th st), following Chart A Rnd 5 for beads. Sl st to first sc. (60 sc)

• Check: 48 + 12 = 60. ✓

Rnd 6 (points + eyelets): ch 1. This round establishes the 6 hexagon points AND the 6 corner eyelets. Each wedge = 10 existing sts, adding 2 = 12 sts. Per wedge, work as follows (RS facing, right-to-left per chart):

• 1 sc, 1 PB-sc (CC2 teardrop) at the point increase = at the exact center of the wedge work (sc, ch 1, sc) as the point with a teardrop PB on the point sc,
• then ceyelet (ch 3, skip 3 sts) forming the corner channel,
• continue in sc + seed PB-sc per Chart A Rnd 6 to end of wedge.

Sl st to first sc. (72 sts counted as sc, plus 6 ch-3 eyelet spaces and 6 ch-1 points)

• Check: 60 + 12 = 72. ✓ Six eyelets (one per point) and six teardrop beads placed. ✓

Fasten off, leaving a 6" (15 cm) tail. Weave in all ends except leave eyelet channels clear.

Block each hexagon firmly to 5.5" point-to-point, opening the ch-3 eyelets and the ch-1 points so they are clearly defined. Steam-block colorwork floats flat.

ASSEMBLY — The Beaded Chain Connectors

The 12 blocked hexagons float in a 3-wide × 4-tall grid, worn as front (6) and back (6). They are joined only by beaded chains threaded through the corner eyelets. No hexagon touches another directly.

Layout (each panel, RS out)

   Front panel          Back panel
   H1   H2   H3         H7   H8   H9
   H4   H5   H6        H10  H11  H12

Motifs are suspended so adjacent points sit ~1.5"–2" apart, joined by short link chains; the outer edges are joined front-to-back by longer drape chains that pass over the shoulders and down the sides.

Two connector types

A. Short link chain (joins two adjacent hexagon points within/between panels) Pre-string onto MC (or CC1 for contrast): 12 seed beads + 3 teardrops, in the order: 4 seed, 1 teardrop, 4 seed, 1 teardrop, 4 seed, 1 teardrop (teardrop feeds last-used-first, so string reversed). Work: Secure yarn to eyelet of Hexagon A with sl st. ch 3, PB (seed), ch 1, rep placing beads per the strung order, total worked length ≈ 2" (5 cm) — roughly ch 3 + [PB, ch 2] × 15. Sl st into the corresponding eyelet of Hexagon B. Fasten off, weave in.

• Bead total per short link: 12 seed + 3 teardrop.

B. Long drape chain (shoulder + side connectors, front-to-back) Pre-string onto MC: 40 seed + 8 teardrop per chain, in the order (from hook): [5 seed, 1 teardrop] × 8. String reversed onto the ball. Work: sl st to top-outer eyelet of a front hexagon. Work a beaded chain ≈ 9" (23 cm) long: ch 4, [PB (seed), ch 2] repeating and inserting a teardrop PB every 6th bead, until length is reached. Sl st into the corresponding top-outer eyelet of the aligned back hexagon so the chain arcs over the shoulder. Fasten off, weave in.

• Bead total per long drape: 40 seed + 8 teardrop.

Connector map (Size M — 12 hexagons)

Within front panel: short links between: H1–H2, H2–H3 (top row); H4–H5, H5–H6 (bottom row); H1–H4, H2–H5, H3–H6 (vertical) = 7 short links. Within back panel: same 7 pattern = 7 short links. Shoulders (long drapes, front top → back top): H1→H7, H3→H9 (outer shoulders) plus optional H2→H8 (center back neck float — omit for a wider neckline) = 2 long drapes (3 if adding center). Sides (long drapes, front outer → back outer): H4→H10 and H6→H12 = 2 long drapes.

Totals for size M:

• Short links: 14 → 14 × (12 seed + 3 teardrop) = 168 seed + 42 teardrop
• Long drapes: 4 → 4 × (40 seed + 8 teardrop) = 160 seed + 32 teardrop
• Motifs: 12 × 50 seed = 600 seed (string per motif) — but only ~48 used → ~576 seed used, plus 12 × 6 teardrop = 72 teardrop.

Grand bead check (used): seed = 576 (motifs) + 168 + 160 = 904 seed… Note: motif seed usage dominates. Purchase ~950 seed beads and ~150 teardrops to be safe. (Materials list rounds to 600 seed for a single motif's pre-string requirement per string; total project seed ≈ 950 — buy accordingly.)

• Correction/clarity: Buy ≈ 950 seed beads and ≈ 150 teardrop beads total for the whole vest, not the per-motif figure. Adjust the Materials quantities to these totals.

Fit & Balancing

Because the vest hangs from beaded chains, weight distribution matters:

1. Lay both panels flat, RS up, in the grid above.
2. Work all within-panel short links first, keeping the 1.5–2" gaps even (use a ruler).
3. Try the joined panels on a dress form or hanger. Work the shoulder drapes first, checking that hexagons hang level (adjust chain length in ½" increments if one side dips).
4. Work side drapes last; these set the armhole opening — a 9" drape gives roughly a 9–10" armhole depth. Lengthen for a looser fit.

Finishing

1. Weave in all remaining tails on the WS of each motif, avoiding the eyelet channels.
2. Reinforce each eyelet that anchors a chain by whipping a few passes of matching sewing thread around the ch-3 loop — this prevents the beaded chains from tearing out under weight.
3. Give the fully assembled vest a final light steam block, laying it flat and pinning the hexagons in position while the chains relax into their drape.
4. Because the beaded chains are structural, do not machine wash. Hand wash cold, lay flat, and support the beadwork.

Design tip: For maximum "jewelry holding fabric together" effect, use a slightly heavier bead concentration on the shoulder drapes than the side drapes so the eye is drawn upward and the shoulders read as ornamental clasps.