Last week I shared with you this Granny Crochet Hexagon Pattern that I have been furiously working up into lots of wonderful color combinations. Now it’s time to move on to the next step: joining crochet hexagons together. You can join them using a slip stitch join or with the join as you go method that I will work you through below.
the join as you go (JAYGO) method
The join as you go (JAYGO) method is my favorite joining technique. In the JAYGO method you join your pieces, in this case your crochet hexagons, while working the final round of the pattern. You do this by crocheting the edging around your hexagon as you normally would, but slipping the loop off your hook at different points to pick it up again through a part of the other hexagon to attached them. You will see what I mean in the photos and written out pattern instructions below.
Not only is the JAYGO method easy, but it also creates a beautiful design between your motifs! And it’s not just for hexagons … you can also use this method for joining granny squares.
Joining Crochet Hexagons
To begin joining your hexagons using the JAYGO method, work this round on your first hexagon only:
Round 4: Join cream color in in the last ch-sp made, ch 1 (does not count as st), 1 sc in same ch-sp, ch 2, 1 sc in next ch-sp, ch 2, [1sc, ch 1, 1 sc] in corner ch-sp, ch 2, *1 sc in next ch-sp, ch 2, 1 sc in next ch-sp, ch 2, [1sc, ch 1, 1 sc] in corner ch-sp, ch 2, rep from * around, join and fasten off — 24 scs and 24 ch-sps.
Joining Your next Hexagon
To join your second hexagon to your first, begin working Round 4 as above on the second hexagon, but when you reach the first corner of the side that is going to join, connect as follows:
Work 1 sc in the corner ch-sp of the second motif, ch 1, drop the loop off your hook and insert hook from front to back into the corner ch-sp of the first motif, pull the loop through, work 1 sc in same corner ch-sp of the second motif, *ch 1, drop loop again and pull it up in opposite ch-2 sp of the first motif, ch 1 again and work 1 sc in next ch-2 sp on the second motif, repeat from * 2 more times with the second time ending with the sc in the corner ch-1 sp of the second motif, ch 1, drop the loop off your hook and insert hook from front to back into the corner ch-sp of the first motif, pull the loop through, work 1 sc in same corner ch-sp of the second motif. Now your motifs should be joined on one side and you can continue working Round 4 as usual the rest of the way around your second motif.
Did I lose you? I hope not. Are you ready to join the next one?
Joining The rest
You join your third motif and each one that follows the same way as you joined the first two, except now you will be joining across two sides of the hexagon. Keep joining and arranging the hexagons until you reach your desired layout.
Filling in the gaps
To fill in the large spaces between the full hexagons, crochet half hexagons and join them in the same way. Don’t worry about those smaller valleys right now, we are going to fill them in when working our edging. Click here to go to the Granny Hexagon Crochet Edging.
Be sure to bookmark my hexagon crochet blanket pattern page for a complete reference with all the links to each step.
Gorgeous!
Wonderful blanket, thank you so much for sharing!! I’ve made a couple afghan’s over the years and I find that they are wonderful projects and even better gifts. However, I would agree that a video of the JAYGO would be helpful. Some of the pattern explanations are a little confusing (and this is coming from an experienced person). Thanks again for the great pattern!!
It’s definitely on my “to do” list 🙂
Buen día. Me podría decir donde encontrar un vídeo de esta unión? pues me gusta mucho. Se lo agradecería.
Un saludo,
Carmen
I’d love to see a video tutorial, I’ve learnt to crochet via you tube.
Is there a video of this as I am lost. I can’t see how to do the second join stitch.
Hi, just made my 2nd hexagon EVER, but, now I am stuck. I don’t understand the joining to the first, dropping the loop off hook etc. Any help would be so appreciated. Thanks, Sandy
I like it so much .. thanks alot ❤❤
Great tutorial and awesome blanket! I’m a novice crocheter and love learning new techniques and will have to give this one a try. How many hexs did you make for your blanket and how big was your finished blanket?
Hi Kara, I didn’t know of the JAYGO method when i started my afghan. It’s 58 African flower motifs, 5 rounds each. Then they are stitched together. I have already completed them through the last round. Wouldn’t this method also work, and essentially just add a round 6? Any tips you have would be great. Thanks much, love your blog.
Sure, I don’t see why it wouldn’t work to join on an additional round 🙂
Hi there! I have a good start on making hexagons. My question is, do you think it will still work to weave in all my hexagon “ends” before starting this process? I hate weaving in ends, so I like to do it as soon as possible so it looks neater (and so I can breathe easier 🙂 )
Thanks for any help you can give!
Yes, definitely! You can absolutely weave in your ends as you go 🙂
I am confused about where the three corners come together.
Hi Courtney 🙂 You would work that corner the same as the others. I just go through the most prominent space. Hope that helps!
That’s brilliant. Thank you 🙂
Love this pattern and joining method 🙂 I’m a bit stuck joining hexagon 3 though. I’m not sure what to so when I’ve got the three ‘corners’ meeting? Can you help?
Hi Em 🙂 Where the 3 corners meet I in basically join them in the same way as the others. I just trying to go through the top most or most prominent corner. I don’t really bother trying to get them through the corner spaces of both of the other hexagons. Hope that helps!
Thank you Kara for the peace sign granny squares. I have made about 60 so far in my granddaughters college colors. Now I need a decorative way of putting them together. What do you suggest.
What a fun project! I hope she loves it! I think the JAYGO method in this post would work well for the squares. You would work it the same way, just for less sides. Hope that helps 🙂
Did anyone here if this joining method would work for granny squares?
Hi Sue 🙂 Yes, this will work for squares as well. The pattern is the same but only worked for 4 sides instead of 6.
Thanks for sharing, Kara! I definitely wanted this and will add to my pinterest, tips and techniques for crochet.
Excellent tutorial, Kara! I love this joining method
Wow, stunning! You are so incredibly talented 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
Hugs,
Stephanie
Can you use this method on granny squares? I have an afghan that I have 88 squares to join and would love to use this method, as it would put a really nice border between each square. Please let me know what you think as soon as possible. I so appreciate your help. Thank you. Jeanine
This is great Kara! Thank you for sharing this 🙂
Great tutorial Kara, thanks for sharing!
Thanks for this . . . another thing to add to my already HUGE ‘to-do- list 🙂
xEva
The idea of using SC is so much better to look than DCs na! It looks really good Kara. I am waiting to have a go at these hexagon beauties 🙂
Ooooh, this looks awesome! Do you think it would work with squares as well?
I have joined my 9 very large squares with this method, but did not do it on the outer edges. In fact, I planned it so that only 1 length of yarn was used to join them.
Very cool!
Trish, could you please share how to use a single length of yarn to join hexes? I’m struggling trying to figure out how to do it. Maybe I’m misunderstanding the concept of join as you go. I’ve completed HUNDREDS of hexe motifs and am trying to join, join, join! But I keep getting stuck on the third one. I’ve charted out my pattern and can readily see rows, to make stripsthat I could then join, if I can ever figure out how to do it.