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Yarn Love: This pattern was specifically designed for Emma’s Yarn Smalliday set for 2024! You can still grab some from Local Yarn Shops here!

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Happy December!! Cozy up this holiday season with a brand new hexagon blanket pattern, perfect for all your Smalliday sets, Advents and mini skeins!

Briochex : A beautifully intricate blanket made of hexagons created with two-color brioche motifs.

Yarn Notes:
This pattern was specifically designed for Emma’s Yarn Smalliday set for 2024! For the entire month of December 2024, the colors of the yarns that I used will be desaturated so as not to spoil the beautiful colors (in case you are opening your minis like a typical holiday set, one day at a time). It uses 24 mini skeins (approximately 20g each, see below for yardage / meterage). This pattern will work with ANY minis you may have, especially if you have any Practically Perfect Smalls sets in your stash. Each hex is meant to be made every 2 days, so you open Smalls 1 & 2 to make Hex 1, Smalls 3 & 4 to make Hex 2, etc. The yardage / meterage is an approximation based on using almost ALL of each mini skein. Please note that I’ve added a 5% buffer for all skeins to account for differences in gauge and tension. I did have yarn leftover when I completed each hex.

This pattern has both written instructions and charts for each Hex Motif. Included in this original pattern are 3 Motifs that you can choose from. You can make a total of 12 hexes from one Emma’s Yarn Smalliday set, which makes a small lap blanket. I chose to make 4 hexes of each motif, but you can mix and match. I highly recommend working from the charts for the best knitting experience.

A few things you can do with your finished Hexes:

• Knit 1 to create a beautiful decorative mug mat for your home
• Knit 2 and seam them together using the Mattress Stitch and stuff with fiber fill or fabric to make an adorable plushie, pillow or small ornament (if you make a smaller Hex). The video tutorial below shows this method on another pattern, but the outcome is the same. Video Tutorial: http://bit.ly/BriocheMyHeart
• Knit 12 and seam them together to make a small lap blanket (shown here)
• Knit more than 12 and seam them together to make a larger blanket

Skill Level:
Intermediate - Advanced. I highly recommend having previous brioche knitting experience before making this blanket.

Techniques Used:
knit, purl, brioche knit (brk), brioche purl (brp), sl1yo, brioche increases, brioche decreases, Disappearing Loop Cast On, Elastic Bind Off, knitting in the round

Construction Notes:
These hexes are constructed entirely of two-color brioche, working from the center out. The shape is created by casting on very few stitches, then working in the round for the entire hex. Increases are worked every 4 rounds at 6 corners to create the hexagon shape. Once the Hex is complete, all stitches are bound off. The blocking process accentuates the final shape of the hex. Each hex is then seamed together to create a lap blanket.

Use your creativity with this project! If you want to create a blanket exactly like mine, knit 4 of each Motif following my exact instructions and seam them together. You could knit several of just one Motif to create your blanket, or mix and match to your heart’s desire. Modification notes included in pattern.

» Hex Size (same for all three motifs):

Hex: 13’’ / 33 cm width from side to side, 12’’ / 30.5 cm from top to bottom (taken after blocking).

Finished Blanket: 48’’ / 122 cm long and 30’’ / 76 cm wide

Please note that size may vary depending on type of yarn used. Multiple Schematics included in pattern.

» Gauge:
19 sts x 24 rnds = 4’’ / 10 cm; measured in two-color brioche rib stitch knit in the round (Motif 1; taken after blocking).

MATERIALS:

» Yarn: Fingering weight

24 mini skeins: 81 yds / 74 m Each

12 mini skeins in Main Color (MC): 972 yds / 888 m Total amount used

12 mini skeins in Contrast Color (CC): 972 yds / 888 m Total amount used

» Shown in: Emma’s Yarn Practically Perfect Smalls (80% Superwash Merino, 20% Nylon; 81 yds / 74 m per 20 g)

MC: 12 skeins in light speckled
CC: 12 skeins in dark semi-solid

» Needles:
40’’ / 100 cm US 4 / 3.5 mm circular needles for Magic Loop method or DPN’s.

Circular needles or DPN’s are used for knitting in the round. Adjust needle size as needed to obtain proper gauge.

» Tools:
Stitch marker for noting beginning of round, 5 contrasting stitch markers for noting pattern repeats, locking or split ring stitch marker for use in decreasing brioche stitches, row counter or your preferred method for tracking your knitting, tapestry needle for seaming and weaving in ends

» Credits:
Many thanks to the team at Four Purls and Emma’s Yarn for their amazing yarn support and inspiration!! Thank you to my tech editor Chaitanya Muralidhara (@beginswithac) for all her help in editing my pattern!!