The Beekeeper's Quilt Knitalong

[NightChaed]

I don't know if anyone else on Craftster is knitting Stephanie Dosen's Beekeeper's Quilt, but considering how it has exploded on Ravelry, I figure there must be a few of us!
Here's her blog post about the pattern: http://tinyowlknits.wordpress.com/2011/07/29/the-beekeepers-quilt/
I think it's lovely. I've been knitting hexipuffs(as the little puffy components are called) all month, though I only have about 40 of them so far. Other people on ravelry are already in the hundreds!



Here are my hexipuffs, so far:


Some people are duplicate stitching motifs onto their puffs, as well. There are a bunch of charts on Ravelry for them, and I made some charts, too, on my blog:
http://birdheartsbear.blogspot.com/2011/08/beekeepers-quilt.html
http://birdheartsbear.blogspot.com/2011/08/more-hexipuff-knitting-charts.html

Stephanie recommends knitting puffs for a year and then seeing how many you have, rather than setting out with a goal in mind. It's a really good project for bus commutes, waiting in line at the bank, waiting rooms, etc.

I warn you, though, it's addictive! Hexipuffs are like potato chips, you start with one and before you know it you've had a whole bag!

[mandys_momma]

OMG that is so darling! I wonder if I could find a pattern kinda like it to crochet?.....

It's made like the sewn lap afghan I made for luckdragon in the Old Geezer swap.

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=387016.0

[cursive_queen]

I *just* saw this today on ravelry and thought it was so cool.  I'm still new to knitting but I may bookmark this and work on it.

Can you use different weights of yarn, like scraps or would that mess things up?

[NightChaed]

All my first puffs were scraps of worsted-weight acrylic, and recently I've begun using sock yarn, which I just hold doubled to get a similar gauge. This pattern is really forgiving, and as long as your puffs are near the same size as each other, it'll all blend together when you piece the quilt. Most people are exclusively using scrap yarn leftover from other projects, it's a great stashbuster.

I know at least one person is doing a crocheted version, the pattern for which is available as a free download here:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-apiary-puff

I think the crocheted puffs have a really cool texture, I might make some myself!

[soulfiresgrace]

that would make a wonderful belle play time mate for a little one what a great idea!

[MiLady]

OMG that is so darling! I wonder if I could find a pattern kinda like it to crochet?.....

It's made like the sewn lap afghan I made for luckdragon in the Old Geezer swap.

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=387016.0

You so said what I was thinking and thankyou to Nightchead for the link, my stash is being busted, this is so darling. I'd love to do one in all one colour but I think I'll start with a stash buster first xXx

[NightChaed]

Some people are getting super into the planning stage, treating each hexipuff like a pixel and planning big pictures to assemble. I'm definitely going the stashbusting route, too, before I attempt to plan a color scheme.

[mandys_momma]

Thanks for the link to the crocheted version. Hopefully I'll get started on this as soon as Christmas gifts are completed.

[Sandroo]

OMG!!  That blanket would have to be the warmest, heaviest blanket ever!!  Wish I had the time to focus on my knitting (or lack thereof) skills to do this!  Awesome!

[ScrappySue]

I LOVE this!
I instantly rung my sister, the knitter, to see if she will make one.
S