Free Knitting Pattern: Triangle Hexagon Blanket
There is something quietly magical about a blanket made from geometric shapes. The way individual pieces come together to form something larger, warmer, and more beautiful than any single element could be on its own is a perfect metaphor for the craft of knitting itself. The Triangle Hexagon Blanket is one of those projects that captures the imagination the moment you see it — a stunning patchwork of color and texture that looks impossibly intricate but is built from some of the most satisfying, beginner-friendly techniques in knitting.
This free knitting pattern will walk you through everything you need to know to create your own Triangle Hexagon Blanket from start to finish. Whether you are a seasoned knitter looking for a new stitch-along project or someone who has just gotten comfortable with basic techniques and wants to try something a little more adventurous, this pattern is designed to meet you where you are. The construction is modular, which means you work one piece at a time and then join them together — a method that makes the whole project feel manageable and deeply rewarding.
What Is a Triangle Hexagon Blanket?
Before diving into the pattern itself, it helps to understand the construction. A Triangle Hexagon Blanket is made by knitting a series of triangles — six per hexagon — and joining them either as you go or after the fact to form hexagonal medallions. Those hexagons are then assembled into a larger blanket. The result is a piece that has the visual complexity of a geometric quilt but is made entirely with yarn and needles.
The beauty of this design is its versatility. You can make it scrappy by using every leftover ball of yarn in your stash, giving you a vibrant, eclectic look that is as unique as a fingerprint. Or you can choose a carefully curated palette of two or three colors for something more cohesive and modern. The pattern works equally well in both directions.
The triangles themselves are worked in a simple garter stitch, which means you knit every row. No purling, no complex stitch patterns to memorize. The shaping is done through increases or decreases depending on whether you are working from the center out or from the outer edge in, and once you have made your first triangle, you will find that your hands know what to do almost automatically.
Materials You Will Need
Before you cast on, gather your supplies. This pattern is written for worsted weight yarn, which knits up quickly and produces a blanket with satisfying drape and warmth. However, the pattern is easily adapted for other yarn weights — just adjust your needle size accordingly and expect your finished dimensions to change.
Yarn: Approximately 1,200 to 1,800 yards of worsted weight yarn total, depending on your desired finished size. You can use one yarn in multiple colors, multiple different yarns in similar weights, or an assortment of stash yarn. The joy of modular construction is that yarn requirements are flexible.
Needles: US size 7 (4.5 mm) straight or circular needles. Circular needles are recommended if you plan to make a larger blanket, as they can hold more stitches comfortably.
Additional supplies: Scissors, a yarn needle for weaving in ends, stitch markers (optional but helpful), and a ruler or measuring tape.
Gauge: 18 stitches and 36 rows = 4 inches in garter stitch. Gauge is not critical for this pattern, but consistent gauge within your own project is important so that all your triangles are the same size. Work a small swatch and adjust your needle size if necessary.
Understanding the Construction
The blanket is built in units. Each unit is a hexagon made of six equilateral triangles. The triangles are worked individually and then joined. Once you have enough hexagons, you join those to each other to form the finished blanket.
For each triangle, you will cast on a small number of stitches, increase to the widest point, then decrease back down — or alternatively, cast on the widest row and decrease to a point. Either method produces the same finished shape. This pattern uses the increase-then-decrease method, which many knitters find intuitive.
You can make a baby blanket with as few as 7 hexagons (one center hexagon surrounded by six), a throw-sized blanket with around 19 hexagons, or a full bed-sized blanket with 37 or more. The decision is entirely yours, and because the construction is modular, you can always add more hexagons later if you decide you want a bigger blanket.
The Triangle Knitting Pattern
Each hexagon is made of six triangles. Here is the pattern for a single triangle.
Cast on 3 stitches.
Row 1 (Right Side): Knit to end.
Row 2 (Wrong Side): K1, M1L (make 1 left), knit to last stitch, M1R (make 1 right), K1. (2 stitches increased)
Row 3: Knit to end.
Repeat Rows 2 and 3 until you have 25 stitches on your needle, ending with a right-side row.
You should now have the full width of your triangle. Next, you will work the decrease section to taper back to a point.
Row 1 (Right Side): K1, ssk (slip, slip, knit), knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog, K1. (2 stitches decreased)
Row 2 (Wrong Side): Knit to end.
Repeat these two rows until 3 stitches remain. Bind off all stitches.
This gives you one completed triangle. Make five more identical triangles to complete your first hexagon.
If you are working in multiple colors, this is where the fun begins. You might make each triangle in a different color for a rainbow hexagon, alternate between two colors, or keep every triangle within a hexagon the same and vary the color from hexagon to hexagon. There is no wrong approach.
Joining the Triangles Into Hexagons
Once you have six triangles, it is time to assemble your first hexagon. This is a satisfying step — watching flat triangles become a cohesive geometric shape feels like a small miracle every time.
Lay your six triangles out on a flat surface with their right sides facing up and their points meeting in the center. Arrange them like the petals of a flower. You will notice that they nestle together naturally along their long diagonal edges.
Using your yarn needle and a length of yarn (matching or contrasting, depending on your preference), join the triangles using a mattress stitch along their long edges. Work from the outer edge toward the center point, keeping your seams as neat as possible. When all six triangles are joined, you will have a flat hexagon with a small opening at the center where all six points meet. This is normal and expected — the openings will close once the hexagon is blocked, or you can work a small duplicate stitch over the center join to close it more completely.
If you prefer not to sew seams, you can also join your triangles using a three-needle bind-off method by picking up stitches along the edges and knitting them together. Some knitters also prefer to use a crochet slip stitch join for a slightly raised seam that adds to the geometric look of the finished blanket.
Blocking Your Hexagons
Blocking is the step that transforms a knitted piece from something handmade into something that looks truly polished and professional. For the Triangle Hexagon Blanket, blocking is especially important because it evens out the garter stitch texture, flattens the seams, and ensures that all your hexagons are the same size before you join them into the blanket.
To block, wet each hexagon thoroughly in cool water, then gently squeeze out the excess moisture without wringing. Lay the hexagon on a foam blocking mat, use rust-proof pins to pin it into shape, and allow it to dry completely — usually 24 to 48 hours depending on the yarn fiber. Natural fibers like wool and cotton block most beautifully and hold their shape well once dry.
For acrylic yarns, wet blocking may not be as effective. You can try steam blocking by holding a hot iron just above the surface of the hexagon (never touching the iron directly to acrylic, as it will melt) and allowing the steam to relax the fibers. Pin into shape and allow to cool before removing.
Joining the Hexagons Into a Blanket
Once all your hexagons are blocked and dry, it is time to assemble the blanket. This is the step that requires the most planning and is also the most satisfying — suddenly individual pieces become something you can imagine wrapping around your shoulders on a cold evening.
Lay your hexagons out on the floor in your desired arrangement. Hexagons tesselate naturally, meaning they fit together without gaps when arranged correctly. Take a photo of your arrangement before you start sewing so you have a reference as you work.
Join the hexagons along their flat edges using the same mattress stitch you used to join the triangles. Work row by row through your arrangement, joining all the hexagons in one horizontal row before moving on to the next. This method ensures that you have straight join lines across the blanket and makes it easier to keep track of your progress.
Once all the hexagons are joined, you will notice that the outer edges of the blanket have a jagged, scalloped silhouette — this is characteristic of hexagon blankets and is part of their charm. You can embrace it as a design feature, or work a simple border to create a more uniform rectangular edge.
Adding a Border
A border is optional but adds a lovely finishing touch. For a simple garter stitch border, pick up stitches evenly around the entire perimeter of the blanket using your circular needle, join to work in the round, and knit every round for approximately one inch. Bind off loosely. This creates a clean, tidy frame around the geometric interior.
For something more decorative, consider a simple picot bind-off (which adds tiny loops along the edge), a single crochet border (which adds a clean line even if you do not crochet), or a moss stitch border for some additional texture.
The color of your border is another design decision. A neutral border in cream, gray, or natural lets the colors of your hexagons take center stage. A bold contrasting border makes the geometric shape of the blanket pop dramatically.
Weaving In Ends
Modular projects generate a significant number of yarn ends, and the Triangle Hexagon Blanket is no exception. Each triangle has at least two ends (cast-on and bind-off tails), and color changes add more. Do not let this intimidate you.
The good news is that garter stitch is forgiving territory for weaving in ends. Thread each tail onto your yarn needle and weave it through the purl bumps on the wrong side of the work in a zigzag pattern for at least two inches, reversing direction once to secure the end. Trim the excess close to the fabric. Worked correctly, ends buried in garter stitch are virtually invisible and will not work loose over time, even through repeated washing.
Many knitters find it helpful to weave in ends as they go rather than leaving them all until the end. Weaving in the ends of a finished triangle takes only a minute, and doing it before setting the piece aside means that your assembly phase is much more enjoyable.
Tips for Success
A few practical suggestions that will make your Triangle Hexagon Blanket project go more smoothly.
Keep a project notebook where you record the colors used in each hexagon and track how many you have completed. It is easier to maintain a consistent color plan when you can see it written down rather than relying on memory.
If you are using multiple yarns from your stash, do a quick squeeze test to make sure they are all roughly the same weight. Mixing a true worsted with a bulky will result in triangles of different sizes that will not join cleanly.
Press your seams gently when blocking to encourage them to lie flat. This is especially important at the center of each hexagon where six points meet.
If you are making a larger blanket, consider joining the hexagons into the blanket as you go rather than making all of them first. This way, you can see the blanket growing with each new hexagon and stay motivated throughout what can be a long project.
Work your bind-offs loosely. A tight bind-off can cause the edges of your triangles to pucker, making them harder to join and affecting the finished drape of the blanket.
Caring for Your Finished Blanket
How you care for your Triangle Hexagon Blanket will depend on the fiber content of the yarns you used. Always check the labels of your individual yarns and follow the most conservative care instructions if you have used a combination of fibers.
Wool blends typically do best with gentle hand washing in cool water and flat drying. Superwash wool and most acrylic yarns are machine washable on a gentle or delicate cycle and can be tumble dried on low. Cotton blankets can generally be machine washed in cool water and air dried.
Storing your blanket folded rather than hanging will help it maintain its shape over time. If you notice the blanket beginning to look stretched or misshapen after washing, simply re-block it by pinning it into shape while damp and allowing it to dry flat.
Inspiration and Variations
Once you have made your first Triangle Hexagon Blanket, you will find that the basic construction opens the door to countless variations.
Try working each triangle in a gradient of color, going from dark to light across the hexagon for an ombre effect. Or pick a different color for each of the six triangles within a hexagon for a kaleidoscope look that pops with energy. You can also experiment with textured stitches within the triangles — seed stitch, moss stitch, or even simple lace patterns all work beautifully within the triangular framework, though they will change your gauge and finished size.
The scale of the blanket is entirely up to you. A single hexagon, worked in fine yarn with delicate needles, makes a stunning coaster or mug rug. Seven hexagons joined together make a beautiful baby blanket or lap throw. Expand to nineteen hexagons for a generous full-size throw, or keep going to create a truly statement-making bed blanket.
A Note on This Pattern
This pattern is written to be as accessible as possible to knitters at a range of skill levels. If you are newer to knitting and encounter a technique you have not tried before — such as the M1L or M1R increase, or the mattress stitch join — there are excellent video tutorials available online for each of these techniques. Do not hesitate to look them up. Every experienced knitter was once a beginner who paused their project to look something up, and there is no shame in it.
The Triangle Hexagon Blanket is the kind of project that rewards patience. Each triangle is small and quick to knit, each hexagon assembly is satisfying, and each time you add a new hexagon to the growing blanket, the sense of progress is tangible and real. Take your time, enjoy the process, and know that when you finally bind off the last stitch and weave in the last end, you will have made something genuinely beautiful that can be passed down and treasured for years.
Happy knitting.
