What’s the best yarn for tapestry crochet?

What is tapestry crochet?

Tapestry crochet is a colour work technique that allows you to create beautiful patterns with two or more different coloured yarns. You can do tapestry crochet with any of the basic crochet stitches, from single crochet right up to double or treble crochet. In tapestry crochet, each stitch is made with a particular yarn and you carry along any unused yarn(s) by crocheting over it until needed.

To find out more about to do tapestry crochet, check out my guide below:

How to select a yarn for your tapestry crochet project

As you might expect, there is no single yarn type that is best for all tapestry crochet projects. Rather, the colour, weight and fibre that you choose will depend on the particular project you are planning to make, and the look and feel you would like to achieve.

For example, you can use tapestry crochet in a whole range of different projects from blankets (my personal favourite) to garments, accessories, bags and home décor items. Below, I discuss these projects and what types of yarn are best suited to them.

Tapestry crochet blankets

I adore making tapestry crochet blankets because the range of patterns you can create is simply limitless. It’s absolutely addictive creating a colour work pattern and watching it grow as you add more motifs or rows to your blanket.

When choosing a yarn for a tapestry crochet blanket, think about what kind of drape you would like. Tapestry crochet works best if the stitches are relatively tight so that the carried yarn is well covered. Also, as there is carried yarn, this increases the overall thickness of the blanket slightly, compared to techniques where there is no carried yarn. These factors mean that if you would like a lot of drape, then going for a DK or even thinner yarn would be a good choice.

On the other hand, if you’re happy to have a slightly thicker (and maybe cosier) blanket, then an aran yarn can also work really well. Aran, for example, could be a great option if you’re making a picnic blanket or bedspread.

When it comes to the fibre content of your yarn, if warmth is an important factor for you then selecting a yarn with some animal fibres (e.g. wool) will certainly increase the cosiness. Acrylic is another good choice for warmth and is a great option cost-wise, especially if you’re making a large blanket.

However, acrylic and wool-based yarns do have a certain fuzziness to them. This is not necessarily a bad thing by any means and can look absolutely great. Nevertheless, if you prefer a slightly “crisper” look to your blanket, with clearer stitch definition, then choosing a cotton yarn might be the way to go. Cotton yarns can still be really soft but without the halo you get around acrylic and wool based yarns. This means that the colour work pattern you create with cotton yarn can really stand out. You can even get some yarns which are a blend of cotton and acrylic, which is a great compromise between the two.

Tapestry crochet garments and accessories

When it comes to garments and accessories, like sweaters, cardigans, hats, shawls and scarfs, the yarn weight is usually clearly specified in the pattern. However, if you’re designing your own tapestry crochet garment or accessory, then I would recommend using a 4 ply or even thinner yarn.

Using relatively thin yarns means that the resulting fabric will have a good drape and won’t be too thick or stiff. It also allows you to create more intricate colour work patterns as you’ll have more stitches to play with in a given area.

In terms of fibre content, animal fibres are a great choice if warmth is an important factor. Yarns with animal fibres make wonderfully cosy, and perhaps slightly fuzzy, garments and accessories. However, if you’re making an item for the summer months, then using a cotton or linen yarn might be best. Cotton and linen are great choices when you don’t want your item to be too hot!

Tapestry crochet bags

With crochet bags, one of the most important factors to consider is that it doesn’t stretch. As such, it’s best to choose a non-stretchy yarn for your project.

You also want a yarn that won’t catch too much on any items you may put in your bag.

Finally, you most likely want a yarn that can be used to create tight stitches without significant gaps.

All of these points mean that cotton yarn is a great choice for tapestry crochet bags. As mentioned above, it also gives really great stitch definition.

In terms of weight, I like to make my bags with DK or aran weight cotton. I find this gives just the right thickness to the final bag.

Tapestry crochet home décor

The yarn you choose for a home décor item can vary quite a bit depending on the item.

For cushions, you could choose a fuzzy or non-fuzzy yarn. However, if a cushion is to be used quite a bit I’d recommend a relatively hard-wearing yarn like cotton. The weight you use is up to you really. It will depend on how intricate a colour work pattern you’d like to create.

For table mats and runners, go for thicker yarns like aran. If you might be placing hot dishes on them, definitely opt for cotton rather than a synthetic fibre that might melt.

Feeling inspired to try some tapestry crochet?

If you’re feeling inspired to try out some tapestry crochet, why not click on one of the fabulous projects below?