What is Tapestry Crochet?

Tapestry crochet is a versatile and intriguing crochet technique that allows crafters to create intricate designs and color patterns in their projects. This method involves carrying the unused strand(s) of yarn throughout your work, crocheting over them, and switching between colors as needed to create the desired design.

Tapestry Crochet: An Overview

Tapestry crochet is a crochet colorwork technique. Different stitches are made with different colors to create beautiful and unique colorwork designs.

Tapestry crochet involves crocheting with two or more different colored yarns at the same time, carrying the unused yarn(s) along as you go, making your stitches over the usused yarn(s), and switching to a different color when needed.

Tapestry crochet can be performed with any of the basic crochet stitches such as single crochet, extended single crochet, half double crochet, or double crochet. It can also involve more advanced or interesting stitches such as central single crochet, post stitches, back-loop-only, popcorn or cluster stitches.

Tapestry crochet can be worked flat, back-and-forth in rows. In can also be worked in-the-round to create flat square or hexagonal motifs or three-dimensional items such as bags, baskets or hats.

Tapestry Crochet Technique

As mentioned above, there are two basic skills required for tapestry crochet. These are:

1. Knowing how to change color.
2. Knowing how to crochet over the unused yarn.

Each of these skills is explained below.

How to Change Color

The following explanation is for doing tapestry crochet with double crochet (dc) stitches. However, the exact same principle applies whichever stitches you are using.

When instructed to in your pattern, or according to a chart, join a new color or change your yarn from yarn A to yarn B by making the last dc stitch with yarn A as follows:

1. With yarn A, yoh (yarn over hook), insert hook into work, yoh and pull through work (3 loops of yarn A on hook).

2. Still with yarn A, yoh and pull through two loops on hook (2 loops of yarn A on hook).

3. Drop yarn A, pick up yarn B.  Yoh and pull through two loops on hook (1 loop of yarn B on hook).

You are then ready to make the next stitch with yarn B.

If you are using a stitch other than double crochet, the same principle still applies. Simply pull the new yarn through on the final pull-through of the previous stitch, so that it is ready on your hook to make the next stitch in the new color.

How to Crochet Over the Unused Yarn

When you pick up the second yarn (yarn B) to start crocheting with it, do not cut or fasten off the first yarn (yarn A).  Keep both yarns going as you crochet, making your stitches over the unused yarn to cover it and carry it along as you go.

Arrange your work so that the unused yarn lies along the tops of the stitches from the previous row as shown below.

What Hook Size to Use?

One of the most important things for getting a good result with tapestry crochet is selecting the right hook size for your yarn. Tapestry crochet works best when the stitches are slightly tighter than usual. This helps to ensure that the unused yarn is covered by the used yarn. Because of this, I always suggest going down a hook size from the usual or recommended hook size for your chosen yarn.

For example, for a DK yarn, I would suggest using a 3.5 or 4 mm hook. For an aran yarn, I would suggest using a 4.5 mm hook.

However, if you are a relatively tight crocheter then you might not find that you need to use a smaller hook size. Your natural tension may be sufficiently tight already to provide good coverage.

Of course, everyone crochets slightly differently, so it is a good idea to make some test samples or swatches with a couple of different hook sizes. This way, you can ensure that you are happy with the the result before you start work on a particular project.

The best hook size to use can also depend on the yarn material you are using. For example, some yarns have more of a halo than others and this can help to cover up the carried yarn. If your yarn has a relatively large halo, then you might not need to reduce your hook size by so much, or even at all. On the other hand, if your yarn is very smooth with no halo, then reducing your hook size by more than one size might give the best result.

The color of your yarns can also be a factor.

If your yarns are quite similar in color (such as green and blue, for example) then small amounts of the carried yarn peeking through might not be an issue and could even be attractive. This can also be the case if you are using a variegated yarn in your project. If so, then you might not need or want to reduce your hook size.

Conversely, if you are using two very contrasting yarns (such as red and white) then you might find that reducing your hook size even more gives a better result in ensuring that none of the carried yarn shows through.

The crochet stitch used in your project can also be a factor in selecting the best hook size. Some stitches, like single crochet and extended single crochet, are naturally slightly tighter than others, like double crochet. As such, for projects using smaller crochet stitches, you might not find that you need to decrease your hook size by so much.

What Yarn to Use?

As you might expect, there is no single yarn type that is best for all tapestry crochet projects. Rather, the color, weight and fiber 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 favorite) to garments, accessories, bags and home décor items. Below, we look at these projects and what types of yarn are best suited to them.

Yarn for Tapestry Crochet Blankets

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 cozier) 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 fiber content of your yarn, if warmth is an important factor then selecting a yarn with some animal fibres (e.g. wool) will increase its insulating properties. 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 and can look great. Nevertheless, if you prefer a slightly “cleaner” 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 colorwork 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.

Yarn for 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 colorwork patterns as you’ll have more stitches to play with in a given area.

In terms of fiber content, animal fibres are a great choice if warmth is important. 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 want your item to be breathable and cool.

Yarn for 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.

Yarn for 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, choose thicker yarns like aran. If you will be placing hot dishes on them, opt for cotton rather than a synthetic fiber that could melt.

How to Hide Yarn in Tapestry Crochet

If you want your tapestry crochet project to look really good, one of the key things you need to master is how to hide yarn in tapestry crochet.

Here are four tips for hiding yarn in tapestry crochet projects:

1. Gently Pull on the Carried Yarn

When you pick up the carried yarn to start crocheting with it again, give it a gentle tug before you start crocheting with it.

This will ensure that:

1. The carried yarn sits snuggly under/behind the stitches you have just made and does not bulge out between them.
2. The last stitch made with the carried yarn is not loose, i.e. it is tightened up neatly.

However, be careful not to pull too tightly. If you pull too hard, your work may pucker.

2. Go Down a Hook Size

Generally, I recommend going down a hook size from the usual hook size that you would use for a particular yarn. This is because the stitches need to be relatively tight and close together, so there are no gaps between your stitches through which the carried yarn could show. For more advice about finding the best hook size for your project, see above.

3. Choose Your Yarn Carefully

Related to hook size is also your choice of yarn. Not all yarns that are indicated as being of a particular weight (e.g. DK, aran) are actually exactly the same. If you’re making an item where size is particularly important, and the yarn you’re thinking of using is somewhat thinner or thicker that the one suggested in the pattern, you may wish to think about using a different yarn which is closer to the recommended yarn. Otherwise, once you have worked out the best hook size (as described above) for your yarn, you may end up with a much larger or smaller item than you were hoping for.

Another point to consider is the halo or fuzziness of your yarn. Personally, I like using relatively smooth yarns for tapestry crochet as they give really good stitch definition. However, if you’re using a smooth yarn, then you may need to use an (even) smaller hook size to ensure that the stitches are tight enough to cover the carried yarn. On the other hand, if you’re using quite a fuzzy yarn, with a large halo, then you may find you don’t need to go down so much in hook size as the yarn will already cover the carried yarn sufficiently well.

4. Consider the Colors

If you get the above points nailed, then really you can use absolutely any colours you like and still get a brilliant result.

However, if the yarn does still peep through slightly, you may wish to just accept this as part of the design and choose your colors accordingly.

For example, a hint of yarn peeping through here and there can sometimes give quite a pleasing mottled or variegated look.

Another idea is to select one yarn with a nep or use a tweed yarn, where the second colour in that yarn matches the colour of your second yarn. In that way, any yarn peeping through can just appear to be a natural part of the yarns used.

How to Avoid Tangles with Tapestry Crochet

One challenge that crocheters often come across when starting out with tapestry crochet is their yarns getting in a tangle. However, there is a simple trick to avoiding this frustrating issue.

Follow these two rules to keep your yarn from getting tangled when you’re doing tapestry crochet:

1. Keep your yarn balls in the same positions with respect to your work at all times. For example, if you’re using two balls, have one positioned to the front of your work and the other to the back. If you’re using three balls, then have “front”, “middle” and “back” balls.
2. When you pick up a yarn to start crocheting with it, pick it up in the same position as the ball of yarn from which it is coming. For example, if you’re picking up the yarn from the front ball, pick it up in front of all of the other yarns. If you’re picking up the yarn from the back ball, pick it up behind all of the other yarns. If you’re picking up yarn from a “middle” ball of yarn, pick it up between the yarns from the other balls of yarn.

If you always keep your balls in the same positions and if you pick up your yarn in the same relative position with respect to the other yarns, then your yarns will never get tangled and you can keep on crocheting happily without ever having to untangle your yarns again.

To see clearly what all of that means, check out this video tutorial.

How to Tapestry Crochet with Multiple Colours

When it comes to using multiple (i.e. more than two) yarns in tapestry crochet, there’s really not that much more you need to know. The only difference compared to using two yarns is that you have to crochet over two or more yarns as you go to cover them up and carry them along until needed.

Preventing Tangles

When you’re using multiple yarns it can be slightly harder to stop tangles from occurring. However, if you follow the tips provided above you can avoiding getting your yarns in a big knotty mess.

Tightening up the Yarns

When you change color, remember to give the yarn you have just picked up a gentle tug as described above. When using more that two different colours, the gaps between colors may be slightly larger than usual. This makes it even more important to tighten up your carried yarns.

It can be tricky to tug a yarn though a large number of previous stitches. A top tip is to tighten up all yarns whenever you change colour. You don’t have to wait until a particular yarn is actually needed again before giving it a gentle tug to tighten it up!

Consider your Hook Size

A final point to think about is your hook size. Crocheting over multiple yarns can of course make the stitches slightly bulkier. You may therefore find that your stitches look best if you go up a hook size to accommodate all of the carried yarns.

If you’re unsure which hook size would be best, make some some small test swatches with different hooks to see which size you like the look and feel of best.

Back Loop Only Tapestry Crochet

Back loop only (BLO) tapestry crochet is a tapestry crochet technique that adds texture to your work and has particularly neat color transitions. This method can be applied to both flat and in-the-round crochet projects.

By only working into the back loop of a stitch, you can also end up with a fabric that mimics the look of knitwear, especially if you use the single crochet stitch.

Tapestry Crochet Pattern and Chart Reading

There are two main ways in which instructions for tapestry crochet patterns can be provided:

• As a chart in a grid format.
• As written instructions.

Many patterns may even provide instructions in both formats.

Let’s look at each of these in a bit more detail.

Understanding the Grid Format

The grid format visually represents the layout of the colorwork patterns. Each square or rectangle (pixel) on the grid represents one stitch and the color within each pixel indicates the specific color to use for that stitch. Here’s a quick guide to understanding grid format in tapestry crochet:

• Rows and columns: The grid consists of rows and columns formed of pixels. Each pixel corresponds to one stitch and each row represents a row of stitches.
• Colors and Symbols: The color or symbol within each pixel indicated which yarn to use for that stitch.
• Direction: Be attentive to the direction you need to follow while reading the chart. Some patterns read from right to left, while others might be from left to right, or even bottom to top. For patterns worked back-and-forth in rows, you may need to read alternate rows in alternate directions.
• Repeats: For designs with a repeating pattern, the repeated part may be provided once and then it is up to you to repeat it the required number of times.

Working with Written Instructions

Tapestry crochet patterns can also be provided in the form of written instructions. These consist of the instructions written out in words or standard crochet abbreviations for each row or round. Take not of the following points when following written instrutions:

1. Abbreviations: Familiarize yourself with common crochet abbreviations, such as “dc” (double crochet) or “sc” (single crochet). Most patterns provide a list of abbreviations used and their meanings.
2. US or UK Terms: Check whether the pattern is written using US or UK crochet terms.
3. Pattern repeats: Pay attention to sections within the instructions indicating pattern repeats. These are often marked with an asterisk (*) followed by a sequence of stitches that need to be repeated multiple times.
4. Color changes: Written instructions also detail when to change color for your tapestry crochet projects. This is typically mentioned along with the specific stitch where the change should occur.

Further Guidance

For more guidance and tips about tapestry crochet projects, check out these posts:

• A Step-By-Step Guide to Tapestry Crochet – The best starting point if you’re new to this technique.
• How to Keep Yarn from Tangling in Tapestry Crochet – This simple trick will keep your yarns in order.
• How to do Tapestry Crochet with Multiple Colours – Using three or more yarns? Not a problem if you read this guide.
• How to Hide Yarn in Tapestry Crochet – Keep your project looking sharp.
• What’s the Best Yarn for Tapestry Crochet? – How to choose the best type of yarn for your project.
• My Top Ten Yarns for Tapestry Crochet – Ten fabulous yarns to use in your projects.
• Which Hook Size is Best for Tapestry Crochet? – Find out how to select the best hook size for your project.
• What’s the Best Stitch for Tapestry Crochet? – Making your own design? Read this to find out how to select the best stitch.
• How to Crochet a Tapestry Crochet Square – All you need to know to make some stunning squares!
• How to Read a Tapestry Crochet Chart – Working from a chart is easy with this guide.
• How to Change Rounds in Tapestry Crochet – For any project worked in rounds, this explains how to end one round and bring your yarns up ready to start the next.
• How do you Change Rows in Tapestry Crochet? – How to end one row and bring all your yarns neatly up to the next one.
• Is Tapestry Crochet the Same on Both Sides? – Find out the answer to this burning question.
• What’s the Difference between Tapestry and Mosaic Crochet? – These terms are often used interchangeably but they’re actually not the same thing at all.
• 10 Reasons Why I Love Tapestry Crochet (and why you should too!)

Tapestry Crochet Pattern Inspiration

You can check out all of my crochet patterns here. However, if you’d like some more specific guidance to help you choose a pattern, have a read of one of these articles:

• What’s the Best Tapestry Crochet Blanket Pattern for a Beginner?
• 8 Fantastic Geometric Crochet Blanket Patterns
• Ten New Tapestry Crochet Patterns of 2022
• Three Fun Tapestry Crochet Hexagon Blankets
• Eight Beautiful Tapestry Crochet Tile Blankets
• Tapestry Crochet Star Patterns
• Tapestry Crochet Baby Blankets
• Four FREE Tapestry Crochet Patterns

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