Tapestry Crochet, Easy for Beginners (Free Pattern)

Tapestry crochet is a colorwork technique that uses two or more yarn colors at the same time to create patterns, pictures, and geometric designs. By carrying the unused yarn inside the stitches, you can switch colors without leaving long floats on the back of the work. This beginner tutorial will show you how to do tapestry crochet, change colors neatly, carry yarn correctly, and read simple tapestry crochet charts.

What is Tapestry Crochet?

Tapestry crochet is a type of crochet in which two or more colors of yarn are used simultaneously to make a pattern or design. In this method, the strands that aren’t being used are carried along the back of the work while the color used is worked over them to make a fabric that looks like it was woven or like a tapestry.

Tapestry crochet is a decorative crochet stitch made with single crochet stitches, but different colored yarns are used simultaneously. So you crochet the same way you always have, but you change yarns occasionally to make a pattern with different colors. You have probably seen many beautiful pictures of tapestry crochet projects, and you might have thought they were too complicated. This is mostly because the pictures have many different colors and are very detailed. But the truth is that tapestry crochet isn’t all that different from regular crochet.

This tutorial will show you:

• How to change yarn colors
• How to do tapestry crochet in a square
• Give a free heart tapestry crochet pattern

Tapestry crochet is also known by other names, such as: “mosaic crochet,” “fair isle crochet,” and “cameo crochet.”

Tapestry crochet is a popular technique among crocheters because it can be used to make a wide range of designs and color combinations. However, it can be trickier than traditional crocheting because you have to pay close attention to tension and color changes to ensure that everything looks neat and even.

How to Do Tapestry Crochet (Step by Step)

Tapestry crochet patterns typically come with two kinds of instructions: written explanations and charts. Working from charts is more convenient for me. They are similar to cross-stitch embroidery in that you can plainly see when the color changes, and it is easy to count.
Many crochet tapestry projects are worked in rounds, meaning that all rounds are worked on the right side. But, you can also work back and forth. The way of creating the designs is the same.

1. Read the Tapestry Crochet Chart

To learn how to work this technique, we will make a simple square within a square. This would be the tapestry crochet chart for this sample:

This little sample makes use of two different colors of yarn. As you can see, the first 3 rows are in one color (C1), and then the square pattern with C2  begins. Because the first single crochet of each row does not count as a chain 1, create the first single crochet of each row in the first stitch of the previous row.

2. How to Change Yarn Color

The yarn color is always changed while there are still two loops on the hook. In order words, it is changed half way through a single crochet stitch.

1. Working in color 1.
2. Insert hook into stitch.
3. Pull through a loop (2 loops on stitch).
4. Yarn over in color 2.

5. Pull through color 2. You have now changed colors.

After changing the color, place yarn C1 on top of the crocheted piece and continue to crochet with C2 over it. If you do everything correctly, the yarn of different colors will not be seen on either the right or wrong side of the work.

3. Rows 1 to 3 Foundation

• Foundation: Chain 13 using C1 yarn.
• Row 1: Sc in every chain to the finish, starting in the second chain from the hook. (12sc) Turn.
• Row 2 & 3: Chain1 (doesn’t count as sc here and throughout), (12sc), Turn.

4. Rows 4 to 10 with Color Change

Rows 4 – 10: C2 and C1 will be used together on this row and the following rows until the 11th row.

• Join C2 at the beginning of row 4.

• Chain 1, 3sc with C1 (remember to color change on the 3rd sc),

How to work with 2 colors: Start crocheting over C1 along the top of your crocheted item, as illustrated. Place yarn C2 on top of the previous row. It should lie flat along the tops of the stitches from the previous row. Continue crocheting with yarn C1 in the normal manner, but this time over C2. Hold C2 with your left hand (if you are right-handed) alongside the crocheted piece to make inserting the hook easier.

• Now work C2 over the top of C1. C1 is enclosed by the stitches of C2.
• 6 sc with C2 (color change on 6th sc),

•  3sc with C1. (still enclosing C2) Turn.

• Continue in this way until row 10.
• At the end of each row, neatly pass the C2 to the back to start a new row.

5. Completing the Tapestry Crochet Pattern

• Rows 11 – 13: Ch1, sc with C1.

Congratulations!!! Your first tapestry crochet sample is finished! Did you find it easy?

Tapestry Crochet Troubleshooting

If you see yarn showing between the stitches, try pulling the yarn a little before each color change. But don’t overdo it; otherwise, your work may gather up! After each row, the width of your project should remain constant.

While making every stitch, crochet over the yarn of a different color. Don’t leave any out. Otherwise, you’ll have yarn floats on the right (or wrong) side, and your fabric will not be reversible.

When working in rows, it is important to determine which side is right and which is wrong. It is irrelevant to the pattern because it will be reversible. So, you will need to understand how to begin each row.

While beginning a row on the wrong side, hold the second yarn in front of your work. Now begin row 2 on the right side, holding the second yarn behind the work. The incorrect side will have little colorful loops, while the right side will be clean and neat.

Free Tapestry Crochet Pattern, HEART

Your color chart will look like this:

Turning chain: Ch 1 to turn in every row.

• Foundation: Chain 18 in color 1.
• Row1: sc in second chain, sc across in color 1
• Rows 2-3: sc across in color 1
• Row 4: Join in color 2 at start of row. 8sc in c1, 1sc in c2, 8sc in c1. Remember to enclose your extra color of yarn all the time. It is really easy to forget!
• Row 5: 7sc in c1, 3sc in c2, 7sc in c1.
• Row 6: 6sc in c1, 5 sc in c2, 6 sc in c1.
• Row 7: 5 sc in c1, 7 sc in c2, 5 sc in c1.
• Row 8: 4 sc in c1, 9sc in c2, 4 sc in c1
• Rows 9- 10: 3 sc in c1, 11 sc in c2, 3 sc in c1.
• Row 11: 4 sc in c1,4sc in c2, 1sc in c1, 4 sc in c2, 4 sc in c1.
• Row 12: 5 sc in c1, 2 sc in c2, 3 sc in c1, 2 sc in c2, 5 sc in c1.
• Row 13-15: sc in c1.
• Finish off and weave in ends.

Done! Now you have a cute little heart motif for anything you would like to add a heart! You could make up a whole blanket from these heart squares stitched together. It also makes a lovely coaster, just on its own.

Tips for Crocheting Tapestry Stitch

YARN: If you’re new to tapestry crochet, use thick yarn and a larger hook to get started. The yarn should not be fluffy since you will be unable to see every stitch.

TENSION: Don’t crochet too loosely. I suggest you should, in fact, crochet tightly. You will crochet with one color over another while using various yarns at the same time.  If you crochet too loosely, another color will show through the stitches. And you want to steer clear of that.

HOOK: Your crochet hook should be perfectly matched to your yarn. If you don’t feel like you’re getting the proper tension, consider switching to a smaller (or larger) hook until you’re happy with the look of your tapestry fabric.

Tapestry Crochet FAQs

Pin for Later

Conclusion

Tapestry crochet is a versatile colorwork technique that allows you to create detailed patterns and pictures using multiple yarn colors at once. Although it may seem complicated initially, the technique relies on simple crochet stitches and straightforward color changes. Once you become comfortable carrying yarn and following charts, you’ll be able to create bags, blankets, home décor, and many other colorful crochet projects.