Tapestry crochet is a fun and versatile technique that gives you the flexibility to work with any number of colors and yarns in your projects.
You can use tapestry crochet to create beautiful blankets, scarves and shawls, bags, sweaters and more.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about tapestry crochet so that you can create your own colorful masterpieces!
| Key Takeaways |
|---|
| Tapestry crochet is a technique that involves creating colorful patterns on a fabric by carrying unused yarn along as you work. |
| To get started with tapestry crochet, you will need yarn, a crochet hook, scissors, and a tapestry needle. |
| Common tapestry crochet stitches include single crochet, double crochet, and half-double crochet. |
| Tapestry crochet can be done with different shapes, including circles, triangles, and squares. |
| Tapestry crochet can be used to create a wide range of items, such as home decor, clothing, and accessories. |
1. Materials
To start tapestry crochet, you’ll need yarn and a suitable hook.
You can use any yarn for this project, but I recommend using one that’s all the same thickness. That way, when it comes time to join new colors or change colors within a row, you’re not left with an obvious line where the two meet.
There are many different brands of yarns out there and some of them can be difficult to work with! They tend to split easily while being crocheted, which means they snag on hooks more often than other types of yarns do. It’s important to choose wisely!
If you’re a beginner looking to get started with crochet, our guide on 10 easy crochet patterns for beginners is the perfect place to start. With step-by-step instructions and easy-to-follow patterns, you’ll be crocheting in no time!
2. Tapestry Basics
Tapestry crochet is a form of crochet that uses multiple colors and yarns at the same time. In tapestry crochet, you use a single hook and are working with two or more strands of yarn held together. You can work with either the same or different weights of yarns in each strand.
The basic stitches used to create tapestry projects are chain, slip stitch and double crochet (often abbreviated as sc).
There are also some special stitches used to create images: popcorn stitch, cluster stitch and puff stitch. We’ll go over these stitches in detail later on in this tutorial!
| Key Point | Description |
|---|---|
| Technique | Tapestry crochet is a form of crochet that involves using multiple colors and yarns at the same time. |
| Hook | You use a single hook in tapestry crochet. |
| Yarn | In tapestry crochet, you work with two or more strands of yarn held together. You can use the same or different weights of yarn in each strand. |
3. Pattern and Color Choices
Choosing your yarn and colors is a personal choice. You can choose colors that match your home decor, or perhaps you want to use the colors in your wardrobe.
Or maybe you want to make something that soothes you when you look at it. And there’s no wrong way to do this!
The most important thing is to have fun with it and enjoy whatever journey awaits!
4. Working With More Than One Color in a Row
It’s time to take your crochet skills up a notch and start working with more than one color in each row.
You don’t have to worry about keeping track of what color you are on because the different colored yarns will automatically change when you reach the end of a row.
You can also continue following the pattern without having to look back at it, which makes this technique perfect for making blankets or other projects where a lot of color changes are involved.
So how do we keep track of where we are? Well, there are two ways: either by counting stitches as we work or by keeping track of how many rows we have done so far (or both).
In this case, let’s say that I am using two colors for my tapestry crochet project red and yellow and I want them both present at every stitch along my row (so no missed stitches!).
There is another important concept that relates to working with multiple colors: picking up dropped stitches later when switching from one color into another one at some point during your project’s progress!
Decorating your home with crochet can be a fun and exciting way to add a personal touch. Our guide on crochet home decor for every season offers a variety of patterns that are perfect for any time of year
5. Digitizing and Adapting Images for Tapestry Crochet
Once you’ve gathered all the necessary materials, it’s time to get down to business. The first step is to digitize an image using a computer program such as Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop. If you’re new to these programs, don’t worry: there are plenty of tutorials online that will walk you through the entire process.
The next thing we’ll need is an image editing program with layers functionality (such as Photoshop). You can use any type of file it doesn’t have to be in vector format, but this makes things easier if it is.
For now though let’s focus on getting started with basic grayscale images and saving them as PNGs (if they’re not already saved that way).
Now that we have our base image and know how it should look when finished, let’s take a look at how we can change things up even further by adding color!
| Key Point | Description |
|---|---|
| Digitizing | To digitize an image for tapestry crochet, you will need to use a program that can convert an image into a pixelated version with a limited color palette. |
| Converting | Once the image is digitized, you can convert each pixel into a stitch in a graph. |
| Adapting | If the graph is too large for your project or if you want to change the dimensions, you can adapt the image to fit your desired size by scaling the graph up or down. |
| Colors | When adapting an image for tapestry crochet, you will also need to consider the number of colors you want to use, as this can affect the final size of the project. |
| Practice | It may take practice to get comfortable with digitizing and adapting images for tapestry crochet, but the possibilities for creating unique and personalized projects are endless. |
6. Keeping the Front of the Work Facing You
The front of the work is facing you when you are looking at the right side of it. You may want to keep this in mind as you are working, because it will help you keep track of what’s going on.
Keeping track of where your stitches are can be tricky, especially if they’re all bunched up at the back or middle of your work (which often happens when first learning).
You’ll be able to see how many stitches there are and tell when one row is finished before starting another one, which means less chance that you’ll end up with an extra row or two in there somewhere and less chance that if something does go wrong, it’ll set in for good before fixing itself!
7. The Need for Speed – How to Work Faster in Tapestry Crochet
It’s easier to work faster with a hook that fits your hand. Try different sizes until you find one that feels comfortable.
Work with a large flat surface, such as an ironing board or the top of the dining room table. This helps keep your yarn from tangling and makes it easier to see where you’ve gone already.
Work with a relaxed tension (not too tight, not too loose). This will also make it easier for your hook to glide through the stitches without getting caught on them or snagging them up in its teeth. Don’t worry about counting—just crochet!
Use a yarn needle and weave in ends carefully every few rows if you don’t want them showing on the front of your project (the back side will have all kinds of bumps where the crocheted pieces are joined). It’s also helpful when joining new skeins so they don’t show up as knots later on down the road when they’re less visible due to all those rows being worked over top of them!
There’s nothing quite as special as a handmade item for a new baby. Our guide on top crochet patterns for baby items offers a selection of patterns that are perfect for creating beautiful and unique items for the little ones in your life.
8. Joining New Colors and Ending Old Colors in Tapestry Crochet
You’ve reached the halfway point! You’ve successfully started and ended a new color, and now you’re ready to continue crocheting.
This can feel like a daunting task—what if you mess up? What if your stitches aren’t even? Well, don’t worry. It’s much easier than it seems!
All you have to do is make sure that when ending old colors, they are on the backside of the tapestry crochet piece (meaning they will be hidden from view).
If you need help finding where these stitches go in relation to each other, check out this post about seam placement for tapestry crochet.
Once all of your joins are made and all of your ends are woven in, attach two pieces together with yarn needle as shown below:
9. Adding Edging, Borders and Other Finishing Touches to Your Tapestry Crochet Project
Edgings are the finishing touches to your tapestry crochet project. You can add a single color of edging or multiple colors, depending on what you want your piece to look like. You can also add a border around the edge of your piece in the same pattern that you used for the body of the piece or in another pattern.
Adding an edging is easy: after completing row 1, work one round with DC single crochet stitches (right-slanting).
After completing row 2, work one round with slip stitches (left-slanting) over dc single crochet stitches from previous round; repeat this process until desired length is reached.
Crocheting your own home decor is a great way to add a personal touch to your living space. Check out our guide on crochet your way to beautiful home decor to learn more about how you can create unique and beautiful items for your home.
10. Weaving in Ends in Tapestry Crochet
Weaving in ends can be a daunting task, especially if you’re just starting out. But once you get the hang of it, it gets easier and easier (and faster too!).
There are many ways to weave in your ends, depending on the type of yarn and stitch you’re using.
To get started, choose a yarn needle that’s about 2 sizes larger than the size of your tapestry crochet stitches. You’ll also want to use a long enough tail so that when woven into place, both sides look even and neat!
| Key Point | Description |
|---|---|
| Ends | In tapestry crochet, you need to weave in ends as you change colors to prevent them from unraveling. |
| Carrying | The unused yarn is carried along in the back of the work and is crocheted over as you work the new color. |
| Weaving | To weave in the ends, you can either use a tapestry needle to pull the ends through the back of the stitches, or crochet over the ends as you work. |
| Tension | It’s important to maintain consistent tension when weaving in ends to prevent puckering or curling at color changes. |
| Trimming | Once you have woven in the ends, you can trim the excess yarn close to the fabric to create a neat finish. |
11. Blocking, Steaming, or Wetting Tapestry Crochet Pieces for Optimal Results
You’ve made your tapestry crochet piece, now what? Blocking is a process that can be used to make your tapestry crochet project look its best. It isn’t necessary, but if you have the time and materials (or find them affordable), it’s worth considering.
The first step in blocking is preparing your piece for blocking by choosing the method of blocking that will work best for the fiber content and stitch pattern of your finished piece: Wet Block or Steam Block (see below).
After you’ve chosen how to block, all that’s left is to stretch out every inch of your fabric. This may seem like an easy task, but depending on what kind of yarn and stitches are used in making your work of art, it could take a long time!
If you’re looking for ways to create a warm and inviting home, knitted decor can be a great way to achieve this. Our guide on creating a warm and inviting home with knitted decor offers tips and inspiration on how to incorporate knitted items into your home decor.
12. Helpful Online Resources for Tapestry Crochet Patterns and Tutorials
You can find a number of online resources for tapestry crochet patterns and tutorials. The following are some examples:
- Craftsy
- Crochet by Numbers
- Knitting Daily TV
Conclusion
If you’ve been wanting to try tapestry crochet, now is the time! Tapestry crochet is an excellent way to work on your skills with color and pattern.
You can use this technique for everything from creating blankets and scarves to making sweaters or even wall hangings. With so many options available, it’s easy to find something that suits your skill level and personal style.
If you want some inspiration for what kinds of patterns would look good when worked in tapestry crochet, check out our list of free patterns for this method below!
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources related to tapestry crochet that you might find helpful:
Adventure Tee Tapestry Crochet Summer Top Pattern: This blog post offers a pattern and tutorial for a stylish summer top made with tapestry crochet.
Modern Tapestry Crochet by Alessandra Hayden: A book written by Alessandra Hayden, which provides a modern take on tapestry crochet and offers a variety of patterns.
Tapestry Crochet Patterns: This resource offers a variety of free tapestry crochet patterns for those who are looking for inspiration.
FAQs
What is tapestry crochet?
Tapestry crochet is a crochet technique in which two or more colors of yarn are used to create intricate and colorful patterns on a fabric. The technique involves carrying the unused color(s) along, while the other color is crocheted over it or worked in a way to conceal it.
What materials do I need for tapestry crochet?
Generally, you will need yarn (usually at least two colors but can be more), a crochet hook, scissors, and a tapestry needle.
What are some basic tapestry crochet stitches?
The basic tapestry crochet stitch is a single crochet, but instead of working one stitch, you change the color for each individual stitch. Other commonly used stitches include the double crochet and half-double crochet.
What causes tapestry crochet to curl or pucker?
Common causes of tapestry crochet curling or puckering include using the wrong hook size for your yarn, working too tightly, and not carrying the unused yarn correctly. Using a hook size that is a bit larger than recommended for the yarn can also help to reduce curling.
Can tapestry crochet be done with different shapes?
Yes, tapestry crochet can be done with different shapes, including circles, triangles, and squares. There are many patterns available for each shape, so choose one that interests you and give it a try!
My name is Hellen James, and I’m a crochet and knitting expert. I’ve been crocheting since I was just a kid, but I started taking it seriously when I realized that it was a great way to de-stress and relax. Now that I have kids of my own, I love teaching them how to do it too!