Mosaic Tapestry Crochet

Mosaic Tapestry crochet is a technique that uses two or more yarn colours within a single row, with frequent transitions between these colours to form intricate patterns. The colour not in use at that time is crocheted over, concealing it within the stitches of your active colour.

If you wish to try the mosaic tapestry technique, there are a couple of videos on YouTube by some very talented designers that can help you.

This video by Daisy Knots explains how to do mosaic tapestry crochet in UK Terms -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oK-Fx8BcsE8

This video by Heather Noble explains how to do mosaic tapestry crochet in US Terms -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVHbdiDN1FA

Here is a quick summary of the mosaic tapestry technique:

Tie on both colours when creating your border stitch, and carry the 2nd colour along, trapping it within the stitches as you go.
Work up to the stitch before where the 2nd colour stitch starts.
Complete the last yarn over of the stitch with the new colour you want to use.
Pull the new colour through the loops on the hook to complete the stitch.
Continue working with the new colour, carrying the old colour along the back of your work.
Repeat the process as needed for subsequent colour changes in the pattern.

Mosaic tapestry charts

You can see in the image below that green and white are used throughout the pattern. Alongside these are distinct blocks of orange. To create these blocks, the mosaic tapestry technique will be applied, with both green and orange yarns worked in the same row, covering the entire length of the row.

The chart below is an example of a mosaic tapestry chart. It shows how the pattern will look should they require more than one colour in a row repeat.

Remember that the chart shows you what the pattern looks like ONCE it has been crocheted.

Colour A sometimes covers the stitch from the previous row. Whilst my chart details when to change colour with the circle symbol, you can also refer to the written instructions, as this details the colour of each stitch.

Row 9 - Work the whole row with Colour A

Row 8 - Work the whole row with Colour B

Row 7 -Work the whole row with Colour A

Row 6 - Start with Colour B. Change to Colour C on ST3 and change back on ST6

Row 5 - Work the whole row with Colour A (trapping Colour C from row 5 within)

Row 4 - Start with Colour B. Change to Colour C on ST3 and change back on ST6

Row 3 - Work the whole row with Colour A

Row 2 - Work the whole row with Colour B

Row 1 - Work the whole row with Colour A

I'm designing the charts in a way that simplifies the mosaic tapestry technique for you, indicating precisely when to change colours. Please note that this approach is specific to my designs, as other designers might have different methods.

Mosaic tapestry chart legend

Mosaic tapestry instructions

How to use more than one colour per row as per the chart above:

Row 1 to 3 – work your mosaic crochet rows as normal.
Row 4 - Tie on both colour B and colour C when creating your border stitch,
- The row starts with colour B, carrying colour C along, trapping it within the stitches as you go.
- With colour B, work up to the stitch before where colour C stitch starts (in this case, stitch 3)
- On stitch 3, complete the last yarn over of your stitch with colour C. Pull colour C through both loops on the hook to complete the stitch. Stitch 3 will be in colour B, but leaving colour C as the loop on your hook, ready to start stitch 4.
- Continue working with the colour C, carrying colour B along the back of your work.
- Work up to the stitch before where colour B stitch restarts (in this case, stitch 6)
- On stitch 6, complete the last yarn over of your stitch with colour B. Pull colour B through both loops on the hook to complete the stitch. Stitch 6 will be in colour C, but leaving colour B as the loop on your hook, ready to start stitch 7.
- Work stitches 7, 8 and your last stitch with colour B, again trapping colour C within the stitches.
- Create your final border stitch with Colour B, then chain 1 to fasten off with both colours. Snip off both yarns.
Row 5 - work your mosaic crochet row as normal (in Colour A).
Row 6 – Repeat stage 2 as above.
Row 7 to 9 – work your mosaic crochet rows as normal.

Mosaic tapestry written instructions

BS - Border Stitch – Single Crochet through both loops
SC - Single Crochet in back loop of the stitch in the current row (regardless of the colour in the box)
DC - Double Crochet front loop of the stitch two rows below (regardless of the colour in the box)

The table of written instructions for each pattern tells you which row you’re on and which colour to use on that row. In the example below:

Row 1 is highlighted in white; therefore, you are crocheting the whole row in colour A.
Row 2 is highlighted in green; therefore, you are crocheting the whole row in colour B.
Row 3 is highlighted in white; therefore, you are crocheting the whole row in colour A.
However, Row 4 is highlighted in green and orange; therefore, this row uses the mosaic tapestry technique.

The colour of the stitches within the written instructions details which colour should be used for those stitches.