Today's video demonstrates how I work with Tapestry Crochet. Tapestry crochet is working with two or more colors of yarn to create pictures, letters, patterns, or geometric designs in your work. It can be very simple, or incredibly intricate. One of the first tapestry crochet projects I made was this improvised dice bag, done in black and white thread:
Since then I have used the techniques I learned from tapestry crochet to create details and designs for many personal items, and I plan to incorporate them into some patterns coming soon. Traditionally, tapestry crochet is worked in the round, and this video demonstrates that technique. However, it also demonstrates the technique I use to crochet across the wrong side of the fabric, allowing you to insert a row or two of "tapestry" work into a non-tapestry piece. Let me show you:
I hope this video makes it clear what I mean. Tapestry crochet is a lot of fun, whether you're making an entire piece with the technique, or just inserting a few lines in a regular pattern.
For more on tapestry crochet, I'd recommend you go to TapestryCrochet.com, the site run by Carol Ventura. Carol is THE expert on tapestry crochet, and her site has videos and free patterns to try, as well as individual patterns for sale. Be sure to check out the video on how she works flat rows - with the opposite hand! She's also authored several books, which are a great resource: Tapestry Crochet, More Tapestry Crochet, and Bead & Felted Tapestry Crochet. Her patterns can also be found in Crochet Master Class: Lessons and Projects from Today's Top Crocheters, Unexpected Afghans: Innovative Crochet Designs with Traditional Techniques, Crochet Liberation Front First Ever Book, and more, as well as many magazines.
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Leticia Jurado says
Is this the way you would work when using a graph? I always want to try a graph but not sure how to 🙁
moogly says
Yes, precisely! 😀 Now you can do it!
Leticia Jurado says
Thank you very much.
I just finished your blackberry salad baby blanket its beautiful. Thank you so much for allowing to use your pattern 🙂
Dawn says
I can't get the video
Tamara Kelly says
Sorry about that, looks like YouTube didn't redirect when they switched from http to https - how silly! I'll fix it now. 🙂
Lorie says
I want to make a hatband for my straw cowgirl hat!
Do you think this technique would work?
moogly says
Lorie, I think it would work perfectly! 😀
Lorie says
🙂 Yay! I will have to grid a little pattern now!
Vivi says
Great tutorial!! Thank you so much for sharing!!
rosemeire g.m.zampirolli says
meu nome e rosemeire sou de são paulo no brasil.adorei a maneira direta e simples com que você nos ensina tão generosamente, esta técnica.muito obrigada.
moogly says
Obrigada, Rosemeire!
aishakenza says
Thanks for a great video, Tamara. I've been crocheting for over 30 years but never tried tapestry crochet. Now I shall! I'm looking forward to coming up with some cute designs too.
Have a great day,
Aisha
cORI says
This may be a dumb question, but is there ever a problem with the end of a new color coming out and possibly unraveling? I had never heard of tapestry crochet until about 10 minutes ago and really want to try but I'd be worried that it could unravel. I have always struggled with the seamless color add because I feel like I need to knot it to make sure it stays, but I can see there is no knotting here. I'm assuming because you crochet a couple stitches it remains quite secure.
Thoughts? Advice? Suggestions?
Thank you!
Tamara Kelly says
Not a dumb question at all! With this you'd want to weave in your ends very well. I have a short tutorial HERE that explains how to weave in ends securely.
Cori says
Thank you so much! I don't know why it took me so long to use a needle to weave in my ends, but that idea came to me a couple months back (and I've been crocheting about about 18 yrs). I never thought to go back the way I came though. That's great!
Tamara Kelly says
😀 So glad I could help Cori!
Sara says
I'm just learning the technique. However, I spent a while - it literally took me 10 minutes, to learn how to crochet with my left hand so then I can just scoot backwards and forwards which produces a similar look to when you crochet in the round. It's fun but I can't find any nice patterns to try out the technique with properly. The things I like don't seem to have patterns!
Brenda says
Thank you for this video! There is so much to learn about crochet and experiment with! (Just starting...)
Tamara Kelly says
😀 You're welcome Brenda, and I agree - that's one of the reasons I love crochet so much, there's always something new to learn and try!
pat says
tamara always like your viddddddddeos never did tapestry till tonight caughrt on fast
but then someone had a video on a letter plus yhe instructions
im left handed and the w did not come out so then tried reading the instructions backwards and still no luck could you tell me how to do thaks
Tamara Kelly says
Hi Pat, and thank you! Is there a particular pattern you followed?
pat says
tamara always like your videos never did tapestry till tonight caughrt on fast
but then someone had a video on a letter plus yhe instructions
im left handed and the w did not come out so then tried reading the instructions backwards and still no luck could you tell me how to do thaks
Gray says
I’m trying to make a pattern that has a multicolor design (it’s a leopard gecko with a yellow top and a white belly) and instructions say to make a magic ring of 6 with 3 white stitches and two yellows. How on earth do I do this??? I can’t find any tutorial on how to make a two colored magic ring let alone make a round that the colors swap so frequently to maintain the solid colored underbelly look... does anyone have advice???
Tamara Kelly says
Hi Gray! I would say what you do here is start by making a magic ring with the white, then make the 3 white stitches. When finishing the last white stitch, for the last yarn over and pull through drop the white and use the yellow. Then, make the next 2 yellow sts in the ring, and then pull the ring closed. Depending on what the instructions for the next round are, you'd then join with either the yellow or white to set up that first stitch. Does that make sense?
Tracy says
Thanks so much for this helpful video! I'm an intermediate knitter who just learned how to crochet. Silly question - would carrying the non-working yarn the whole project be wasting a lot of yarn? I suppose I'm thinking if you're working in the round and the pattern is on one side of an item. If it's a repeating pattern I could see where it wouldn't be that big of a loss yarn-wise.
Tamara Kelly says
Tapestry style is most often worked for repeats that go all the way around - or at least far enough that it's not a waste of yarn. Otherwise you can use bobbin to keep the "extra" color all on one side. 🙂