What is Tapestry Crochet?

Some call it tapestry crochet.  Others call it color-work, fair isle or intarsia.  A search online will quickly show that people use a variety of terms for what seems to be the same thing.  So… What is Tapestry Crochet?Although sometimes used interchangeably, the terms above actually mean slightly different things.  Color-work is a broad term and just means changing color within the crochet item.  Colorwork can be as simple as a stripe pattern. It really is just any color changing within the crochet project.

Intarsia is done by working each color section with a separate ball or bobbin of yarn.  Graphgans are typically done in intarsia.  In Intarsia, the unworked color is NOT carried behind the working yarn.  Rather, the color is changed and dropped with each color change.  Depending on the pattern, this can result in a lot of separate balls and bobbins while working a project.  With careful work, the color changes can be done neatly and the piece will be reversible.  It can, however, be a challenge to keep the yarn untangled and the changes neat and tidy.

Fair isle is a knitting term that has been incorporated into the crochet world.  In Fairisle style, the unworked yarn is carried behind the piece.  So when the work is completed, there are nice and tidy strands strung across the back.  There is a definite “right” side and a definite “wrong” side to the piece.  You could certainly use the same technique for crochet.

But what is tapestry crochet?  Unlike intarsia or fair isle, in tapestry crochet, the unworked yarn is carried along the row. The carried yarns are encapsulated within the working stitches.  Tapestry is often worked in single crochet on the right side in rounds.  But it can be worked in different stitches, flat from one direction or back and forth with different results.Learning how to work tapestry crochet is really easy.  It uses basic crochet stitches.  To change color, simply work the stitch until the last yarn over.Then pull through the loop with the new color.When you make the next stitch, just crochet over the unworked yarn.  When it is time for a new color, on the last stitch in the old color, just pull through the new color on the last yarn over and drop the old color, working over it with the next stitch.  When the stitches are fairly tight, the carried yarn is not seen at all.

Tapestry crochet instructions typically include a chart in a grid format.  One block on the chart represents one stitch.  Be mindful of where you stop and start each row on the chart.  If you are working in one direction and are right handed, for instance, every row on the chart will start on the right side.  If you are working back and forth in rows, you will which side of the chart you start on with each row.

Tapestry crochet can be worked back and forth rows like the photo above.  Notice that the color change is nice and neat and the fabric is reversible.  However, the rectangle does not form perfectly straight vertical sides.

This is an example of classic tapestry crochet. In this method, the stitches are worked from the right side, in both loops.  Here is a refresher on the parts of a stitch for reference.  In the round, there are just the starting and ending ends to weave in.  When worked flat, the work starts with a standing stitch and ends with a cut end.  A standing stitch is just a stitch that is started with a slip stitch on the hook.  After the last stitch in the row is made, just cut the yarn and pull the end through the open loop to finish off.

You will notice one inherent problem with working classic tapestry crochet through both loops.  The resulting fabric leans to the right (if you are a right handed crocheter) or to the left (if you are a left handed crocheter).  In crochet, the stitches do not sit perfectly on top of one another, but are shifted ever so slightly.  When working back and forth, this is eliminated because one row will lean slightly one direction. Then the work is turned and the the stitches lean slightly back the opposite way, offsetting the effect.

When worked in the round, this effect might not be very noticeable dependent on the color design.  But when worked flat, it is a different story.  The work will decidedly slant one direction.

Enter the perfect solution:  working tapestry crochet through the back loop only!  Working through the back loop only, creates a ridge in the front of the work and allows the stitches to sit a bit more directly on top of one another while also distracting the eye a bit.  The end result is a piece with nice crisp lines and definition of pattern and a fairly even piece of fabric.

Tapestry Crochet Tips and Tricks

• Choose a hook size that will allow for a fairly firm stitch.  This will help hide the carried yarn
• To avoid tangles when using two colors in a row, when unused, always keep one color to the back and the other to the front.  I keep the main color towards the front and the accent color towards the back.
• The unworked yarn is best hidden by letting it rest on the top of the stitches of the previous row as you work over it with the working yarn.
• If a carried yarn can still be seen from the front of the work, try pulling it slightly and carrying it slightly behind the stitches (instead of on top of or in front of the stitches)
• Carried yarn should be carried over the entire row, every row.  That way the stitch tension stays the same throughout the work.  Do this even on rows that have no color changes. (Note:  I disobeyed this rule in the previous photo..and if you look at the last 2 rows on the top, you can tell.  I left it so you could see and learn from my mistake)
• Check your work periodically on the wrong side for any strands or bulk.  If you’ve missed working over a stitch, rip out and re-do that area.  For any bulkiness on the wrong side of the work, just tug on the non working yarn to firm up the area.
• When working back and forth in rows, decide on which side will be the “right” side.  To minimize the look of the carried yarn along the side of the work, at the beginning of a new row, hold the non working yarn BEHIND the work.  That way the carried yarn will be seen on the “wrong” side, but will be invisible on the “right” side
• Similarly, when working back and forth, work the carried yarn slight behind the stitches when working on the right side and slightly in front of the stitches while working on the wrong side
• Periodically tug the non working yarn to firm up the stitches.
• Keep track of where you are on a tapestry crochet chart by using post it notes.  Just place one or more post it note under the working row and move up the note(s) each row!

So now you know what is tapestry crochet and how to work it like a pro!

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